Page 39 of Skid
Chapter 14
Grace
The ride was exhausting, but I held onto Dalton the whole way, knowing he would keep me safe. When we pulled into his house, I wasn’t prepared for the giant wooden cabin tucked down a secluded driveway. He said he lived in a cabin next to a lake, but it was more luxurious than I was expecting.
As soon as we walked in, I felt the utter exhaustion overtaking me. After getting ready for bed, I felt the need to show him my gratitude. Not with sex, but I hoped that happened sooner rather than later. He helped me into bed and ducked into the bathroom quickly, returning with a pair of shorts on and his tattooed chest on display.
Smiling at him as he turned off the light and walked across the room with only a lamp illuminating the room, I felt at home. Like we’d been doing this for years instead of days. He crawled into bed next to me and urged me to roll on my side before he pulled my body against his and wrapped his arm around my waist.
“Sleep, Grace. I’ll be right here if you need me.”
His lips pressed against the back of my head before I snuggled into the soft mattress and felt the weight of the last day pushing me into a deep slumber. Sometime in the night, a noise woke me up, and I blinked through the fog of sleep, trying to remember where I was. Seeing Dalton’s Death Hounds cut hanging on the door, I rolled over to ask him what the noise was, only to find myself alone in bed.
Sliding from the covers, I slowly walked out of the bedroom and down the hallway. It was still dark outside, and I tried to figure out where the sound was coming from. I saw the kitchen light on as I walked into the enormous living room. There was a light on what I assumed was the back of the house, and I walked to the glass door. Peering out into the night, I saw Dalton sitting on the back deck with a rubber ball in his hand.
He was hunched over his laptop, aimlessly tossing the ball onto the deck, only to catch it without looking. I knocked on the glass door, and he lifted his head with a smile. Placing his laptop onto the table, he motioned for me to walk outside. The cool air from the lake chilled my legs as I stepped onto the large, multi-level deck.
“What are you doing awake? I thought you’d be passed out until the morning,” he said, and I walked to the table and took the seat next to him.
“I heard a noise and didn’t know what it was,” I replied and yawned behind my hand. “What time is it?”
He looked at the ball in his hand and ducked his head down slightly. “I’m sorry. It’s a habit I picked up when I work. I didn’t mean to wake you. And to answer your question, it’s almost six.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m on vacation, remember?” I joked, and he leaned over, kissing me softly.
“Do you want to go back to sleep, or would you like some coffee?” he asked, and I debated on more sleep.
Not wanting to miss a minute of time with him, I answered, “I’d love a cup of coffee.”
He closed his laptop and stood from his seat. “I’ll be right back,” he kissed me again before walking inside.
The earliest rays of sunlight were pushing at the edges of the darkness, and I watched the sky illuminate, offering glimpses of his yard instead of the pitch black we drove home in. The door opened, and I looked over my shoulder to see Dalton with a blanket tossed over his now covered chest and two cups of coffee in his hands.
He placed them onto the table and laid the blanket over my legs, warming me from the morning air. Returning to his seat, he took my hand into his and sipped his coffee as the sky began to turn a warm peach color. The lake behind the house started to glow as the rays pushed into the sky, and I smiled at the beauty in front of me.
“Would you feel up to going to a cookout at the compound tonight? Sadie texted me an hour ago, and I managed to stop her from showing up first thing, but she insisted I bring you to meet her this afternoon.”
“She’s married to your President, Gunner?” Dalton nodded, and I admitted, “I think it would be fun.”
“Fantastic. I’ll let her know.”
“Do we need to make anything?” I asked, and he smiled deviously.
“Not for the first visit, but I’d love for Sadie to try that amazing pie recipe you’ve created whenever you’re up to it.”
I nodded and smiled as I finished my coffee and placed the cup on the table. Looking at him, I asked, “What time do we need to be there?”
“The party usually starts at six and lasts until everyone’s had their fill.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” The nerves of meeting not only his club but also his sister filled me.
A little while later, he offered me a tour of the house, and I gladly followed as he proudly showed me around. After explaining how he inherited the house from his uncle, he showed me what the original house looked like and detailed the expansion. He was proud of his home, and I wished I could say the same.
