Page 97 of Saving Grace

Ipull on my work shirt and Wranglers and slide my old, worn belt into the loops. The fit is tighter than last time I wore these. More muscle in my legs. Shoulders and arms are bigger, too. How is it possible my physique improved from being nearly blown to pieces? I guess I put it down to months of recovery, physio, and Grace.

Lastly, I grab my old, battered work hat from the wall by the bedroom door. I don’t know what it is about my hats, but I like them in my room. Not hanging by the front door, if I can help it. I slide it onto my head. Dark cream with an old thin leather band wrapped around where the brim and the crown meet. I’ve had this hat since I was twenty-one. It’s like coming home. The familiar. This hat symbolizes who I am more than anything else. More than the military training or the shooting skills I garnered from my time in the army. Running my fingers up the shirt, I slip the buttons closed as I walk out into the hall.

“Gracie?”

She appears, spatula in hand, in faded denim overalls and a t-shirt, a too-big sweater hanging from one shoulder, hair up in a messy bun. The moment her eyes take in my old work clothes,her lips part and she goes still. Her gaze roves from the hat on my head to my socked feet.

“Mackinlay...” Her eyebrows raise over a smile that grows. “Wow. Hello, cowboy!”

I chuckle and do up the last button, closing the distance between us and dotting a kiss to her forehead. Before I have a chance to move back, the spatula hits the floor, and her hand curls around the opening of the old shirt.

“I was wondering how long I had to wait until I saw therealMack.”

Her eyes study my face as her fingers brush over my jaw. Her grip tightens and she pulls my mouth down to hers. I pluck the hat from my head and let it fall to the floor, hands cupping her face as hers climb into my hair. I open for her.

I’m all hers.

She claims it all.

I pull her onto my hips. Her hunger grows. Legs wrap around my waist. I turn and plant her against the wall. A little moan slips from her to me. My cock is so hard, I swear I’m going to have blue balls all day after this. I break away, putting space between us before pressing my forehead to hers.

“It’s goin’ to be one hell of a long day without you,” I breathe.

“Toughen up, cowboy. You can handle it.” The prettiest little smirk pulls over her lips.

An entire day with Huddo and his horses. After that, my least favorite ranchin’ task—and Harry’s fuckin’ favorite—fencing. I swear it’s his way to test the strength of will of a man—how many miles of fencing-related tasks he can pull off in one lifetime. Lord knows, every single one of us has earned a VIP place in heaven for the endless days we have spent on damn wire and posts.

“As long as you’re here when I get home, I think I can.” I groan and sink my face into her neck.

“I’ll be here, and probably messy and needing a long, hot shower.”

I pop my head up. “Oh?”

“Yeah, Ruby wants some mountain landscape oils for her cabins. I’m going to make a start on one today. So, I’ll be painting, hopefully...”

Her gaze drifts away and her head turns a little, as if lost in her own self-doubt. I shift her back to face me with one finger.

“You will, gorgeous. And I will be home to help you get all cleaned up.” I can’t help the cheeky grin almost swallowing my face. “All day, while Huddo drones on about his horses, my mind is goin’ to be cataloging every part of you I love most.”

Emotion floods her gaze. Her hands tug my head down. I chuckle, sinking my lips over hers. I press her into the wall harder, showing her how much I need her. Her hips wiggle, and I know the message is received. Sweet Jesus, I could do this all day.

But ranch work waits for no man. Nor does my grump of an older brother. Or Harry, for that matter. Who will no doubt be checkin’ in today. I break from the kiss and thumb her cheeks with both hands. “When I get back, we will pick up where we left off, okay?”

“Sure, cowboy.” She smiles and snaps her lips around my earlobe.

“Jesus, Gracie, a man would never leave the house with you in it if he had the choice.”

“Good to know,” she whispers. I watch as realization washes over her face. The moment that the fact I see her worth, and he never did, solidifies from a mere hope to a permanent feature.

She drops from my hips. I slam my hands onto the wall on either side of her head. “Now, gorgeous girl. Go paint. Do it all damn day. And when I get home, I want to see every single brushstroke you’ve made.” My words are raw. Her breath hitches. “You’ve got this, Gracie.”

She nods, but her throat bobs.

“I gotta go.” I lean down, swiping up my hat. It slips from my fingers as she pulls it away and plants it on my head.

“Go get ’em, cowboy.” Her words are soft. Heartfelt. We know this is a milestone we’ve both worked for. The day I get my world back. Normality closing in. With one very significant difference—Grace.

Mynewnormal.

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