“I promise you, I’m trying to heal the cracks I made.”
“Why now? Why not when she was being attacked by your ex-wife, your mother, the world?”
Tegan places her arm around him, and kisses his cheek. “E, let him go. He needs to give Grace those answers.”
“If she comes back in here crying, I’m going to kick your ass.”
“Understood.”
I step outside, and hear the glass going opaque as I close the door. My sister is a goddess, and I’m going to tell her that once we’re back inside.
“What do you want, Keir?” Grace asks, looking out over the city.
“How did you know it was me? My cologne?”
She shakes her head. “I always know when you’re close.”
“Same.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“I needed to see you, and tell you some things. I got stopped by your smitten assistant on my way out, or I would’ve been here sooner,” I tell her, going to stand next to her at the enclosed railing.
“Ethan is one of the only people who saw me break down after the press conference, so he’s a little protective.”
“I should’ve been there.”
She shrugs. “You should be where you want to be.”
“Next to you is where I always want to be, but I’ve done a fucked-up job of showing it.”
“I wouldn’t hurt those boys. Ever.”
“I know you wouldn’t. They’re your boys, and they need you.”
She shakes her head. “They’re not mine. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“The hell they aren’t! Those boys have belonged to you from the moment you picked Connor up, and held Trevor’s hand at the game. They are yours, and if you still want me, so am I.”
“I owe you an apology for the photos. I picked ones that weren’t your best, because I wanted to punish you. You hurt me more than I’ve ever been hurt in my life, and didn’t stand up for me after it, and I wanted you to hurt too. I couldn’t do it personally, so I tried to do it with work. That was completely unprofessional, and morally wrong.”
“You think I didn’t hurt? The boys are the only things that kept me going most days. Seeing you, and not being able to hold you, kiss you, touch you…talk to you. Don’t you know what that did to me?”
“No. How would I? How would I know you cared at all? You didn’t talk to me, you didn’t stand up for me when your ex said I was a slutty, bad influence on your sons. So tell me, Keir, how the fuck would I know?”
Shit. “You didn’t.”
“I’m tired of fighting, Keir. For you, for respect, for everything. I’m just so tired.”
“Let me fight your battles for you.”
“I don’t need you to fight them for me. I need you to fight with me.”
“I would be honored to stand at your side.”
“For how long?”
“Forever. I love you, Gracie.”
“I need time to think.”
I want to hear her say she loves me, but she’s already done that, and I treated her like shit. I’ll give her whatever she needs to figure out I’m all in with her, and I’m not changing my mind. I can’t completely hate Jacky, because she gave me my boys, but what I felt for her once is nothing like what I feel for Grace now. Not even close.
19
Grace
I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. If I repeat it to myself enough, maybe I’ll believe it.
It’s the morning after the party, and I’m standing outside Miles and Alex’s condo, working up the nerve to ring the doorbell. I’m still on their guest list, so I was able to park, and come upstairs, without being announced, but I can’t bring myself to do the final thing I need to do.
The door opens, and Alex pulls me into a hug. “I was trying to wait for you to work up the nerve, but I needed to hug you more.”
“I’m sorry I left.”
“Nope. You don’t get to do that.”
“Do what?” I ask with a laugh.
“Apologize for standing up for yourself.”
“I over-reacted.”
“I shouldn’t have ever put you in that position to begin with,” Miles says.
I didn’t notice him sitting on the couch, because Alex had all my attention, but I can’t ignore him as he gets to his feet. “Hi.”
“I’ll leave the two of you alone, but you better come find me before you leave,” Alex tells me, hugging me once more.
“Do you want some water?” Miles asks me, once she’s headed upstairs in their elevator.
“Sure.”
I follow him into their kitchen, sitting on one of the stools at the island. He puts the glass in front of me, and takes a seat at my side. “I’m sorry, Grace. You have to know I didn’t do it because you’re a woman, or even because I was trying to exclude you.”
“Why did you do it?”
“I saw how hard it was for you to be around Keir. I saw how much that press conference took from you. And mostly, I saw how you worked harder than everyone to make my life easier. I wanted to give something back to you, and I thought taking the hotel pictures off your plate was that thing.”
“And his choice of pictures was better.”
“There’s that too,” he agrees with a smile.
“I was completely unprofessional.”
“You wouldn’t have let us use your pictures.”
“You don’t know that.”
He smiles again. “When someone quits, the IT team goes through their computer, and email. I saw the draft email you’d composed, telling me you’d changed your mind about the pictures.”
“I didn’t send it. I don’t even know if I ever would have.”
“Well, I’m choosing to believe you would.”
“I put you in a bad position, and while Matt said I could have my job back, I want you to be sure.”
“Grace, your job has always been yours and yours alone. HR doesn’t even know you quit.”
“But the computer, and going to New York…”
“Ainsley went through your computer for me,” he admits. “As for New York, you were just on another trip for me.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll forgive me for being an ass, and give Keir another chance.”
