Page 58 of The Dis-Graced

“No, asshole, I’m not trying to fuck my way into another job.”

“I didn’t think that you would. Regardless of your reason for dressing so promiscuously, you look good.”

?

Drake

Grace steps out into the common area, and damn, my micro-movements must be going off the charts. It’s not exactly date attire, but it’s an eye-catcher, not that Grace needs any help with turning heads.

“You look good,” I finally say. It’s a total lie. She doesn’t just look good. She looks drop-dead gorgeous!

“Thank you for letting me out of my cage for the night,” Grace says with a forced smile. “It means a lot to me.”

We haven’t interacted much, which is wholly because I’ve made myself unavailable. Seeing her now, I know I’ve made the right choice because there’s no way I can be in the same room with her for long without making some kind of play for her.

Calm down. She’s not for you.

“I hope your evening goes well,” I say as I pry my eyes from her long legs.

She goes to a mirror hanging on the wall and fixes her hair. I love the way her skirt flares out a tad, making you that much more excited about what’s underneath.

My mind returns to our kiss, how sweet she tasted. How much she wanted me. How much I wanted her.

Why do you torture yourself?

It’s a question I already know the answer to. I torture myself because I can’t resist thinking about her. Because as crazy as this sounds, I just might be falling in love. And it scares me. She’s smart, funny, beautiful, and values her job. She’s the whole package.

Grace turns and saunters towards me, but instead of downcasting her eyes, she looks at me boldly. “Don’t wait up. Who knows what I’m gonna have to do for this new job.”

My throat grows tight, and I feel my cheeks flush pink. Clearly, she is tired of being embarrassed about her past scandal and is now leaning into it. At least she is around my presence.

“I hope you come out on top,” I say, casting her a wink.

She walks past me and gets into the elevator.

“I have a car waiting for you in the garage,” I call out.

“Thanks.”

The elevator door closes, and my heart suddenly feels like it weighs a thousand pounds.

“Drake?” ALAN calls.

“Yes?”

“Would you like me to relay her conversation with Stephanie to you? I will be able to because she is taking the phone you gave to her.”

“No! Grace is allowed some privacy.”

Guilt needles me, remembering all the times I’ve watched Grace and ALAN interacting without her knowledge. I put a stop to it two weeks ago, telling ALAN to alert me if Grace acted suspiciously in any way. Of course, the recordings are there, and I will inevitably have to listen in on some of them, but it will be after I sit down with her and make her aware of my intentions, which is not something I’ve been looking forward to.

“I understand.”

“Hopefully, she’ll get the job, and that will give her something to do when she’s done here.”

“She will not be getting a job. Or at least, she won’t be getting a good one.”

“Oh?”