State of Grace Read online

  “Huh?”

  “Okay, let me take a step back. I came to find you because you single-handedly managed to get the reputation with the staff of raving bitch in only two weeks while you’re all smiles for patients, custodians, and cafeteria workers. Everyone except that slut Nolan is keeping his or her distance. Trust me, you need a friend around this place. The other women … doctors, nurses, doesn’t matter … can be really catty. Not to mention Nolan’s uncle is the Chief of Staff. That loser got a farce of a medical degree from some unaccredited shack in the Caribbean, and the only reason he’s here is because good old Uncle Bridges pulled some serious strings. So you see, you need a friend. Me.” She pointed to herself.

  “Besides, I figured anyone who was nice to the cleaning staff and hospital workers probably wasn’t a bitch,” she added, almost as an afterthought.

  Grace sighed heavily and closed her eyes.

  Opening them, she regarded her erstwhile ‘friend.’ “So let me get this straight. Everyone in this hospital thinks I’m a douche except for the people who wear fishnets over their hair and mop the floors. I’m guessing you also dated Nolan at one point in time? I’m also guessing that if he’s as fond of you as you are of him, now no one really likes you either, and now you’ve labeled us both as ‘outsiders,’ and you’ve decided we need to bond?”

  Leah nodded happily. "Exactly. Except I don’t have the bad taste to hook up with Nolan. He pounced on one of my nursing school friends during a party. "

  Grace stayed silent for a few moments and slowly let out a breath. "Okay."

  The last ten minutes should have prepared her, nonetheless, the excited shriek and blur of color as Leah raced around to her side to hug her caught her off guard. Before she was assaulted into a bear hug, she held her hands up. "No! No hugs, I don't do hugs."

  Leah stared. "Who doesn't 'do' hugs? That's so weird."

  "You grew up on a hippie commune, your scrubs literally have unicorns and rainbows everywhere on them, and you're telling me I'm weird? I’m also not pricking my finger and becoming blood sisters with you either," she said sarcastically.

  Her new friend regarded her curiously, and then her lips grew into a wide, pretty smile. "First of all, there is nothing wrong with rainbows and unicorns. I work in the maternity ward, so if anyone in this hospital has a right to wear this pattern, it's me. Second of all, maybe Nolan had a point. When was the last time you got laid, Gracie?"

  She felt color rising and knew it stained her cheeks. Memories of Sean, memories she fought to suppress every single day, invaded her mind at Leah’s unwitting comment. "None of your business, and my name is Grace, not Gracie," she gritted.

  Leah had perfected the art of an arched brow and simultaneous smirk as a teenager shortly after she’d decided she was interested in boys. Out of habit, she pulled the same expression on Grace now. "All I'm suggesting is that a little stress relief, endorphins, and some dopamine might go a long way every now and then.” She twisted her lips ruefully. “In that respect, Nolan does have a good reputation. He might be a first class asshole, but word on the street says he sure knows how to use what God gave him."

  Grace listened as the tiny whirlwind chattered on, wondering, not for the first time, if she tumbled down the rabbit hole and into wonderland.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  She shut the door to her apartment, leaning against it in exhaustion. She had a very limited set of friends and even then, she preferred to spend most of her time working. Going into her field, dealing with people was unavoidable, but managing relationships outside of her patients wasn't something she was particularly good at.

  Truth be told, nothing would have really prepared her for the bizarre environment at the hospital she'd suddenly found herself thrust into. First Nolan, then Leah ...

  Shaking her head, she pulled off her sneakers, placing them in her hallway closet before wandering into her kitchen.

  The kitchen was a room she loved, but truth be told, she adored every room in the apartment. Despite the stainless steel appliances and dark walnut finish, the room possessed warmth and an airy feel that instantly felt homey. It had an open layout, only separated from the living room by a breakfast bar. A bottle of her favorite Malbec sat already opened on the granite countertop. She poured herself a glass of the red wine before settling in the living room. She sank into an overstuffed armchair and turned the television on with every intention to unwind and relax, but the images on the screen did little to hold her attention, and her mind wandered.

  She hadn’t seen him since the wedding. She only dropped by Lucas and Sophie’s when she knew they were alone, and she constantly made excuses to avoid going to gatherings where she knew he would be … but it had been impossible to forget her reaction to him and worse, his reaction to her. Sean trying to make her miserable was nothing new, but everything had been different that day. For the first time, he’d looked at her like he was really seeing her.

  Like she was a woman instead of someone he was forced to put up with.

  Truthfully, that day had only worsened the ache that had long since become familiar. Normally, she was able to keep her cool and give back as good as she got it when they argued, but when he’d looked at her with warm eyes and handled her with even the slightest of touches, it left her feeling disoriented and wanting.

  Their last encounter had thrown her for a loop, but it also made her realize that she didn’t mind the attention, and to some extent, she’d wanted more.

  And now she was stuck forever remembering it.

  She’d woken up the morning after, afraid to even breathe for fear of waking him up. As her mind screamed at her to get away as quickly as possible, she slipped out of the bed, stopping by her suitcase to grab underwear, a t-shirt, and yoga pants. In the shower, her mind raced with all the ways she could escape the room, but as she glared at the tiny bathroom window, she’d realized there was no way out but the front door.

