Page 95 of Whiskey Lies

I chance a glance at her and give a quick nod before turning back to the road.

“It’s just that I’m pretty sure you will need a dentist by the time we get back to Boston if you don’t start talking.”

I try to bite back the smile, still angry that I let my family down, but when I turn and see Grace’s wide one, mine breaks through. “Sorry, Angel, just work shit bothering me. Nothing for you to worry about. I’ll snap out of it, I promise.”

Internally, I berate myself for making her feel uncomfortable…for almost ruining this time we have together. I’m still yelling at myself when I feel her warm hand reach over and squeeze my own. I stare down at it and study how her long fingers fold into mine and seem to fit just perfectly. How just her touch calms me almost instantaneously. Shuts down my warring thoughts, and reminds me of what matters. Grace. Us.

As we reach the next light my eyes move to hers and I sigh.

“You don’t have to snap out of it for me, Cash. Remember what you told me the other night? We’re together. We figure things out together. Things don’t have to be perfect.” She laughs. “Hell, I wouldn’t recognize perfect if it were standing in front of me. We are a mess, Cash. But I’d rather be the real mess with you than fake perfection with anyone else.”

She reaches up and grazes her thumb against my cheek. “You, Whiskey, just being here, is all I need.”

I close my eyes and accept the kiss she offers. A car honking behind us lets me know the light has turned green, and I pull away from her, but not before giving her hand three tugs of my own. This girl—this woman—means everything to me.

“So whose ass do I have to kick to get you to relax?” she teases.

I laugh and it turns into a sighing groan. “Honestly, just take my mind off work for a few hours. I can’t do anything today anyway. Might as well enjoy ourselves.”

Grace hums beside me. “I’m pretty sure I could figure out a few ways to distract you, Whiskey.”

“Oh my gahhhh!” Grace screams as we dart between a car and another scooter, narrowly becoming one with the road.

I laugh and squeeze her hip which is tucked safely in front of me on the electric scooter we’ve commandeered for the past hour. She said she wanted to see all the sights and I needed to let loose. The scooter seemed like the perfect option. Before we stepped on, Grace gave me her librarian look again, but I smacked her ass and told her to stop being an old spinster and hop on. As soon as the scooter started to move, and she learned how to sway her body with my own, letting me control our every move, she yelled that this was amazing. She might be regretting that statement now.

“You okay, baby?” I whisper into her hair after I’ve stopped laughing and we’ve gone back to cruising down the street with no cars or scooters close enough to cause harm.

The nudge from her elbow into my abs leaves me laughing again. The girl is fine.

My girl is fine.

My hands rest on top of her own, controlling the steering, and we continue forward. With her coconut scent dancing around me and her warm body pressed up against mine, my day has completely turned around. And now I can’t wait for the next part of our day. It’s what I’ve been looking forward to the most.

“Cash, this house is…” Grace walks around my living room and I hold my breath, feeling like everything is falling into place. Seeing Grace in my space, in the spot that I’d envisioned us when she asked me what I wanted for my future, makes this house a home.

It makes me feel like I can actually have it all. The family. The life I missed out on growing up without the warmness of a mother. The life I’ve dreamed of…all because of the woman standing in front of me.

Unable to hold back for another second, I walk to her and pull her close to me. “It’s everything because you’re here. Thank you so much for coming.”

Grace looks shocked by my admission which I can’t quite understand since I’m pretty sure I’m constantly telling her she means the world to me. Her face relaxes, and she presses her hands against my chest. “Thank you for inviting me. So what is our plan tonight?” she asks with a hint of mischief. I’m sure she thinks I’m going to cart her over my shoulder, slap her ass, and christen each room.

And as much as my cock aches to do just that, there is something I want to do more. “We are going to the strip.”

Grace’s face falters. “The strip?”

My lips quirk at the way she says it. Kind of naughty, a dirty inflection, and also a challenge in her tone. “Yes. I want to hold your hand, Grace, in public.”

Grace’s smile doubles and she closes her eyes as she leans against my chest. “I’d like that too, Whiskey.”

Grace laughs as we walk out of the art studio. Just the sound of it has my dick growing along with my smile. “What are you laughing at?”

I squeeze her hand three times and she stares down at our connection. We are out in public, walking down a street, holding hands. It feels like heaven. All the money in the world couldn’t buy this moment right here. “Just laughing at the absurdity of the fact that we just sat painting Disney pictures while sipping wine, and the other night we were at a sex club. Life certainly isn’t boring with you.”

I surprised Grace with a wine and paint class, and the art of choice was Disney princesses. Grace smiled the entire time and helped me and my terrible art skills by holding my hand most of the class. It was a great night.

“We weren’t in a sex club.”

Grace throws her head back laughing. “We were so in a sex club.”

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