“It would be his third.”
“So, he’s not out yet.”
“No, Mr. Baseball, he’s not. And you’re forgiven.”
“Perfect. Are you hanging out?”
“Just for a few minutes. I have some boys to see.”
“And their dad?”
“And their dad.”
We hug it out, before I find Alex in her library and fill her in on everything. She tells me to go for everything I want, and that’s exactly what I intend to do.
The next door I find myself outside of also opens before I can ring the bell, but this time, it’s because they were watching for me. I know, because Connor tells me, and it makes me hug them even tighter.
“Grace is here,” Trevor tells Keir as we walk inside.
“I heard. Hi, Gracie.”
“Hi, Kei. Thanks for inviting me to lunch.”
“Dinner too, Pretty?”
“We’ll see,” I say, but Keir’s twinkling eyes let me know he’s fully aware I won’t say no to more time with them. All of them.
I’m led into the kitchen, where every kind of sandwich fixing is laid out on the counter. Meats, cheeses, different breads and rolls, and a variety of toppings and condiments. I wasn’t sure what they were going to do for the lunch they promised me, since they can’t cook, but this is perfect.
“Someone remembered I like cucumbers on my sandwiches,” I tell them with a smile.
“Daddy! Daddy remembered,” Connor informs me.
“I remember everything you like, Gracie.”
“Daddy can make you a grilled cheese too, if you want. We bought a thing,” Trevor explains, pointing to an electric sandwich maker.
“Nope. You are not cooking for us today,” Keir insists.
“Even if I stay for dinner?”
“Even then. We can order in.”
“Or you could cook with me tonight.”
“If that’s what you want.”
Want? I want to shove him up against the fridge, and run my hands up his tight t-shirt, and down his loose jeans. That’s what I want.
“Yes.” It comes out a little breathless, and I watch his eyes darken.
“Yay! You’re staying, Pretty?”
“I’m staying, Con.”
Keir
After lunch, I bring Con’s presents from Grace into the family room, and we all sit on the floor while he opens them. The gifts are a mix of educational toys, games, and Wonder Woman stuff. He loves it all, especially the sword and shield. He got seven of the sets from other party guests, but he insists this set is his favorite, because it’s from Grace. I totally get it, kid.
“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” he says, climbing on her lap, and giving her a kiss.
“You’re welcome.”
“My birthday is in four months, and three days,” Trevor tells her.
“I can’t wait.”
“You’ll be there?”
“Where else would I be?” she asks, leaning over to kiss his forehead.
It takes every ounce of self-control I didn’t know I had to not just pick her up and slam her into the wall for a mind-blowing kiss. Even with my kids here, I want to do it, and honestly, I think they’d cheer me on. But, I’m always going to be a father first, so kissing will have to wait until later.
“What are we having for dinner?” Con asks.
“You daddy knows how to grill, so he can make us steaks, and I’ll make mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. If that works for you, Keir.”
She works for me, especially when I know she’s giving me an out on the kitchen cooking. “Sounds perfect.”
“I’ll go to the store, and get everything while you guys clean up, and maybe take a nap.”
“I could go.”
“Nice try, but you’re not getting out of the cleanup.”
“I wasn’t trying to.”
“Uh-huh.”
We both laugh until Connor stops us. “Daddy, come over here and give Grace a kiss. You haven’t given her one today.”
“Yeah, Daddy!” Trevor adds.
“I’m not sure Grace wants a kiss from me.”
“One kiss would be nice.”
I crawl across the floor as Con scrambles out of her lap. I know the boys are watching, and it’s actually pretty amusing. Taking her face in my hands, I give her a quick peck on the lips.
“Just one,” I whisper.
“Maybe two.”
Smiling, I kiss her like I mean it, but don’t let my tongue out to play, because of the kids. She grips my forearms, and tilts her head, kissing me back. I could stay right here forever, and be happy.
“Later.”
“Kisses only.”
“You’re the boss.”
“Only at work, Kei. Here we share the job.”
“Whatever you want.”
Grace
My trip to the grocery store is easy enough, and I get back to Keir’s house in less than an hour. Using the key he gave me, I let myself in and put the groceries away. I go upstairs to check on the boys, and find then both in Trevor’s room. They’re curled up on his double bed with Keir between them. The scene is too cute not to record, so I pull out my phone and take a pic.
After quietly making my way back downstairs, I decide to take my own nap. Stretching out on the comfy couch in the family room, I tuck my hands under my head, because there are no throw pillows around here. It doesn’t take long before I fall into a deep sleep.
I wake up to whispers, and different sets of feet trying to walk carefully nearby. When I crack my eyes open, Keir is trying to quietly get the steaks ready. He glances over when he makes a little more noise than he planned on, and smiles when he sees I’m awake.
“Hey there, Gracie.”
“Hi.”
“She’s awake!” Connor yells.
