Grace

“You doing okay?” my mother asked.

Propping the phone up on my shoulder, I opened the oven to check on my biscuits. “I’m fine, Mom. Just got done making biscuits and gravy for the guys.” I’d gotten up early and made breakfast. I wanted to give back in any way I could.

“I see,” she said with a snicker.

“What’s so funny?” I pulled down three plates out of the cabinet and grabbed the orange juice from the refrigerator.

“Nothing, sweetheart. I’m just getting the impression you like being there. I can hear it in your voice.”

“I guess I can’t hide anything from you.” I’d finally allowed myself to get close to Ian, and I’d found a friend in Reed. I had a new purpose in life, and it didn’t involve working myself to death. This experience had taught me there were more important things than moving up the corporate ladder.

“I’m glad. You’ve neglected yourself over the past year.”

“Guess it took facing death to make me see things differently.” The sausage and gravy was done, so I took it off the burner.

“Just be safe . . . and I mean that in all ways, Grace. Ian’s a handsome young man and consequences happen as a result of not using—”

“Mom, stop,” I blurted. “Ian and I aren’t together like that.”

She giggled. “Okay, whatever you say. Take care of yourself, baby. I’m more than ready for this to be over.”

“You and me both.” We said our goodbyes just as Ian turned the corner, dressed in another pair of his sexy, ripped jeans and a T-shirt. He’d stayed up most of the night with Reed, researching Daniel and the others. Not having him next to me as I’d planned, only made me crave him even more.

“Damn, that smells good,” he said, coming up behind me. Squeezing my waist, he kissed my neck, the stubble on his chin making me giggle. “I missed you last night.”

My body tightened. “Same here.”

He slid his lips down to my shoulder, kissing me tenderly. “Don’t worry, buttercup. We’ll have some fun tonight. But first, we have work to do. I think you’ll like where we’re going.”

Turning around, I handed him a plate. “Buttercup? I thought it was cupcake?”

He winked. “Tomorrow it might be sweet cheeks.”

Rolling my eyes, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Where exactly will we be going? Will I be seeing people?”

Grabbing two biscuits, he spooned some gravy over the top of them and popped his eyebrows up and down. “Yep, but we can trust them.”

Reed walked into the kitchen, taking a deep breath in and holding his stomach. “Holy shit, I’m hungry. I could smell the food all the way in my room.”

I passed him a plate and filled up my own. “There’s a ton. Eat up.”

Reed ate quickly and put his plate in the sink. “I have to head out to Boise for the day. I’ll be back later tonight.” I watched him give Ian a look, before he threw a smile at me.

“Let me guess,” I said once Reed had left the room, “he’s going on a secret mission?”

Ian stared back at me, regarding me curiously. “Why do you say that?”

I shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe it’s the way you two looked at each other before he walked away. I’m intuitive, Ian.”

“That’s good,” he agreed.

“Where he’s going, does it involve me?”

Sighing, he stood and pulled me into his arms. “No. What he’s doing involves something else entirely.” A slow growing smile spread across his face. “But now, me and you have somewhere to be.”

Ian helped me clean up the kitchen, and we were on our way. It felt incredible to get off the ranch for a while. It was a beautiful day, with the sky covered in wisps of white clouds. The air was warmer, and I knew the beginning of tourist season was upon us. Then it hit me.

“What’s going to happen to my house if I don’t pay my bills? If I’m not working, I’m not making any money. And if I’m supposedly dead, I can’t make my payments.” It was the first time I’d ever thought about it.

Ian patted my leg and laughed. “You’re not going to lose your house. If you need money, I can give it to you.”

“No,” I blurted out incredulously. “I’m not taking money from you.”

“Why not? You can pay me back with sexual favors.” He burst out laughing and I smacked his arm.

“Seriously, what’ll happen?”

“Nothing,” he replied, squeezing my hand. “If my plan works, you’ll be back home in a couple of weeks. However, with the media knocking down your door, you might want to stay with me until everything dies down.”

“Is this your way of keeping me around longer?”

His lips tilted slyly. “Maybe. You got something wrong with that?”

I shook my head. “Not at all.”

Deep down, I didn’t want to leave. I loved being at Ian’s house, riding Ellie whenever I pleased. It was a whole different world. Ian’s truck slowed down and we turned onto a paved road, lined with trees. A beautiful ranch-style house sat off in the distance. I’d driven by it numerous times, but never had any clue who lived there.

“Who lives here?” I asked.

Ian chuckled. “Do you know who Hadley Rivers is?”

Heart stopping, I stared at him, frozen in shock. When my voice failed me, I resorted to nodding.

His smiled widened. “She lives here.”

I couldn’t move, and I sure as hell couldn’t breathe. I was about to meet Hadley Rivers, mega country star, and one of my favorite singers. I knew she lived around my area, but I never suspected it was so close.

Ian opened his door and hopped out. Walking around to the passenger side, he helped me out, fingers entwining with mine.

“Are you saying you know Hadley-freaking-Rivers?” I choked out.

He chuckled. “Yep. Although, she’s now Hadley Rivers Evans. Her husband’s like me. There was a time he had to be her bodyguard. Do you remember when everyone thought she was dead?”

Eyes wide, I gasped. “Yes. Now I remember. Her story is almost like mine. Someone was after her and she disappeared.”

He nodded. “The only difference is, the person who hunted her didn’t want her killed. He just wanted her.”

