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"Thanks."
Jan hustled off and he reached across the table and laid his hand over Grace's.
"This is really nice." She grinned. "I haven't done this since I've been here. I've watched plenty of others sit here and eat a meal, but I'm not one to come to a place like this alone, so I've lived vicariously through them."
She turned her hand over and they locked fingers.
He grinned at her. "I usually eat at the bar. It's when Jace and I get the chance to chat about stuff."
"I heard my name."
He laughed as he turned toward his friend and pointed to a chair at the table.
"Jace Marriott, meet Grace Murphy. Grace, this is my friend Jace, bar owner extraordinaire, good friend, all around great guy."
Grace moved her hand from his and held her hand out to Jace. "It's nice to meet you Jace Marriott, bar owner extraordinaire, good friend, and all-around great guy."
Jace laughed. "I'm at a loss. Sid, you didn't describe Grace for me."
Sid chuckled. "Ah yes. Grace is a beautiful soul who also can fix up an entire house on her own and she's a fur mom to Chiefy here." He pointed to Chiefy who heard her name and jumped up.
"It's nice to meet you, Grace. And, Chiefy."
Chiefy moved around Grace and sniffed Jace hesitantly. Her tail wagged, then she laid back down.
Sid glanced at Jace. "Are the bikers behaving themselves?"
"Yes. Is that the group you texted me about?"
"Yes. One of them sat on his bike down from the Garage most of the afternoon, then followed Grace to her place..." He pointed across the road to Grace's. "Over there."
Jace's jaw tightened. "Well, don't be cowed by them and don't take any crap from them." Jace turned to Grace. "If Sid is at the Garage and they come close to your house, feel free to call me here. I'll come over and help out.”
Grace smiled beautifully. "Thank you so much, Jace. I appreciate it."
12
Grace watched as Sid and Jace chatted. They were solid friends who shared unspeakable horrors of war. Both had suffered, still suffered, but were contributing members of society.
Jace turned to her, a smile on his face. "So, tell me about you, Grace. How much work do you have to do over at the house and then what will you do?"
"I own both of those houses." She pointed toward her twin bungalows. "I'm currently living in one and fixing it up. Then, I'll move to the second while I rent out the first. My plan is short-term rentals. I'd like a few more eventually so I can make enough to live on. I have a fair amount of work to do, but luckily, most of it is cosmetic. Painting, tiling, things like that."
Jace chuckled. "Short-term rentals are popular here. I have four of them myself. But, mine came with the bar, and right now I have a couple of friends living in them..." He grinned at Sid. "I'm also paying Quinn to fix up the other two. So, I'd say I have more going out than coming in. But, that will change soon."
"I know what you mean," she chuckled.
Sid grinned as they spoke and she enjoyed the fact that he didn't seem jealous or possessive. She'd had enough of that over the years.
Jace addressed Sid. "Tell me about the Garage. I heard through the grapevine you got the Knucklehead started."
Sid's smile was electric, his cheeks dimpled, and his eyes sparkled. "I did. It felt good. But she has a long way to go to be ride-ready."
Jace laughed. "I have no doubt you'll get her ride-ready."
The server came out with their drinks and Chiefy's water bowl and Jace nodded. "I gotta get back inside. Stop in when it's quiet, we'll have more time to chat." Jace stood. "Nice to meet you, Grace." He glanced over the table at Chiefy, "You too, Chiefy."
Chiefy's tail wagged twice, but she was tuckered out. She barely lifted her head.
