“I’m worriedabout him. He can’t use his right hand at all. How is he showeringor cooking or driving? He’s trapped in his little apartment and hedoesn’t have any close friends here.”
“He’s okay,”Grace said. “He took an Uber to the clinic on Friday. He didn’tlook or smell all that great, but I heard him telling Grant that hehad a friend coming down for the weekend to help him.”
“What did Grantsay? Do you know?” Kira asked. “Is he angry with Connor?”
Grace shook herhead. “No, he isn’t angry. All things considered, he’s beingremarkably level-headed about it. He’s bringing in a friend of his– some semi-retired dentist - to cover Connor’s work while heheals.”
“That’s good,”Kira said with relief. She stared out the window again as Gracestudied her. Despite what Kira said, fear still gnawed at herbelly. Maybe she should call Gideon. She didn’twantto callGideon, not when she couldn’t get the sound of his low voicepromising to spank her out of her head or her dreams, but she wasreally worried about Kira.
The doorbellrang and when Kira made no move to get up, Grace stood. “I’ll beright back, honey.”
She walked downthe hallway and opened the front door, staring at the man standingon the porch. “Can I help you?”
“I’m lookingfor Kira,” the man said. “My name’s Lucas. I’m a friend ofConnor’s.”
“What do youwant?” She blocked the doorway with her body, not failing to noticewhen his gaze lingered for a moment on her breasts.
“I was hopingto talk to her.” He gave her an admittedly cute grin. “I promiseI’m harmless.”
“She’s upset.She’s not up for visitors right now,” Grace said.
“I get that.But I just came from Connor’s place and if she’s anywhere half asmiserable as he is, then I think you should let me talk to her,” hesaid.
“Gracie? Who isit… Lucas?” Kira peeked over Grace’s shoulder. “What are you doinghere?”
“I came to talkto you,” Lucas said.
“Let him in,Grace,” Kira said.
She steppedaside, giving him a little scowl when he winked at her as heslipped by. “I like your shoes, Gracie.”
“It’s Grace,and thank you,” she said.
She followedthem to the living room, sinking into one of the recliners as Lucassat down on the sectional. He stared at Kira who was pacing theroom and said, “Connor is an idiot, but he loves you.”
“He broke upwith me,” Kira said.
“Because he’san idiot. But he is miserable without you.”
“Then maybe heshouldn’t have broken up with her,” Grace said.
Lucas grinnedat her. “Oh, he absolutely shouldn’t have, but you know us guys, wedo stupid shit all the time.”
She didn’treply and Lucas shifted his gaze back to Kira. “Go see him, Kira. Iguarantee you the minute he sees you, he’ll be begging you forforgiveness. He knows he made a stupid mistake.”
“If he wantsher back, why are you here and not him?” Grace said.
“He’ssensitive,” Lucas replied. “He thinks Kira hates him now and he’safraid of being rejected.”
Grace snorted.“Connor is not sensitive.”
“Actually, heis,” Kira said. “He just hides it really well.”
“Yep,” Lucassaid. “He loves you, Kira. He loves you and he made a stupidmistake that he now regrets. But you have to understand, Lisa – andto a certain extent, his parents – messed with his head. They madehim believe he ruined his life and Lisa let him think he ruinedhers because she’s a straight up bitch who was only with himbecause she wanted all the perks of being a famous baseballplayer’s wife. The second she knew that wasn’t a possibility, hertrue colours emerged. She fucked him up by refusing to admit thatshe didn’t love him and kept him hanging for a few years. Sheshould have done him a favour and just walked away as soon as hisball career ended.”
He leanedforward, clasping his hands together and giving Kira an earnestlook. “It’s not an excuse for him breaking up with you, but itexplains why he made such a dumb decision. Can you just go and talkto him? Please?”
Kira nodded.“Yes.”