by Lori Foster
Ben waited for Grace at the bar. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know.” She handed in her order and turned to Ben. “Something’s wrong at the restaurant and they want Noah’s help.”
He frowned in thought. “Agatha is sinking fast. I’m surprised. I really thought she’d hold it together longer than that.”
“It’s a different place now from when she started it all. The atmosphere reflects Noah and his values. He made those changes, those improvements, little by little, but Agatha isn’t as subtle. She’s probably trying to handle things as she always did, by bulldozing forward and making demands, and that won’t work anymore.”
Ben gave her a crooked grin. “All that, huh?”
Blushing, Grace shrugged. “I didn’t mean to psychoanalyze. It’s just that the two of them approach things very differently.”
“It hasn’t even been two weeks since Noah walked out.”
“He oversaw everything. Without that constant supervision, things will fall apart.” Reluctantly, Grace admitted, “I feel sorry for your grandmother.”
Ben snorted at that. “She makes her own problems.”
“Not on purpose. All her life she’s been guided by pride. It’s all she knows. Personally, I think it’s up to you and Noah to show her another way.”
Ben looked stunned by the accusation in her tone.
Grace collected the drinks and walked away while Ben was still sputtering. She didn’t want to wait for him to find a rebuttal to her assessment. It’d be good for him to think about the situation for a while.
As she got near the table, Grace heard Noah say, “I think you should all write your grievances down and take them to Agatha. When she sees that there are more than a few small problems, she’ll have to pay attention.”
“I tried that.” Andrew accepted his scotch and took a healthy drink. “Thanks, Grace.”
Benton sipped at his wine. “It did us no good at all.” He cast a glance at Noah. “She gave us the impression you might be returning to work soon.”
Enrique lounged back in his seat, looking insolent and bored. The collar of his black silk shirt was opened so low, Grace could see a generous amount of curling black chest hair and three silver chains. “Your grandmother thinks that soon, everything will be as it was.”
Noah ignored him, but Andrew said, “Knock it off, Deltorro.”
Enrique shrugged. “Is it so?”
It was clear Enrique asked about more than the situation at the restaurant. Though Noah had said time and again that it was over with Kara, Grace held her breath.
Noah said only, “My grandmother is hopeful.”
Grace turned to walk away—but not before she saw Enrique’s hands curl into fists. She had a strong suspicion now about Kara’s lover, and her heart ached for the other woman. True enough, her parents would not be happy. But then, how could Kara herself be happy?
Enrique was a womanizer of the first order. He wouldn’t be an easy man to love.
Grace waved to Ben as she darted into the back room. She needed a break to think, and now was as good a time as any. The customers were thinning out by the minute and Noah was well occupied.
Grace dropped change into the pop machine and then plopped down at the round table. She propped her feet up on the chair across from her.
She’d just taken a long cold drink when Enrique pushed the door open and stepped in. He found Grace and slowly smiled.
“Enrique! This room is for employees only.” A thought occurred to Grace, and she asked, “Were you looking for the boys’ room?”
His bold gaze never left her as he shrugged and stepped farther inside. “So I said to the others. But I wanted to see you.”
Grace dropped her feet back to the floor and straightened. “Why?”
“Necesito sentir tu piel contra la mia.”
Grace scowled. Her high school Spanish was rusty, but she got the gist of it. I need to feel your skin against mine. She shook her fist at him. “I’ll give you something to feel.”
His dark brows rose and he looked delighted. “You speak Spanish?”
“Not well enough to converse, so perhaps you should…”
He moved closer, around the table, so that he stood at her side. Grace quickly stood. She didn’t like having him loom over her.
He touched her cheek and murmured, “Si tu fueras un postre, saborearia cada bocado, especialmente la crema azotada.”
Grace slapped his hand away. “How dare you! I am not a dessert and there’s no whipped cream on me anywhere.”
He looked sly, and his gaze dipped over her body. “Ah, but I think you are very creamy, sí?”
