Brody - Ellie Masters Page 0,119
you pulled me out of—the day I saw you in the vineyard, I knew. I knew what I lost, and I understood what was missing in my life. I want you. Forever and always. If you need more time and space, I’ll be honest, I don’t know if I can give it to you. Each minute I’m not with you, feels like a living death. I need you, and if that means I need to give you more time, more space, then I will, but I hope that’s not the case. Not when you need someone in your corner, fighting for you, or simply holding a towel and offering a sip of water while you fight your own battles.”
Her eyes fill with tears and threaten to fall. I place the pads of my thumbs to her lower lids where I catch her pain, just like I’ll be there to catch her when she falls, support her when she’s weak, and stand beside her as she conquers the world.
“You’re my everything.” The truth of those words sink deep inside where it matters most. Grace is a part of me. She’s the missing piece of my soul. “You make me whole.”
“I don’t know what to say.” She sniffs, and the tears stream down her cheeks. Unable to stop them with my thumbs, I lean in and kiss her tears away.
“Tell me you love me, too.”
“I love you.”
“Tell me I can stay.”
“You can stay.”
“I’m going to be with you every step of the way, fighting with you, or for you.” I gesture toward the front door. “How about we make some calls and bring Mark down?”
Her lower lip curls inward, and her tears dry up. She gives a curt nod. “I’d like that very much.”
We head inside, and she makes the calls that seal Mark’s fate. He doesn’t know he picked the wrong woman to steal from. Once Grace is done with him, he’ll have me on his ass, and I’ll make the bastard pay.
My eyes track Grace as she puts everything in play. She’s tenacious and fierce, methodical and insanely intelligent. For the first time, I see the power she would bring to the boardroom and reaffirm my vow to make all her dreams come true. I see a merger in our future, a way to save Atwood Estates without Sterling Enterprises stepping in, and if I can manage a billion-dollar company and be the CFO of a winery, there’s no reason she can’t do the same. I’ll need to have a conversation with Asher about expanding operations.
Grace finishes her last call and places her phone down on the counter.
“Is it done?” I go to her. Like always, when I’m close to her, my insides heat and tighten. For the first time, I want more from a woman than a few hours of pleasure.
“The FBI will investigate. My lawyer is on board. The IRS won’t be a problem for me, but Mark will have a lot on his plate.” Her gentle smile makes my heart race. “And thank you for being here. I’m sorry I pushed you away. You were only looking out for me.”
“I’m sorry I hurt you.”
Forty-Three
Grace
“Are you ready?” Brody holds out his hand and helps me out of the car. His steady gaze lends strength, support, and love.
My love for him increases with each passing day. My desire visceral and my need unquenchable. I wake like this each and every day, but my craving is no longer soured by fear. By his actions, Brody proves his commitment to me—to us—each and every day. We’ve come a long way over the past two months and found our new center.
The intoxicating taste of him lingers on my lips from the kisses he wakes me with to the carnal sex that follows. Morning sex is quickly becoming one of my favorite times of the day.
He hovers over me, and the way his scent reaches out for me, coiling around me, my brain is hit by the comforting sense, not of familiarity, but rather solid, unwavering love.
“I wish I didn’t have to be here.” My hand goes to my stomach in a failed attempt to quiet the butterflies churning around inside of it.
It’s been two months since I made the call. Two months since the FBI invaded Atwood Estates and arrested my uncle for embezzlement. He’s been out on bail, but I haven’t seen him since that day. I’ll never forget the shock and anger when he realized what was happening.
Mark said nothing,