Page 84 of Fresh Tracks
“Am I alright? Do you realize how messed up it is that you’re asking me that?” She takes another step toward him and jabs him in the chest with a pointed finger. “Do you really still think I’m that same fragile girl from high school? You still think I can’t take care of myself and make my own decisions?”
He scrubs his hand over his face and shakes his head. “No, of course not. That’s not what I meant. But you don’t need to date him just because he’s our boss.”
Her jaw tightens and her eyebrows shoot up. I see the hardened look in her normally sparkling eyes.
Shit. She’s mad.
That doesn’t change the fact that she is absolutely stunning right now. Her profile is laced with fury and intensity, highlighted by the snowy landscape behind her amplifying her vibrant colors. Those beautiful evergreen pools burn with a fire that I can’t look away from, framed by her bangs and freckles in a way that draws me in more.
All of it screams passion, confidence, and determination, the kind I once had. The kind I’ve started to feel again when I’m with her.
“This is what I’m talking about. Have you, for once, considered that I’m the one who wanted this? That I’m the one who started things with him? No, apparently not. Apparently you think I’m still little Gracie that needs to be protected from herselfand everything around her. Do you realize how pissed Mom would be if she knew you treated me like this?”
I wince at that, knowing the history behind her loss, their loss.
She takes a step back and crosses her arms over her chest. She tilts her head toward the truck. “Now, go home. Come back when you get your stupid damn head out of your childish ass. I’m done talking with you.”
He opens his mouth to say something, but she shoots him a glare. “Now. I mean it.”
I watch in complete dismay as Tanner tucks his tail between his legs and walks back to his truck. He takes one look at the two of us over his shoulder before getting in and closing the door with a solid thud. Grace and I both watch as he backs down the driveway and the gate closes behind him.
I turn to her, seeing her shoulders rise and fall with heavy breaths, her cheeks red. She’s still fuming when I reach out and grab her hand.
“Hey. I’m sorry. Are you alright?”
Her brows wrinkle and she looks at me. “Why are you sorry? You didn’t do anything wrong.”
I step closer to her, resting my hand on her hip over her long, puffy down jacket. “That was brutal and I’m the reason he’s pissed at you.”
She sighs and shakes her head. Her eyes meet mine and I see some of her normal brightness returning. “We’re siblings. We argue sometimes, but that’s not your problem. This is between me and him. And honestly, it’s mostly on him.”
The look on my face must not be convincing because she rolls her eyes and smiles. “Seriously, Tanner and I will be fine. He might look all mean and broody, but he’s a teddy bear underneath all of that. You’ve seen him with Veronica enough to know that.”
“More like a grizzly bear if you ask me.”
She gives me a playful shove in my chest, unlike the one Tanner was on the receiving end of. “Very funny.”
Jake and I have fought, but never like that. Clearly, their sibling bond is strong if she’s that confident they’ll just get over it. But if I do want this to work, I should take a note from this whole day and trust her and give her the space to sort this out how she wants.
“Just let me know what I can do.” I reach up, rubbing the back of my knuckles over her freckles.
“You can start by taking my bags in and letting me see that shower of yours finally.” She gives me a wry smile and I give her one swift nod in return.
“Done.” Just like me, because I’m done.
I’m not just falling for her, I already have. She has my heart and she has my love.
CHAPTER 32
GRACE
GIVE IT ALL UP
One Week Later
The last weekin Jackson has been great. I’ve been out to ski and I’ve stopped in to see my grandparents. I’ve been able to do more work on coming up with a new plan to still make a bigger impact with Tommy’s charitable giving while maintaining his privacy.
Then there’s the sex.
