Page 29 of His Saving Grace

She slowed when she got to the top of the stairs, because the last thing she needed was to barrel down them head first. Her entire body smoldered like a red, hot, glowing ember. She’d never been this drawn to anyone before. Never been this hot for anyone before. Usually, sex was something that was just okay, never something she craved. But there was something about Mason that made her want to strip off her clothes and rub up against all that hard, hot muscle. She needed to get a freaking grip.

Bella stood at the bottom of the steps, her tail wagging like a propeller. Grace stopped and scratched behind the dog’s ears, using the moment to calm the hell down.

“Good morning, sweetie,” she said, and the dog gave a little yip in response. She sat on the stairs and leaned against the bottom post. The position was similar to the one Mason had adopted last night. When he told her about the soldiers who had died, how he’d only survived because one of his men refused to give up on him. How sad and lost he’d sounded. Even now, she wanted to race back up the stairs and pull him into her arms. Help ease the burden he carried. And if they ended up naked, well then, that was just a bonus.

She banged her head lightly against the post. Thoughts like that were going to get her farther than nowhere, faster than she could possibly imagine.

“Oh, Bella,” she said on a sigh. The dog scooched forward and placed her head on Grace’s lap. “What am I going to do?”

She stroked the dog’s soft fur and tried to get her manic heartbeat back under control. How could she be so dumb? And then get caught?

A sliver of dread slid under her skin. Oh, shit. What if Eloise fired her? When Eloise gave her the job, she’d been adamant her sons wouldn’t bother her. But now, Grace had, through her own dumb, good-natured heart, managed to end up in bed with one of them.

Her stomach wobbled, and her eyes burned with tears. Which was the stupidest reaction in the history of stupid reactions. If Eloise fired her, then she fired her. She would pack up and move on and be done with the whole thing. That had been her plan all along. This would just be a little sooner, is all.

Except she didn’t want to be done with the whole thing. At least not yet. She felt safe. Which was asinine, because it had only been a few weeks. But there was something about the Callahans. They felt like the family she’d always wanted.

The front door opened, and she leaped to her feet, blotting the corner of her eyes with her fingers to get rid of the unshed tears. Bella turned toward the front door but stayed next to Grace.

Simon stepped over the threshold, looking more than a little worse for the wear. The dark circles under his eyes had deepened, exhaustion heavy in the lines of his face. She wouldn’t be surprised if he keeled over any second.

“Good morning.” He gave her a quick smile.

“Morning.”

Bella’s tail whacked against Grace’s leg, but she didn’t move from Grace’s side. Grace was thankful for the loyalty. Too bad that when she left she’d have to leave Bella behind. She was the first real friend she’d made in this new life.

Simon’s gaze flicked over her rumpled appearance, and a flush of embarrassment washed through her. He wasn’t an idiot. She was wearing the same outfit as yesterday. And barefoot.

Her cheeks prickled with more heat. She’d never done a walk of shame before, but this felt like it fit the parameters. Except she hadn’t had any sex. She ran her fingers through her hair, trying to smooth it down a little.

Simon’s straight, dark brows came together. “Everything go okay last night?”

Wasn’t that the bazillion-dollar question? But she wasn’t about to get into it with him. Not while wearing yesterday’s clothes and on the verge of getting fired. So, she plastered on a fake smile and nodded. “Yup. No issues at all. Easy-peasy, lemon squeezy.” Shut up, shut up, shut up.

Simon nodded, but his frown remained firmly in place. “That’s good.”

They stood in awkward silence for a few minutes. The tick-tick of the grandfather clock the only sound. Tick, tick, tick. Finally, Grace couldn’t take it anymore.

“Anyway,” she said, the word more of an annoying sing-song. “I was just headed back to the guest house…” She let the words trail off and made a swishing motion in the direction of the kitchen with her hands.

“Yeah,” Simon said, scratching the stubble on his jaw. “I’m going to grab something to eat and then crash for a bit.”

Grace nodded. And then continued to do so while Simon watched her.

Stop nodding, you idiot. And move. He’s waiting for you, because that’s what a gentleman does.

She ducked her head and spun around, walking quickly down the hallway to the kitchen, Bella stuck to her side like a tongue on a frozen lamp post. The backdoor was the fastest way to the guesthouse. She just needed to get outside and she’d be home free.

Sadly, she’d never been that lucky. She scooted into the kitchen and came face to face with not only Jake, but Eloise as well.

“Well, hello there,” Jake said, in a voice that was way too loud.

Grace’s cheeks caught fire for the third time in the last half hour, burning hotter than if she was standing on the sun. At this rate, she wouldn’t have to worry about Eloise firing her, she’d spontaneously combust.

Eloise turned from the stove, where she was frying up some bacon, with a smile. “Good morning, Grace,” she said. “You’re up and at it early this morning.”

Jake covered up a bark of laughter by faking a cough. Poorly. Grace glared at him, but he didn’t seem the least bit sorry. He just tossed her one of his panty-melting grins.