“Yeah, but I’m a little concerned right now. She sneaked out of my bedroom, and there’s no sign of the woman I took to bed last night.”
“She’s having second thoughts,” Teri said.
“About my proposal?”
Teri nodded her head. “Grace is a delicate kind of flower. She just doesn’t jump into shit, and she is scared.”
“Fuck. Let me go and talk to her.”
“Can I give you a little bit of advice?” Teri asked.
“Yes!” He’d had no intention of proposing marriage to her. Last night, he’d just done what felt right, and he didn’t want to make Grace scared of herself.
“Take your time with her. Don’t rush her, and give her the space she needs.”
He started to pace up and down and faced her. “Do you want me to leave her?”
“No. Just don’t crowd her. Give her a chance to breathe.”
“I’m not squashing her.”
“You are by constantly surrounding her.” Teri grabbed his hand. “You’re a good man. I know this. You know this, but you also need to see that relationships take time. Grace is not like that whore who gave you herpes. She’s not like the women who are fucking you for a leather cut and a title. Grace enjoys being around you. I’ve seen the way she has developed just by being with you. She cares about you, and is probably the only woman who will ever love you for you.”
“Charming,” he said. “And it wasn’t herpes, it was gonorrhea.”
“Whatever. You know I love you, and the club loves you, but this isn’t about that kind of love. This is about the kind of love that will last a lifetime. Now, I didn’t think it was ever going to be possible to love someone like that, but you have proven me wrong. That kind of love exists. I see it in the way you look at Grace, the way she looks at you.”
“I’ll take my time.” He grabbed her arms. “I know Grace, okay. She may not think I do, but I know my woman, and Grace is scared because she thinks something is going to change. She’s probably wondering what the hell we’re going to do, but have a little faith that I won’t go crazy.”
He kissed Teri’s head and made his way back into the diner. Entering the kitchen, he watched Grace stirring a pot of blueberry sauce.
“Hey, baby,” he said, moving toward her.
Grace glanced over her shoulder, and she smiled at him. “Hey.”
Drake saw the concern in her eyes, the fear.
“So, I woke this morning to find my woman had left my bed.”
“I had to come to the diner early, and I didn’t want to wake you.”
He moved behind her, gripping her shoulders. Kissing her neck, he nibbled on her pulse. “You’ve got nothing to be afraid of. Nothing is going to change.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do know that, baby. I know everything.” He wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing his cock against her ass. “Now, you may think I’m going to demand shit of you, but nothing is going to change. If you want, I won’t even get you a ring if you’re not ready.”
“Do you think I’m crazy?”
“Of course. You’re completely crazy, but you know what, I wouldn’t have you any other way.” He turned her to face him, and he cupped her face.
“Do you hate me?”
“I don’t hate you.”
“Most women would be so damn happy right now, and I am, but I’m just … I don’t know.”
“You’re having doubts.”