Bec came in with a tray and a warm smile. She put the tray down on the low coffee table and wiped her hands on her apron. The woman loved to feed people and was a marvel as a housekeeper. She’d lived on Rance Street too, years back. When her husband died ten years ago, she came to work for me. I’d insisted on it.

“Now you be sure he eats, young lady,” she said to Grace. “I don’t know how this boy keeps body and soul together.” She clucked her tongue and I saw Grace smile. “He doesn’t eat enough, and he sleeps even less.” She lifted the silver cover off the tray and the mouthwatering smell of shepard’s pie filled the room. “Call if you need anything else.”

She bustled out of the library, closing the door behind her. I pulled a chair close to Grace and sat down, dishing out the beef and vegetables and handing a plate to her.

“It’s not fancy, but there’s nothing like it.” I watched with satisfaction as Grace lifted a forkful to her mouth and her eyes rolled with pleasure.

“I’ve never… oh my god, this is amazing…”

We settled into comfortable silence, pausing in our meal only when there was nothing left. I held back a chuckle when she licked the back of her fork and leaned back in her chair. I poured the coffee and handed her a steaming mug.

“You live like this?” she asked, taking a sip and looking around the room with wide eyes. “Every day… this is your real life?”

“It’s a part of it, Grace. But I’m not here all that much.” I swallowed my coffee. “I work. That’s who I am.”

“Work is never who someone is, Kaine. It’s just what we do.”

I shifted and stood, moving back around the desk to sit down again. “Well, there’s business that needs attention right now,” I said, picking up the phone. “Mrs. Sparr, please.” A moment later she answered.

“Rose, it’s Kaine. Yes… I’m afraid so. I’m going to need you both here at the house, as soon as possible.” I looked at Grace. Her eyes were steady, watching me. “Yes… and thank you. Tell Dalia I’ll make it very worth her while.”

I could see the questions in her face. I came around to sit on the sofa and held out a hand for her to join me.

“What’s happening, Kaine? Ever since you talked to Brian… and we left La Laisse so suddenly. Plan B? And now Dalia?” Grace stayed in her chair and I dropped my hand to my lap. “I have a right to know. This is my mother’s life. And mine, too.”

I nodded, contemplating where to start. She was right. She did need to know.

“Marks was beaten in an alley. Badly enough to know it wasn’t an accident or a robbery. It was a warning, and it was personal.” Her eyes widened and I went on.

“I’ve asked Rose… Mrs. Sparr, that is, to bring Dalia and come to the house. They’ll be here tomorrow. I had a feeling it might come to this, and I’d spoken to her before I knew about Marks. But there are still a lot of details to work out, and it’s best we take care of that in person. I didn’t want it to come to this… it may not even work. And it’s not without its own risks…”

“If Marks dies… then there’s no chance anymore. If you were right about him setting up Evelyn… There would no one left who could tell the truth about what really happened that night. Christ, Kaine. We don’t even know for sure that he did set her up.”

I stood up and took Grace’s hand, leading her back to the sofa beside me. I brushed the silk of her hair back over her shoulders and took both her hands in mine. They felt cool, damp.

“Everything in me tells me he did, Grace. And that Cole was the man behind it all.” I chafed her hands in mine to warm them. “I’m right about him. All we need is the proof.”

“But how can Mrs. Sparr help with that? Or Dalia, for that matter?” Grace pulled her hands from mine. “What, exactly, are you going to make worth her while…?”

“What... exactly… are you asking me, Grace?”

She stood up and walked across the room, keeping her back to me. I saw her shoulders lift and fall. “This is about my mother, Kaine. What can Dalia do… that I can’t?” She turned to face me and I saw fear in her eyes. “Why do you want her here, Kaine?” She dropped her eyes to the floor. “And why do you not want me?”

I had her wrapped in my arms before she got out the last word. In the short second it took to reach her, I understood. It always came down to this. Even when I tried like fuck to keep it all business. I held her against my chest, feeling the rise and fall of hers. I’d failed her, by allowing her to cross the line… to disobey the rules that were there to protect us both. But I’d crossed the line too. And was about to cross it again…

“Grace,” I moaned, lifting her ass with my hands and pulling her hips into mine. “You’ve been all the fuck I’ve wanted since I saw you on that stage. Since I looked into your eyes, felt your skin under my hands…”

I caught her face in my hands and forced her to look at me. “I’ve never wanted anything… anyone… the way I want you…” I crushed her mouth with mine, filling her with my breath, my tongue… my words. Her hands tangled in my hair, pulling me in.

“I promised you’d suffer, Grace. But no more than I am now.” Her tongue met mine and my cock raged, caught between our hot, desperate bodies. “I want to fill you. Every inch of your body.” My voice was harsh with desire.

“I want to bury myself… lose myself in your sweet, velvet wetness. I want your body, your mind, your feelings… I want your heart, sweetheart. So fucking help me…”

And it was then I lost control.

I crushed her to me, devouring her with my hands and my mouth. Her body molded itself to mine, both of us straining… each of us desperate for more. She found the buttons of my shirt, fumbling, tearing at them. “I want this, Kaine…,” she said, breathlessly. “I need this. And I need you. It’s okay, Kaine… I trust you…”

I gripped her hands in mine, too hard. Way too hard. I pulled back, looking down into her beautiful face. Those beautiful green eyes… She did trust me. She was trusting me with everything inside her. Everything I wanted so badly.

“No, Grace.”

My heart was racing, my body screaming with desire for her. I pushed her from me and stepped back, running my hands savagely through my hair, trying to control my breathing and the storm raging inside me.

“It can’t happen, Grace. Not the way that you want.” I sat down behind the big, solid desk, buttoning my shirt again. She looked so small across the room. “Not even the way I want, sweetheart.”

“Kaine…”

“No… I wish that I could make you understand, Grace. I’m not even sure I do myself. But it can’t be like that between us. Not between me and any woman. I don’t know how to love you. Or anyone. And I won’t hurt you by taking something from you that I can’t give back.”

The door opened and Bec came in, towel in hand. She headed for the tray on the table, but stopped, looking from my face to Grace’s. “I… I hope I haven’t… interrupted…” She pursed her lips and I saw a frown start to form.

“Of course not.”

I stood. “We were only discussing tomorrow’s plans. We’ll have guests arriving in the afternoon. Some light refreshments should do, Bec. Now, if you’ll both excuse me.” I headed for the door, unable to look back, feeling the eyes of both women on my back.

“Please make Grace comfortable in the east suite, Bec. I’ll see you both in the morning.”