Chapter 31
Jason’s body tensed slightly, but he didn't resist. He laid his head on her shoulder, inhaling her scent. Its faint fragrance inexplicably filled him with contentment. Being near her allowed him to relax completely.
“Jay,” she whispered in his ear, “didn’t you say you’d never abandon me? I vow the same. I’ll never abandon you. No matter what happens, I’ll stay by your side.”
“Would you really?” he mumbled.
“Of course,” she replied matter-of-factly.
“Won’t you be scared of me?”
She chuckled lightly. “Why would I be scared of you? My Jay…” She leaned back to smile at him.
My Jay… She used that phrasing again. He belonged to her. He wasn't averse to it; he might even be happy about it. But he was thinking too much. He raised his head, and their faces were inches apart, their noses almost touching. He stopped thinking altogether.
Her face flushed red. As she instinctively pulled back, he looped an arm around her waist, preventing her from moving.
Grace froze. It felt as if all the blood in her body rushed to her head. This close, she felt lightheaded. His arm was strong; she felt the thick muscles beneath. His eyes were almost black, his pupils dilated, making her wonder what could affect a man so profoundly. Surely not her, with her scars, baggage, and feelings of worthlessness. Yet, in his arms, she didn’t feel insignificant. She felt seen. She felt like more than an ex-con—like a human being, a woman.
She remained suspended in his embrace, her gaze darting between his eyes and mouth.
“Still see me as your brother?” Jay whispered.
No. There was nothing brotherly about this. His large, strong body cradled her as if she were precious. And his face—when his dark eyes crinkled at the corners and his mouth turned up in a knowing grin—she realized he saw right through her. She was attracted to him, the way a woman desires a man. And he knew it.
Jason’s phone rang, shattering the moment. Or perhaps, she thought, it was a lucky interruption. Grace wasn't sure how she felt about their near-kiss. Part of her thought she'd imagined the intimacy, that she was reading too much into it. The other half felt…alive. Like her mind and body were reawakening after years of dormancy. It was probably just his good looks. He was so attractive that she would have had to be dead not to respond to him in some way.
“Grace, please sweep the rubbish next to the garbage can. The garbage truck is coming soon,” Claire said, jolting her from the memory.
“All right,” Grace replied. She saw Chase entering the center and quickly glanced at Claire. It was kind of Claire to steer her away from Chase. For a while, Grace wasn't sure if Claire would respect her decision or keep trying to convince her to give Chase a chance. He was a nice man, but…he deserved better than her! So did Jay, for that matter.
Grace frowned. She cherished his friendship. She imagined her apartment without him—coming home one day and finding him gone. A pang of pain shot through her chest.
More coworkers gossiped about the Stevens ad drama. She meant what she'd told Jay; she didn't care about him one way or the other. If she still had feelings for Sean, perhaps she would have enjoyed seeing him embarrassed. It was nice—don't get her wrong—it made her believe in karma. But if she subscribed to that, she’d have to believe she’d done something to deserve all the turmoil and pain she’d experienced.
It’s okay. You’re okay. Today is a new day.
She walked to the garbage can and began sweeping. Suddenly, a pair of Dior high heels caught her eye. She recognized the luxury brand; those shoes cost more than she earned in several months. She looked up and saw Lily’s beautiful face.