Page 10 of Unveiled Wounds

“If you’re going, take a prospect with you,” Sabre chimed in. “I don’t care how long you’re there, but I’d feel better knowing you had someone with you. They’re all about the same, so just grab one.” JR was content, sitting in the crook of Sabre’s arm.

“Are you not coming with?” I asked Grizz. “I’m only design. Well, I was. Structure is really more your thing.” He’d been quietthrough breakfast. Maybe, if I convinced him to come, I wouldn’t have to ride in the car.

“No. I have club business to attend to. You’re the unofficial project manager, Mer. Take notes, and we can discuss later this evening.” He winked at me before returning to his breakfast.

“This is Grace’s baby,” I whined.

“This is Grace’s baby.” Sabre jiggled JR until he giggled. “When are you going to give me another one, mama?”

She didn’t respond, but they shared a heated stare, and I felt like the rest of the table was intruding on a private moment.

“I’m not the project manager,” I tried again. “It should actually be someone who’s interested in the project. I’m not even employed.” I was trying to get out of this any way I could think of.

“Nope, you’re the most qualified. You said you wanted work, and this is an easy project for you.” Grizz pecked my lips and then stood from the table, grabbing his plate. He was out the door in less than three minutes.

Fuck.

***

“Did you read this?” I asked Grace as I flipped through the pages of the structure report. We were sitting at one of the round banquet tables in the ballroom that was still set up.

“I skimmed it, but I saw nothing that had to be done immediately. If I fix some of the smaller issues, I could give the place some fresh paint and start booking. I know the club’s going to pitch in, but I didn’t want to ask for all the money up front.” She tickled JR’s foot absently.

“There are a few things I want to pick Grizz’s brain about. The roof doesn’t appear to be in awful shape, but you’re missing a few tiles. If it’s just that, I’m hoping he’ll repair them, andthen he can give me an idea of what’s underneath.” I sounded confident, and it felt good to be talking about work.

“What do you mean?”

“You know how when you pull into the driveway and the roof has all those points to it?” I asked her, drawing on some scrap paper I’d brought.

“Yeah. I didn’t tell Sabre, but I was a little irritated that all the ceilings were flat.” She leaned forward to look at my drawing.

“That’s because this place is old. They probably didn’t think the vaulted ceilings would be a focal point, but if the bones are good, I can have Grizz open them up in here.” I drew a little more and then turned the page towards her. “I’m assuming that each arch outside has a ridge beam with support inside. As long as it’s good, we can take out these cheap-looking ceilings and let the rooms open up.” I pointed to where I’d drawn what I had just described.

“I’m going to have to host weddings, but it’ll give photographers that long shot.” She scrunched her nose and looked up at the white ceilings as if they offended her.

“Do you not believe in marriage anymore?” I asked her. Wedding season would be a huge money grab, and her lack of excitement surprised me.

She looked at me, and I sat back in my chair, waiting. “No, I do, but I keep thinking about your wedding. There was so much wrong with it, Mer, and no one said a word. What if a bride walks in here, and it’s obvious that she’s in a dangerous situation? How am I going to take her money and put a smile on my face?”

“She won’t be your sister. I still believe in marriage, even though I don’t have the best track record.” I shrugged, telling her the truth.

“No, she won’t.” Grace wiped a tear from her eye and kissed the top of JR’s head. “I’m so proud that you walked away from Brandon.”

“I did what was right for me. You did what was right for you, and yet, we ended up here and didn’t say a word.” I laughed, drawing curtains onto the picture. “We just go along, silently, with whatever plan they have in place.”

She chuckled and placed her hand over mine, stopping me. “They have our best interests at heart, even when they dig their heals in and puff out their chests, alpha male style. I don’t want to know what it’s like to be without Sabre. He has to come home every night, and he can’t do that if he’s worried about us. I don’t want him distracted, which is why I don’t argue.” Grace wrapped her other arm around JR in the carrier, hugging him to her chest.

“I don’t know how I feel.” I dropped the pen in my hand, lacing my fingers with hers. “Grizz is a good man. He told me I could be as loud as I needed, as long as I’m healing.” I paused, thinking about why I remained silent when I’d sworn never to do it again. “I’m not in a place to give him what he deserves, but I’m working on it so that I never have to know what it’s like not to have him in my corner.”

“One day at a time.”

“One day at a time,” I repeated. I squeezed her fingers, and as we moved on with the report, the prospect came running through the ballroom doors.

“The cartel’s coming. I saw them crest the hill, but they missed the turn. We have to go.” He tried to grab both of us by our elbows and pull us into standing positions. “Come on!” he yelled at us when we didn’t move.

“Grace, you’ve got to go,” I said to her. “Take JR and the prospect, run out the side door where the office is and head for the trees. When you get there, call Sabre.”

“I’m not leaving you.” She dug her heels into the floor. If there had been more time, I would have laughed, pointing out her alpha male response.

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