Perhaps Noah was right, Grace thought with a hint of panic. She had no idea how to deal with a really pushy man. She was so embarrassed, she wanted to sink into the floor. And she was so outraged, she considered hitting Deltorro over the head with a chair.
He reached for Grace and she backed up, then tripped and sprawled into her chair. Grace was thinking she was lucky she hadn’t hit the floor, until Enrique caged her in with his arms.
He leaned down very close to whisper, “Tu tienes un cuerpo de un Diosa.”
Grace had had enough. She shoved against him hard. “You ass. Goddess’s are not fat!”
Noah spoke from the doorway. “I warned you about saying things like that, Grace.”
Grace’s mouth fell open while Enrique moved back and away from her.
Noah’s pose was casual, his words negligent. To someone who didn’t know him well, he might not even look dangerous. But Grace did know him, and she saw right away that his crossed arms were tight with restraint and bulging muscles. His feet were braced as if he might lunge at any minute.
And his eyes blazed like hot blue flames.
“Noah,” Grace squeaked as she scurried around the table and put herself between the two men. “Whatever you’re thinking of doing, you can just stop thinking it.”
He flicked a glance at her face and smiled. There was nothing amusing in that particular curl of his lips. “Not this time, baby.”
Panic skittered down her spine. “Damn you, Noah. I will not have you causing a ruckus where I work.”
Ben edged in around Noah. “Hey Grace. I own the place, and personally, I’m looking forward to watching Noah take him apart.”
“Ben!”
He smiled and started to tug her out of the line of hostility.
Grace reacted before either brother could stop her. She threw herself against Noah and locked her arms around his neck. “This is not going to happen.”
Noah tried to pry her loose, but short of hurting her, he couldn’t. And she knew he wouldn’t hurt her. “Turn loose, Grace.”
“No.” She pressed her face into his throat.
“I’ll just hit him once or twice,” Noah soothed, trying to convince her.
She tightened her arms around him. “No and no! You’re not hitting anyone, so forget it.”
Noah gave up with a growling sigh. With Grace hanging down his chest like a chunky necklace, he stalked toward Enrique. With each stomping step he took, Grace got jostled.
But she didn’t let go.
Noah kept one hand on Grace’s back, protecting her, even cuddling her. With the other he grabbed Enrique by the collar. Judging by the flex of chest muscles under her cheek, Grace knew he’d lifted Enrique right off the floor.
She heard the solid thump of a body hitting the wall.
“I’ll say this just once, Deltorro.” Noah’s words were low, gritty, and so mean, even Grace flinched. “Touch her again, fucking look at her again, and I’ll kill you.”
Grace cringed. Good grief, that was rather blunt and to the point.
Their relationship was out of the bag now.
Surprisingly, Enrique didn’t turn tail and run. “You did not fight for Kara,” he spat.
“No, I didn’t, did I?” There was another thump as Noah bounced the older man up against the wall again. “But don’t think this time
will be the same. You wanted Kara and now you have her. Be satisfied with that, because if you come near Grace again, I’ll take you apart.”
Grace could feel the rippling anger in Noah, the heat of rage pulsing off him, and she held on, uncertain what else to do.
Enrique, pulling the tiger’s tail, growled, “And if I’m not satisfied?”
Grace wanted to groan. She pushed back from Noah, ready to give Enrique a piece of her mind.
A feminine gasp intruded on the room of pulsing testosterone.
“Enrique?”
Noah turned, which meant Grace and Enrique turned as well, being that he held one and the other held him. Ben pushed to his feet. A collective breath was held as Kara stepped through the kitchen and into the break room.
She stared at Enrique and big tears welled in her blue eyes, her bottom lip quivering.
Noah released Enrique with a shove and closed both arms about Grace. His hands rubbed her back distractedly. She felt him press a kiss to a temple, but all her attention was on Kara.
Her heart wrenched in sympathy at what Kara had just overheard.
Enrique looked at Kara as if she’d materialized from the air. “Mi amor…”
For a moment Kara looked ready to crumble to the floor. She was pale, her expression strained, tired, confused. And then she thrust up her chin. “You…you bastard!”
