by Jodi Vaughn
After work, he knew what he had to do. He’d gone home and showered before making the journey over to Grace’s house. The sun was setting, casting orange and pink swirls in the sky, as he pulled into her driveway.
Taking a deep breath, he got out of his truck and made his way to the front door. He knocked several times. No one answered.
She’s intentionally avoiding me. Not that I blame her.
“Grace, it’s Sloan. Can you please open the door?” He blew out a breath and waited.
No answer.
“Grace, I know you’re here. I see your car.”
She was going to make this apology hard on him.
He turned around and smacked into Grace.
Grace stumbled backward toward the steps. He reached for her before she fell, and pulled her into his chest.
“Are you all right?” He stared down into her deep blue eyes. He could feel her heart beating against his chest through her thin T-shirt. “I’m sorry. I didn’t see you. I thought you were in the house . . .”
She arched her brow. “Did you think I was hiding from you?”
“Actually, that’s exactly what I was thinking.” He grimaced.
She glared at him and pushed against his chest. He released his hold.
“I wouldn’t blame you if you were.” His gaze took in every delicious inch. Her dark hair was pulled through the back of a white baseball cap and fell loose down her back. She wore cut off denim shorts that showed off her toned legs, and her white T-shirt hugged her curves. She made his mouth water and his dick ache.
She was gorgeous.
“I was working in the backyard.” She held up the hand shears and gave a little wave.
“Oh.” He nodded, unable to remember how to form words.
“I was cutting back the ivy on the gazebo. It has taken the whole thing over.” She brushed a smear of dirt off her T-shirt.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I had no idea there was a gazebo in the back. Then again, it’s been years since I’ve been over here.” He glanced out across her freshly cut lawn. “I see you bought a lawn mower.”
She glanced at the yard before meeting his gaze. “I borrowed it from Tabitha.”
“Tabitha has a lawn mower? I didn’t know she knew how to cut grass.”
Grace narrowed her eyes. “Is there something I can do for you, Mr. Jackson?”
He cringed, hating how formal she was being with him. He knew he deserved it.
“I came here to apologize. I was being a . . .”
“A dick?” She offered up the term with a sarcastic smile.
“Yes. I was being a dick and I’m truly sorry for what I said.”
“I see,” she said slowly.
“I need to explain.”
“You don’t owe me an explanation.”
“I do owe you an explanation.” He took a deep breath. “You see, after I broke up with my fiancée, Allison has made it her mission to set me up on blind dates.”
“Why? Can’t you get a date on your own?” She cocked her head.
“No. I mean, of course I can.” He shook his head. “What I’m trying to say is I’m not trying to get a date at all.”
“Are you gay?”
“What? No, I’m not gay.” Did he give her that impression?
“No need to get so defensive.”
“I’m not defensive. I’m just not interested in Allison meddling in my private life.”
“Good luck with that. I don’t know her well, but she seems to be the meddling kind.” She gave him a sympathetic smile.
He chuckled. “She is. In her defense, she means well. I think she wants everyone to have a happy ending.” His grin slipped. “She’s worried that you aren’t going to want to be her friend anymore because of me.”
She crossed her arms and lifted her chin. The angle showed off her perfect cheekbones. “I don’t judge people by the action of others. Allison didn’t do anything to me.”
“She has a big heart and has always worried what other people think. I just don’t want to be the reason your friendship is ruined. She really admires you.”
“Admires me? Why?” Grace’s eyes widened, surprise etched into her face.
“You moved halfway across the country to start a new life in a strange town. You’re making a life for yourself without anyone’s help. She admires you for your fearlessness.”
“I’m not fearless.” She looked away but not before he saw sadness flicker in her gaze.
“I don’t know. Not many people would do what you did. It requires courage.”
She shifted her weight, obviously uncomfortable with his praise. “I’ll talk to Allison. I was going to call her anyway to see if the offer to ride with her to the yard sale was still open.” She glanced at her oatmeal-colored sedan. “I don’t think I can haul anything in my car.”
He smiled as the tension left his chest. “Thanks. You’re saving my butt. If I had left here without getting anywhere, Allison would never forgive me. It would be microwave dinners for the rest of my life.”
Grace grinned.
A deep yell came from within the woods. Grace jumped, clutching her shears in both hands. It only took a fraction of a second for Sloan to see the fear in her eyes.
“Shade, come back,” a male voice echoed across the yard.
Sloan turned, just as a streak of black raced past him. The bounding black lab raced up the steps and slammed into Grace, knocking her to the ground.
“Get off her.” Sloan grabbed the eager beast by its collar and hauled it off Grace. He knelt beside her, his heart pounding in his chest like a jackhammer.
“Are you okay?” He helped her sit up.
“I’m fine.” She batted his hand away as he brushed her hair out of her eyes.
“Shade, come here.” Greg, the shaggy-haired teen and owner of the dog, jogged over to the steps.
Sloan helped Grace to her feet and shot Greg a glare.
“Sorry, Sloan, he got away from me.” Greg clipped the leash on the dog’s collar and gave him an apologetic look.
