Page 49 of Moonlit Colorado

“Dad?No. He’s not someone I want in my life. Even though it makes me really sad to say that.”

I nodded because I understood. “Grace, I need to apologize again for what I said last night. Ashford’s told me things about your family, but your thoughts and feelings are your own. I would never assume that Ashford speaks for you.”

“I know. I was pissed last night, but you were right. It can be hard for me to trust people. Especially men. There are several reasons for that, but my father is one.”

“Understandable.” Her admission made me want to hunt down and punish anyone who’d taken the shine from her eyes.

Grace crossed her arms. “But my brothers don’t make decisions for me. And they don’t know everything about me. Not even close.”

“If you let me get to know even a fraction of you, I’ll consider myself a very lucky man.”

“You’re flirting again.”

“AmI?”

I felt gratified when she laughed. I was such a sucker for this woman.

“There’s plenty of things Ashford and I don’t agree on,” she said. “Like Grayden, our oldest brother. You know what happened with him, don’t you? You must. You were serving with Ashford when all of that went down.”

I nodded. I’d met Grayden a few times through Ashford. Then suddenly he’d been arrested, courtmartialed. Sentenced to prison time and dishonorably discharged. At the time, I’d offered to get outside legal help for his brother, but Ashford had refused.

“Ashford hates talking about him,” Grace said. “Callum claims to be indifferent. But sometimes, I think about finding Grayden. I miss him. I wish I knew he was okay.”

“I’ll find him for you, if that’s what you want.”

She froze there on the trail, eyes wide. “Are you serious?”

“Of course.”

“You say that like it’s simple.”

“It probably would be. I know investigators. It wouldn’t be too hard.” All it would take was money and time.

“Why? Why are you so…” She waved a hand at me.

“Why am I what?” I asked.

“You keep doing things for me. Being sweet and generous and making me like you.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Making me want to believe you’re for real.”

“You thinkthat’sbad? Just imagine what you’re doing tome.”

Grace’s dark eyelashes fluttered, and it was nearly impossible to suppress the urge to close the distance between us, like we had on the chairlift. She’d been pressed up against me, holding tight to me like the last thing she wanted was to let me go.

I didn’t want to scare her, though. I wanted to comfort her. Defend her against anyone or anything that dared to make her feel unsafe. Hold her and protect her like something rare and precious.

I wasn’t usually a soft, cuddly guy. But Grace brought that out in me more than any other person I’d met. Maybe because I could sense the strength she held in reserve underneath. Between her femininity and her kindness and the glasses, other people might not see her bravery. But I did.

Courage was pushing yourself to try something new. It was facing down your fears. Speaking up. Helping others. I’d seen Grace do those things countless times already.

Still, I was surprised whensheedged closer, placing her palm against my chest. My heart kicked in response, and my cock jumped, swelling up against my fly.

Her voice was thick when she spoke. “You make it very difficult to be good.”

“Being good is overrated,” I murmured.

“Tell me more about Kip.”

My face scrunched up, and I made a frustrated huff. “I thought we were having a moment. You bring up my brothernow?”

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