AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 13
Grace
“Idon’tknowhowI let you talk me into this again,” I groan into Tessa’s ear as we walk into Black Label on Saturday night. Ever since she and Carter broke up—if they were ever really even dating—she’s been dragging me out every night. I feel bad that their relationship didn’t make it, but with the truth of Tessa’s part in the hit piece on his family there was little she could say to make it right.
Tessa gives a low sexy laugh. “Oh, I didn’t talk you into anything. It’s your sweet British boyfriend who did all the talking,” she says as she waves toward Hayden and his twin, Garreth. Seeing them together always leaves women tongue-tied. They are over six feet three, all muscle, chiseled jaws, blue eyes, and dark blond hair. While Garreth is clean-cut, Hayden always has a bit of a five o’clock shadow which makes my toes curl. He’s got bad boy written all over him, but he’s the kindest person I’ve ever met.
The twins are four years older than Jay and neither ever married. I never spent much time with them over the years, but since the night he saved me at the club, he’s become quite the fixture in my life. It’s been weeks of dates, late nights laughing, and a friendship I never expected. He’s one of the good ones.
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I mutter under my breath before Hayden’s steps match our own and he’s standing before me, pulling me against his chest and leaning down to press a soft kiss against my lips.
“You look absolutely stunning, Grace.”
I roll my eyes and pat at his chest. “Yeah, you don’t look so bad yourself.”
Being back in this space is so strange. It feels like an entire lifetime has flashed before me since I last came here and snuck upstairs with Cash. But it was only a few months ago. Now the seasons are changing as well as the man I’m standing next to. It’s almost comical how right Tessa had been all those months ago when she swore that the first guy I kissed post-divorce would not be my last. And although I get that I need to move on, and I have, I also haven’t.
And part of me wonders if I ever will.
As if Tessa can hear my inner thoughts, she grabs my side and pinches me lightly. “Stopppp! Come on, Hayden, buy my bestie here a drink and maybe we’ll make out with you later.” She tosses him a wink and I roll my eyes.
“I’m sorry,” I mutter under my breath, but Hayden’s grin is wide.
“Doesn’t sound awful to me,” he says against my ear as he steers us toward the bar. His large hand presses against the small of my back, which happens to be bare thanks to the dress Tessa made me buy. It’s black silk and dips low in the back, exposing it completely. With black heels, my hair down in soft waves, and red lipstick, I definitely fit in with the crowd.
And by crowd, I mean half naked women.
But it’s fine. I’m fine. And as long as I keep saying it, maybe it will eventually become true.
“What are you drinking?” Hayden asks.
Before I can answer, Tessa replies, “Champagne because we fancy.”
I can’t help but laugh as Hayden looks to see if I agree. “Yeah, we fancy,” I say with a smile.
Hayden’s smile matches ours and he turns to order our drinks, but not before whispering next to my ear, “You have a beautiful smile, Grace.”
The teeniest of butterflies sets my skin tingling. For a moment I savor the feeling. The lightness that comes from enjoying another man’s compliment.
Around us people laugh, women flirt, men’s eyes dip down for just a peek, and Tessa sways to the beat of the music, a happy, carefree smile on her face. Just watching her makes me want to be more like her. To sayfuck itand just enjoy life. She’s smart enough not to fall in love. Obviously, she liked Carter, but she’s not pining over a relationship that fizzled out. She’sliving.
Hayden offers Tessa her drink and she nods appreciatively, then he turns to me and hands me mine with a wink.
The man has game, that’s for sure. I’m not sure if he knows how to turn it off. He’s not smooth in a playboy way. He’s smooth in a kind way, where every woman probably thinks he’s flirting with them, but it’s just his gentle giant personality.
He’s not actually a client of mine. But he’s agreed to be on the list of bachelors for my female clientele, so in a sense it is understandable that I’m noticing all these things about him.
It’s not like I can turn my brain off. It’s not because I’m interested in him. I can’t possibly be interested in anyone. Or at least not wealthy men who light your world on fire.
Just have to keep reminding myself of that.
“Do you want to dance?” he asks, his eyes filled with mirth as if he can actually hear my thoughts and he’s challenging me to let go of my baggage.
A hand on my hip steals my attention, and I suck in a breath as the woodsy scent infiltrates my skin like a shot of whiskey straight to my veins. “We love to dance, don’t we, Angel?” Cash’s warm breath tickles my skin as he speaks so close that my nipples harden.
It takes three long seconds for the buzz to sour. During that time, I couldn’t tell you what I do, but as soon as I see Tessa and Hayden’s wide eyes watching us, I snap out of my drunk love stupor and pull myself out of Cash’s embrace, pushing my body toward Hayden’s. Luckily, the perfect gentleman snakes his arm around me in a protective stance. I don’t miss how Cash’s eyes watch Hayden’s fingers as if they are knives pressed against my skin.
“Cash, good to see you. Did you come alone?” Hayden asks.
I take that moment to breathe.
“For now,” Cash says as if reminding me that he’ll likely leave with someone else. It’s cruel and I hate him for it. Imagining him with someone else makes swallowing feel like knives are going down my throat.
I’m not sure what my knife obsession is right now. Just seeing Cash is making me stabby.
“Enjoy your night,” Hayden says, before steering us away from Cash’s penetrating gaze. But I can still smell him on my skin, taste him in my mouth, and feel him in my bones. He’s left an impression that’s not likely to disappear tonight. I’m just hoping it doesn’t last forever.
