Hehatedbeing pitied. He’d been pitied his entire childhood.
In elementary school he’d been the ragamuffin from the wrong side of the tracks who sat alone at a table in the cafeteria because the other kids said he smelled bad. In middle school, he’d been the kid with holes in the soles of his shoes and clothes that’d come from the charity box at the local church. And in high school, he’d been the guy whose parents stumbled around town in drunken stupors.
“Don’t feel bad for me, Grace. There are others who had it way worse.”
“But it’s so…” She shook her head. “Unfair.You were just a baby. You should’ve been coddled and cherished and made to feel safe and loved. And instead you were—”
“Life’s not fair,” he interrupted. “Those of us who get bad starts have a choice to make. We can look at our pasts as a life sentence and let that define us. Or we can look at our pasts as lessons and learn from them. I chose the latter. At least, IhopeI did.”
The smile she gave him was so damn sweet, it made his heart swell. “I’ve known a lot of men in my life and—” Her smile fell into a frown. “Uh, that didn’t come out right. Makes me sound like I’veknowna lot of men in my life. Which, I haven’t. Well, I guess that depends on your definition ofa lot. I mean, it’s not like I’m a virgin or anything.” She coughed into her hand. “As I’m sure you surmised since you know I was married. But I wasn’t one to really spread myself around beforeorafter the marriage.”
She blinked rapidly and he watched, mesmerized, as pink flooded her cheeks. “Not that I have any issue with women…er…peoplewho sleep around,” she quickly added. “I’m all for everyone being free to do what they want with their own bodies. As long as all parties involved give full consent, then ‘good for them’ I say and—”
“Grace,” he interjected, trying and failing to contain the grin that twitched at his lips. “Is this sudden onset of verbal diarrhea the result of some medical condition I should know about?”
He saw her fighting not to laugh. Then she stopped fighting.
The sound of her humor was like champagne bubbles that popped and fizzed in his ear. It was intoxicating.
Shewas intoxicating.
She swiped at his shoulder, her dark eyes sparkling. “I thought if I kept talking, I’d be able to dig myself out.”
“I’m not sure there’s a shovel on the planet big enough to handle all the stuff you were unearthing.”
“It’s your fault.”
His chin pulled back. “How do you figure?”
“You got me all flustered.” As if to demonstrate, she fluttered her hands. “But what I wastryingto say is that having grown up with brothers, and having been around all their friends, and having worked in a profession dominated by the opposite sex, I’ve gotten to know my fair share of men. And you? You’re one of the steadiest, most accomplished, and most capable I’ve ever met. Please don’t take this the wrong way, or feel like I’m being condescending, but I’d say youdefinitelyhaven’t let your past define you. In fact, considering your start in life, ya done good, kiddo.”
She winked and gave him a friendly nudge to keep the mood light. But the weight of her words, the sincerity of her compliment, had spaces inside him he hadn’t known were empty filling up with… Well, he couldn’t saywhatthey were filling up with.
Something warm and wonderful.
Instead of telling her as much, he crossed his arms and cocked his head. “How did I get you all flustered?”
“Please.” She rolled her eyes. “When you stand there looking likethat”—she motioned up and down his length—“I’d challenge any woman not to get flustered.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “And what do I look like?”
“Six feet two inches of twisted steel and sex appeal.”
He had to clear his throat because her candor caught him off guard.
Although, he shouldn’t be surprised. From the very beginning, he’d been struck by her directness.
Grace Beacham didn’t play games. She wasn’t coy or cagey. She was what his drill sergeant had calleda square-shooter.
“Not to brag or anything.” He leaned forward and was gratified when her gaze fell to his mouth. “But I’m six three.”
He saw her pulse flutter beneath the skin of her neck. And he would swear the air around them began to flutter too. To throb with excitement.Expectation.
“Grace?” Her name tasted so good in his mouth, he wanted to say it over and over again.
“Mmm?” Her breathing had picked up the pace right along with her heart.
“I like that the truth just falls out of you whether you want it to or not.”
