The Presence of Grace (Love and Loss #2)(43)

“I’m sorry,” I said, my voice hoarse from crying. “I should go.”

“Grace, no,” he said, his hands coming back to my shoulders. “Please stay and talk to me. If you leave now, I feel like you’re just going to go home and have another breakdown.”

I nodded, unable to vocalize that he was probably right.

“How can I make this better? What can I do?”

“It’s not your job to make it better.”

He pulled back at my words, like I’d insulted him, even though it was the last thing I wanted.

“I realize the man you were with treated you poorly. I’m sure I’ll eventually hear more about the ways he treated the woman he was supposed to cherish, because there will be more with us, Grace. Not because it’s my job, and not because I’m obligated, but because it’s what I want. You’re what I want.” His hands slid down my arms and he laced his fingers through mine. “Nothing you just told me makes me want you less. It just makes me want to protect you more.”

“I’m a mess,” I cried. I wasn’t sure if I was trying to push him away more or convince him, but he only laughed and pulled me closer.

“Remember the first time we met, Grace? I was a mess too. Something in the universe keeps pushing us together when we need it the most, and I don’t know about you, but I’m done fighting the universe.”

“It really is a stupid idea,” I said, laughing and crying at the same time, but smiling too. Devon dipped again and kissed me softly.

“I’m sorry you went through all that,” he said against my cheek as his mouth moved to my neck, pressing a kiss there, but then just resting, his arms wrapping around my waist. I curled my arms around his neck and let him hold me. “And I’m sorry the man who should have been there for you through the whole thing turned out to be a classic *.” He sighed, his arms tightening around me. “But if I’m really honest, if he’d been a great guy, you wouldn’t be in my arms right now.”

Chills raced down my spine and goose bumps spread all over my arms. He was right. We’d both walked a terrible and sad road, but we’d found the way to each other. The past was in the past, and the future, in this moment perhaps, looked brighter because of the man in front of me.

“There’s still a lot to talk about, but, for now, I’m glad we found each other. Again.”

“Come talk to me over dinner at my house,” he whispered, his face still buried in my neck.

“Okay,” I replied, my voice a soft whisper. Because, honestly, how was I supposed to say no?





Chapter Fifteen

Devon

It had been an exhausting afternoon. After Grace left, I’d spent the rest of my day at work either worried about her, or really f*cking pissed off at her ex-husband. What kind of douche bag lowlife cheats on his wife while she’s trying to give him a child? For the rest of the day, anytime I helped a customer find a product, I only imagined all the ways I could use it to maim him. Rope? I’d tie that bastard up. Hand saw? That could do some damage. Ball peen hammer? Now we’re talking.

My exhaustion must have showed on my face because as soon as I showed up at my parents’ house to pick up the kids, my mom took one look at me, put her worried face on, and insisted on keeping the kids overnight. Ruby and Jax, who’d been camped in front of the television eating something that resembled every parent’s worst sugar nightmare, didn’t object. In fact, they didn’t even look at me. They just waved over their heads and said they were fine sleeping over. So I left without them and realized I had an evening with Grace and no kids.

Suddenly, I wasn’t so exhausted.

I sent her a text and let her know I’d be ready for her in an hour, then rushed home to shower and get dinner ready. I’d already razzled and dazzled her with my cooking skills, with Ruby’s help, so I was going to rely on my grilling abilities. No one ever ate a good steak and regretted it. A perfectly cooked steak could be just as impressive as some other culinary masterpieces. That was what I was banking on, anyway.

When she knocked on my door, right on time, I opened it, grabbed her hand, pulled her in, and kissed her long and hard. She was giggling at first, laughing as though I was being playful. But after a few moments she realized I was not playing, and she melted against me.

She’d left her hair down and I wound my hands through it, pulling gently so her face angled up toward me. I walked her backward, using her body to close the front door, and pressed against her. Her hands were running up and down my back, pulling me closer, and I could feel every breath she took as her breasts pressed against my chest.

I could not get enough of her.

I’d been on board with taking our physical relationship slowly. There was a time and place for everything, and the time and place was not on my couch as my children slept down the hall. And as patient as I thought I was being, Grace had been even more so. Most of the time it had been her to stop us, to make us come up for air, before anything completely inappropriate took place. But in that moment, with her breathy whimpers and roaming hands, I wasn’t sure we’d make it to the steaks.

“My mom is keeping the kids overnight,” I said as I pressed kisses along the column of her neck, loving the way her body writhed against mine.

“Mmmm hmmm,” she said, clearly unable to put words together, making me smile against her skin.