“I am,” I reply with a laugh.
“We tried to be quiet,” Trevor says.
“You could’ve gone in my room to sleep, Pretty!”
“Or mine,” Keir adds.
“I didn’t want to invade your private spaces without permission.”
“You don’t need permission to go anywhere in this house.”
“Unless we’re peeing. Other people shouldn’t watch you pee,” Connor informs me.
“I agree.”
“Can I help you with the food? Daddy says only Trev can help him with the grill, because he’s bigger.”
“I would love some help, Con.”
Once Keir has the steaks ready, he heads outside with Trevor. Connor helps me fill the two pots we need with water, and then we wait for them to boil.
“My daddy’s sorry, Pretty.”
I still the glass I was raising to my lips, and look over at him. “For what?”
“For making you cry, and not letting you come over. He misses you. Did he tell you that?”
“Not exactly.”
“Did he tell you he was sorry?”
I think back to our conversation on the patio, and shake my head. “No.”
“You let him kiss you, so I know you still like him.”
“Yes.”
“He needs to say sorry, and tell you he misses you, and then you can be his girlfriend, and come over every day again.”
“It might not be that easy.”
“Why not?”
Keir chooses that moment to open the door. “Are you interrogating Grace?”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“Are you asking her lots of questions?”
“Not lots. Just if you said sorry, but you didn’t. If you tell her you’re sorry, and miss her, she might be your girlfriend again.”
He looks at me with his brows scrunched together. “I apologized.”
“No. I did, but you didn’t.”
“I didn’t? I thought I did.”
“You explained everything, but you never said the words. But, it’s okay. I don’t need the words.”
“You deserve the words. I’m sorry, Gracie, for everything I did and didn’t do.”
“Apology accepted.”
“Now, tell her you miss her,” Connor reminds him.
Trevor opens the door to tell him the grill is smoking, so he looks at me with a smirk. “Later.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
“He’s almost got it done,” Connor tells me, rubbing his hands together.
I ruffle his hair, because he’s too damn cute. “We have dinner to finish, kiddo. No more talk about your daddy right now.”
20
Grace
I wake up with my hand around Keir’s cock, and his on my breast. Our clothes are on, but somehow during the night, our hands decided this platonic sleepover was bullshit. The two boys who just jumped on the bed kill any sexy thoughts I may have, but I smile anyway.
“Good morning.”
“Is it time for waffles yet?” Trevor asks.
He and his brother convinced me to spend the night, because they never got their waffles. They also insisted I sleep in Keir’s bed, because that’s what adults who like each other do. Charming little matchmakers, those too. Luckily, Keir let me borrow a t-shirt and boxers, so I’d have something to sleep in.
Keir groans. “There’s this thing called sleep. Maybe you two have heard of it.”
“Waffles!” Con yells.
“How about you give your daddy and me a few minutes to wake up, and we’ll meet you in the kitchen?”
“Okay,” Trev says, pulling Connor out with him.
“Was I dreaming, or was your hand down my briefs when I woke up?”
“You w
eren’t dreaming.”
“I love my kids. I really do,” he says with a groan.
“At least you have clothes.”
“Give me a few minutes to make myself presentable, and I’ll run over to Target and get you something. If that’s okay. I don’t know if you shop there.”
“Is there anyone who doesn’t shop at Target? And, I shop everywhere for clothes. Brands don’t matter to me, although I’ll admit to buying a few pairs of shoes because of the designer. I break those out when I want to feel extra confident at work.”
“I love it when you share your secrets with me.”
“Keep me around, and you might here a few more.”
“I’d keep you forever, if you’d let me.”
“I might.”
“I missed you.”
“Took you long enough to admit it,” I tease.
“I’ll be happy to show you how much when we’re alone.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
“I’d rather have you holding my cock again, but a cold shower’s calling my name.”
“Your sons are going to be calling mine if I don’t get out there and make their waffles.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
I wrap my hair into a bun, use the bathroom, and brush my teeth before finding my two little guys waiting for me in the kitchen. There’s a Star Wars waffle maker, and a box of mix on the island between them.
“We need a measuring cup, eggs, water, and vegetable oil, too.”
Once they’ve run around to grab everything, I have them help me measure and pour. We each take a turn with the mixer, and then it’s the fun part. They’re both on the island watching closely as I pour the batter into the shape of a droid, and close the lid.
“How long?” Trevor asks.
“Just a few minutes.”
“Can I have the first one?”
“You can both have the first one,” I say, knowing there will be a fight otherwise. They’re sweet boys, but they’re still brothers.
The doorbell rings, and before I can stop him, Connor jumps off the island and runs to answer the door. I’m right behind him, and I stop short when I see his grandparents on the other side.
“Hi,” I manage to squeak out. “This isn’t what it looks like.”
“Grace spent the night, and she’s making us waffles.”
Unexpected Company: #2 of Company Men Page 13