Page 38 of All Out of Love

Toya didn’t quite know what that meant, but she didn’t feel comfortable enough to ask him.

And then they fell into silent reflection. Especially Toya. How in the world was he going to convince his father to help her by endorsing the state’s attorney when their relationship seemed so toxic? It seemed even more far-fetched now than it did when he broached it. You let her out, he said in essence, and I’ll guarantee you a victory by getting for you my father’s endorsement and support. When he couldn’t guarantee either one. Did that mean she would be returned to jail any day now? Did that mean she would have to face a jury?

She didn’t know, but she didn’t discuss her fears with him. He did all he could for her. Expecting him to keep those charges dropped forever was expecting too much from one man. And she should have known it all along.

“I need a shower,” she said as she stood up. “That jail smelled terrible.”

“You can most certainly take a shower,” Grayson said.

“Point me to where and I’ll be happy to do so.”

“You can go in the room where my driver deposited your luggage. There’s an ensuite bath in there. Use anything you need.”

“I brought everything I’ll need,” Toya said, “but thanks.”

She placed her drink on the side table, and made her way to the bedroom. The same bedroom that he said earlier was his bedroom. But she didn’t trip or question it or anything else. She was exhausted. She truly just wanted to wash away that entire day.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

When she came out of the bathroom freshly scrubbed, she took another moment to look at the massiveness of that bedroom. It was the size of her mama’s whole house, plus some additional square footage. There was a huge fireplace in that room. There was a full bar with a bar counter and bar stools in that room. There was a large sitting area that looked like a parlor onto itself in that room. There was a library, complete with a desk and a conference table, in that same room. It was like an entire apartment in a room.

She could only shake her head. But that was how the rich rolled, she imagined, as she removed her bathrobe and put on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt from out of her luggage. But as she looked over that bedroom again, she couldn’t have imagined just a month ago that she’d be standing in this rich man’s bedroom, after taking a bath in his shower, as if she belonged in a place like that.

She knew, on paper, she didn’t belong anywhere near something so grand. On paper, she was the very definition of a nobody with absolutely nothing to recommend her. Her greatest achievement, her job at Leonard and Lowe, was snatched from her on the day of her promotion.

Now tonight, on the day before what was supposed to be her first day of her permanent placement with Carrington Capital, that very well might get snatched away from her too if Gracie’s father didn’t come through for her.

And why would he when it seemed as though he didn’t come through for his own son? When it seemed as though he was a man beloved only by the people who didn’t know him at all. This time in a day or two, if Gracie didn’t work his magic, she could be right back in jail where he collected her from.

She went and sat on the side of his enormous California king-sized bed and began putting on a pair of clean socks. She prided herself on her neatness. She kept herself clean and together no matter where she was. She never looked like what she was going through. Her mother didn’t teach her much, but she taught her that.

But as she sat on that bed, she felt some kind of way. Gracie had done a lot for her. But what did he expect in return? She’d never known any man who would give of his time, his talent, and his well-respected word and expect nothing in return. She needed to prepare herself for that inevitability. Because she knew, at the end of the day, it always came down to sex. When it came to men, it came to sex. That had been the story of her life. She was hoping, even praying, that Gracie would rewrite her story.

But her mother taught her something else: She expected too much from these men.

She got up and made her way back into the living room.

When she got back up front, Grayson was slumped in his chair fast asleep. The glass of wine was still in his hand, but it was empty and barely hanging on. It would drop at any moment.

Toya took the glass out of his hand and placed it on the side table. And then she stood there, staring at this big man. At the big boss. When she first saw him in that bathroom, she had no idea he was who he turned out to be. He seemed so unpretentious and so real to her. That was why she thought nothing of combing his messy hair. She wanted him to look his best. Even then.

And what did he do for her? He got her on permanent with his company. He answered her call and got her out of jail on his word. He stopped her from going back to jail thanks to her messy-ass sister. And he didn’t drop her off at some motel like anybody else would have done, but brought her home with him. To his private residence. A man who didn’t allow anybody in his private residence, except for his household staff who kept it clean, or who had to pick something up or drop something off. But yet he brought her there. That was saying something. Something major. But what exactly, was the burning question for her, was it saying?

Did he like her that much?

Did he love her?

People were falling in love at the drop of a hat these days. Could he be that kind of dude?

She shook her head. He didn’t come across to her as impulsive like that at all. He was a thoughtful man, not a flying-by-the-seat-of-his-pants kind of person.

Then she smiled. He looked so elegant sitting in that chair, as if he was always well put together too. He wasn’t. She’d seen him at work. But man did he clean up good.

But one thing he couldn’t erase: He still looked drained. Even while he slept. He needed to get in his bed and get himself a good night’s rest. And she was going to make sure he did.

She went back into the bedroom and pulled back the covers and the gorgeously-appointed purple satin sheets. She ran her hand over those sheets several times. Who on earth could lay on sheets with those thread counts and not sleep forever? But she stopped her daydreaming and got to work.

She went back upfront and roused him enough to stand him up. “Bedtime,” she said.