Sloan didn’t loosen his hold on Grace’s waist. “You need to keep that dog on a leash, Greg. I’ve told you that a million times.”
“I can’t do that, Sloan. He’s a water dog. How’s he going to learn to fetch up a duck with a leash on his neck?” Greg huffed, looking every bit his eighteen years.
“Wait. You were in my pond?” Grace looked from Greg back to him.
“Yes.” Sloan pinched the bridge of his nose. “Greg, you can’t use that pond anymore.”
“Why not?”
“Because Grace bought this house along with the property, which includes the pond.”
“So?”
“You’re trespassing.”
“We’ve always used the pond. Hell, everyone in town has.” Greg narrowed his eyes at Grace as if she were to blame.
“Watch your language.” Sloan took a step forward. Greg was just a kid. He didn’t mean any harm, but his lack of respect for Grace irritated him. “Go home. And put that damn dog on a leash.”
“Fine.” Greg hung his head. “Come on, Shade.” He gave a tug on the leash. The dog followed behind his irresponsible owner.
“Sorry about Greg . . .” His gaze landed on her leg.
“What?” She followed his eyes down to the cut. “Oh, wow. I didn’t even feel it.” She looked back at him. “I need to clean up this scratch.”
“Jesus, it’s not a scratch. You could probably use stitches.”
“No. I’m not going to the hospital.” She shook her head, took a step, and stumbled.
He wrapped his hand around her slender waist. “What’s your aversion to hospitals anyway?”
She spoke through gritted teeth. “Like I told your sister, I don’t have insurance.”
“The ER can’t refuse you treatment because you don’t have insurance. It’s the law.”
“Good to know. I’m not going to the ER just so they can slap on a bandaid.” She narrowed her e
yes.
“Fine. Where is your first aid kit?”
She sighed. “I haven’t had time to buy one. If I had known I would get run over by a car and attacked by a dog, I would have added it to my shopping list.”
He chuckled. “Stay here. I have one in my truck.” He jogged over and came back with a white box. “Hold this.”
She took the white box as he scooped her up in his arms.
“Are you crazy? Put me down.” She wiggled against him and his body immediately heated.
“Stop wiggling. It’s faster if I carry you.” He took the steps, two at a time, and stopped at the front door. He made sure not to step on the loose board and waited for her to turn the knob.
Stepping inside, a fresh clean scent washed over him. Looking around, he was amazed at how much progress she had made. The wood floors gleamed and not a speck of dust was found on the little bit of furniture she owned. Even the windows sparkled. She’d definitely been using a lot of elbow grease.
He placed her on the small wicker loveseat in the living room and stood.
“Point me to the kitchen.”
“Through there.”
He returned with a couple of dishtowels and a plastic bowl of warm soapy water. He knelt and dipped the towel into bowl and before gently cleaning her cut.
She sucked in a breath between her teeth.
He froze and looked up into her blue eyes. “Am I hurting you?”
“It just stings a little.”
When he finished cleaning the cut he placed a bandage over it. “I’ve put some antibiotic ointment on it. Hopefully it won’t get infected.”
“Thanks,” she said softly.
His gaze landed on a large bruise on her thigh. His fingertips grazed the skin above the yellow discoloration. “This is where the car hit you.”
“It looks a lot better than it did.” She stood.
“You still should have filed an accident report. Insurance would have paid for any damages.”
“I didn’t have any damages, remember?” She gave him a tense smile. “No need to go to all that trouble for nothing.”
“Grace . . .”
“Thank you for your help.” She headed toward the front door. “I’ve got a lot to do. A house doesn’t fix itself, you know.”
“You can always ask for help.” He stepped closer and brushed her hair across her shoulder. Her cap had fallen off when she fell. Her hair now lay in dark silk ribbons around her shoulders.
She licked her lips and stepped back.
He knew when he was being dismissed. He opened the door. “Keep that bandage on until morning.”
Was he that rusty? Or was she just not into him?
That should have been a relief. He didn’t need another female throwing their panties at him, right?
On the drive home, he couldn’t stop wondering about what kind of panties Grace preferred.
***
Grace was up before dawn the day of famed annual yard sale. She’d spent the rest of the week carefully taking inventory of what she needed to make her house a home. She’d make do with the furniture that had come with the house, which was minimal at best. Other than the wicker love seat, a few end tables, a kitchen table and her new mattress, her house was practically bare. It looked more like it belonged to a college student with a future, not a twenty-eight year old woman with a past.
Her past. Just like that it was once again looming in front of her like an angry tornado, threatening to destroy everything in its path.
She grabbed a cup and reached for the coffee pot determined to push the negative thoughts away. She smiled as she poured herself a cup of coffee into the chipped chintz tea cup. She discovered the chipped cup in a box of things in the attic. She couldn’t bring herself to throw it away. Despite the damage it was still beautiful. She made a point to use it every day after that, determined to give it another chance at life.
The tea cup fit perfectly with her idea of a shabby chic theme. She didn’t want new things that matched perfectly. No, she wanted the unloved and outdated so she could make it her own.
