Page 40 of Guarding Grace

“He did,” I admitted. Then I explained the encounter at Burger King, including what Elliot had told me and getting Tasered before Terry arrived to save me…again.

“Tasered? No shit? Duke got Tasered saving me.” She shivered. “He shook it off as nothing, like the macho badass he is, but I could tell it really hurt.”

“Yeah. He got me in the back and…” I patted my butt. “Lower.”

She laughed. “Ouch. I’d hate that.”

“It’s like a piranha’s latched on to your ass and won’t let go. I don’t recommend it. I still can’t sit right.” I omitted the part that had required me to pull down my pants for Terry.

“You really should have waited for Terry.”

“Not you too.” I raised a hand. “Don’t you think the Tyrant himself already told me that roughly a hundred times? Including when he was…”

“Was what?”

I smiled, remembering our kiss and the gentle way Terry had treated me not long ago.

Serena’s brows creased. “What?”

I shifted to my other foot. One of our rules from group therapy was that we never lied to each other. “I don’t hate him.” My cheeks felt warm.

She let go of my hands and waved a finger at me. “I know you, Grace Ellen Brennan. What are you keeping from me?”

I sucked in a quick breath. “I… We sort of kissed.”

“Sort of? Like a peck?”

I gave in. “Like a real kiss. A really hot kiss.”

Serena’s eyes went wide. She leaped forward and gave me a quick hug. “Good for you, girl. You need to get laid.”

I pulled away. “Not so fast.”

“Duke swears Terry’s a good guy, and I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Live a little. Have a fling. Like I told you, life is about making choices. You decide. Either the company is your entire life forever, like it has been, or you devote a sliver of your time to living. You know my vote.” Her hands went to her hips and her head cocked as she waited for a response.

Her words hit home, but it wasn’t as simple as she made out. I had allowed the company to dominate my life, but my employees and their families depended on me. “I love that you came to check on me, but I have a customer waiting.”

Her face took on a disappointed look. “See? Company, company, company. When are you going to take care of yourself?”

She stared at me, a silent demand that I agree with her.

Checking my watch, I decided it was time for my next pain pills. Opening the bottle on the desk, I popped two and chased them down with a slug of water.

Serena continued her death stare. “Why can’t you admit I’m right?”

“Okay already.” I sighed dramatically. “Terry was right. You’re right. It would have been better if I’d waited. Satisfied?”

I even said the words without my fingers crossed behind my back.

“I meant about giving yourself permission to live.”

“I’ll try.”

Her smile returned. “Now that wasn’t so hard, was it? So, Terry?”

I didn’t think her question merited anything more than silence.

“I saw Zane outside,” she said. “But I didn’t see Sir Galahad.”