Twisted Pieces (Back Down Devil MC #5)(46)

Jordyn stared at him in disbelief. She had never been so smitten by someone before.

“You take care of her?” Gram asked, her voice crackling a little.

“Yes,” Jace said. “She means a lot to me. I’ll protect her forever.”

“That was my promise, too,” Gram said.

“I know I look rough,” Jace said, “but it’s who I am. I hold things very close to my heart."

“Can I speak with my granddaughter alone?” Gram asked.

“Yes,” Jace said. “It was nice to meet you. I now know where Jordyn gets her beauty from.”

“Now that’s bullshit,” Gram said, blushing.

Jace touched the small of Jordyn’s back and kissed her cheek. “I’ll be outside, babe.” His whisper made Jordyn shiver with excitement and then Jace was gone.

The door shut.

Jordyn waited to be blasted by her grandmother.

“That should be nothing more than a fling,” Gram said with a grin.

“It’s not like that,” Jordyn said. It was still weird to hear her grandmother reference sex. “He’s a good guy, Gram. He’s…”

“Oh, hush up. Listen to me. You look at him with those eyes of yours and he looks right back at you with those eyes of his… it’s real, Jordyn. That’s good. Scary, yes, but good. And it doesn’t hurt that he’s sexy.”

“Gram…”

“What? You see his arms? I’d like to grab onto them for a minute or maybe a little longer.”

Jordyn was embarrassed but smiling. “Are you mad at me?”

“For what? For finding what you’ve always wanted? Jordyn, the white picket fence isn't ideal. It’s a prop in the movies, dear."

“His club…”

“I know who they are,” Gram said. “Your grandfather was almost one of them."

“What?”

Gram smiled. “I was like you, Jordyn. Pretty young woman. Wanting a perfect life. Then this loud motorcycle almost crashed into my boyfriend's car. My boyfriend got out to confront the jerk who just cut him off and I sat in the car and watched this…” Gram exhaled and shook her head. “I watched this beautiful man get off a motorcycle. He socked my boyfriend once in the mouth and he stole my heart.”

“I never knew that,” Jordyn said.

“It was my secret, that’s all."

“Why didn't he stay with the club?”

“He didn’t want to get too deep,” Gram said. “I didn’t pull him away. I didn’t care. I had him and that's all I needed. But he left on his own and opened his auto garage and that was our life. We weren’t rich. We weren’t poor. But we loved each other so madly, Jordyn. It made my world whole.”

“I love Jace, Gram,” Jordyn whispered.

“Love him with everything you’ve got.”

“He’s not going to leave the club though,” Jordyn said. “He's already in too deep."

“Then it’s your life now, too,” Gram said. “Look at me. No matter how much I could have protected myself, I ended up here. In a damn bed, sick. In pain. Waiting to go. And that’s where we are all going to end up. But it’s that ride, Jordyn, that wild ride of freedom… that’s what makes all of this worth it. I can still close my eyes and feel myself on the back of his motorcycle holding on tight… and that’s what I will take with me.” Gram took a deep breath. It was hoarse, weak. “Can I tell you something else?”

“Of course,” Jordyn said. “Tell me everything, Gram. I didn’t know my grandfather was a biker. That you were okay with it. You were always so… proper. Strict.”

Gram raised a finger. “I was always honest. I never lied. There were just some things you weren't ready to know. You came to me and you were broken. A broken little girl. And there I was, mourning the loss of my son and my daughter-in-law. Jordyn, as much as I raised you, you helped keep me young and gave me something to live for. Now, for what I wanted to tell you. About that man out there. His beliefs are strong. He has conviction. Stand by him."

“You only met him once, Gram.”

“That's all it takes, my dear. I only get one chance to meet someone now. So I have to make it count. If he says he loves you, believe him. If you love him, trust in that.”

“I love you, Gram,” Jordyn whispered. She bent down and kissed her grandmother’s hand.

“I love you, Jordyn. Now quit wasting your time with me and go enjoy that man out there. Oh, those arms. And those eyes. They could make an old woman like me sweat.”

Jordyn gasped. “Gram! That’s… just… ew.”

Gram laughed and then turned her head. Her eyes started to shut and she lifted her hand. “Let me get some rest. Come visit me later.”

Jordyn left the room and found Jace standing with one foot against the wall. His thumbs were in his pockets and he smiled when he saw her.

That’s when she knew. Jace was now her world.

Jordyn ran to him and jumped in the air. Jace pushed forward and caught her. They hugged and they kissed.

“I’m not holding anything back,” Jordyn whispered. “I love you. I’m in love with you.”