With her head high and her shoulders straight, she turned and strode back through the kitchen.
Ben looked at Enrique in disgust.
Noah just scowled at him.
But Grace pushed loose of Noah’s hold. “You big jerk!” She didn’t think about it, she just drew back and popped Enrique right in the nose.
He howled.
Noah stared at her and said in surprise, “Grace,” while Ben fell into the wall, laughing.
Shaking her bruised hand, Grace retorted, “You can damn well hit him, too, if you want. He deserves it.”
Enrique held his bleeding nose and started out of the room, ignoring everyone as he shouted, “Kara!”
Ben cocked a brow. “Thank God she had enough sense to come in through the kitchen, otherwise this floor show might rival Enrique’s performance at the restaurant.”
Grace rounded on Ben, furious at his apparent insensitivity.
He held up both hands. “Don’t hit me, slugger.”
Grace thought about hitting him anyway, but her hand hurt too much.
Ben laughed. “Hell, I feel like I’m watching a soap opera, with all these twists and turns. Am I the only one not sleeping around on the sly?”
Noah gave him a shove and attempted to pull Grace close again. “Let me see your hand. Did you hurt yourself?”
Grace pulled back. “Noah, you should go check on her.”
He shook his head. “Hell no.”
“She’s your friend.”
“It’s a private matter, Grace, between her and Deltorro.”
Grace scowled at him. “But he hurt her.”
Noah took her hand again, examining her knuckles. “Kara’s a big girl and she chose him. As long as he has enough sense to stay away from you, they can work it out on their own.”
Grace slapped his hands away and stalked out. Noah started after her. “Damn it, Grace.”
Her hips swayed righteously, but she didn’t slow down.
Ben grinned and followed them both. “I’ll admit I’m curious how this will play out.”
Grace heard them both stomping after her. They found Enrique in the kitchen, boxing Kara into a corner. He held a dish towel to his nose while rambling in mixed Spanish and English.
Kara kept half-heartedly attempting to push him away. “Forget it, Enrique.” She sniffed delicately. “I should have known better than to ever trust the bull.”
“I did not choose the nickname!”
“No,” Kara said, sounding defeated, “but you chose to live up to it.”
Enrique shook his head. His normally melodic voice was nasal, given the way he pinched his nose with the towel. “You are the one ashamed of our love. You are the one who said I should continue to flirt, so no one would suspect.”
Kara’s stricken expression darkened with guilt. “I never told you to flirt with her!” She pointed over his shoulder at Grace.
Grace, feeling sheepish, rushed to explain. “He was just trying to rile Noah because he’s mad that Noah didn’t fight for you.”
“Sí, sí!”
Kara looked skeptical, but then, so did Noah and Ben.
“I’m supposed to believe that after what I just heard? I’m not that big a fool, Enrique.” More tears welled in her eyes. “You said you weren’t satisfied with me.”
“No, no,” Enrique muttered. “Tu eres el aire que respiro.”
Grace could tell Kara didn’t understand and leaned in to translate. “ You are the air that I breathe.’”
Kara smacked at him, and he let her. “Why is it,” she demanded, “you only speak Spanish when you’re trying to seduce me?”
He waved a hand, gesturing to his head. “Thinking English is impossible when I want you. And I always want you.”
Her expression softened, her chest expanded. “Now?”
“Sí.” Enrique cupped Kara’s cheek with his free hand; it was shaking. “Necestio probarle.”
Kara, frowning suspiciously, looked at Grace. Grace smiled and said, “ I need to taste you.’”
Ben nudged Noah. “I never thought I’d hear Grace talking dirty to another woman. It’s sort of a turn-on, huh?”
Glaring, Noah smacked Ben in the side of the head.
Enrique edged closer to Kara. He didn’t kiss her—after all, his nose was bloody—but he did cuddle her. Close to her ear, he said, “Yo estube so-lament medio vivo hasta el momento en que te conosi.”
Grace spoke sotto voce. “ I was only half alive until I met you.’” Her own heart fluttered. How romantic.
