“I'm not worried,” she said. “I'm just trying to get through dinner.”
Gavin stepped in, and Gracie looked out to see his car in the driveway as she shut the door.
“No balls yet,” she said with a laugh, as she walked by him and into the dining room.
“What's so funny?” Gracie's mom asked, as she stood up to hug Gavin. “So nice of you to join us.”
He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back. Then he sat down. Gracie saw his eyes go directly to the plate in front of him. She made a noise, but he didn't look over. Of course she was seated right next to him. Gracie filled her plate and handed each dish to him. He'd pass each dish to the next person without a word. She could feel the tension oozing off of him.
“I'll be right back,” he said, as he got up and took off up the stairs, looking straight ahead.
After a few minutes of him being gone, Gracie couldn't help but wonder if he was okay. Something was very off with him. She stood up and headed for the stairs.
“I'm going to grab something from my room,” she said. “It just popped into my head, and I don't want to forget.”
Gracie took the steps two at a time. When she rounded the bend at the top, her hands went up as she ran into something hard.
“Sorry,” she said, as she went to move her hand away but instead moved it around on his chest when she felt something under his shirt. “What's that?”
“Nothing,” he snapped.
“You okay?” she asked.
“I'm fine,” he said. What are you doing?”
“I came up to get something from my room,” she said. “Is that okay with you? Was I supposed to ask you for permission?”
“Gracie,” he said with a rumble from his chest.
“Yes,” she grumbled back at him sarcastically.
“You piss me off.”
“I don't like you either,” she said, as she moved to walk by him.
“Gracie,” her dad yelled up the stairs.
“Coming,” she yelled down, but narrowed her eyes at Gavin. “What is your problem?”
He shook his head and walked toward the stairs. She noticed him looking directly ahead. Gracie shook her head, walked into her room, quickly grabbed the first thing she saw, and walked back down to the join the group.
Gracie picked at her plate. All she could think about was getting out of there and numbing her entire body. Jack was everywhere. She'd gone to her room to check on Gavin. It had been the first time in weeks that she'd been upstairs. Her room was right next to her brother's. It was taking all she had not to break down. It was bad enough, that each time she even turned her head, there was a picture of him staring back at her. It didn't help that Gavin was right next to her. She could feel the heat from his body invading her space. It was all too much.
Gracie stood up, walked over to her mom, and leaned down to hug her.
“I'm going to get going,” she said.
“You tired?” Becky asked.
“Yes,” she answered. “I've been working late almost every night. I need some extra sleep to start out the new week.”
“You need to cut back,” Becky told her. “You're too young to be working that many hours.”
“You know I love what I do,” Gracie said. “It's my life.”
“Thanks for a great dinner,” Big Gavin said, as he stood to hug her. “See you in a few days.”
“I'll be there with delicious food for your clients,” she said with a smile.
Gracie hugged her dad, walked right by Gavin, and took off out the door. She had the thing she'd taken from her room in her hand and couldn't help but laugh. She'd grabbed a figurine from her dresser. Gracie couldn't even remember the figurine, but it was the first thing she'd seen when she walked into her room earlier. She tossed it onto her passenger seat and backed down the driveway.
“Pussy can't even tell his parents he rides a bike,” she said into the empty air of her car.
Gracie walked into the bar and sat down at the stool that had quickly become hers. She said a quick hello to the woman serving her before taking her first drink of the night. As soon as the familiar warmth filled her, she felt her body begin to relax and was happy to let the smile slip from her face.
Gracie had just finished her second drink. She let her head fall into her arms to get one moment of relaxation in when she heard the door to the bar open. Maybe it's him, she thought. Could she really go home with a strange guy, she wondered? Would it be so bad? She was eventually going to be with someone. Did it really matter who it was?
Just as Gracie lifted her head to turn and see if it was the guy from the week before, she saw the woman behind the bar take a step back and her eyes widen. Gracie felt a huge hand on her own shoulder. Her stool spun around, and her eyes traveled up to land on the face of a very pissed off Gavin.
“Get your ass up now!” he snapped loudly.
Chapter 32
Gavin
Gavin could hear both sets of parents talking. He kept his eyes down toward his plate. The entire time he'd been there, he made sure not to look around. He wasn't ready to come face to face with walls filled with pictures of his friend. His mind was on Gracie, she'd left in a hurry talking about having to work early. That was bullshit and he knew it. Had she gone back to that bar, he wondered? Maybe it was just a one time thing and her comment about practice was unrelated. The more he heard his parents and hers talking, the more anxious he became.
“I think I'm going to get going too,” he said, as he stood. “Thank you for dinner.”
“Gavin,” Lisa said.
He walked around and hugged her.
“I was here,” he whispered.
She let out a laugh and hugged him tight. He said goodbye to Josh and then to his own parents before quickly finding his way to his car and pulling down the driveway.
