Chapter Fifty-Seven

“Is he sleeping?” Mac asked as he watched his wife’s hips sway as she entered their bedroom.

“Yup. Clean diaper, full tummy, and a little Orajel to soothe those gums all make for a happy, sleepy baby.”

“Good, because I need to put my hands on your body.”

Grace tilted her head. “Well, if you insist.”

“I do.”

Mac grabbed her and playfully pulled her onto the bed with him, kissing her and letting his hands roam free. Giggles turned to moans as he found all the right places to tease, twist, and flick. Taking a nipple between his teeth while clever fingers slipped inside her wet heat, he brought her to a quick first orgasm.

“Oh, God!” she cried out as her back arched.

“Again,” he demanded.

When he was satisfied that he’d made her cum a half dozen times, he lifted her legs and rested her ankles on his shoulders before plunging into her. “Fuck! You’re so tight, baby.”

He marveled at how their bodies seemed specifically designed to fit together just right as he thrust into his wife repeatedly. Pleasure rose slowly inside them both until their need sizzled like scalding water, ready to boil over.

He reached between them and found her sweet spot just aching to be stimulated. Bodies danced in rhythm; their panting became louder and almost feral. Her back arched, and her climax ripped through her body as her man flooded her pussy.

“Oh, fuck! Yes!”

They shuddered and collapsed on the bed, with Grace snuggling against Mac’s chest. “You were amazing,” she said, her voice sexy and breathy like an old-time movie star.

He grinned. “Not as amazing as you were.”

“We’re pretty perfect together, aren’t we?”

“No argument there.”

They lay there for a while as their heartbeats slowed and normal breathing resumed.

“I should get up, brush my teeth, and get ready for bed.”

“Or, you could put that talented mouth to work and get me hard again for round two.”

“Well, aren’t you greedy; sounds like a good plan.”

Grace scooted between Mac’s legs and took his flaccid cock into her mouth. Her fingers played deftly with his sac while her tongue did magical things.

“Nobody sucks cock like my Gracie,” Mac bragged.

“Mmfph.”

He laughed at his wife’s attempt to respond with a mouthful of growing dick. It didn’t take long until he was fully hard again.

“Pick your poison, my love.”

“I wanna ride you backwards.”

A wicked smile bloomed across Mac’s face. “Well, if you insist,” he said, mimicking her earlier words.

“I do.”

Lowering herself onto his rigid pole, she wiggled her ass. Mac gave it a playful swat before grabbing her hips so he could thrust while she rode him.

He watched her curvy bottom with its puckered star tease him as she moved up and down his shaft. The friction of her soft, wet walls as they gripped his cock made him so aroused that he felt his primal urges take control. He pumped ferociously, making her scream his name and God’s. He knew his impending climax was imminent. But he did his best to focus on her pleasure for as long as possible.

Feeling proud of himself for making her cum three more times, he hammered into her rapidly and filled her yet again.

A few moments later, Grace sighed. “Great, I don’t know if I have enough strength left to lift my toothbrush.”

Mac tickled the bottom of her foot, making her jump. “Sure, you do; you don’t like having furry teeth in the morning.”

“Ugh! You’re so right about that. Fine. But I’m not flossing.”

Mac chuckled. “I’m not the tooth police, babe. You do you.”

“I like it better when you do me.”

“My sassy little redhead—if I didn’t have an early meeting tomorrow, I’d insist on a round three.”

“Next time.”

February flew by, and March blew in like a lion with blustery winds. It was hard to believe that, according to the calendar, Spring was just around the corner.

Grace checked her daily schedule and saw an appointment at 10:00 a.m. with someone listed as K. Abbott. Anxiety gnawed at her stomach as she recognized the last name. She was about to contact Avery for more information about the meeting when he popped his head into her office.

“Hey, I just wanted to tell you that all the European reports came in on time this month and that Paris reported a slight increase. Seems like things are getting back on track there.”

“Thanks. It helps that Andre is no longer fucking around behind his wife’s back. We will still spend a few days there so he can see us face-to-face. I think it’s good for him to know we are paying attention.”

“And that is why you are the COO, and I am your administrative assistant.”

“Speaking of that, did you add the 10:00 meeting to my schedule?”

“Yes, it’s a woman who said she represented a new business and wanted to discuss IT options. I tried to arrange for her to meet with Kyle Anthony in the Brooklyn office, but she was adamant about meeting with you. I’m sorry; should I reschedule?”