Predictably, Kara melted. “Oh, Enrique.”
“Yo te amo.” His expression of love was plain to one and all, so Grace didn’t translate I love you. Enrique pulled Kara into his chest and began mumbling soft Spanish apologies mixed with more words of deep affection.
Contented, Grace went to the sink, got a clean dish towel, and reached over Enrique’s shoulder to exchange with him.
He spared her a glance. His black eyes were solemn. “Gracias.”
She turned to Noah with a huge smile and her own sheen of tears. “Isn’t love grand?”
Ben looked at the ceiling and whistled.
Smiling, Noah hauled her close. “I thought your right hook was grand.” As he led her out of the kitchen, he added, “I can’t believe you wouldn’t let me hit him, but you sure as hell didn’t hold back.”
Grace blushed, especially when she heard Ben laughing again behind her. “I lost my temper.” She shook her hand, looking for a tad of sympathy. “And it hurt, so you can believe I won’t do it again.”
Noah lifted her hand and kissed her fingers. “If Ben is ready to call it a night, I’ll take you home and…make you feel all better.”
Ben gestured magnanimously. “Yeah, go on, Grace. It’s time to close up anyway.”
“Are you sure?” Normally Grace would have stayed till the very last minute. But it had been an eventful night, and they were leaving for Florida in the morning. She was so excited, she could hardly contain herself.
Ben bent and kissed her forehead. “I’m positive. But don’t forget to pick up your tips.”
While Grace collected money from the empty tables, Noah said his final good-byes to Andrew and Benton. A few minutes later, Enrique came out. He was no longer holding his nose, but it was swollen and red.
Andrew gave Enrique an incredulous look. “Is the john through an obstacle course?”
Enrique ignored him.
There was no sign of Kara. Grace assumed they were still keeping their involvement secret. She shook her head, and now her sympathy was for Enrique as well.
The three m
en were still standing there when Noah called, “Grace, you ready?”
She looked up in surprise. “Uh, yes.”
“Come on, then. We can all walk out together.”
Unsure of Noah’s purpose, Grace approached. Noah slipped his arm around her waist and gave her an affectionate squeeze. His actions announced to one and all that they were together.
Andrew’s eyebrows rose, Benton grinned, and Enrique looked away.
Noah said, “Grace and I are heading down to Florida for the weekend, but when I get back, I’ll see what I can do about the situation at the restaurant.”
“Thank God,” Andrew muttered, but he was still distracted by Noah’s possessive hold on Grace.
“I’m not making any promises,” Noah warned, “but Grace is trying to make me feel guilty about the whole thing and I hate to disappoint her, so I’ll see what I can do.”
Grace went very still as she considered Noah and what he’d said. He made it sound as though her wishes were important to him. Grace liked that, probably more than was sensible. But at the same time, she didn’t want Noah to do anything for her that he wouldn’t do for himself.
A lot had changed in one night.
Grace wasn’t at all sure what it meant, but it still made her heart swell, and it still made her foolishly hopeful. Because the more time she spent with Noah, the more she wanted to spend her whole life with him.
But Noah had been honest up front—he wanted her for sex, and only sex.
She wouldn’t make him regret their bargain.
Chapter Fourteen
“Kara is a fool.”
Noah hadn’t meant to speak aloud, but as he watched Grace unpack a long floral sarong, realizations bombarded him. Damn, but he’d fallen in love with Grace. Or maybe he’d always loved her.
When he’d seen Deltorro eyeing her, his blood had boiled. When Andrew and Benton had eyed her in speculation, he’d been compelled to protect her, to make their relationship public. Unlike Kara, he wanted the world to know that Grace was his.
From the time he’d been a child, alone, always on the outside, Noah had thought about what he’d need to be happy, whole. He’d made plans and worked toward his goals. He’d seen others with large families and had put that at the top of his list. Family meant you belonged, that you were someone rather than a nobody sitting in a dark alley, wishing for unattainable things. He’d wanted a home to return to each night, money so he would never wear hand-me-downs or stolen clothes again.