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They all heard what he didn’t say, that Kurt hadn’t been so fortunate. What her family didn’t realize was that the incident that had caused Alexander’s injury was the same one that had killed Kurt. It wasn’t something she wanted to get into. Especially not at the dining room table.
After several moments of silence, her mother switched to another line of questioning. “Do you plan on staying in St. Louis?” Grace cringed a little. It was almost as bad as her mother asking what Alexander’s intentions were.
“Yes. I’m in the process of getting my medical license here in Missouri, but for the time being I’m working as a consultant.” It was his way of saying he was putting down roots. Nothing he said was news to her, but for some reason hearing him tell her mother made it sound more definite. As if he really was declaring his intentions.
Her mother kept pressing. “Grace has been through a lot this last year.”
He met her mother’s gaze across the table. “Yes, she has.”
It was as if something unspoken passed between them. Grace waited for her mother to comment, but she only nodded then went back to her food and a new line of questioning. “Do you have any hobbies?”
The first thing that popped into Grace’s mind was the feel of his hand on her backside as he’d spanked her the night before. Of course, Alexander didn’t mention BDSM. He chose something more mundane to share with her mother. “I enjoy reading when I have the time.”
“Grace likes to read, too.” Gabby inserted herself into the conversation for the first time.
Alexander looked at Grace with a knowing glint in his eye. “Yes. She’s shared some of them with me.”
“Wow. You must be special. Every time I ask her about her books she just tells me I wouldn’t like them.” Her sister narrowed her eyes at her in mock irritation.
Grace stared at her plate, avoiding eye contact.
“Are you an avid reader yourself?” Alexander asked Gabby, redirecting the attention away from Grace. She wanted to kiss him.
“I’ve been known to pick up a romance novel when I have some downtime.” As if on cue, Taylor dropped her fork on the floor. Gabby scooted her chair away from the table so she could pick it up. She placed the dirty spoon out of Taylor’s reach, and then took her own spoon and handed it to her daughter. “But I don’t have much of that these days.”
Alexander nodded. “Children do tend to require a lot of one’s attention, but in the end it’s worth it. Time is one thing you can’t replace.”
Caroline took the opening and ran with it. “Do you have any children, Alexander?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Ever been married?”
“Mom!” Grace felt her cheeks heat in embarrassment. She was thirty-four years old. She didn’t need her mother vetting her boyfriends anymore.
“It’s a perfectly reasonable question,” her mother insisted.
Alexander didn’t seem fazed. “No. I haven’t been married. I do, however, hope to remedy that someday soon.”
Grace turned to look at him. She could only imagine the look on her face. Was he talking about her? Surely, he couldn’t be—they’d only been seeing each other for a few weeks. Granted, they’d been talking and going out to dinner together for longer, but still.
It was too soon.
The conversation continued, although Grace wasn’t really paying attention to what was being said. All she could think about was how casually he’d said he hoped to get married soon. He wasn’t seeing anyone else. That was part of their agreement. So if he wasn’t talking about her, then who?
“Grace, do you want any pie?”
She blinked and looked up at where her mother was standing not two feet away from her, plate in her hand. “What?”
Caroline raised her eyebrows, clearly wondering where her daughter’s mind had gone. “I asked if you wanted pie. Gabby’s slicing it up.”
“Oh. Yes, please.”
Her mother walked away chuckling and shaking her head. Grace was sure her mother thought she was daydreaming or something. It was easier to let her mother think that than tell her that what Alexander said had her head spinning. Was she ready to get married again?
***
Alexander had been watching Grace for a while, but as soon as they were alone he placed a hand on her leg, drawing her attention. “Everything okay?”
