Page 17 of Fire

“Andrew,” I respond, forcing a polite mask on my face. It doesn’t escape my attention that Ford’s hand slides from my back to my hip, then his fingers spread over my stomach as his hold on me tightens. There’s something about that move. It seems possessive and I feel a thrill move through me.

Seriously, what the hell is wrong with me?

“Hey, Grace. Hey, Ford.”

“Vector. Where’s your old lady?”

“Sloane? She was beat. She worked and then we drove down here. I think her lucky streak in the casino wore her out.”

“She definitely did good,” Ford responds. “We better go. Grace and I were just about to get settled and order some room service for the night.”

Andrew looks from Ford to me. He scratches behind his ear, his face scrunching up as if he’s trying to figure something out. Then he just sighs. “Grace, I know you don’t owe me a damn thing, but I was wondering if the two of us could talk privately for a minute.”

“Andrew, what was between us was years ago. I don’t really think there’s anything left for us to say.”

“Please?”

“Vector, I don’t think Grace?—”

I put my hand against Ford’s chest. He’s moved so that he’s putting part of his body between me and Andrew. It feels like he’s trying to protect me, and that’s just another thing that makes me really like him. Maybe what I’m feeling about him is different becausehe’sdifferent. Could there really be a man in my life who wouldn’t look to hurt me the first chance he got?

“It’s okay, I’ll talk to him,” I whisper.

“You sure, sweetheart?” he asks. Maybe it’s my imagination, but I think he’s worried about me. That warmth I feel whenever Ford does something sweet fills me again.

I nod. “Go get us that room. I’ll just be over there by the coffee lounge.”

Ford studies my face. I don’t know what he’s searching for, but he shocks the heck out of me when he leans down and places a kiss on my forehead. “I’ll come get you in a bit.”

I have the strangest urge to cry. I can’t remember anyone ever kissing me like that, making me feel like I’m special to him.Am I being stupid?

“We won’t be long, Ford,” Andrew responds. Something unspoken moves between the two men as they stare at one another. Ford seems reluctant, but finally nods. He kisses the top of my head this time, walking away after winking at me.

I smile, watching as Ford’s lips stretch out to match mine. It could be possible that this man is insane. I shake my head, forcing my attention back to Andrew. I’d rather have my teeth pulled than talk to him. I’m sure he can tell that. I start walking to the table over in the corner of the coffee bar. It’s up to Andrew if he follows or not.

Once I sit down, he takes a seat across from me. “You look good, Grace,” he says, wincing with his words.

I roll my eyes, but I do it while looking down at the table. I don’t want to fight or make him feel sorry for me. I just want this conversation done so I can walk away. He doesn’t have a place in my life anymore. From watching him tonight, I’m not sure Ieverhad a place in his. I wouldn’t have fit in. Maybe Andrew always knew that and that’s why he kept me away from his club. Of course, he never really gave me a chance to fit either. Ford is the president of an MC, and he doesn’t seem to have qualms about being with me—and he probably should.

“Thanks, Andrew. I’m not sure what you wanted to speak about. I don’t think there’s anything for us to say to one another—not after all this time.”

“I wanted to apologize to you. I was an asshole, and you truly didn’t deserve that.”

“You’re right, I didn’t,” I exhale. I let my gaze move over the man that I once thought I was completely in love with. He has more lines on his face now. You can tell he’s spent hours in the sun and lived hard and fast. I guess you could say the same about me—except for the sun. It is his eyes that are the most different, however. They don’t hold that sparkle of mischief that I always loved. They look older now,wiser.They did sparkle at the table when he was with Sloane. She makes him happy. I know Andrew enough to recognize that instantly.

“Grace—”

On instinct, I reach out to place my hand over his. “Whatever it is you think you owe me, please stop. I’m fine. What we shared was a lifetime ago. I’m divorced with a son. I have my own life, and you are just a memory of my past. Honestly, that’s all we are to one another—the past.I wouldn’t change that, because if I did, I wouldn’t have my son, and he’s my entire world.”

“A son? Fuck, Grace, did you, did I?—”

I feel a chuckle bubble up before I can stop it. “Please, get that terrified look off your face. You’re not my baby daddy.”

For the first time, the surrounding mood lightens. “You deserved better. I shouldn’t have shut you out. I was just … I was a mess, Grace. My head was messed up. I was in pain and fighting to?—”

“There’s a reason they say war is hell, Andrew. You did survive and you seem … happy.”

“I am getting there,” he says. “I have good people around me and Sloane …”

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