“No, it’s fine. Do you have any additional information on her?”

“No, I searched, but nothing turned up.”

“Okay, thanks for trying. I’ll be on calls until then. Mac is in Queens today until midafternoon. If this K. Abbott shows up early, have her complete the needs assessment paperwork.”

“Will do.”

Chapter Fifty-Eight

The next two hours flew by, but the calls went well, and Grace felt particularly productive. Then she opened her door and saw a woman chatting up her admin in a falsely cheery tone. As she recognized the voice, Grace’s breathing hitched, and irritation crept up her spine.

“Well, there she is, my sweet niece, all grown up and living in a big fancy house! How are you, sweetie?”

Grace dug deep for strength.

“Nope, we aren’t doing this, Aunt Katherine. Avery will set you up with our man, Kyle, in the Brooklyn office if you have real business. Otherwise, we’re done here.”

Avery looked aghast. Clearly, this woman had misrepresented herself, and Grace was livid. He felt partially responsible for not digging deeper to find out this woman’s identity and purpose for coming.

“I have business with you, Grace Remy, and you’ll be respectful and invite me into your office. Your father would be so disappointed to see you acting so rudely to his sister.”

“Do you mean the sister who kicked me out because you said I was too much of a burden? I think it is you who would cause my father disappointment.”

Avery felt conflicted. On one hand, he should probably excuse himself so the women could talk in private, but he couldn’t just ditch Grace and leave her in a very uncomfortable situation.

Sensing his discomfort, Grace inhaled sharply. “Come into my office Mrs. Abbott, where we can discuss why you are really here.”

Grabbing his phone, Avery shot off a text.

Uncle Bentley, Grace has a visitor who is causing her grief. Any advice?

On my way.

Closing the door behind her, Grace gestured to the visitor chair in her office. “You might as well sit.”

Katherine Remy Abbott hesitated momentarily as she studied her brother’s only child, the one he and his wife had foisted upon her after their untimely deaths. She hadn’t wanted children, never had any of her own. But that didn’t stop the little brat from showing up on her doorstep all those years ago. Truth be told, she never liked her brother, and she liked his daughter even less. But she took advantage of the money left for her care. Of course, that money had long run out, and now the little bitch was swimming in it.

“I apologize for the ruse, but I figured that was the only way to get you to agree to see me. I know that we didn’t part on the best of terms, but I am your only living relative. And I took care of you when your irresponsible parents went on that dangerous mission and left you with no one.”

Grace took a deep breath, silently counting to ten to find her inner calm.

“Please, let’s drop all pretenses. You’re here because you saw me on the news and discovered that I have money now, and you want a chunk.”

“You make it sound so sordid. I did take care of you, after all. It wouldn’t kill you to repay my kindness.”

“Katherine, you were never kind. And you were well paid to look after me. But we both know you kept the money and told me to get out, so I don’t believe I owe you anything more.”

“You drove a wedge between my husband and me. He left shortly after you did. I’ve been alone all these years,” Katherine sniffled and fanned at fake tears with both hands.

Grace rolled her eyes.

“I have nothing. You, conversely, have it all, don’t you? You’ve more than landed on your feet; I’m sure you have enough to share with your poor, lonely aunt.”

The knock on the door was the only thing that prevented Grace from going off on her aunt.

“Come in.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt, Ms. Grace,” Bentley said, raising an eyebrow at the woman who sat dabbing at her eyes. “But I wanted to make sure that everything was alright.”

Grace smiled stiffly at Bentley. She knew his heart was in the right place, but she didn’t want his help at the moment. “You’re very kind to check on me. It turns out that the potential client is actually my aunt, and we’re discussing old times. So, if you’ll excuse us…”

“Of course. Just remember I’m available if you need me.” His face showed genuine concern.

Her heart squeezed a little. How ironic that she felt a stronger sense of family from Bentley than she’d ever felt with Aunt Katherine.

“I appreciate that.”

“Aren’t you so kind to check on my darling niece?”

Bentley raised an eyebrow skeptically and nodded as he closed the door behind him.

Katherine's tune changed when it was just the two of them again. “Look at you with servants at your beck and call,” she scoffed. “And yet, you’d deny me a bit of money to ease my current state.”

