Page 7 of Unruly Defender

– GRACY –

I give the two people standing in front of my desk a brilliant smile and thank them for their stay. They say their goodbyes and leave the lobby. I honestly can say that I love working here. Maggie has done a great job making this estate a success and it shows with the happy customers.

There are hardly any problems and if there is, we’ll be sure to fix it right away. Another thing I love about working here is the flexibility. By splitting the front desk work with another employee named Travis, I manage to balance my hours and not get stuck behind a desk all day, every day.

It also allows me to keep an eye on everything happening around here when I do my rounds. Normally Maggie would be the one checking up on things and walking around the estate to see if everything flows fluidly, but the last three months I’ve been slowly taking over.

Maggie doesn’t like to talk about her health but I’ve been noticing how she gets tired more often and has problems with walking around the estate when the temperatures are higher. It worries me but she doesn’t want to go to a doctor for a checkup.

She just waves me off and tells me she’s already taking it slow and it’s just because her body isn’t what it used to be and it’s all about getting older one day at a time. I make a mental note to mention it to Henley the next time I see him.

Though, I have no clue when the next time will be because the last time I talked to him was when he dropped me off after we went to the bar to find Yates.

That was three days ago. I’ve only had glimpses of him jogging down the beach and watching him punch a punching bag dangling from the ceiling of his patio.

His hands covered in white tape, body all sweaty and slick.

Yes, I have no shame, and I’m honest enough to admit I’ve been ogling him from afar. It’s not like he or anyone else saw me do it. He’s too busy working out and it’s too early for anyone else to be up at that time of day.

“Now there’s a sight for sore eyes,” a familiar voice rumbles and it makes my head whip up from staring at the papers I was checking.

Well, not so much checking, more like mindlessly staring at because I was mentally watching Henley’s sweaty body move in a loop of a memory I have branded in my mind.

“If I knew I was going to see your gorgeous face I would have dressed up.” My gaze collides with familiar eyes.

They are somewhat the same as mine—a ring of brownish green flowing to blue—because he too has heterochromia iridis, a genetic condition.

Black glossy hair perfectly groomed with a handsome face showing off a radiant smile.

He’s wearing a crisp black suit with a white button up shirt, radiating the high class he thrives in.

“Clemente,” I gasp, shocked he’s here because the last time I saw him was at my mother’s funeral. “I could say the same thing.”

His father and my mother have been friends since high school but his father left for Italy with his family right after they graduated.

My mother mentioned a few times in the past how she never forgot her high school crush.

A few months before my mother’s death they accidentally ran into each other and became fast friends again.

Since me and Clemente are of the same age, the two of us became friends too.

“Nonsense, pasticcino ,” Clemente rumbles, and I’ve always loved the way his voice sounds when he speaks Italian, or English for that matter with a hint of an accent. “You would even look stunning if you’d be wearing a garbage bag.”

I rush over and give him a proper hug. “Stop calling me a cupcake unless you bring me some. No, on second thought, don’t bring me cupcakes. I’ll end up eating them and my ass is big enough as it is.”

A laugh rumbles through Clemente’s chest and he places a kiss on the top of my head. “That’s an absolute lie, Gracy. Your ass looks fine.”

“What the fuck is this?” an angry voice blares through the lobby and I instantly know it’s Henley. “Get your hands off her.”

I try to step away from Clemente but he holds me tight against him. “Henley Pierce, I presume? You look quite different than the last photograph my uncle had on file.”

“Yeah, well, I was expecting your uncle for the meeting I requested, and not someone else to represent him. Now, let go of my personnel. Gracelynn, go to your room.”

“Go to my room?” I gasp, completely stunned and becoming angry and frustrated of this whole situation. I have no clue what’s going on but I do know one thing. “What am I? Five? Besides, this is my friend and you’re being rude.”

“Do you know who your friend really is?” Henley says through clenched teeth.

Who my friend really is? What does he mean?

“Gracy, sweetheart, we’ll catch up later,” Clemente says and gives me another kiss on the top of my head before he addresses Henley. “Shall we?”

