“That’s the crux of it, isn’t it?”
“It is. It should stop me in my tracks. I knew before you left my office the first day I was in trouble. I should have asked to have you with Lynn first and given myself time to build up my defenses.”
“Would that have helped?”
“No.”
“So, what do we do?”
“I have no idea. Except I do know this. I’m powerless to stay away from you, Grace.”
“I feel the same way.”
I bent my head, meeting her lips. “Then we figure it out together.”
Chapter 8
Jaxson
I didn’t want to leave her, and I was pleased to find out Gracie loved Chinese food as much as I did, so we ordered in dinner. We sat on the sofa, sharing containers, eating with chopsticks, and talking. I loved listening to her voice. I discovered in the office when I was upset or angry, locating her voice, hearing the tone, seemed to calm me. If she was busy and quiet, I found excuses to ask her questions, simply to listen to her.
She told me about growing up, the BAM Compound, her best friend/cousin’s upcoming wedding, and a multitude of other funny stories. I made sure to stay clear of anything else too heavy tonight. She had already shared something painful, and I didn’t want her upset again. I indicated the bookshelves under the windows.
“You like to read.”
She nodded enthusiastically around a mouthful of noodles. “My mom got me into it. She always read to us as kids, and as I got older, I read to my siblings.” She grinned. “My dad did too, but he liked to use voices and make us laugh.”
“You’re very close to him.”
“I am. He’s always been there for me—for all of us—but we have a special bond.”
I went back to the original topic. “I would have taken you for a Kindle girl.”
“Oh, I have one. It’s great for travel and on the bus, but at home, I like books. I like holding them, the feel of the pages.” She paused. “Do you read?”
I winked. “It’s helpful in my line of work. Contracts and all.”
She threw back her head in laughter. “Cheeky. I mean do you like to read in your spare time? Books?”
I stroked my chin, looking thoughtful. “Is porn included?”
“I am going to give you a facer if you’re not careful.”
I frowned in confusion. “A facer? Is that like a different word for a blow job? Because I’m all for it.” I waggled my eyebrows for effect, and she rewarded me with a loud giggle-snort, covering her mouth, which made me laugh.
“No, a facer is not a blow job. It’s an, ah, expression I read a lot in books. It means punch you in the face.”
“I’ve never heard of that expression.”
Soft color diffused her cheeks. “You probably don’t read the sorts of books I do. I, ah, have a thing.”
The way she was blushing and her hesitant words piqued my interest. “A thing, Gracie VanRyan? What sort of thing?” I leaned closer, grinning. “Do you read, like, dino-porn?” I tickled her under the chin. “I hear that’s a thing.”
She slapped my hand away. “No. I like historical romance.”
I couldn’t help but tease her. “Historical? As in dukes and rakes?”
Her color deepened. “Yes. Especially dukes and rakes. I love losing myself in that world.”
“I see. I suppose I fall under the category of rake.”
“Yes, you do.”
“Hmm.” I set aside my container and chopsticks, wiping my mouth. She watched me as I took her chopsticks, never breaking eye contact as I licked the last of the sauce from the ends and tossed them into the container with mine. She gasped as I hauled her onto my lap and kissed her. Long. Slow. With intent. She tasted of soy sauce and spice. Grace.
Perfection.
“What are you doing?” she murmured.
“Keeping up my reputation.”
She wound her arms around my neck. “I thought maybe you were showing me a different kind of facer.”
“If that’s a challenge, Gracie, I accept.”
Grace
Nothing in my life prepared me for Jaxson Richards. The logical part of my brain screamed at me that what was happening was wrong. But being in his arms felt so right. It didn’t matter he was older, jaded, grumpy, or my boss. I didn’t care about anything except the feeling of his mouth on mine, the way his heat soaked into my body as he held me tight, or the ache deep inside me I needed him to ease.
I didn’t have a lot of experience, but I’d dated. My parents had been fairly strict—especially my dad—and the fact was that, growing up, I spent most of my summers here in Ontario with my extended family. Unlike Addi, my soul mate wasn’t among them. They were my cousins, my friends, and that was all. Back in BC, I hung with friends, mostly in groups, rarely starting a relationship, knowing I’d been gone every summer and over a lot of holidays. Plus, the fact that there was never anyone I was very interested in. I had shared a kiss or two with a few boys and I went steady once, and that was about it. When I left BC and came to Toronto, I met a few men, even had a longtime boyfriend, but it ended mutually. We both agreed our lives were headed in different directions and wished each other well. He had been my first, and since we’d broken up, I had only had a relationship with one other man.