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Gracie opens the door and jumps in the passenger seat beside Duke. She’s refusing to look at me and I have to admit, she looks cute as fucking hell when she's mad.
I pull off, leaving the club and my brothers behind, hoping that this trip is gonna get us some answers. I need this bitch and the thoughts she puts inside my head gone, before I lose that tiny shred of sanity I have left.
It takes just over three hours to get to Monte Vista. Three hours of awkward silence and side glances that I can’t stop myself from making at her. Those pretty little lips sit firm for the whole of the journey, and all I can think about is how they’d tasted, and how my name sounded spilling out of them when she came for me. She strokes Duke’s fur, in that affectionate way she always does when he snuggles into her. His head lays contently on her lap, and he stares up at me judgingly until I scowl and he looks away.
When we pull up outside the farmhouse, Gracie finally turns her attention to me. “I think you should let me do the talking,” she suggests.
“Fine by me. I just want this shit over.” I laugh a little cruelly.
“And you need to lose the thingy,” her finger points at my cut. “Maybe you could try a smile now and again to help me sell the story.”
“What fuckin’ story?” I ask, shrugging out of my cut and placing it on the bench seat between us.
“We can’t just walk in there and ask for a government classified list. There has to be an explanation and I think I have one, I just need to find out how much she knows first.”
“Whatever.” I shake my head and get out of the truck. At least she has a plan, all I've thought about during the ride here is fucking her all over again.
She follows me through the gate, up the path, then stands beside me as I knock on the door. The woman who answers is short, round, and wears her hair in a neat bun. Despite the fact we’re strangers, she greets us with a welcoming smile.
“Can I help you?”
“Mrs. Deferman.” Gracie stuns me when she dramatically launches her body forward and swings her arms around the old woman’s neck, nearly knocking the old gal off her feet.
“Oh, hello, dear,” Mrs. Deferman pats Gracie’s back, clearly curious by the unexpected affection of a complete stranger.
“I’m so sorry to hear about Joe. When I heard the news, I just had to come and see you.” Gracie’s voice is unrecognizable, so sickly sweet that it almost has me convinced.
“I’m sorry, dear, I don’t recall…”
“I’m Grace, Grace Scott. Your husband worked with my mama. And I was so fond of him.” I look on and watch the woman instantly warm to her.
“Well, me and my fiancé here just had to come and check that you were okay. And perhaps trouble you for a small favor.” I almost choke, while Gracie twists sweetly on her heels and coils her arm around mine.
“Go on.” The woman looks eager to help.
“Well, it’s about the wedding, I don’t know if you heard this, but my own parents passed recently.”
“My dear, that’s awful.” Mrs. Deferman stretches out her hand to comfort Gracie. “Come, the two of you must come in. I’ll make us a drink and you can tell me how I can help.” The woman turns her back to lead us in, and Gracie follows, looking back at me and winking playfully over her shoulder.
“You’re going straight to hell,” I whisper, shaking my head in disbelief at the performance I’ve just witnessed.
“And I’m dragging you with me.” She keeps that innocent natured voice on, as she grasps the front of my T-shirt and tugs me inside.
Mrs. Deferman shows us to the couch and excuses herself to make the drinks.
“If this doesn’t work, I’m gonna keep the old dear talking, and you are gonna go use the bathroom,” she says, keeping the fake smile on her face when the old lady pops her head around the door to see if we want some cookies.
“Cookies would be great, wouldn’t they, Braxton?” Gracie, lifts her eyebrows at me.
“Great.” I smile back at the old woman, making sure that Gracie hears the sarcasm in my voice. She’s gonna pay for this.
“So how can I help you pair?” The woman returns a few moments later, setting down a tray with sweet tea and cookies.
“Well…” Gracie takes my hand in hers and looks at me adoringly. “My mama and papa were taken before we could be married. I was happy to just disappear and have a quiet service, but Braxton here, he won’t hear of it. Will you, darling?” her finger flicks at the tip of my nose cutely, and it takes all my restraint not to snap at it with my teeth.
“Only the best for my girl.” I reach my arm around her, pretending to tickle at her ribs, instead using my knuckles to rub into her flesh and make her double over, but she’s a pro and still manages to fake a giggle.
“You two are so sweet, you remind me of me and Joe when we were young.” The woman watches us admiringly.
