Fall From Grace

I lean back in my chair, adjusting my skirt. “Not particularly.”

His eyes flash down to my legs where my skirt has risen to midthigh from sitting down. “You sure about that? It’s not some fantasy you have?”

I feel my neck getting warm as I turn my head to the table. “No.” My voice is quiet. Because at this point I feel like it is. His hand is suddenly on my thigh, causing me to jump.

“I think you’re lying,” he says to me, then leans over to my ear as his hand glides higher. “I think you have a lot of fantasies about me.”

I bite my lip as I try to keep my thighs from clenching together. I pull his hand off my leg and gather my wits. “I think it’s you that has fantasies about me. But nice try trying to turn the tables.”

He chuckles as he settles back into his chair just as two men approach the table. I know which one is his brother instantly. And not because of the blue eyes that give him away. But the way he holds himself, the similar build, and the same cocky attitude on his face. The other one answers his phone and walks back to the front of the restaurant.

“Carson, so glad you could make time for your dear older brother.”

“If you keep talking like that, this will be the last time I make time to have lunch with you,” Carson jokes.

“Nice try.” His brother laughs then turns to me. “You must be Grace Prescott.”

I stand and shake his hand. “Nice to meet you…”

“Wow, he didn’t even tell you my name. What a dick. I’m Noah Taylor. The nicest brother.”

Carson throws him a glare and I can’t help but laugh.

“I am sure that’s true. Working for this guy can be a real pain in the ass.”

Noah throws his head back in laughter. “I like you. I hope you put him in his place.”

“Stop acting like I’m the worst of us, bro. Besides, you know Grace is only here for a short amount of time.”

Noah sits down. “I’m sure Owen would like it if you stayed.”

“He would,” I answer. “But it won’t happen.”

“Probably not the only one who wants you to stay,” Noah mutters under his breath but loud enough for me to hear. I discreetly look over at Carson and find him glaring at Noah. Fuck, Noah knows I fucked his brother. He probably saw him leaning into me as he walked in.

The other man approaches the table. “Sorry about that, had a call I had to take. I’m sure all I missed was some brotherly bickering.”

Noah shakes his head at him. “This is Jack Herst. I work with him at the precinct.”

“Nice to meet you,” Carson cuts in before I can say anything.

“I’m Grace, Carson’s girlfriend.”

Both Carson and Noah shoot me a look. While Noah’s is confusion, Carson looks like he wants to drag me out of here by the hair and demand why I just said that. But their faces change just as fast as they look at me.

Small talk begins as the server comes to greet us. I order the largest pour of wine they offer and get a look from Carson that tells me if things were different between us he wouldn’t be happy about that. Even though he orders a scotch.

I’m annoyed as the men talk, not letting me get a word in. Not that I care about what they are talking about when it comes to sports. I perk up a bit when they bring up politics but just sip my wine and listen.

“Speaking of politics, I heard you were at the crime scene for Governor Phillips.”

Herst nods. “I was. Such a tragedy that his family was killed.”

“Is that how you see it? That someone killed his family?” Carson asks.

I do have to give him credit, he snuck that into conversation well.

Herst sighs. “I’ve seen a lot of crime scenes. Seen a lot of murders that are crimes of passion. And I know that is what the prosecution is claiming but I don’t think that’s what happened at all.”