After what had happened last night, after what I’d seen and learned, I had a better understanding of Grace now. I knew the reasons why she acted the way she did.
When she’d told me that her sister had died, I had assumed she had been sick or something. I’d never imagined that her sister had been killed, let alone killed in a drunk driving accident.
I vividly remembered the look on her face when she stumbled into that alley. She’d looked like she was going to be sick. She had smelled of alcohol, but she hadn’t been drunk. She said someone had spilled their drink on her. Had that been what made her so upset? The smell of the alcohol? It made sense.
Shit, no wonder she was so conflicted about me. About us. Considering everything that had happened to her, I was surprised she’d gone to that after-party in the first place. But it had been her friend’s birthday, she’d said. She hadn’t wanted to leave her alone.
I owed that friend a huge thanks. If it hadn’t been for her, Grace would have just been some hot girl I’d met in an alley. I wouldn’t have been able to hang out with her after the concert. I wouldn’t have been able to track her down at the baking class. I wouldn’t be right where I was, sitting on Grace’s bed, waiting while she got dressed.
My mind flashed to a dirty place, thinking about Grace naked again. Thinking about how she’d react if I walked into that bathroom and kissed her again. Touched her again.
I was half-tempted to do it, but after everything that had happened last night, with Peter and all of it, I wanted to make sure she was still okay now that it was morning and she’d had time to sleep on it.
I ran a hand through my hair, trying to untangle the mess. I probably only made it worse. I grabbed my dress pants and shirt and slipped them back on. My tie was nowhere to be seen.
I didn’t know who that asshole Peter was, but he’d caused Grace so much hurt and pain. I should have let her punch him in the face.
I had to wonder if she would ever fully heal. It was hard to get over something like that. Hard to get over that feeling of losing someone.
It was hard to get over that feeling of being left behind.
I went into the living room to wait for her, but it wasn’t long before the door to the bathroom swung open.
“Is instant coffee okay?” Grace asked as she came out.
“I’m cool with any—”
I stopped. Grace was wearing a dress that went down to her knees and looked like it was made of soft t-shirt material. It was white, molded to her curves and almost see-through. My cock jumped. Shit, was she even wearing a bra?
Grace breezed past me to the kitchen, not noticing my reaction. From the back, I could see she was wearing a thong. Her ass cheeks were round and firm. I clenched my fists. Goddamn it, this girl killed me without even trying.
“How much cream and sugar?” she said.
“Black is fine.” I didn’t sound strangled, which was a goddamn relief.
“I don’t recommend it.” She took everything out and set it up on the counter.
“Why not?” I asked.
“Instant is awful if you drink it black,” she said, keeping an eye on the kettle.
“Then cream and sugar it is.” Shit, I was getting hard. I tried to shift my cock without her catching me. “Mind if I take a quick shower?” Maybe I could rub one out.
“I’ll get you an extra towel after coffee.” She fiddled with the mugs, moving them around on the counter like she was trying to arrange a fancy place setting.
“I’m going to come out smelling like you,” I said. “All strawberry and vanilla. You always smell like a delicious cake.”
“Is that an innuendo?” she asked as she reached for the boiling kettle.
“Now who’s the one with a dirty mind?” I asked.
“The answer is always you.”
It wasn’t until she started spooning the grains of instant into the cups that I realized something.
Grace was avoiding my eyes.
She hadn’t looked at me once since she came out of the shower. She’d either had her back turned to me or had been focused on making the coffee.
