Grace walked out onto the deck with a full glass of wine and handed it to Patsy. She had a worried look on her face, and I wondered what it was she was bothered by. Maybe it was spending the afternoon with my friends and family. But she was tting in real nice here. I took a long swig of my beer while I watched her. She had no problem talking to anyone. Some people enter your life and it’s as if they were always there. Grace was one of those people, and I hoped she would always be there.
Betty tapped me on the shoulder. “You knocking boots with Grace?” I coughed and choked on my beer as it went down the wrong tube. “What?” I asked. My voice croaked.
Betty patted me on the back. “You heard me, Calvin. Are you knocking boots with Grace?”
I looked over at Grace. She bent down and grabbed two beers from the cooler. My attention went back to Betty. “Why would you ask that?”
“Just want to make sure you’re protecting yourself. She’s gone in, what, four,
ve days, so don’t go falling in love with her, Calvin. She don’t belong.” Betsy spoke softly and sternly.
“I know you mean well. But I’m grown, and you don’t need to watch out for me anymore.”
“I’m always going to watch out for you, Calvin, like you were my own,” she said, raising a brow. “And that ain’t ever gonna change.”
“ ought you could use another.” Grace interrupted, handing me a beer.
She smiled at Betty, and I saw Betty’s mouth twitch as she forced one back.
Betty backed away. “I’m going to put all the food out.” “Let me help you,” Grace o ered, taking a step toward her.
Betty put her hand up in protest and then lowered it. “On second thought, I’d love the extra help.” Her smile twitched again.
I wasn’t sure what she was up to, but she was clearly up to something. With Betty o her meds, her behavior could be quite unpredictable.
“Char, come help us with the food,” Betty called out, beckoning her with her hand.
Charlotte nodded and followed them inside.
“Damn, Calvin. You look at her as if the sun won’t rise tomorrow,” Wyatt said with a laugh.
Joe smacked him in the arm. “Since when are you poetic?”
“Since I’ve been trying to win Charlotte back.” Wyatt slugged Joe’s shoulder. “I’ve been reading a lot of them Colleen Hoover romance books while I’m working speed traps. Ain’t no one getting tickets, but I’m learning a lot.” He swigged his beer. “And that lady sure can make me cry,” Wyatt said, shaking his head.
I laughed and turned to the grill, lifting the cover. Some of the meat was
done so I started taking it o and placing it on a platter. “What happened between you two anyway?” Joe asked.
“I don’t know. Just one day she told me she didn’t want to be with me anymore. No reason given.” Wyatt sighed.
“ ink she was cheating?” Joe asked. I glanced over my shoulder at them.
Wyatt frowned. “Well, I didn’t think that. But now I do.”
“Why would you say that, Joe?” I shot daggers at my brother for putting that thought in his head.
Joe shrugged. “Girls don’t just go breaking up with guys for no reason.”
I ipped the steaks again, ensuring they had nice grill marks on both sides.
“Enough about C and me before I get weepy. What’s going on with you and
Grace?” Wyatt patted my shoulder.
I slid a thumb into the loop of my jeans and rocked back and forth on my heels. “ at, I don’t know.”
“You kidding me?” Joe laughed. “I walked in on you two. You were naked.” Wyatt smirked. “You hound dog.”
I pulled the steaks o and felt my face get warm. I was surely blushing.
My eyes went to the house after I closed up the grill. I couldn’t see Grace, but I knew she was in there—probably heating up her nasty brussels sprouts or helping Betty with the honey cake. She was in my house, and I liked her there. It’s where she belonged no matter what Betty or anyone in this town thought, and I was determined to keep her.
“Look at you. My brother’s falling in love with a city girl.”
“ at girl is going to rip your heart out,” Wyatt said. “Trust me. Charlotte did the same to me.”
“I hate to say it, but Wyatt has a point.” Joe lowered his chin. “She’s leaving in four days.”
“Not to sound cliché, but I think I can get her to stay.” I immediately regretted the words as they left my mouth.
Wyatt and Joe glanced at one another and then gave me a puzzled look.
I knew Grace wanted me. And I wanted her. And at the end of the day, there was nothing complicated about that.
“What are you going to do? Lock her in the basement?” Joe chuckled. “I got an extra set of handcu s,” Wyatt teased.
Shaking my head, I laughed with them but it was forced because I was dead serious. I swigged my beer, imagining a life with Miss Grace Evans. I hoped I wouldn’t have to imagine it for much longer.