Grace sat in the chair behind her desk, twisting her wedding ring around and around on her finger. As much as she detested Mac’s family, none had ever asked for a penny. The hateful woman who sat across from her was nothing but a greedy leech.

“Just for curiosity’s sake, how much money would it take for me never to lay eyes on you again?”

Katherine’s eyes widened. “A million dollars.”

Grace burst out laughing. “No.”

“No? Just, no? What do you mean?”

“I mean, had you asked for some reasonable amount, I may have been inclined to give you something in memory of my father. You’re right; you didn’t ask to be my guardian. But you were compensated for your efforts, what little they were. Still, if you hadn’t decided to show your true greediness, you might be walking away with a check.”

Katherine became visibly flustered.

“Fine, I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give. It’s the least you can do. I put you through college.”

“No, you didn’t. There was money left for that. Money that you couldn’t get your hands on because it was in a trust for my education.”

Katherine said nothing.

“I’m sure there was more that I should have gotten, but I was naïve and didn’t understand my parents would have never gone on that mission without ensuring my needs would be met. Instead, I wore thrift shop clothing and cleaned your house to pay for my meals until you demanded I leave. If you spent all the extra you kept, it’s not on me; I owe you nothing. I think you should go now.”

“I’ll bet that fancy husband of yours would be interested to know how you left before you were eighteen to go God knows where, probably whoring around.”

Grace shook her head.

“Stop; that’s not going to work. My husband knows everything there is to know about me, and you know damn well that you kicked me out, and I ended up staying with friends until I graduated high school.”

Finding her balance, Grace added, “By the way, it might interest you to know that the last person who tried to blackmail me is going to prison.”

Probably.

Katherine’s eyes grew wide.

“But, out of the kindness of my heart, I’m going to give you one more chance. Pick a reasonable amount.”

“Five thousand dollars,” Katherine blurted out, instantly wishing she’d said ten.

Grace picked up the phone and called Michael Stone.

“Hello, I need to speak with Michael, please.”

Katherine’s eyes darted nervously around the room and saw photos of Grace and her husband. Her man was rich and handsome. It seemed so unfair.

Grace’s voice went from stern to cheerful for a moment. “Yes, thank you, he’s doing so well. Listen, I hate to bother you, Michael, but I need paperwork drawn up as soon as you can make it happen. I’m giving my aunt a rather large sum of money as a gift from my personal account, and I want to make sure it’s in writing that this is a one-time deal and that there will be no more money henceforth.”

There was a pause.

“Five thousand dollars. No, no, not blackmail. Just greed. Yes, of course. That’s why I called you. Yes, I appreciate your help. Thank you, goodbye.”

Grace turned her attention to her aunt. “You’ll need to make an appointment with my admin to return in a few days. At that time, you’ll sign an agreement that the five thousand dollars is a one-time gift and that you will never come back. If you do, a restraining order will be filed. Say thank you, Aunt Katherine.”

The words weren’t lost on Katherine. She heard herself in her mind demanding in that same snippy tone that Grace say thank you for every little thing.

Say thank you, Grace.

Katherine scowled. “Thank you.”

“Bentley will see you out once you have arranged our next and last meeting. I don’t know whether there was any real business you wished to discuss, but let me assure you, I have no interest in taking you on as a client.”

“Isn’t that for your husband to decide?”

“Nope, that falls under my department. Good day,” Grace said as she showed Katherine the door.

“Avery, Mrs. Abbott will need to schedule a follow-up appointment for no more than one week from now.”

She closed the door behind her and waited until it was silent outside her office. Then she waited for the tears to come, but all she felt was anger.

Chapter Fifty-Nine

She wasn’t the only one who was angry.

“You did what? Without even discussing it with me?” Mac fumed when he arrived home later that afternoon.

“I took it out of my account. I don’t need your permission to touch my money.”

“I’m not suggesting you need permission. But sweet Jesus, you don’t even have a verdict on the blackmail case, and now you’re giving in again to someone else? Didn’t you learn anything about how you handled Bakary Konen?”

His words stung. Grace tried to speak, but Mac raged on. “I can’t believe that Michael Stone agreed to this. He should have at least notified me.”

“Why?” Grace managed to get a word in edgewise finally. “It’s my money that I earned while I was your Acquisitions Liaison. Why should Michael have notified you?”

“We should always discuss matters where large sums of money are concerned, Grace. I don’t understand why you would allow yourself to fall prey again so easily.”

