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“Yeah. It’s pretty good.” Grace really hoped Beth didn’t ask her what the name of it was. She wasn’t sure she could handle that. Given Kurt’s wishes for her to move on, to find a new Dom, she’d been attempting to get herself into the correct mindset. In order to do that, she’d dug out some of her old novels, the ones that had made her interested in the lifestyle to begin with, and began reading them again.
“I might be interested in borrowing it. I’m always looking for a good read.”
Grace swallowed. What would Beth say if she found out Grace was a submissive? Or would Beth just think Grace enjoyed reading kinky romance novels? She had no way to know and Grace didn’t want to lose this job.
The doors that led to the front counter pushed open and Tommy poked his head in. “I’m gonna go ahead and flip the sign.”
Beth stood. “How many customers are still out there?”
“Just two tables. I’ve got it, B. You two finish eating.”
Instead of sitting back down, Beth started filling the sink with water. One of the downsides to working in a restaurant of any kind was the dishes. Grace finished the rest of her sandwich, rolled her sleeves up, and went to help.
It was a little after three when she said goodbye to Beth and Tommy behind the café. Grace was ready to go home, but first she had to stop at the store. She was completely out of milk and she’d had to throw out the bread she had this morning because it had molded.
Everything was going fine—well, maybe not fine, but okay—until she was leaving the grocery store and her car wouldn’t start. She tried to crank the engine but nothing happened.
Her first instinct was to call for roadside assistance, something Kurt had insisted upon since he was overseas, but then Grace remembered that she’d let the coverage lapse. It hadn’t seemed important with everything else she was dealing with. Besides, she never went anywhere anyway. Why would she need it?
Fate was laughing at her now.
The only person she knew to call was her sister, although she had no idea what Gabby would do. Call a tow truck probably. And that was assuming her sister wasn’t working today, which she often did on Saturdays. If not, Grace could be sitting there, milk spoiling in the back seat, for a couple of hours. Her mother was another option, but again all she would be able to do was call someone.
Alexander’s words came back to Grace. If you need anything, call me. Day or night.
She hesitated for only a minute before digging his card out of her purse and dialing his number.
“Alexander Greco.” His voice was strong and confident as he answered.
“Hi. It’s Grace. Grace Martin.” She felt silly calling him, but did she really have another option?
“Grace. I’m glad you called.” He sounded genuinely pleased, which eased some of her tension.
“I’m sorry to bother you, but my car won’t start and both my sister and my mom—”
“Where are you?”
Grace gave him her location and he said he’d be there in fifteen minutes. Knowing he was coming allowed her to relax. She rolled down the windows to let the breeze keep the inside of the car from getting too warm.
She spotted him first and got out of the car to get his attention. He grinned when he saw her and pulled his vehicle in a few spaces down from hers.
“Thank you for coming,” she said when he approached.
“I told you to call me anytime. I meant it.” He motioned toward her car. “Do you mind?”
“No, no. Of course not.” She moved so he could get behind the wheel.
Alexander tried to turn the engine over twice but it did the same thing for him as it did for her—nothing. “Sounds like your battery’s dead. How long have you had this one?”
She had to think. “I don’t know. Four or five years, maybe.”
“They usually only last about five years.” He exited her vehicle, pulled out his phone, and started searching. “Surely there has to be a place nearby that sells batteries. We’ll go get you a new one and get it put in. That should take care of the problem.”
They loaded the few groceries she’d bought into his car, and then drove a few miles away to a place he found on his phone that said they sold car batteries. She followed him inside and waited while he told the woman behind the counter what they needed. It took them less than an hour to get the battery and for Alexander to switch the old one out with the new one. While he was replacing her battery, he even turned on his car’s air conditioner to keep her groceries from spoiling.
“Thank you again,” she said, sliding into the driver’s seat, unable to convey how grateful she really was for his help. Her engine was running, good as new, once he’d replaced the battery.
“You’re very welcome, Grace.” She’d expected him to go, but he didn’t. “Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?”
