Page 78 of Holding Grace

Was it? At least I had something with Grace now. I had part of her. What if telling her I wanted more with her made me lose everything?

“Learn from my mistakes, Michael,” Jamey repeated as he left the office. “Talk to her.”

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I WAS STILL THINKING about Jamey’s advice when I left the pub that night, flipping it over and around in my mind. I was nearly to my SUV when I sensed...something.

Something that made the hair stand up on the back of my neck and sent a frisson of warning down my spine.

I kept moving, glancing casually down the row of employees’ cars parked in the lot. The pub was behind me, and the lot was well-lit so there wasn’t much cover for anyone who wanted to hide.

I saw and heard nothing to explain the pulse of danger I’d felt, that I was still feeling. As I climbed into my vehicle, I looked across the roof in the other direction. Still nothing.

I sat, engine running and doors locked, and shot off a text to Jamey. It had been years since we’d had an issue with any of the staff being approached in the employee lot, but it was always a possibility. Whether whatever I felt was a warning of that or something else, it wouldn’t hurt for everyone to be a little extra cautious when leaving.

I took another look around the lot and watched for anyone who might be following when I left, but everything seemed quiet and normal.

As I drove home, my mind filled with Grace again.

I needed to tell her what I wanted. It was only fair. I was living with her, had married her, under false pretense, at least partially. I was essentially lying to her – lies of omission if nothing else – and it didn’t sit right with me.

Grace deserved better. I needed to shoot my shot with her and hope for the best.

It was too late tonight to do it – she’d already be in bed by the time I got home – but soon, I promised myself. I’d do it soon.

Chapter 29

Grace

Michael was antsy. He had been since the weekend, probably longer than that when I thought about it.

Maybe...well, maybe even since we’d gotten married.

I sat staring at my laptop, seeing nothing that was on the screen, deep in thought.

Today was Monday. Michael and I had been married for twelve days. I wondered if the reality of what we’d done was sinking in for him.

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