“It’s not blackmail, McKinley. She wanted an outrageous amount of money for supposedly taking me in after my parents died now that I’m apparently rolling in dough. What I agreed to is a far more reasonable amount, a one-time gift with the strings attached that she can never ask for another cent.”

“Why give her any in the first place?” Mac shouted. “Fine, it’s your money, but do you honestly think she won’t come back six months or a year from now and demand more?”

“She doesn’t get the money unless she signs the contract that Michael is drawing up. The one that specifically forbids her from coming anywhere near me again, or a restraining order will be filed. I’m not stupid, McKinley. I simply think that five thousand dollars is a small price to pay never to have to see that wretched woman again.”

“Not too long ago, five thousand dollars would have been a big deal. I see you’ve gotten used to having money pretty quickly.”

Mac’s words hit their target, making it hard for Grace to breathe.

Knowing he had hurt her but still livid, he continued. “How much did she originally want.”

Grace forced herself to make eye contact. “She wanted a million dollars, and I laughed in her face. Then I gave her one more shot at asking for a reasonable amount. An amount that I knew I could pay from my own savings account. The one that has far more money than it should, by the way. It seems there have been rent checks for a certain house in Queens deposited into my account without my knowledge. But I’m sure you have no idea where that came from since we always talk about everything together regarding money.”

Mac was silent for a moment. She’d made him feel foolish, and he hated that feeling. “It’s your house, Grace. Why shouldn’t the rent checks go into your account?”

“No, it’s your house, McKinley. Our prenup states that it only becomes my house if we divorce. And last I checked, even though we are royally pissed at each other, we are still very much married.”

Mac cleared his throat. “I may have put the house in your name after we got married.”

“May have? I’d say you did since my name is on the deed. What about no secrets, McKinley?”

“You didn’t tell me about paying off your aunt.”

“You weren’t here! I planned to tell you  the minute you got home and asked about my day.”

“You should have called me, Grace. Instead, I had to hear it from Avery. He was distraught, by the way, blaming himself for even allowing that woman to step inside our home.”

“It wasn’t for Avery to tell! I had an issue with my father’s sister, and I handled it. I’m sorry if you don’t care for the fact that I know how to pick up the phone and call Michael and get things taken care of without your stamp of approval.”

“You called my lawyer, but you didn’t call me?”

“Our lawyer. You’re an ass. I’m done with this conversation.”

“Like hell you are!”

“Check your watch; it’s five minutes before five, time to get our son and let the nanny go. So, you’ll need to tuck this away until DJ is down for the night. I’m not asking anyone to stay and watch our son so you can continue to scream at me.”

Grace stepped out of her office and found Avery’s desk unoccupied. At least he was smart enough to make himself scarce. What the hell had he been thinking, telling Mac about Aunt Katherine’s visit? It was not his place to do so!

Needing a moment to regain her composure, she took the stairs to the third level to retrieve her baby.

When she got to the top of the stairs, Mac was there, having taken the elevator.

“I don’t like fighting with you, Grace,” Mac said calmly, hoping to smooth the waters a bit.

“Good, then put it away for now as I asked you to. We will talk later. Sometimes being a good parent means you tuck your shit away until after the kids are sleeping. If we are going to have another baby, you’ll need to master that skill, McKinley.”

Oh, she was pissed! But then, so was he.

“So noted.”

Chapter Sixty

Dinner was polite but tense, and afterward, while Grace found solace in interacting with their son, Mac took his comfort in the form of a purring ball of fur on his lap.

“You know, Merlin, I wish you were actually a wizard instead of a cat. I could use a little magic at the moment. I don’t suppose you know how to rewind the tape to the moment I came and stuffed my foot in my mouth, do you?”

Merlin blinked and bumped his head against Mac’s hand.

“I know, buddy, and thanks for wishing you could. I mean, I had the right to be upset, didn’t I?”

More blinking, purring, and nudging ensued.

“Yeah, I know; it’s how I handled things that sucked. But how do I make Grace understand that I’m not so much angry at her as I am livid for her? How much shit does my wife have to deal with before she can say the past is truly in the past? Fuck her Aunt Katherine for coming here today to see what she could get out of Grace. Sorry, I probably shouldn’t use the F-bomb around a kitten.”

Merlin put his paw on Mac’s chest and gazed at him with those green kitty eyes.

