“He’s a good guy …”
“Who fucked you over, Grace. If he was the boss and if he wanted to be there, he would’ve. If he wanted to stop it, he could’ve. He’s just spineless. And the sooner you accept that, the better off you’ll be.”
“I don’t know.”
“You do know. You know I’m right. You just don’t want to hear it. Ben’s not the guy you’ve built up in your head. He screwed you over. He might not have meant to, but that’s what happened.”
“I guess.”
“Come here,” Cole commanded, and dragged me into his arms and hugged me tightly.
The moment I felt his arms wrap around me, I fell apart. Sobs shook my body, my heart broke, and I felt myself let it all go. Somehow, Cole had become my safe space, and I trusted him to hold all my broken pieces together. I just hoped trusting him wasn’t another mistake.
Chapter six
Cole
Grace was a beautiful disaster.
This Ben guy was a fucker. He’d broken her and I wanted to break him. At least she thought she was broken. She wasn’t though. I saw her. Even if she couldn’t see it I could. Grace was strong, determined, and brilliant, she’d bounce back. She just needed someone to remind her how amazing she was and she’d be back, bigger and better than ever. And if I got to be the lucky bastard to help her, sign me up.
“It’s okay, sweetheart, let it all out,” I consoled her as she shook in my arms.
The blanket slid from her shoulders, and I tugged her even closer. I could feel her tears through my shirt, and I wanted to punch someone.
Grace tried to wriggle out of my hold, but I refused to let go. She fit so perfectly in my arms. With her head resting on my chest and her arms banded around my waist, anchoring me to her like she was afraid I was going to run. If only she knew. This woman had me abandoning all my rules.
When she sniffed, I picked her up, surprised when her legs wrapped around my waist. I was trying to be respectful, but the semi I’d been sporting ever since she’d stepped out of her car looking like all my cowgirl fantasies in her tiny denim shorts, was unavoidable. Grace, though, didn’t seem to care or if she did, she didn’t say anything. Instead, she nuzzled against my neck, the warmth from her breath tickling me as I carried her over the threshold and through my front door.
I dropped down on my couch and settled Grace in my lap. When she went to climb off, I held tight.
“Stay,” I practically growled, and all the fight left her.
I pulled a patchwork throw rug from the back of the couch, draped it over her shoulders, and waited until her tears dried and her breathing had evened out before I tried again.
“You deserve better than them, Grace.”
“Maybe,” she mumbled.
“Definitely,” I corrected, placing a soft kiss on her forehead.
After twenty minutes in my arms, Grace rocked back and wiped her eyes. Damn, this woman was stunning. Even with red-rimmed eyes, her hair mussed, and a broken heart, she was still the most beautiful, most real woman I’d ever met.
“Mind if I use your bathroom?” Grace asked as she climbed out of my lap leaving me feeling more than a little lost.
“Down the hall. Third door on the right,” I pointed out, directing her to the main bathroom and away from the one offmy bedroom. There was no way I was letting her in there. Grace was a good girl. She didn’t need to see the pile of dirty laundry kicked in the corner and I could almost guarantee I hadn’t put the toilet seat down.
“Be right back,” Grace replied, flashing me a smile that warmed my heart.
The woman was something else. She’d just poured her heart out and laid all her dirty laundry at her feet, yet when she smiled, she was filled with life and light.
While Grace was out of the room, I cleaned up like someone had lit my ass on fire. I picked up the magazines, took the empty glasses to the kitchen, and straightened the cushions. I was kneeling by the fire when Grace appeared looking refreshed and put back together.
“Better?” I asked, reaching for the matches.
“Yeah. I’m sorry about all of that.”
“Nothing to be sorry for. I asked and you needed to get it out,” I offered, striking the match and focusing on getting the fire going.
