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“My sister stops by a few times a week to check on me, and I usually see my mom on the weekends.” Grace took another bite, and then hesitated. “I feel like I’m being rude, eating in front of you like this.”
“Are you forgetting who insisted you eat in the first place?” He quirked one eyebrow up in question, which made her grin again. It was good to see some of the sadness in her eyes fade, even if only for a moment.
“I can see why you and Kurt got along. You’re a lot alike.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
She picked off a slice of pepperoni, seeming to examine it closely, and then whispered, “He was the best man I’d ever known.”
This time Alexander didn’t hesitate to comfort her when he saw the tears threaten again. He placed a gentle hand on her arm, letting her warmth seep through the tips of his fingers. “If I could have traded places with him, I would have. He talked about coming home to you all the time.”
The next thing he knew, Grace leaned toward him and he pulled her into his embrace. He tucked her head into the crook of his neck and held her while she let go. Her entire body shook as she cried, and each time it was like a punch to his gut.
He let her weep, offering what comfort he could, and eventually her sobs quieted. “I’m sorry,” she said, trying to pull herself together. “I shouldn’t have—”
“No apologies needed.” Without thinking, he reached up and brushed a tear from her cheek. “I’m more than willing to lend you my shoulder to cry on anytime you need it.”
Her gaze met his and held for a moment before pulling away. “Excuse me for moment. I need to...”
“I’ll wait.”
Grace nodded and rushed out of the room. When she returned to the table, the only sign of her recent crying jag was the redness around her eyes.
He sat quietly across from Grace while she ate another two pieces of the pizza he’d warmed up for her. As much as he would have loved to continue talking to her, he wanted her to eat her food more. Everything else could wait.
“Did you want the rest?” she asked. “I can’t eat anymore.”
“Thank you for offering, but I had a big lunch. And besides, you might get hungry later.” He smiled and went to put her leftover pizza away. “Is there anything I can do for you? Anything you need?”
He’d expected her to respond, but she didn’t. She was looking back down at the letter, which was lying on the table.
Alexander was getting ready to ask again when she spoke. “Are you married, Mr. Greco?”
Her question threw him for a moment. “No, I’m not. And please call me Alexander.”
“So you didn’t have someone back home waiting for you?”
He had no idea where she was going with this. “No. I haven’t had much time for relationships since I joined the Army, and even less since I was discharged.”
Grace brushed her fingertips over the paper. She appeared deep in thought. “Thank you for bringing my husband’s letter to me.”
It very much sounded as if he was being dismissed. Alexander fished his wallet out of his back pocket and retrieved a business card with his cell phone number on it. One day he hoped it would also include information about his private practice, but until then it was an easy way to pass along his information when needed. “Take my number. If you need anything, call me. Day or night. I’m planning to stay in St. Louis... at least for a while.”
For a second he thought she was going to refuse, but instead she took the card and nodded. “Thank you. For everything.”
He climbed into his vehicle a few minutes later. With his errand accomplished, he should have felt a weight lifted off his shoulders, but he didn’t. If anything, he felt more of an obligation now than he had before he’d met Grace Martin.
Pulling away from the curb, Alexander wondered if she’d use the number he’d given her. It would be easier for him if she didn’t, but he’d never been one to take the easy road. If he had, he wouldn’t have spent ten years serving in the Army. He would have put in his time and gotten out. But if he’d done that, he wouldn’t have met Kurt Martin, and now Grace.
Alexander was reminded again of the necklace she wore. The necklace he was almost positive was a collar. Had that been the reason Kurt insisted Alexander be the one to deliver Grace the letter? Had he known Alexander was a Dom?
There was no way to know the answer to that question, but Alexander did know one thing. This wasn’t going to be the last time he saw Grace Martin.
***
Grace stood by the window, behind the cover of the curtains, as Alexander drove away. He’d been reluctant to leave. Given the way she’d broken down, she really couldn’t blame him. He probably thought she would fall apart again the moment he left.
He wasn’t far off the mark. Once his car was out of sight, she made sure all the doors were locked before traipsing upstairs to her bedroom.