When he reached the bar parking lot, he saw red instantly. Her car was in the same spot as before. He pulled his car against the back of hers. Then he slammed his door as he got out. When he swung the door to the bar open, his feet stopped for just a moment. She had her head down in her arms. The woman standing behind the bar looked at him before stepping back and looking down toward Gracie. When Gracie's head came up off the bar, he crossed the floor. At least there wasn't a guy there, he thought. That would've really pissed him off. His hand grabbed her shoulder and he spun her around on her stool. Her eyes moved up and connected with his, and he knew she wasn't happy to see him.
“Get your ass up now!” he snapped louder than he should have.
Gracie rolled her eyes, and it took all he had to keep it together.
“I said get up,” he growled out.
“No, Gavin,” she said. “You don't get to tell me what to do. You don't get to say shit to me. You lost that right when you blew me off. Go home.”
“No,” he said. “He wouldn't want you here.”
“He. Is. Not. Here.” she said through gritted teeth.
“I know that,” he said. “Every second of every day, I know that. He wouldn't want you sitting in a bar, Gracie. He might have taken you to one, but he would be so pissed right now.”
Gracie shook her head at him, and Gavin was done. He put his hands under her arms, lifted her from the stool, and threw her over his shoulder again. Then he stormed out of the bar. He put her back on her feet next to his car and opened the door.
“Get in,” he snapped.
“He wouldn't want you doing the shit you're doing either,” she said, as she stood still, looking up at him.
“What does that mean?” he asked roughly. “What is your problem now?”
“Move your car,” she demanded.
“You're not driving,” he said.
“It's less than a mile.”
“I don't care,” he said. “Get in the damn car.”
“Not fucking happening,” she said in a snotty tone.
She moved to walk away, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
“T
ell me what you meant right now, Gracie,” he demanded.
“You're so full of shit, working for your dad. What a joke. You don't want that. Jack knew it, I know it, and you surely know it. You don't belong there.”
“What else am I supposed to do?” he asked.
“Man the fuck up and do something important,” she said sternly. “Do something that would make him proud. You put up a fake front in that suit. You even have your parents believing that crap. It's such a joke. I can see right through you. Buying a bike.”
“I rode while I was gone, so did Jack,” he said.
Gavin saw a sad look cross her face. He felt his shoulders fall, but quickly pulled them back again.
“Get in the car,” he said. “I don't have time for this shit.”
“Leave me alone,” she said. “Everything was fine until you started showing up. Stay out of my life. You were doing a fine job of it before. Why change that now?”
Gracie pulled away, but he pulled her back again.
“In,” he demanded.
“Or what?” she asked.
Gavin pulled his phone from his pocket.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Calling your dad,” he said.
“You wouldn't,” she said, as she rolled her eyes.
He held it up with Josh's name and number on the screen.
“He doesn't need that shit. Don't do it,” she snapped, as she tried to jump to get his phone.
“You think he'd want to know you weren't home getting ready for the work week?”
“Fine,” she snapped, as she pulled out her own phone. “I'm calling Becky to tell her about the bike.”
Gracie held up her phone with his mom's number pulled up. Gavin shook his head.
“Are you twelve?” he asked.
“Are you?” she asked sarcastically. “Calling my daddy to tell on me. They don't need to worry about me.”
“I promised your brother that I'd make sure you were safe,” he said.
“Don't do me any favors,” she said.
“You are the biggest pain in the ass,” he mumbled.
“Then leave,” she said. “I'm getting used to losing the people that matter.”
“Yeah right,” he said with a shake of his head. “Get in the damn car.”
She did, and the short drive was silent. Gracie swung her door open, and he hurried out around to her side. She pushed the door shut but was facing away from him.
“I never mattered to you,” he said. “I was just someone you had to write to. You made that clear.”
Gracie turned and tears were streaming down her cheeks. Gavin couldn't help but feel the pull at his heart. As much as he wanted to walk away, he couldn't.
“I was so damn worried about you,” she mumbled.
“What?” he asked, sure that he'd heard her wrong.
“There were officers at the door,” she said. “My entire family was crumbling to the ground, and it was you I was worried about. The men didn't know. They couldn't tell me that you were okay. I was so damn scared. I didn't know if you were alive or dead. I tried to talk to you. I wanted to see you. They said you didn't want to see me. You wouldn't answer me. I'd just lost my brother, and I was fucking worried about you.”
Gracie pushed her finger into his chest, and he flinched.
“You! Do you hear me? I should have been crying for him, and I was, but I was also crying for you. I cried every single night worried about you in that hospital. I was so scared that I was losing you too. You couldn't be bothered with me. You never gave a shit about me. I was so stupid to think you ever did.”
Gavin was looking down at her, listening to her words. How could she think that, he wondered? He did care about her. Ignoring her was easier than facing her hate and disgust. He knew she was surrounded by the people she cared about. All he would have done was remind her that her brother was gone. He stayed away. He thought it was the right thing to do.
Gavin had no idea what had come over him when he did it, but he couldn't help it. He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and brought their lips together. She opened for him, and his tongue found hers. He could feel her tears against his own cheeks. Her hands moved to his hair, and she was kissing him back just as hard. There was so much feeling running through his body. He didn't know what was happening. Suddenly, Gracie pulled away from him. Gavin instantly missed the connection between them. She wiped her hands down her face to dry her tears and her eyes were staring into his.
