Page 65 of His Saving Grace

Grace paced back and forth in her small living room, gnawing on her thumbnail. Sure, Jessie had spotted her in the movie theater, but that didn’t mean she’d go blabbing to anyone…

No, no, no. She wasn’t even going to think about it. Jessie had left Portland months before Grace. She probably wasn’t even in contact with anyone there any longer.

She dropped onto the sofa. The sun had set, and the shadows in the guest house clung to the corners. Icy fingers skittered up her spine.

Panic pressed her heart into her throat. She scrambled to switch on the lamp. The soft glow chased away the prickle of unease. See, nothing to worry about. She was safe. And Jessie wasn’t going to tell anyone where she was. So, she’d not only over-reacted, but she’d made a complete fool of herself.

Bella jumped up on the couch, shaking her head and making the tags on her collar jingle. She scooted over and lowered her head so it rested on Grace’s knee. Despite everything, Grace’s heart gave a happy squeeze. She scratched Bella behind her ear.

“Oh, Bella. I’m such an idiot.”

Because now, not only was Mason even more suspicious, he was going to think she was certifiable. She blew out a breath and leaned her head against the back of the sofa. How in the hell had she gotten into this mess? She wasn’t supposed to be making ties and getting attached to these people. Any of them. Least of all Mason. The one who could cause the most hurt.

What am I going to do?

A knock on the door sent her heart smacking against her ribs. Bella jumped to her feet and let out a single, sharp bark. Grace jolted at the sound, a spike of adrenaline dumping into her veins, making her muscles tense.

You’re safe. No one knows you’re here. You’re safe.

She took a couple of deep breaths, in through her nose and out through her mouth, and pushed to her feet. Bella stood too, her gaze trained on the door. Grace told the dog to stay and drifted over to the door. She reached for the knob with a trembling hand. So much for feeling safe. She clenched her fist and placed her other hand flat against the wood. “Who is it?”

“Mason.”

Her stomach unexpectedly grew wings, which flapped like crazy, making her feel queasy. She closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against the door. She didn’t want to do this right now. Or ever.

“Please open the door, Grace.”

Damn him and his stupid pleases. They got her every time. That and the underlying plea in his tone. Against her most practical instincts, she stepped back and pulled the door open.

Mason stood on her doorstep, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his jeans. He had a split lip and a black bruise on his jaw. His hair mussed, his cheeks flushed. The aura of sadness that clung to him made her bones ache. The urge to wrap her arms around him, to hold on tight, to never let go, surged through her. Very troubling.

“I’m sorry.”

His apology was so unexpected, any words she might have said got stuck in her suddenly dry throat.

“I shouldn’t have pushed. It’s not my place and none of my business. Forgive me?”

This was the perfect opportunity to widen the distance between them, keep herself safe. Yet, she nodded.

The tension bled out of him, the hard lines of his face softening. “Thank you.”

She nodded again and stepped forward, running her fingers across the bruise on his jaw. “I should be the one apologizing to you.” Her voice was thin, the tiniest tremor lacing her words. “I acted like a crazy person. What happened to you?”

“Owen and I got into it.” He leaned into her touch and winced, but didn’t pull away. As if her touch was more important than the pain.

Her common sense screamed for her to run, but instead, she stepped closer. The heat radiating off of his body made her shiver, even though she was anything but cold. “I take it things didn’t go well.”

He grabbed her hips. “Actually, it went better than expected.” He slid his hands around to cup her butt. “But I don’t want to talk about my brother right now.” He pulled her against his heat.

And her traitorous body responded. Her nipples beaded, her core throbbed, moisture pooled between her thighs. Worst of all, a needy noise escaped the back of her throat.

Mason’s lip twitched, but it seemed he was smart enough to hold back his smirk. A spark of amusement glittered in his eyes, a look of pure male smugness on his handsome face. It should have annoyed her, but being pressed against him, the heat from his body seeping into the cold, dark places inside her, made her forget what she should be doing. Kept her focused on the here and now, and how he made her feel in the moment.

He skimmed one of his hands up her back, leaving a trail of goosebumps along the length of her spine, and slid it into her hair. He closed his fist, sending little prickles tingling across her scalp, and gently tugged. She gasped, every sensation sending sparks sliding through her to throb in her core. Her head fell back. He bent forward.

He brushed his lips against hers, soft, sweet, sexy. She slid her arms around his neck, her hands diving into his hair. And encountering a massive goose egg on the back of his head.

She pulled away and pursed her lips. “Let’s get you patched up”.