Hard to Fight (Alpha's Heart, #1)(38)

I giggle.

“Fuck off, Benny,” Raide grunts.

“Can’t blame me. There was that time you tried to get me up here.”

“For a f*ckin’ guys weekend,” Raide mutters.

“Sure, buddy,” Benny laughs, nudging me to let me know he’s just playing around.

“Well, I must say, it was probably his charm and good looks that got me up here.” I laugh softly, too.

“Lucky man, he is. Tell me what you do, Grace?”

I shrug. “Just a waitress.”

Benny raises his brows. “A waitress? Seriously?”

Here we go again.

“That’s what I said,” Raide mumbles from the kitchen.

“I have no idea why it’s so surprising.”

“Lady,” Raide calls. “I’ve seen you drop grown men. You ain’t cut out for a waitressing job.”

“So I’m skilled in self-defense—aren’t most women?”

“Skilled?” Raide chuckles. “Ben, you should have seen her take down this dude for tryin’ to nab her purse.”

Benny chuckles. “Think I’d like to see that.”

I roll my eyes. “What do you do, Benny?”

His eyes soften and he replies with a gentle voice. “Lost my wife two years ago, been tough since. Been working on my land, fixin’ cars for folks, things like that.”

My heart breaks. “I’m so sorry.”

He smiles. “Life happens, sweetheart. Lost her to cancer.”

I look down at my hands, and my heart twists. Good people. All of them. Raide, Benny, good people.

“Once again, I’m sorry.”

“Eggs are up,” Raide says softly from the kitchen.

Benny leaps up and flashes me a smile that tells me it’s okay, before walking in and scooping up a plate off the counter. I follow behind and stare down at the scrambled eggs and buttered toast Raide has pulled together. We all go and sit at the table, and dig in. It’s really good, surprisingly so. Not that I doubted Raide could cook. Most men can, they just choose not to.

“This is great,” I say between mouthfuls.

“Yeah, bud.” Benny nods. “Great.”

Raide nods back and scoops the fluffy eggs into his mouth. We finish up, and I’m in the middle of washing up when three other people enter the house. There’s an older man, an older woman, and a pretty young blonde. They all embrace Raide, hugging and slapping backs. I smile from my spot in the kitchen as I watch them interacting.

“It’s good to see you, son.” The older man grins.

He looks like Benny, so I’m guessing that he’s his father. His eyes are warm and blue, his hair is salt-and-pepper, and he’s got laughter lines gliding out from his eyes. He’s handsome, even in his older age. The woman beside him is obviously Benny’s mother. She’s petite and small, with a short pixie cut that’s dyed light brown with streaks of blond. Her age shows only around her eyes and mouth; otherwise, she looks radiant and lovely.

“It’s been too long, Raide,” the woman says, embracing him.

“Yeah, Benny has been yammering on about missing you for ages now.” The lovely blonde smiles.

Raide smiles at her, and it’s warm. Super warm. Familiar warm. He puts his arms out and says, “Come here, girl.”

My heart clenches, it’s irrational and completely stupid but I can’t push it back.The girl beams and throws herself into his arms. He holds her tight, pressing his nose into her neck and whispering something into her ear. She flushes and steps back with that same huge grin when he lets her go. She’s a beautiful woman, really she is. Long blond hair that’s straight as a tack, hazel eyes like Benny’s, and a body to die for.

“Come here, Grace,” Raide says, stretching his arm out.

I slowly edge around the counter and walk toward the people, who are all watching me now. I force a smile, hoping like hell it looks genuine. When I reach Raide, he pulls me into his side, and I don’t miss how the blond girl’s mouth tightens. I’m intrigued about the relationship between the two of them, because there’s clearly one there, or there was at one time.

“This is Grace,” Raide introduces. “Grace, this is Edgar, Lynn, and Mandy.”

I smile again and give a little wave. “Hi, I’m Grace.”

He already told them that. Smooth, Grace.

“Hi, dear.” Lynn smiles. “It’s wonderful to meet you. We didn’t know Raide had company.”

I flush and shrug lightly. “It was last minute.”

“It’s nice to see him with company.” Edgar laughs and I smile.

“Leave him alone, Pops.” Benny chuckles. “It’s not his fault he’s socially stunted.”

Raide launches his fist out and connects with Benny’s shoulder. Benny makes a grunting sound, but he does it with a smile.

“How did you two meet?” Mandy asks.

“Grace was stalking me.”

I gape and twist to look up at Raide. “I was not stalking you!”

He chuckles. “Lady, you were.”

“I was not.” I turn back to the crowd. “I wasn’t. He was just everywhere I was.”

Lynn laughs. “I bet he was following you. Why wouldn’t he? You’re lovely, Grace.”