Page 10

GRACE

The garage is loud and greasy and hot, and I actually love it.

I love that it’s an environment I’m not used to. One that isn’t all designer clothing and ornate woodwork and men in suits coming in and out daily to see my father.

None of my friends would ever think a girl like me–raised in cashmere and silk and overly stuffy country clubs–would feel more at home in a mechanic’s workshop than at my father’s mansion.

But as I sit here on an old stool, watching Nash work on my car with his sleeves rolled up, with oil smudged all over his hands and muscular arms, I feel at peace. I feel happy.

I’m also turned on. Especially when he stands up to wipe the sweat from his brow with the hem of his shirt, giving me a peek at his ridiculously sculpted abs and that sexy V that pierces down into his jeans. How can one man be this sexy?

“Yeah, that’s right,” I say to Emily, my cell to my ear. “The guy from the other night that wasn’t Arthur. I’m with him now.”

“The one who said ‘watch your mouth around the lady?’” she asks.

I try not to laugh out loud as I nod. “Yup, that’s him.”

“Wow, you move fast, don’t you?”

“Trust me, Emily. He’s amazing.” Nash glances over his shoulder at me, not because he is listening to what I’m saying, but just because. He smiles, and my heart warms. “He’s the one, Emily. I already know it.”

Emily pauses, and I can picture her face on the other end of the call, shocked and twisted up, wondering if I’ve lost my mind. “And you guys…”

“What?” I ask, twirling a strand of hair around my pinky finger. I know exactly what she’s getting at.

“ You know ,” she presses me. “You guys…”

“Did it?” I laugh. “Yes, we did. So many times. I can feel the effects when I walk.”

Emily bursts out laughing. “Okay, TMI, Grace. TMI.”

I bite my lip and glance at Nash as he does something under the hood of my car. I have no clue what–maybe it has to do with that timing belt thing or whatever–but he looks so hot doing it. And that’s what really matters.

God, I’m thinking like a total dude-bro right now, aren’t I?

“I’m happy for you,” Emily says. “But we need to all have dinner or something so I can get to know him.”

“Sounds great,” I reply. “Speaking of which, how did you and the cowboy guy work out?”

Emily scoffs. “Don’t ask. Listen, I gotta go. Talk later?”

“Okay. See ya!”

I hang up and take a sip of the lemonade Nash brought me earlier.

It’s ice-cold, offsetting the heat of the shop.

He keeps glancing over his shoulder at me, like he’s afraid I’ll vanish if he doesn’t have his eyes on me every second–or that I’ll break if he doesn’t dote on me constantly.

Which is funny, considering what we have been doing for the last two days.

On the workbench, his bed, in the kitchen…

By now, he should know that I can take it.

“How you doing, sweetheart?” Nash calls out. His smile goes straight into my chest. God, what a man.

“I’m doing just swell,” I smirk, hamming it up for him. “How goes the car?”

“We’re just about finished,” he replies, glancing at Craig, who’s got a big wrench or something in both hands. “You good on the torque there? Don’t go breaking off any bolts and causing us more problems.”

Craig chuckles. “We’re good, boss.”

Nash raises both hands triumphantly, slides into the car, and twists the key, and the engine springs to life. This time, without any of the sketchy sounds it was making before.

I hop to my feet. “You know what? I’m gonna run into town and grab lunch for everybody.”

Nash instantly looks up. “I’ll go with you.”

I shake my head. “Nope, you stay. You have been working hard all morning, and it’s my turn to do something nice for everybody.”

He cocks his head to one side and eyes me as he wipes his hands on a towel. “You sure?”

“Positive,” I reply, stepping up close and kissing him softly. His lips are salty with his sweat, causing my body to pulse with excitement. “Anything specific you want?”

He leans in close and whispers, “You. Naked. In my bedroom later.”

“That’s a guarantee,” I whisper back. “But what about food?”

He grins. “You pick. Just get back here soon, okay? Before I go into Grace withdrawals.”

Buzzing, I slide into my car and put it in drive. “I will! Don’t you worry!”

It’s not far to downtown. The main drag of shops, diners, and boutiques are bustling with people today.

The sun is out, and there’s a nice breeze as I park and walk to Bill’s, the local deli.

I can’t believe how excited I am to bring Nash back a sandwich and something to drink.

It’s not much, but it will do until I learn how to cook and have a tasty meal ready for him at the end of each of his tough days.

I’m just about to enter Bill’s when a woman steps right in my way, moving intentionally into my path. She’s tall, sharply beautiful, and impeccably dressed in a power suit, like one of my father’s associates would wear. It screams money and manipulation.

“Grace, isn’t it?” she asks, her voice cool.

My heart skips a beat. “How do you know my name?”

Her lips form a thin smile as she looks me over like a doctor diagnosing a patient. “I’m Sheila. Nash and I…well, we go way back. He told me about you.”

My body tenses. “He did?”

“He sure did.” She nods. “He said you were his ‘new plaything.’ I hope you know it will only be a little while before he tosses you aside.”

I lift my chin defiantly. “Look, I don’t know who you are, but–”

“I’m his ex-girlfriend,” she snaps, cutting me off. “And I’m here, as a fellow woman, to warn you about Nash. He’s not the man you think he is.”

“Warn me? Warn me about what?”

Sheila makes a contemplative face, as if pondering her next words carefully. “Nash…has a temper. A bad one. He’s controlling and very possessive and can also be violent as well.”

“No way.” I shake my head. “You’re lying.”

“Am I? I guess he didn’t tell you about the sexual assault charges I filed against him?” Adrenaline dumps through me, causing my fingers and limbs to go ice cold.

Her eyes soften on me like a mother looking at her child who has just learned a terrible truth about the world.

It’s like she pities me. “So he didn’t tell you.

I figured he wouldn’t. That’s why I’m here.

To let you know to stay away. He may seem all charming and incredible, but the day will come when you realize you’ve made a terrible mistake being with him. Be careful. For your own sake.”

Before I can even respond, she walks away. I stand there for a moment, my heart pounding in my ears, my limbs shaking, her words echoing like trauma in my mind.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, shocking me out of my stupor. I snatch it and see a text from Nash:

Hurry back, princess. Already missing you ;)

I stand there a second, stuck in a stupor, unable to move.

Once my body finally listens to me, I walk into Bill’s on autopilot and order a few sandwiches for everyone.

My brain is stuck overthinking everything Sheila just told me, and also simply not working.

By the time I get back to Nash’s shop, I’m simply a bundle of nerves, trying not to quiver as I hand the bag over to him.

Nash smiles broadly like he hasn’t stopped thinking about me since I left. He takes the bag and kisses my temple, saying something about how sexy I smell, but I barely hear him. Because all I hear now is Sheila’s voice in my head.

And as I look at him, the man I’ve fallen head over heels for, I hate myself. Because I don’t know what to believe.