Grace (The Family Simon Book 5) (12 page)

M
ATT WAS GOOD AND DRUNK
. Didn’t take much for a skinny thirteen-year-old. He’d pinched a mickey of cherry whiskey from his dad’s cabinet and was flying high by the time it was half gone.

He tipped the bottle back and took another long pull. The stuff tasted like shit and burned when it went down, but it did the trick. It helped Matt deal with the fact that his mother was gone and she wasn’t coming back. That this, his first Thanksgiving without her, was the new norm.

He still couldn’t believe she’d left. Still couldn’t take the bullshit line she’d given him when he’d begged her to take him with her. A boy needs to be with his father, she’d said. Besides, she’d be doing a lot of traveling and he needed stability. He needed school. He needed to stay in New Waterford.

She’d left nearly two months earlier and she’d called him twice.

Tears stung the corners of his eyes as he searched his pockets for the pack of smokes he’d stolen from his uncle Brad. Shit. They were done. He tossed the pack over the edge of the porch and then the bottle along with it. No sense poking the bear. If his father caught him out here smoking and drinking, he’d get the belt for sure.

The door to the porch swung open and Matt straightened, hoping he looked a lot more sober than he felt.

“Hey there handsome. Your father’s looking for you.”

Matt nearly choked on the resentment that filled his throat. Delilah Parsons. He’d like to know why the hell his father had invited her to Thanksgiving dinner at Uncle Brad’s. But he knew, didn’t he? His dad was screwing this woman. Had been screwing this woman while his mom was still around.

“Whatever,” Matt replied gruffly. “I’m going home.”

The woman licked her lips, making them shiny and wet looking. When she walked toward him, her hips swayed a little too much, and well, Matt couldn’t help but notice that her nipples were hard. How could you not? She was wearing the tightest sweater on the planet.

“Come on, Mattie.”

“My name is Matt.” He stuck his chin out and glared at her.

A smile played around her flaming red lips. “Okay.
Matt
. Come inside with me. Your father wants to tell the family something.”

Matt’s stomach lurched because in that moment he knew. Things weren’t done changing. He took a step back. Thought of running somewhere. Anywhere.

But then the door flew open and his father stuck his head out. “What the hell are you doing out here? Get your ass inside, Matt. I’ve got something to say and I want you in there with me. Don’t make me look bad.”

The look in his father’s eyes told him a few things. One. If he sassed him, Matt would pay. Two. Whatever it was his dad was gonna say to the family, had to do with Delilah. And three. Matt just knew none of it was going to be good.

He wanted to run—to disappear and never come back. But he didn’t have the balls to defy his father. Not yet anyway.

So he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans and followed Delilah back into the house. The remains of their Thanksgiving meal were still on the dining room table, and everyone was gathered around waiting for the show to start. His grandfather (who was already belligerent and drunk), his uncle Brad and aunt Denise, and his cousins.

His dad slipped his hand over Delilah’s body. He squeezed her ass and pulled her into his arms. He grabbed a beer from the table and told them all that Delilah was moving in with him and as soon as his divorce was final, they were getting married.

The noise. Oh the voices and congratulations and hugs and kisses. Matt watched it all, his stomach churning, his hands balled into fists. No one cared about his mother. No one cared about him.

He slipped away, unnoticed, and headed back out to the porch. But the quiet and stillness did nothing for him. And when he couldn’t hold it in any longer, Matt leaned over the side of the railing and vomited.

Every bit of his Thanksgiving dinner, right there in the snow with an empty bottle of whiskey and an empty pack of smokes.

Empty. Just like him.

“
M
IND IF
I
JOIN YOU
?

Matt shoved off from the railing and turned as Eden Simon stepped outside. Her soft golden hair was covered by a pink knit hat and she’d wrapped herself in a coat two sizes too big—her husband’s he was going to guess.

She watched him intently and he could tell that the woman had something to say. He just wasn’t in the mood. Not tonight.

“Sure, but I was just leaving,” he replied, taking a step toward the door.

