Page 74 of Saving Grace

“Sure, sweetie,” her mom says, glancing at Brian.

I wait until they are seated before heading inside to find my own family seated around the kitchen table, a mug of coffee or tea warming every set of hands. They all stare at me, expectantly.

“Well?” Ma says.

“They’re talking.”

“Good, that’s good. Right?” Addy says.

“I sure hope so. The poor girl has been through so much,” Ma says, gaze directed into her mug.

Harry leans over and grips her wrist. “Our Gracie is a strong one. She will be fine.”

Our Gracie.Like we get to keep her. Like she’s not going to go off and have a big, wonderful life and leave all this behind. I mean, her housekeeping job is a front as it is now. Without another job, she’s going to need to move on.

Reed pulls a chair out by his and I sink into it, dropping my head into my hands, fingers wedging into my hair.

“You alright there, gunny?” Reed asks.

I can’t face them. All this effort, and she may not even stay. I don’t want her to stay and have nothing. I want more for Grace.

Eventually, I look up. Hudson leans back on his seat and drains his coffee. “Well, you want my two cents, Mack?”

“Sure, Huddo, go for it.”

“It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” He smirks at me.

“Ha ha,” I huff.

“If you wanted it, then you shoulda put a ring on it,” Rubes sings.

“Not funny, Robbins.”

“Ha, it’s Rawlins, remember?He’ssmart, he put a ring on it.”

My family cracks up with laughter. Despite their overzealous romantic notions, my family will always have my back. And Grace’s. Maybe they’re right. Still, we’re not there yet. Nowhere close. I would marry that girl in a heartbeat. But she deserves better. Deserves the time to fall. The time to recover from the last asshole who broke her to pieces.

“Leave him alone, you lot. One kiss does not equal a marriage proposal.” Ma gives everyone her well-worn warning glare. Harry smiles as if knowing something the rest of us don’t and folds his hand over Ma’s.

The sound of raised voices has everyone stilling in their places. I’m out of my chair faster than a bolting horse, out the back door and rushing toward Grace a few seconds later. She is standing by her chair, bent forward and arms hugging her body. Her folks stand, trapped between the bench seat and the table.

Fuck.

“Gracie!” I growl, putting myself between her and them. My ire is directed at her lousy parents. “What the hell did you do?”

Fine hands grip my right wrist. Grace huddles into my side. She’s shaking.

Heat plummets through my core and twists in my veins like barbed wire.

“I asked you a question.” I’m looking directly at her father.

He has the audacity to wave two hands in the air like we are the ones overreacting. “Now, we should all calm down. We’re simply stating Grace’s choices were her own.”

My jaw grinds shut. I turn to face Grace. “Go inside.”

“I tried to tell them . . .”

“Now, gorgeous girl. I’m not askin’.”

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