“You’re absolutely right; I’ll apologize and make things right. Your human mama has a big heart and is more forgiving than anyone I know.”

Grace cleared her throat.

Mac looked up. “How long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough to have discovered that Merlin is a great counselor. He and DJ should start a private practice together.”

He smiled weakly. “I’m so sorry that I overreacted.”

“And I’m sorry I got sidetracked and didn’t call you, so you’d know what I had done before you got home.”

“I’m sure Michael tried to dissuade you from giving a single dime to your aunt.”

“Actually, he was the one who suggested the one-time gift option. He said it was the quickest and most permanent way to keep her out of my life. And, as you pointed out, since I’ve become accustomed to having money, I figured it was worth it.”

“Grace, I didn’t mean…”

“No, you did. You’re right. DJ and I had a little conversation about how easily I got used to having money at my disposal. Well, he mostly cooed and blew bubbles, but he nodded in all the right places. Part of me is embarrassed that five thousand dollars seemed like a pittance if it meant never seeing my father’s sister again. But I’m cutting myself some slack since the money came from my account and was money I earned by working for you.”

“Fair point.”

“As far as the house in Queens, you should have told me that you’d already put the house in my name so I wouldn’t have looked like an idiot when I called Michael back later and had to admit I had no knowledge of what you’d done. It made me feel unaware, and I hate feeling that way.”

“I transferred the house to your name so that if anything happened to me, you’d be guaranteed to have it. It kills me to think of times you were homeless, and I never want that to happen to you ever again. If I lose all my money and get run over by a bus, I wanted you to have a home in case the creditors came knocking at our door here.”

“So, why not just tell me?”

Mac shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I thought you’d be annoyed.”

Grace raised an eyebrow and tilted her head. “I certainly am annoyed to find out this way.”

“I’m sorry, Grace.”

“You make it hard to stay mad at you when your intentions were honorable. And how do you not forgive a man who takes advice from a cat.”

“Does this mean I can be Mac again instead of McKinley?”

Grace shrugged and nodded.

“Grace, I’m sorry I said some very harsh things. You have every right to spend your money your way. And you earned every penny of your salary as my Acquisitions Liaison, so you shouldn’t feel ashamed of having money to spare. I’m an idiot.”

“To be fair, I could have discussed it with you first. Not that I needed your permission, but because communication between a husband and a wife is important. I could have sent her away and told her I’d contact her later. I just wanted her out of my sight. As it is, she’s coming back next week to pick up her check.”

“What would happen if you just told her to fuck off?” Mac asked.

“That’s the thing. I totally could do that. It’s not like she has any dark secrets to expose. I just didn’t want her somehow worming her way into my life. Doing it this way makes it cut and dry. And I can stop wondering when she will show up looking for a handout. Now we are more than square, and I owe her nothing.”

Mac wanted to say she didn’t owe her aunt anything in the first place. She was so hateful when Grace’s parents died and treated her niece like a stranger off the street. Grace ended up finishing high school by couch surfing at friends’ houses. But if giving Katherine a chunk of money would provide Grace peace of mind, who was he to be such a dick about it?

“How can I make this up to you?” Mac asked gently.

“Well, since your son is sleeping, maybe we could go upstairs, and you could brush my hair. That usually leads to more, so makeup sex is always possible.”

He took her hand in his and brought his other hand to her cheek. His kiss was so soft and sensual that it completely melted away any remnants of anger for both of them.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry, too.”

Grace led him by the hand onto the elevator. Merlin followed along and was a little freaked out once the lift started moving and released a ferocious hiss.

“Oh, my, look at that poofy tail! Merlin, it’s just a speedy way to go upstairs,” Grace explained as if the cat could understand her. When the doors opened on the sixth floor, Merlin poked his nose out first. Satisfied he recognized his surroundings, he made a beeline for the bed.

“Nope, not yet, goofy cat. It’s adult time right now. You go take a cat bath somewhere else and come back when we’re done,” Mac said, realizing that he was also talking to the cat as if he were a person.

“Do you want to get ready for bed first?”

“Nope, I just want to get my hands on you.”

“Hair brushing first,” she reminded him.

“Yes, ma’am,” he teased.

He spent ten minutes turning her into a puddle of needy desire before setting the brush down on her nightstand. He toyed with spanking her with it or sliding it between her slick labia. But he wanted to make love to her, slow, soft, and sweet.

