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“Well, that shouldn’t be hard considering she’s become my entire world.”
“Good, let him see that. Maybe de-pussify it a little.” He chuckles and exits the car.
My door opens, and Grace holds her hand out to me. “Come on.”
Be a man, Nick Bennett. You got this. I say silently to myself and take her hand.
Logan is already on the porch, waiting and watching us. He’s wearing a shit eating grin, completely relaxed. When we get close enough, Roy steps forward, and Grace drops my hand, jumping into his arms. He squeezes her tightly, flinging her around like a ragdoll.
“Peach Princess,” he says affectionately, kissing her cheek.
She takes his face in her hands and does a full scan. It’s an exchange I recognize well, since Bizzy and I do the same thing so frequently. She returns the kiss to his forehead then looks at me.
“Grandpa, put me down so I can introduce you to my boyfriend.”
He does as she says, and I move quickly, extending my hand to him. “Nick Bennett.” I barely get out my last name because his grip crushes my hand.
He could kill me with these hands. The force behind his clutch tells all. Grace is precious, and I’d better treat her that way.
“Roy Monroe.” He clutches once more before stepping back and tossing his arm around her shoulder.
She’s watching me, biting her lip, encouraging me quietly.
“It’s an honor to meet you. Grace has told me a lot about you.”
He looks back and forth between Grace and me quietly, his expression unreadable. He does this three more times before responding. Beads of sweat run down my neck, and my stomach knots as I wait for him to speak.
“Yeah, I can say the same thing about you. Apparently, you’ve been spending a lot of time with my girl.”
“As much as she’ll let me. It’s my favorite thing to do.”
This cracks the ice. His face softens, and he leans back down to kiss her head again. “We have that in common. It’s one of my favorite things, too.”
Grace stares at him with such admiration, I swallow the lump in my throat. Her reasons for leaving school and staying home are glaringly obvious.
God, I love this woman.
Logan coughs right as a truck drives up. I turn to see a gigantic blue F-350 come to a stop and a man in a suit jumps out. Grace squeals and calls out, “Daddy!”
She meets him halfway, and he repeats the same embrace as Roy. Grace was sore already, but now I fear she’s going to be black and blue. He puts her down and glances at me with a welcoming smile.
I go to him, already less intimidated. He yanks me into a man hug, slapping my back. I grimace, feeling the sting. He may be less intimidating, but he’s no less strong.
“Nick Bennett, I’m Carl Monroe. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“Yo
u too,” I cough out as he slaps me again.
Logan takes mercy on me and steps in. “Hey, Dad.”
Grace slides to my side and gives me a sympathetic grin, while rubbing lightly where Carl has no doubt left a hand print.
“It’s time for a beer,” Roy calls out, and I hear the screen door slam as he goes inside.
“It’s the middle of the day,” Carl yells to him.
“Who the hell cares? My work is done for the day.”
