Grace for Drowning(23)

Her face was pulled tight, although I couldn't tell if it was with grief for me or fear for herself. "And Charlie really helped you get that under control?" she asked.

"Yep. I have no doubt I'd be six feet under now if not for him. He's a family friend. Served twenty years before mustering out to open the bar. He's one of the reasons I enlisted in the first place. He saw I was circling the drain, and for some reason he decided he wasn't going to let that happen."

Her eyes fell to the floor and she leaned back against the wall, her body deflating like a balloon. "You make it sound so easy."

I shook my head. "It wasn't easy. It was the hardest thing I've ever done. Still is. It never goes away, not completely. I'm probably going to be fighting it for the rest of my life, but at least now I know how to fight it."

There was a long pause, and when she spoke, her voice was trembling. "I don't know if I have the strength to fight this."

My hand found hers before I realized what I was doing, and I gave a comforting squeeze. Her body stiffened, but she didn't pull away. The gesture felt so easy, so natural, like I'd done it a thousand times before. "You have to try."

"Why?"

For me. God, that sounded insane, but it was the first thing that came to mind. "Because the alternative just isn't an option," I said instead.

She studied my hand in silence. It looked almost ridiculous, wrapped around hers — a gigantic battered glove cradling a delicate porcelain doll. She rolled her fingers gently across each knuckle, charting their peaks and troughs. Her skin felt impossibly soft, like something that should have just scattered at the first hint of a breeze. My blood accelerated.

"What do you want me to do?" she asked, bringing me back to Earth.

I breathed a sigh of relief. "I've got two missions for you, soldier."

A ghost of a smile broke through on her face briefly.

"First, I want you to visit the gym every day for at least an hour."

"Seriously?"

I nodded. "Exercise helps. Focus, energy, endorphins, all that good stuff. It tires you out, makes you feel good, gives that anger somewhere to go." And it would keep her nearby. I couldn't say that, but it was the truth.

She winced. "I don't know. Physical activity and I aren't exactly on the best terms, right now."

"All the more reason to get reacquainted. Maybe it won't work for you, but it's the only thing I know, so you need to give it a shot."

She still seemed unsure, but eventually she gave a resigned nod. "And the second task?"

"I want you to cook every day."

Her brow creased. "Cook?"

"You need something to pour your energy into when you're not at work. Something that makes you happy and reminds you that life is worth living."

"I guess I can do that," she said slowly. "That's all?"

"For now. The most important thing is that you promise to call me if it all gets too much. I meant what I said; one more drink and you're done. And that doesn't just mean at work, that means everywhere. It only takes one slip to wind up right back where you started."

"Okay."

"That's not good enough. I'm putting myself out on a limb here, but I'm not willing to cover for you again, so I want to hear you say that I won't have to."

Her mouth tightened a fraction, and for a few seconds I thought maybe she was going to turtle up again, but eventually she gave a quick nod. "I promise. No more booze."

"Good. You got your phone handy?" She passed it to me. "Here's my number. You can call me any time, day or night, whenever you feel the urge to reach for a bottle."

She gave a wry little shake of her head. "Does this make you my sponsor or something?"

"It makes me your friend," I replied.

Her eyes narrowed a fraction at that. "Right."

She turned to leave, but I called after her. "One more thing, Grace. Eventually, you're going to have to tell me what happened."

I didn't receive an answer.





Chapter Nine





Logan





I wasn't sure she'd actually show up. Following through on a decision like that is easier said than done. But at one o'clock in the afternoon, the gym door opened and in walked Grace. For a few seconds, all I could do was stare like an asshole. Women's workout clothes are a perfect example of how you don't have to show a lot of skin to be knockout sexy. I usually only saw her in the Charlie's shirt and jeans, and while that always made her look good, this was something else entirely. Between the three quarter black tights and the form fitting red tank top, every gorgeous inch of her was on display. I don't think I'd have gotten a better idea how perfect her body was if she was naked. My mind was already peeling those layers away, relishing the sight of her, those spectacular tits, that tight little ass. I felt a hunger growing in me that shot straight between my legs.