“Can you stay a minute or two, Mathew? Is it all right if I call you Mathew?” Her voice was soft, but the look in her eyes was anything but. It wasn’t exactly unfriendly, but her demeanor was decidedly cooler than it had been the last time he’d see her.

Of course, a lot had changed since then.

“Mathew is fine.”

She smiled and walked toward him. “Good. So, Mathew, how are things?”

Matt took a moment or two and tried to get a read on Grace’s mother. “Things are fine.”

“And what is it that you do again? Motorcycles or something like that?”

“No. I work on cars.”

“Right. So you’re a mechanic.”

“Not exactly. I restore classic cars. Customize them for clients.”

“That sounds interesting. Do you have your own shop?”

“I work from home.”

“That’s wonderful to have that kind of flexibility.”

Matt nodded. “Flexibility is good.” He paused. “I don’t want you to take this the wrong way Eden, but I’m pretty sure you’re not all that interested in my work life. So let’s not do this. Just ask the question. I won’t be offended.”

“Fair enough.” Eden shoved her hands into the oversized coat pockets and stared off into space for a few seconds. “I love my daughter and I know that the two of you are involved. I have to be honest with you, Mathew. I have some concerns about that.”

And there it was. Her truth.

Matt didn’t want to be rude—not to this woman—and yet, he wasn’t playing this game with Eden Simon or anyone else for that matter.

He looked her straight in the eye because he wanted her to hear
his
truth.

“You probably want me to say that Grace won’t get hurt or that I’ll back off and leave her alone.”

“It’s not as simple as that, Mathew. You’re older, you live in another state entirely and—“

“I’m going to have to stop you right there, Eden, because it is as simple as that. Your daughter and I are involved. At the moment I can’t tell you what the future holds, because I don’t happen to own a damn crystal ball. But she’s a grown woman with a mind of her own and I’m not sure that anyone in your family sees that. I know you want to protect her. I get that. She’s worth protecting. But this thing between us, is
between us.
I don’t want to sound disrespectful, but it’s really none of your business.”

Eden was silent for a few moments, and maybe he’d rattled her a bit with his frankness, but so be it. “Well, I guess I can thank you for your honesty.”

She wasn’t happy and he felt like a dick. How could he make her understand something that he wasn’t so sure he understood himself?

“Grace makes me want to be a better man. She makes me…” Now he was stumbling over his words because he’d said too much. He shook his head and looked away from Eden. “She makes me feel and it’s been a long time. I’m not willing to give that up just yet.”

Holy. Shit. Had those words just come out of his mouth?

“But what happens when you are, Mathew? When Grace becomes too much for you and you close yourself off and disappear?” She held her hand up, stopping his reply cold. “You know what? You’re right. It’s none of my business and maybe it was rude to ask. But can you do something for me? Can you promise me you won’t let her fall in love with you?”

Love? Shit. That was a word that made him uncomfortable and by the look on Eden’s face, she knew it.

“You see what I’m saying here, Mathew?”

The two of them stared at each other for a long time and then Eden took a step back. “She’s my baby and I love her. We all do.”

“I know.”

“All right. I’ve said what I wanted to say and am heading into the house. Are you coming?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I’m good out here for a bit.”

He watched Grace’s mother until she disappeared inside and then turned his attention back to the big, night sky. When had his life gotten so complicated, and on what planet did his name and love come up in the same sentence? He scowled darkly.

But then he thought of Grace, saw her sweet face in his mind and his chest tightened. He wasn’t capable of love. His past had killed any chance of that.

Hadn’t it?

15

T
he first annual Alzheimer’s awareness fundraiser was a huge success. The event was a sellout and that didn’t surprise anyone even though it had been postponed an entire week. Most of the scheduled participants such as Josh Hayden weren’t able to make it back, but that didn’t matter.

New Waterford had a host of local celebrities such as Billie Jo Barker, two-time Olympic medal winner with the women’s hockey team, as well as her sister Betty, the up-and-coming Hollywood ingénue. Of course Betty came with baggage—her husband, bona fide superstar, actor Beau Simon, and the females in attendance were certainly glad she did.

