AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s up to your mom,” Anne said, shooting me an apologetic wince. It wasn’t great timing bringing this up in front of Gracie, but what was done was done. The offer seemed genuine, not Anne attempting to come between Gracie and me. More that she was trying to help by giving us much-needed time away from each other.
Still, worry gnawed at my gut knowing she’d be here without me, where anything could happen. What if Barrett found her and I wasn’t around? Not that I was some kind of badass assassin whose body was a deadly weapon, but I was her mother, and I’d die to protect her from harm.
“I can keep an eye on her,” Grayson said. “Anne and I are doing most of the work around here these days, so the help would be amazing. Plus, Anne’s been on me to learn to ride.”
“If you’re certain it’s okay and she won’t be in the way,” I said hesitantly. I didn’t like it. Not one bit. But how could I say no to the pleading expression on Gracie’s face? And maybe this would be good for both of us. Time apart could be good, and this place looked secure.
“Yep,” Anne said, clapping her hands as if that made the agreement final. “And don’t worry about her safety. I have a full arsenal of guns on the property if anyone comes by who’s suspect.”
I blew out a breath. Yeah, that made me feel a little better. So did the fact that Grayson knew about our situation—understood, even. If anyone came by asking about me or Gracie, he’d know something was up.
This would be good.
I sure as hell hoped I could trust these people.
I was betting my daughter’s life on it.
SIX
GEORGIA
Five minutes into the drive back toward town, Gracie fell asleep with the kitten—who I refused to call Misery—snuggled against her chest, also asleep. With a small smile, I turned back to gaze out the windshield.
“She seems like a good kid,” Shade muttered, eyes flicking to the rearview mirror. “And you can trust those two back there, especially Anne. She’s as genuine as they come and violent when her friends or family are threatened. She wasn’t kidding about having an arsenal or the willingness to use it if needed.”
“What’s the deal with Grayson?” I asked, studying his face to gauge his reaction. “He’s there at the ranch, here in Grandger because….”
“Like you, he was here to hide from a threat. Max uses this town as a holding tank of sorts. Trap and I know because of our jobs.”
A disbelieving grin spread across my face as I shook my head. Despite my curiosity, I wouldn’t ask for details about why they needed to be in the know. “Trap is nice,” I said instead. “And so are you. I feel seen with you both, which is something I haven’t had in a while.”
Shade shifted in the driver’s seat, alternating hands on the wheel. “Grayson was right earlier in the kitchen. You can talk to us, me or Trap, if you need to get that shit out of your head before it consumes you. If you let it go on for too long, you’ll forget what it feels like to not be weighed down.”
“Sounds like you know from experience.” I sighed.
“Not similar to your situation, but…” He worked his jaw back and forth for a few beats. “I’m working through the loss of someone important to me. And I’m realizing that keeping that in for as long as I have might do more harm than good.”
“Then why do you?” I probed and relaxed back against the seat. This was nice, a welcomed reprieve to talk about something other than me.
“For Trap. I didn’t want to bring him down. He’s got his own shit to deal with.”
I considered that for a second before responding. “Keeping things in will only pull you two apart. And yeah, I’m speaking from experience. I can’t tell you the last time I had an actual conversation with my—fingers crossed—soon-to-be ex-husband. And maybe that was the beginning of the end for us, which was years ago. Once you stop opening up, revealing those vulnerabilities, the strength of the relationship fades.”
“The person I lost was the one who could drag all that out of me. Without her… well, no one else can do what she did.” He side-eyed me. “The fact that you got this much out of me is a miracle.”
“Maybe because I’m desperate for normal, everyday conversation and I’m dragging it out of you. Or you feel bad for me and are opening up out of pity.” I huffed a humorless laugh. “Doesn’t speak well about me either way. I should stop bothering you.”
With an empty feeling in my gut, I shifted to look out the window the rest of the trip, but gentle fingers grasped my chin, turning me back to face Shade. We were at a stop sign, which was good since he fully faced me instead of the road ahead. One long finger traced along my jaw, chills erupting in its wake.
“You’re not bothering me, Georgia.”
Heat pooled in my lower belly, tensing and then loosening at the intensity in his dark gaze.
Oh hell. I have a crush on my sexy gay neighbor.
Both sexy neighbors.
I was pathetic. Not only would he not like me the way I was developing feelings for him, but even if he did, someone like him wouldn’t want me. I was used up, a discarded and forgotten shell of the woman I used to be.
