Page 3 of Unruly Defender
She pats my chest as she pulls away.“Well, now it is.Are you hungry?Have you eaten?”
“I can always eat if you’re making something,” I chuckle and rub my belly.
My Ma’s face lights up with a smile.My gaze slides to the woman behind the desk who is observing us with curious eyes.
“Oh, where are my manners?Gracy, meet Henley, my son,” Ma says as she draws the woman behind the desk into our discussion.
“Oh, he’s been released early?”Gracy says and instantly puts me on edge by the surprise in her voice and the knowledge she seems to have, knowing exactly who I am as she holds out her hand.“I’m Gracelynn Lightners, but everyone calls me Gracy.It’s nice to finally meet you since your mother is always raving about you.”
“Yeah, right,” I snap and then the name enters my brain and something clicks.“Lightners, as in Lightners Yacht Club, among other things?Any relation with the magnate?Because that name doesn’t come around often.So, what the hell is a Lightners doing behindmyfucking desk, working inmyfucking estate, and telling me she ownsmyfucking dog?”
“Henley Augustine Pierce,” my mother snaps in her ‘warning for hell to pay’ mom voice, and it makes me feel like I’m five years old again.
It doesn’t matter if I’ve spent the last few years dealing with the most dangerous convicts or the fact that I’m thirty-three years old; when your mother pulls out the Ma-voice, you damn well show respect and listen to what she has to say.
I hang my head and mutter, “Sorry, Ma.”
“It’s not me you should apologize to.I asked Gracy to come work for me almost nine months ago when I found her on the beach.She’s been a real doll and works hard.Finn was taken with her right away.She has helped me and Finn because you know how much he likes the beach and his long walks.That’s why she offered to take care of him along with me, and it happened to be the best solution.And really, Henley?Judgement coming from you?I know you’re on your toes, as you should be, but Gracy isn’t just an employee.I consider her a good friend of mine too.”
Yeah, my Ma can really make you wish for a hole in the ground to jump in and hide.You know, because deep down everything makes sense and you know she’s right.And for fuck’s sake, why did she have to voice my full name in front of this chick?
A sigh rips from my throat and I glance up, catching the chick’s stunning eyes first.There’s a damn smirk painting those pretty cherry colored lips before she schools her features.I narrow my eyes but wince when my mother smacks my shoulder.
“Enough already.Gracy, sweetheart, excuse us, please,” Ma says as she grabs my arm and drags me off.
Can I just mention I’m glad she doesn’t snatch me by my ear to drag me out of the room?And why am I letting her drag me off without giving me a chance to take my dog with me?I want my fucking dog back.
CHAPTER TWO
– GRACY –
“What an asshole,” Igrumble to myself and take a deep breath in an effort to calm down.
I don’t care how handsome he looks with his rugged appearance.All tall and fierce along with a scruffy, hard angled jaw and gorgeous blue eyes.I bet the dark, short hair was easy to maintain in prison.I wonder if he would normally let it grow out some more on the top.It doesn’t matter.The things coming from his mouth are anything but nice.
Rude, and self-absorbed.I’ve encountered a lot of types of guys over the years, but this kind of man?He’s the whole sex-on-heartbreaker-legs package deal.Though, the “bad boy vibe” he has going on is something my ladybits enjoy more than the “filthy rich boy attitude” of those slicks my father used to throw my way.