Henley points at the office on the left and Clemente heads in that direction. Henley stalks up to me and whisper hisses, “I thought you didn’t have a boyfriend or a dick to jump on from time to time.”

Another gasp leaves my mouth and I’m getting sick of his attitude. “That’s none of your business,” I snap.

I don’t say anything else and turn on my heels and stalk to my desk.

Asshole. I can’t believe he avoids me for three whole days and suddenly pops up and starts to order me around.

In front of a friend no less. Ugh. How embarrassing.

Henley eyes me for a moment before he disappears into the office Clemente walked into and shuts the door behind him.

I grab the phone and call Travis to see if he can replace me.

There’s no way I want to face Henley when he’s done with his meeting and I will call Clemente later to catch up.

I wish we could have talked more but Henley ruined it.

I never had any feelings for Clemente, other than friendship, but the way Henley whispered those words to me made me feel weird.

Travis walks in with a bounce in his step. He’s the kind of guy who is always wearing a smile and when you see his face with the warm and welcoming look, and the light brown curly hair standing on end, all you can do is smile back.

He stalks around the desk and bumps my shoulder. “Where’s the fire, girl?”

I point at the door and huff, “The boss is in the office and I would like to be gone before the meeting that’s going on in there is done.”

“Maggie?” Travis questions with scrunched eyebrows.

“If it was Maggie, I wouldn’t be calling you,” I grumble in frustration.

“Ah, the rugged, long lost son who got back a few days ago. Hmmm, did you notice how he always takes a run down the beach each morning and a swim in the ocean right after? And I’ve caught him doing this kick, punch, knee routine on a punching bag.

..you have to get up early for those, though.

Ah, three days in and I know his routine where the man gets his sculpted abs from,” Travis states and his eyebrows are now dancing seductively.

Henley goes swimming early mornings too? Sculpted... “Travis, are you ogling your boss?”

That’s my job, not his. But I can’t help to tease Travis, and already my mood changes because Travis always has this effect on people.

“Girl, any man or woman with a pair of eyes would check out that man’s body. From the looks of it he did some hard work to get it in that shape, and he works hard to keep it that way, so it deserves to be ogled.”

“I guess I missed the memo,” I mutter and grab my stuff. “Thanks for taking over. If you need me for anything, call. I’m going to take Finn for a walk first, though.”

“All good,” Travis says and checks the computer for the new arrivals.

I point at a name on the screen. “Just one couple coming in today but their bungalow is all set.”

“Go, go, go, Gracy. I got this.” Travis ushers me out.

I pick Finn up who was sleeping on his blanket. Travis looks at Finn and I know he really wants to pet him because he loves animals, but he’s also very allergic so he can’t. If he did, he would be a complete mess with the sneezing and eyes watering.

Instead of taking Finn for a walk, I decide to get in my car and take a drive down to the marina.

My grandfather used to own this marina but when he died it all went to my mother.

Our name is connected to shipbuilding and port logistics.

We own a lot of businesses, and this marina is also where Lightners Yacht Club is located.

All of it was once founded, and some bought by my grandfather. My mother’s father to be exact. My father took my mother’s name when they married because it came with a status. It’s what my mother used to say during some of their fights.

Those fights always used to be about my father’s infidelity. They would always lead to my father saying their marriage wasn’t one of love. And that would be the point where my mother would throw out how he married her for her name and the wealth attached to it.

I’ve heard this story over and over but my grandfather explained it to me when I was older.

He bought a commercial freight and shipping company and Spencer—my father—was the CEO at the time.

My grandfather thought he was a good match for his daughter seeing my mother never actually got over her crush when he left for Italy.

I remember the fighting between my parents all too vividly.

When I was younger, I used to lock myself in my room or head for the marina to visit my grandfather.

At a young age I was always around this place and enjoyed spending time with my grandfather.

He was the one who taught me how to sail.

I love the water. Swim, sail, surf, dive, or just soak in the sun and hear it slosh against my sailboat.