We walked up to the front door and I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d meet Hadley Rivers. The door opened and I recognized the chiseled man who stared back at us. He was always by Hadley’s side in the tabloids. A smile lit up his face and he held out his hand.

“Chandler, it’s good to see you, man.”

Ian shook his hand. “Likewise. I’d like you to meet Grace Myers. Grace, this is Blake Evans.”

Blake smiled at me and shook my hand. “It’s good to meet you. I’m sorry about what you went through.”

I shrugged. “I’m alive.”

“That’s all that matters.” He opened the door further. “Come on in. Hadley’s in the play room with our daughter. She’ll be right out.”

We walked inside the living room and I held my breath. Ian chuckled beside me and I glared at him. “Stop it. I can’t help I’m nervous.”

He put his arm around me. “No reason to be. Hadley’s just a normal person.”

Blake tried to hide his grin and failed; my cheeks burned with embarrassment. “Connor’s outside. Why don’t we go ahead and get started?” he suggested.

Ian squeezed my shoulder. “I’ll be outside. You can stay with Hadley. I know she’s excited to meet you.”

I sat down on the brown, leather couch while Ian and Blake disappeared out the back door. Hadley’s voice echoed down the hall as she talked to her daughter. Even if I was blindfolded, I would’ve recognized her voice.

“Grace?” she called out. I jumped to my feet just as she entered the room, her long, blonde hair in a ponytail, with no makeup on her face whatsoever. She looked like a normal, everyday woman, holding her daughter on her hip. The little girl was a miniature version of her. “Hey, how are you?”

I laughed. “Great, actually. It feels like I’m in a dream.”

She held out her hand and I shook it. “It’s nice to meet you. Blake told me everything that happened. I’m glad you have the Chandlers keeping you safe.”

“Me too.”

The little girl in her arms squealed and buried her face in Hadley’s shoulder. Hadley tried to coax her out. “Amelia, this is Grace. Can you say hi?”

Amelia peeked at me and I waved. “Hi, Amelia.” She was a little over a year old with a mouthful of tiny teeth.

Hadley giggled. “She’s playing shy today. Aren’t you, you little booger?” She tickled Amelia’s cheek and the little girl squealed in delight. “Want to go outside and talk?”

“Sure,” I said, following her out the back door. There was a playset with a baby swing in the yard, and I watched as Hadley put her daughter in the swing. “I’ve never seen you around town.”

“That’s because my husband is a little overprotective,” she said with a laugh.

“Do you plan on doing any more tours? You’ve been out of the spotlight for a while.”

She turned to me and smiled. “Having kids can make you see things differently. Don’t get me wrong, singing is my passion, but I love where I’m at. I don’t want Amelia growing up on the road.”

“I’m not a mother yet, but I can only imagine how precious your time is with her.” Ian and Blake were just outside the barn, talking to a man who towered over them. He had on a cowboy hat with arms bigger than my thighs. “Who’s that?”

Hadley walked behind the swing and gave Amelia a gentle push. Her eyes squinted against the sun as she looked at the guys. “That’s Connor, he used to be my bodyguard. And before that, he used to be a part of the Irish mob, so he stays here to hide from them. It’s a long story.”

I snorted. “Trust me, I get it. My own story’s complicated. I never thought I’d be hiding from people I thought were my friends.”

Amelia giggled every time Hadley pushed her. “You’ll be safe with Ian. He’s such a good guy. Are you two seeing each other?”

“That depends on your definition. He’s asked me out numerous times before this whole situation went down, and I always said no. I guess I was afraid he’d hurt me. Now that I’m staying with him, I can see he’s different than I thought. We’ve gotten . . . closer.” I could feel the heat rise in my cheeks.

Hadley snickered. “I know what that means. I’m sure he treats you a lot better than Blake did me when I was forced to stay with him.”

I gasped. “What do you mean?”

She burst out laughing. “Oh, honey, Blake was horrible. He didn’t want to be my protector when I went into hiding. He thought I was a spoiled brat. Needless to say, I had to prove him wrong.”

“What did you do?”

“Everything he believed I couldn’t,” she explained. “He made me do chores, like clean the horses’ stalls. So, I did it without complaint. The man tried to make my life a living hell. Then, after time, he realized I wasn’t as bad as he thought.”

I glanced over at Ian. He looked so confident as he talked to the others. “Ian’s not like that.”

“No, he’s not,” she agreed. “He might look rough and tough with all the tattoos, but he has the biggest heart of any man I know. I’m just glad his job hasn’t changed who he is, like it has with Bryce.”

“How would it change him?” I asked.

She shrugged. “Being an undercover agent requires a lot of time, patience, and mental strength. Sometimes, they have to be people they’re not to get close to the bad ones.”

I’d never thought about it that way. “Ian hasn’t told me about the cases he’s been on. I know he has secrets, but I’m hoping one day he’ll tell me.”

She gave me a small smile. “I’m sure he will. He’s probably waiting for the right time. If you two are just now getting intimate, he’s not going to want to scare you off, especially if he cares about what you think.”

“After everything I’ve been through, there’s nothing he could say that would scare me.” Ian and Blake walked toward us and I met his sparkling, green gaze.

“Why don’t you tell him that?” Hadley whispered. “And if you want to know who he is, all you have to do is ask the right questions.” Grinning mischievously, she moved closer. “I’ve learned a few things over the years. I know exactly what you can do.”