Page 8 of Beautiful Envy

He stopped to grab a mug of coffee, filling it and taking a sip before he moved toward the bar. He was a few feet from it when he stopped, blinking.

“You’re not Brooks,” he mumbled.

“Nope,” Darcie said, smiling. “What kind of name is Pretty Boy?” she asked, shoving a forkful of eggs into her mouth.

Grayson looked at me, searching my face for answers. I nodded, letting him know it was okay. He swallowed another gulp of coffee, his swagger waking up.

“Well, pretty lady, it’s my road name. Do you know what that is?”

He leaned against the bar, giving her his best smile. When he wasn’t working in the auto shop, he used that same smile to grace magazines and ads. It was why we’d given him the name “Pretty Boy” because he was too pretty to be a biker.

“A road name, huh?” Darcie stopped chewing, looking him up and down. I both hoped and dreaded what I knew would happen next. There wasn’t a woman on the planet that could ignore Grayson’s smile. “I take it you lost a bet then?”

A snort left my lips before I could stop it. I covered my mouth, hiding my smile as I smothered the rest of my laugh. Grayson’s mouth hung open as Darcie giggled, eating her bacon like she hadn’t stunned the man speechless.

“Better eat, Pretty Boy. You need to leave in twenty.”

That broke the spell, and he moved around the bar, taking his seat between the two of us. “So, I guess my usual tactics won’t work on you. How about we start over? I’m Grayson Lawson. People call me Grayson, Lawson, or Pretty Boy. You can take your pick. Now, do tell, who are you, and how long will you be here?”

I finished my plate and looked over, wondering what Darcie would share. Surprisingly, she was finishing her own, making me realize she hadn’t been lying about her appetite. It made me like her more, which wasn’t a good sign for how this was going to end.

“Hmm, I’ll have to see which one fits you, I guess. For now, I’ll stick with Grayson. I’m Darcie.” She stuck out her hand, offering it to him. Grayson took it, bringing it to his lips to kiss.

“Pleasure’s all mine, Darcie.”

“Oh boy, you’re a big flirt, aren’t you?” She shook her head, smiling at him.

“We all have our talents,” Grayson said, scooping the food into his mouth. “You didn’t mention why you were here or how long.”

“Ah, yes. You’re more clever than I gave you credit for, then.” She wiped her mouth and got up. Walking around Grayson, she motioned toward my plate, taking it when I nodded. She placed them both in the sink and turned on the water. Grayson looked at me, but I shook my head, leaving her to tell him what she wanted. Once she’d rinsed the plates and placed them in the drying rack, she turned, facing us both.

“Short version for now. I needed a place to lie low. Lennox suggested here since she was leaving town. And I promise to not wear out my welcome or interfere with whatever you have going on. I just need some time to figure out my next move.”

“That sounds like there’s a lot more of a story there,” Grayson said, placing the last of the bacon in his mouth. Darcie moved forward and added his plate to the water she’d started.

“It’s enough for now,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him. He sighed but nodded. “Ten minutes.”

Grayson took my warning and got up, heading to the bathroom. The shower turned on a few seconds later, and Darcie placed the other dishes onto the rack. I hadn’t even realized she’d done the pans as well.

“You don’t have to do that,” I said, standing.

“I know. I wanted to. Thanks for breakfast.” She dried her hands and turned toward me. “Lennox mentioned I could go to the shop with you and help out there.”

I nodded, swallowing. I’d hoped she wouldn’t want to just yet. “Yeah. I’m heading out soon if you want to join me.”

“If it’s okay, I think I’ll stay back today. I have some things I need to look into.”

I sighed in relief, knowing I’d have a few hours out of her presence. “Yes, of course. Here, I’ll show you the spare room.” I picked up the boxes and walked down the hallway opposite where Grayson went. There were two spare rooms in the house, but I was putting her in the one the furthest away from me.

I opened the door and stepped in, setting the boxes on the bed. Some sunlight filtered through the windows, showcasing the dust that had been disturbed by my entrance. Darcie flipped the light switch when she entered, taking in the room.

It was a modest bedroom with a bed, desk, and closet. It had been another club member's a few years back, but it had stayed empty once he left.

“There’s a bathroom across the hall. There should be towels in the closet. You’ll share it with Brooks when he’s back. Grayson and I are on the other end.”

She nodded, taking in the space. “Thank you, Bubba.”

“No problem. If you need anything, my number’s on the fridge.”

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