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“Yeah.” This made him chuckle. “Told you I was confused, eh.” He grew somber. “I was drunk and trying to play macho. I was an asshole to these women and I want to apologize. I will. What I did was stupid. And wrong.”

“For sure. This isn’t you, Reece, this macho type.”

“I know. And now I need to sort out this whole mess. Will you help me?”

chapter 21

Of course, she would. And already knew how.

“We’ll speak to your lawyer. Get him to set up a meeting so you can speak to your accusers and apologize properly. Then you won’t feel like a coward, which I know you are not.”

“Thank you,” he murmured.

“Then I’ll find you a good therapist, and a personal trainer as well.”

“A PT?” He looked surprised.

“Yes. Mind and body for a holistic approach.” She paused and considered briefly. “How would you like to come to Miami and spend time with me? I could find you a job with my company if you’re up for a bit of hard work.”

He hugged her again as gratitude flooded his face. “You bet I’m up for it! And a change of environment too. Jeremy will have a fit, but…”

“He’ll live. It’s about time you moved out from under his circle of influence.”

“I believe so. Grace, thank you.”

“Yeah, yeah.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “This won’t be a vacation. I expect you to earn your keep in the job and work hard on yourself outside ofit. No drugs. No alcohol.”

“Fine. I’m ready. I won’t let you down.”

“You got someone?”

“Someone?”

“A guy, Reece.”

“Uh. No.” He blushed like a well-ripe tomato. “I did, once. But it didn’t work. He was out to everyone he knew, and I didn’t want to be.”

“Alright. Well, you’re still young. There’s time for this sort of thing yet. Okay?”

“Okay.” He rubbed his eyes and flashed her a tired smile. “I’m all out of juice.”

“But you feel better. Yes?”

“Oh yeah. Hell of a lot better.”

“Welcome to the light, brother,” she told him.

Fatigue and guilt hit her on the drive back to Red Falls. For sure, Reece was a grown man. And there was never, not under any circumstance, any excuse for bullying a woman. Grace had been crystal clear with him on that. It was also obvious now that he had been on a downward slide for some time. Years! And she hated the fact that she had not been there to support him. Then again…

“He never asked until today,” she muttered.

And who could blame her for staying away and cutting all ties when every bloody interaction with her family was always so charged with hostility? Still, she felt for the young man that he had been, struggling on his own and too confused to reach out. Grace parked in front of her aunt’s house, cut the engine, and sat for a while with her eyes closed. Mulling it over. After a while, a soft knock on the passenger side window made her look. Expecting Charlie, she fell instead into a pair of large, smiling dark eyes.Olivia…Her heart rate shot up. She disengaged thelocks.

“Hello, Ms. Michaels! How are you?”

“Not too bad. I was just having a think.”

“Sorry to interrupt.” Olivia dropped onto the seat and shut the door behind her. “We saw you out the window. Charlie sent me to drag you in. I’m going to kiss you.”