He kissed her neck and had her trembling with arousal as his lips traveled down her breast to capture a nipple. Sucking on it, he took the other breast in his hand and massaged it like a stress ball, kneading it gently but firmly.

After her first climax, he switched sides. Moans and sighs filled the air as he brought her over the edge again before kissing his way down her tummy to her bare mound.

Grace’s eyes fluttered, and her hips rocked in rhythm with Mac’s talented tongue as it parted pink folds and discovered her delicious nectar.

Grace’s senses were overloaded; she felt like she might burst into flames at any moment. But he edged her mercilessly until she begged for release.

He spread her legs wide and entered her in a series of thrusts, each time going deeper inside her. When he was balls-deep in her sweet little pussy, he rolled on his back and said, “Ride me, Gracie.”

Grinding against him, she had them both about to explode with her sultry moves.

“Oh, God, Mac!” she cried, “You feel so good inside me.”

“God, yes, your wet heat is driving me mad.”

They moved together like a mechanical bull and his courageous rider, determined not to be flung off.

Their sex noises made the cat look up from his bath more than once as he tried to determine if his people were crying out in ecstasy or agony. Indeed, it was a little bit of both.

“Oh, God! I love when you fuck me hard and deep!”

“Cum for me, my little slut!” Mac growled.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Grace screamed as she came hard, her tits bouncing like a burlesque dancer.

“Oh, fuck!” Mac shouted in return as he shot rope after rope of his seed deep inside his wife.

Grace allowed herself to fall into Mac’s arms as they stayed joined for a few moments. Without warning, Mac flipped Grace on her back, lying on top of her.

“That was supposed to be a slow, sweet lovemaking session. Why do we often end up looking and sounding like we’re brawling instead?” Mac laughed. He kissed her nose and her forehead. “In any event, I love you madly, and I hope this will at least get me out of the doghouse.”

Grabbing his ass with both hands, Grace said, “Well, it’s a fabulous down payment, anyway.”

“You’re so sassy! But I wouldn’t have you any other way.”

“That’s what you get for hiring the redhead,” she teased. “You could have had that hot blonde.”

“Nope,” Mac replied. “I wanted the red hair, blue eyes, and freckles. You took my breath away from the very first moment. I can’t imagine making any other choice than you.”

“Dish me up some cookies and cream with chocolate syrup, and I might have to stamp you paid in full.”

“Coming right up, my love.”

“Perfect ending to an otherwise really shitty day.”

“The ice cream or the sex?”

“Both.”

As they sat cross-legged on the bed eating ice cream, Mac nudged Merlin out of the way, but not before his little pink nose was covered in vanilla after dipping it into Mac’s bowl.

“Scoot, you little varmint,” Mac said. “The cat book says ice cream is too rich for your little tummy.”

The lingering annoyance Grace was holding onto melted away. Mac had actually read the book she’d bought about how to care for cats. It touched her heart that it mattered to him. Still, she needed to let Mac know that his words earlier had stung.

But before she could speak, Mac said, “Hey, I know I’m forgiven, but I want to say I’m sorry again for the hurtful things I said earlier. I was out of line.”

“Thank you, that means a lot. I understand why you were upset. I just didn’t appreciate the way you were speaking to me.”

“I’m not proud of how I handled myself, but I promise you, it all stems from the fact that I can’t bear the thought of you having to put up with more crap. Especially from a family member.”

Grace nodded. “I get it, I really do. But you tried to make me feel bad about a decision that was mine to make and criticized it, even though I thought it was the option that I felt would bring me the most peace.”

“You’re a hundred percent right. I flubbed this one big time.”

Grace searched his face and found only genuine love and remorse there. Was it any wonder she was so crazy about him?

“You read the cat book.”

“What?”

“You read the cat book. It’s hard to stay mad when you do sweet, endearing things like that. I love you. I hope we can just put this behind us and move forward.”

“The best part of all this is that you mean it. You forgive and move on. You don’t hold grudges; I won’t have to be reminded later of what an asshole I was today. You truly are extraordinary.”

“Not really. But I wouldn't say no if it would ease your conscience to provide me with more dessert.”

“More dessert? You mean sex, not ice cream, right?”

Grace laughed, rolled onto her back, and let her legs fall open.

“Nailed it in one.”

Mac grinned. “And now, I’m going to nail you again.”

Only this time, it was the sweet, slow lovemaking he’d promised her earlier.