Held at Billie Jo Barker’s hockey facility, all the money raised was donated to research, and to help families living with Alzheimer’s. It was a heavy thing—the disease—but the committee had been determined to make the day light. Joyous. Happy.

There had been indoor hockey, which Grace sat out. There had been tug-of-war, in which Grace ended up on her ass when her team lost to Matt’s. There had also been the balloon toss where she’d managed to get soaked on the first throw. All because she hadn’t been paying attention—her eyes had been on Matt when her partner tossed the damn balloon.

The challenge portion of the fundraiser ended on a high note, however, with an indoor volleyball game that brought Grace’s team head-to-head with Matt’s. The crowd was all in, and the facility got more than a little rowdy cheering for their favorites. In the end, Grace’s team which included Betty Jo and Grace’s brothers Beau and Tucker, came out on top.

It was a hard-fought battle and a lot of fun but Grace was glad it was over. She wiped sweat from her brow—totally aware that Matt’s eyes were on her. So maybe she stretched a little longer, arched her breasts a little higher—his eyes darkened when she did so and that was reward enough for Grace.

“Okay. You and Matt need to stop mind fucking each other from across the room. Because if you don’t, this place is going to go up in flames.” Betty Jo grabbed a towel from her bag and handed it to Grace along with a bottle of water. “Considering the entire fire department is volunteer and most of them have been in the beer garden all afternoon, that’s not a good thing.”

Grace accepted the water with a grin and shrugged. “Sorry. I can’t seem to help myself.”

Betty took a long swig of water, her eyes on Matt. “He does look good without a shirt.”

“Amen to that,” Grace murmured, cheeks turning pink at the look in Matt’s eyes. She couldn’t wait to get him alone. He’d left the Barker’s not long after dinner was over the night before, and she’d been forced to sleep in Betty’s old bed. Not exactly the evening she’d envisioned, however she had tonight and no one was getting between her and Matt. Not her brothers, or the blonde who’d been flirting outrageously with him all afternoon. And definitely not her parents.

Matt tugged on his T-shirt and stepped around the blonde who couldn’t seem to get that he wasn’t interested. He strode across the court and Grace thought that if she died tomorrow, the image of his long legs, muscular build, and smoking-hot smile, was one she was would take to the grave.

“Good game,” she said when he reached her and Betty.

“Not good enough,” he replied, a slow grin lighting up his face. He was standing so close to her that she could feel the heat from his body.

“Sorry. My volleyball skills are mad.”

“I saw that and you’re not sorry.”

“Guys,” Betty interjected, grabbing her bag and tossing a towel over her shoulder. “I’m heading out. Need to shower before the dance. What are you doing for dinner? We could order in at Gramps?”

“Oh, I…” Grace glanced at Matt. Was it unfair of her to want him all to herself? Away from the probing eyes of her family? “I was hoping to see Rosie and the puppies.” She paused. “If that’s all right.”

Matt didn’t answer right away. In fact, an awkward silence fell between them. So awkward that Betty Jo made a show out of looking in her bag for something, and Grace just knew that her cheeks were as red as an apple.

Great. She was about to bolt when he put his hand at the small of her back and leaned close. Shivers exploded down her body and she jumped.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” he murmured into her ear.

“I have no idea if it is or not.” It was an honest answer. “But I need to be alone with you. That’s what I know.”

He had that look on his face, the one she couldn’t read, and as silence fell between them again, she had to wonder just what in hell it was that they had.

The doubt bunnies were back and they’d pretty much tripled in number and weighed her down. He
had
left the night before. Left without even a kiss. Or an attempt at a kiss. Had she gotten this all wrong?

She was just about to turn tail and flee when he spoke.

“Let’s go.”

She hesitated, maybe would have run off if not for his hand sliding over hers. He said a quick goodbye to Betty (who was looking at Matt as if he’d suddenly grown two heads), and then led her out of the back of the building to where his truck was parked. They climbed inside and he asked Grace if she needed anything.