Page 20 of Holding Grace

Chapter 8

Grace

I gazed around the apartment in disbelief.

“Mercy...” I looked over at Michael’s cousin, Mercy, where she stood leaning against the banister to the loft stairs, arms crossed casually, looking back at me. She was dressed in a light sweater, jeans, and ankle boots, and looked more put together than I had ever managed to in my life. Even on the days I really tried.

I’d been a little nervous when she’d picked me up that morning at the hotel where I’d stayed the night, but she’d quickly set me at ease with her warm and gracious personality.

“This is too nice. I don’t need a space this nice.”

The apartment was, in a word, beautiful. The design was modern, open, with gleaming floors, big windows, and clean lines, from the black metalwork of the loft staircase railing to the gorgeous cabinets and countertops in the open kitchen. It was far, far nicer than anywhere I’d ever even aspired to live, much less actually living there.

And, from what Mercy was telling me, it was included as part of my compensation as her assistant.

I’d known a rent-free apartment was included, but I’d expected a little studio or something, which would have been absolutely fine. Not this amazing space.

Mercy grinned at me as she walked closer. “Well, Baron Properties is fresh out of tiny, cramped, windowless units at the moment, so I’m afraid you’ll just have to put up with this place.”

I gave her a look and she laughed.

“Seriously, if it makes you feel better, this is the least desirable unit in this building. You’re on the second floor, so you have neighbors above and below you, and due to the way the building is configured, it’s the smallest of the six units. It only has one true bedroom and it’s in the loft. We did the best we could with this unit, but the layout isn’t what most people prefer. You’ll be doing me a favor living here. I won’t have to worry about someone crashing here who shouldn’t or any of the other crazy things that happen when rental space sits empty.”

I continued to look around the space, still not comfortable.

“You’re about a two-minute walk to the office and best of all, it’s a secured building with 24/7 monitoring, which will make my slightly overprotective cousin happy.”

My cheeks heated at the mention of Michael.

“He worries too much,” I murmured, not meeting Mercy’s eyes, hoping she missed that the mere mention of him made me flush.

“They all do,” she responded, giving no sign that she noticed my reaction. “It’s in their DNA. My brothers, Michael, even Rycker, their friend and my pseudo-brother, though he’s not biologically related. Imagine growing up with the four of them constantly ‘looking out for me’ as they put it.” She shook her head as she rolled her eyes. “I love them all but to say they can be a pain in the butt at times is an understatement.”

I huffed out a short laugh. “My brother, too, but for a very different reason.”

Mercy shot me a look, her expression wry. “Yeah, I’ll take my set of pains in the butt any day over the jerk you’ve had to deal with.”

Mercy knew the story – at least the basics – as did Michael’s other cousins, Levi and Ace; Rycker; Jamey; Kendrick, the main owner of Brothers Pub; and who knew who else.

After years of keeping the story and the situation to myself, I was suddenly surrounded by people who knew my business. Surprisingly, I not only didn’t mind, it was a huge relief.

I was still embarrassed that I’d run from Lark like a scared rabbit, but I was okay with the people who needed to knowing why.

Thinking about that, I turned to Mercy.

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