“Fuck you!” she yelled, as she turned away from him and ran toward her apartment. “Leave me alone.”
Gavin got back into his car and slammed his hands down on the steering wheel just as her door closed. He lifted his hand and wiped a lone tear he hadn't even realized had fallen.
“I can't deal with this shit,” he said to himself, as he drove around the building and over to his own apartment.
Chapter 33
Gracie
Gracie walked into her apartment, shut the door, leaned back against it, ran her fingers over her lips, slid down the door, and cried. What the hell was that, she wondered with her finger still on her lips. He didn't care about her. He'd promised Jack he'd watch out for her. Why did Gavin kiss her? Why did it feel so damn good? There was no way she was going to let herself like him. He was a jerk, the biggest one she knew.
Early the next morning, she was up and ready for work. After a very long day, the thought of going home was too much. She wanted to relax.
Gracie walked into the bar and sat down. The girl behind the bar handed her a drink.
“What's up with the bodyguard?” the girl asked.
Gracie had talked to her several times, but it had always been how was your day or what do you think of the weather kind of thing. She wasn't used to getting into a conversation with her.
“He's my brother's best friend,” Gracie answered. “Thinks it's his job to look after me after blowing me off for months.”
“He's hot,” the girl said. “When he walked in here, I couldn't believe my eyes.”
“He's okay,” Gracie said, knowing damn well she was lying.
Writing back and forth with Gavin had already had Gracie feeling things for him she never thought she could, but he'd ruined all that after Jack's death. Seeing him that first night in that helmet and leather jacket had thrown her off. When she didn't know it was him, she thought he was hot as can be. She couldn't believe it was him. It didn't matter though. He was a jerk, a total asshole really.
“You want him, you can have him,” Gracie said. “Then maybe he'll leave me alone.”
“You wouldn't mind if I went for it?” the girl asked.
“Not at all,” Gracie answered. “Just don't count on him to be there when you need him.”
The bar door opened, and Gracie quickly turned. She was safe. It was ridiculous. He wasn't there. She needed to knock it off. The door opened again, and she turned just as fast as she had before. Gracie downed her drink and held her glass up for another.
“Fucker,” she whispered, as she took a sip of her new drink. “He ruins everything.”
“What?” the girl behind the bar asked.
“Nothing,” Gracie said.
Gracie stood up when her drink was gone and walked toward the bathroom. Her nerves were on edge, and she felt like she was on guard in the only place she felt she could relax. Nobody knew her there. There was nobody to judge her. She didn't have to smile. She could be pissy or happy or whatever she wanted, and nobody gave a shit. She walked out of the bathroom, sat back down on her stool, and ordered another drink. Fuck him, she thought to herself. She wasn't going to let him ruin everything in her life.
The bar door opened again, but Gracie didn't turn to see who it was. She took a long drink out of her glass before setting it back down. When she looked up at the girl behind the bar and saw the huge smile on her face, Gracie let out a sigh.
“It's for you,” the girl said. “He looks damn good too.”
> “Go get him,” Gracie said.
The girl walked over, rounded the bar, and walked toward the door. Gracie turned on her stool with her drink in her hand. It was definitely him. He took his helmet off and looked at Gracie with daggers in his eyes. She knew he was pissed. The girl walked up to Gavin, and Gracie smiled.
“You want a drink?” the girl asked.
“No,” Gavin said. “Thank you though.”
Gracie watched Gavin's eyes leave her as his voice went from rough to soft. She watched his eyes move down and back up the girl's body.
“I'm Jen,” she said. “I just thought I'd come and say hello since you've been stopping in lately.”
“Hi,” he said. “I'm Gavin.”
“I must say, you are one fine looking man,” Jen said. “I thought maybe we could talk sometime. Your friend said that would be fine with her.”
“Did she?” he asked, as his eyes moved back to Gracie's.
She tried not to laugh but could feel her chest moving. He narrowed his eyes at her, and she smiled a big, wide smile.
“You ride?” Jen asked.
“I do,” Gavin answered.
“Bikers are the hottest,” Jen said. “I wouldn't mind a ride one day.”
Gracie's eyes widened. Jen wasn't even trying to be smooth about it. She was jumping right in. For just a moment, Gracie felt like grabbing Jen by her hair and pulling her away from him. Why, she thought? What did she care? The second Jen's hand grabbed onto Gavin's arm, Gracie was off the stool. She stormed toward Gavin and stood toe to toe with him.
“Stay out of my life,” she snapped, as she pushed her finger into his chest.
“Can't do that,” he said with a shrug. “You leave or I carry you out. I've got all night.”
“You're an asshole,” she spat out at him.
“Already know that,” he said. “It was nice meeting you, Jen.”
Gavin grabbed Gracie by the arm and led her out of the bar.
“The bike again,” she said.
“I was out for a ride,” he answered.
“You just happened to ride right by here,” she said. “I'm sure you have much better things you could be doing.”
“Like Jen?” he asked with a laugh. “You told her that would be okay.”
Saved by Love (Bachelor Billionaire Kids #1) Page 12