The deep honking from a group of geese broke the early morning silence as they flew overhead in the direction of her pond. A surge of guilt hit her. She’d been so busy getting her house in order that she had yet to walk down to the pond and see it for herself.
After her shopping trip today, she’d remedy that.
She opened up the back door and made her way onto the step to sit. She shivered as the cool morning air hit her bare legs. She wrapped her robe tighter around her chilled skin.
The first few trills of a bird’s melody against the drone of frogs played against one another in an unlikely but beautiful symphony. A clump of daffodils near a small tree splayed its color against an otherwise green canvas. The soft scent of a pink flowering vine,which insisted on climbing up the porch railing, tickled her nose.
It had seemed like forever since she’d been at peace.
It seemed like only yesterday she was fighting to make her escape from a monster she’d thought she loved.
The image of Sloan popped into her head. With his dark blond hair and deep blue eyes, he exuded a male confidence that she found sexy. And whenever he touched her, she couldn’t get her heart rate under control. That, in itself, was dangerous.
She wouldn’t make that mistake again. Love wasn’t worth it.
***
Allison pulled up in Sloan’s white truck thirty minutes late.
Grace met her in the driveway, eager to get going.
“Sorry I’m late. Sloan was trying to make sure I knew where all the buttons and hidden gadgets were located.” Allison shook her head. “He has a thing about someone else driving his truck. He acts like I’ve never driven a vehicle before.”
Grace chuckled. “At least he lent it to you. Some men wouldn’t part with their things for a million dollars.”
Allison’s eyes twinkled as she smiled. “I hope you’re ready to fill your house with some great deals. Do you know what you are looking for?”
“I have a vague idea.” Grace followed her to the truck. “I’m hoping I’ll know it when I see it.”
They arrived at the yard sale with the event in full swing. The whole town had apparently turned out. Cars lined the side of the road where white tents were erected to house different booths.
Grace was thrilled with the wide array of contemporary and antique furniture that was available. The whole yard sale started on one side of town and wound its way to the interstate. Their plan had been to park at various parking spots available throughout the whole event. So far, they managed to cover about half of the actual sale.
“I can’t believe you bought those chairs.” Allison bit her lip as she looked at the pair of barrel-style chairs. “The upholstery is pulling away at the seams.” She flicked her nail where the green and yellow plaid material was tearing.
Grace bent over the pair and smiled. “I didn’t buy them to keep them like this.”
“Thank God. For a moment I was thinking you had horrible taste.” Allison sighed.
“Is that what that constipated look was for?”
Allison’s eyes widened in horror. “I don’t look constipated. Do I?”
Grace laughed. It felt good. She’d not felt this free in a long time. “I plan on re-upholstering both chairs in the material I bought.”
“You mean that soft beige chenille?”
“I think once I do that, they’ll be perfect for the living room.”
Allison nodded. “They would look perfect. Actually, you’ve given me an idea for a house I just got hired to redecorate. You have quite an eye for decorating.”
She shook her head. “No, not really. I just know what I want my home to feel like.”
“What’s that? Comfy?”
“No. A safe harbor.”
Allison screwed up her face and Grace’s heart stopped. She’d said too much. She’d been so absorbed in the excitement of buying furniture that she’d gotten
too comfortable.
A loud growl came from Allison’s stomach.
“I’m sorry. Do you mind if we stop and grab something to eat? I’m starving.” Allison pressed her palm to her stomach and flushed bright red.
Grace relaxed. “Absolutely. You should have said something sooner.”
A few minutes later they were seated in a red booth at the Greasy Fork Café.
“The burgers are really good.” Allison didn’t even bother opening her laminated menu.
Grace nodded. With a name like Greasy Fork Café, they better be. “I’ll have that then.” She couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten a burger. When she started her training for the ballet, she’d been very conscious about every calorie. Despite her thin frame, she knew a couple of pounds could make or break your career.
She’d lost weight over the last months. The stress, along with a poor diet, didn’t make a person gain weight.
Those days were over.
Grace was halfway through with her meal when she caught Allison’s gaze focused on the door.
“What’s he doing here?” Allison crossed her arms and scowled.
“Who?” Grace followed Allison’s gaze.
Sloan.
She froze. The blood drained from her face into a nauseating puddle in her stomach.
He was dressed in a police uniform shirt and jeans with a very large gun holstered to his waist.
Sloan was a cop.
She turned back and clasped her sweating hands in her lap. Her heart galloped painfully in her chest. Did he know who she was? Was he here to arrest her?
She would probably have a heart attack before he could get the cuffs on.
“Hello, ladies.”
She jumped at the sound of his deep voice.
“Sloan, what are you doing here? Please tell me you don’t want your truck back already. We’re not done yet.”
Grace avoided his gaze and reached for her glass of tea. She said a silent prayer when she managed to hold it without it slipping out of her fingers. She took a sip, the ice-cold liquid barely sliding down her tight throat.
“I just got off and came in to grab something to eat.” He pulled off his aviator sunglasses. “How’s the shopping going?”