  She had nearly screamed when he stuck his head behind the shower curtain and grinned.

  “Want company?” he’d asked, his voice still husky from sleep.

  Immediately her hands flew to cover herself, one arm banding over her breasts as the other hand shielded between her legs. As his smile grew devilish, she grew wet, and she knew it had absolutely nothing to do with the water pelting down on her skin. She shook her head but managed a weak smile. “Can you get us some coffee? I’m dying.”

  He nodded, but didn’t leave before sticking his head in to give her another heart-wrenching, panty-melting kiss. “Coffee, please,” she whimpered, closing her eyes to better feign her hangover. He drew back with a wolfish smile before leaving.

  As soon as she’d heard the click of the door outside, she’d hopped out of the shower and towel dried herself so quickly her clothes became wet from her damp skin. She raced around the room, scooping up her bridesmaid’s dress from the floor and toiletries from the bureau, dumping everything into her suitcase before zipping it up. The frenzied way she threw everything in went against every grain of her organized being, but time had been of the essence.

  Escape was crucial.

  Grace had only breathed a sigh of relief once she was securely settled in the back of a taxi with her check-out paperwork from the resort sticking out of the bag on the seat next to her. Since the newlyweds had left for their honeymoon the evening prior, she’d sent quick texts to Sam and Liz to let them know something had come up and she’d needed to leave.

  After pretty much running out on him, Grace hadn’t been sure what she was looking for or how she expected Sean to respond, but as the days turned into weeks and he failed to call, text, or email, the tightness in her chest expanded uncomfortably.

  But something inside her had shifted, something intrinsic to her very being. He’d made her feel like a woman. He’d loved and worshipped every single curve she’d spent years trying to hide. After battling a decade of insecurity about her body, she’d decided it was time for change.

&nbs
p; Maybe she could find someone else that would appreciate her mind and body. Someone that could make her forget about Sean.

  Three weeks later when Sophie had returned from her honeymoon, Grace sought her out for help. Sophie had quickly enlisted her friends who were more than thrilled. They forced her to spend hours poring over different magazines, bookmarking pages with outfits made to flatter her figure instead of that of a clothes hanger. Afterwards, they spent a week shopping, bringing her credit card to a balance previously unseen.

  No one questioned her motivation even though they’d all been after her to re-vamp her wardrobe for years. Gone were the shapeless shirts and jeans in which she’d felt so comfortable. Her closet was now full of pretty A-line dresses, shirts that emphasized her cleavage and nipped in at her small waist, and pants and skirts that hugged her bottom in the most indecent way possible.

  She sipped at the wine while she mused over what had felt like an incredibly long day. Leah’s words rang out crisp and clear in her mind and brought back memories of another gently asked question that haunted her every moment both awake and sleeping. There had been more than one night since their crazy sexual encounter that she’d woken up uncomfortably drenched in arousal.

  She tipped the glass against her lips once more, enjoying the silky smooth liquid as it traveled down her throat, fighting the impulse to shiver. Fantasizing about Sean Holden was pointless. It was clear to even the most distant observer that his charm extended to anything in a skirt.

  She closed her eyes and sighed and allowed the fatigue to finally take over. Sean, Nolan, Leah … she needed to steer clear of crazy people. The last thought that crossed her mind before she nodded off was that it was a good thing Lucas and Sophie were going away for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. It was going to be a good, long while before she laid eyes on her sexy nemesis.

  Chapter Four

  She was hot and sweaty, and if one more pair of hands tried to grope her, she was going to deck someone. The club or bar or whatever it was they were at was loud, crowded, and full of men who didn’t understand the concept of “hands to yourself.”

  This was exactly what she deserved for listening to Leah.

  Well, to be fair, she hadn’t exactly listened. First, she politely declined the invite to “girls’ night.” Relentlessly, Leah badgered her about it for two weeks. Towards the end, her refusals were downright hostile. Mistakenly, she thought this was over when Leah responded to her last ‘no’ with a set line to her mouth. She hadn’t bothered her after that.

  That was three days ago, and earlier tonight, Grace had settled into her favorite armchair with her e-reader, glass of wine, and a cozy afghan. She’d barely made it into the second chapter of a new bestseller when the pounding at her door started. Thinking it was the pizza delivery (she was going to have a cheat night), she grabbed her wallet off the counter and strode to the door.

  Instead of a pimply-faced teenager, a petite blonde stood in her doorway holding a pizza box. She smirked at Grace, and pushed her way into the apartment.

  “I ran into the delivery guy in front of your door, so I just paid for your pizza to save you two trips to the door,” she yelled from the kitchen. “Yum, cheese! You know how I feel about carbohydrates, Gracie!”

  Bemused, Grace hesitantly stepped into her kitchen where Leah was heartily stuffing a slice in her mouth, eyes rolling in pleasure.

  “Mmm. You don’t have to pay me back, by the way. Just get me a drink at the bar,” she said, before biting off another mouthful of pizza. She looked at the name on the box. “This pizza is amazing, how’d you find this place?”

  “Yelp,” Grace murmured absently, before shaking her head at Leah. “What are you doing here, and why are you talking about the bar? I told you I’m not going. How’d you even find out where I lived?”

  Leah held up a hand as she finished the last few bites.

  “One question at a time, please,” she requested politely.

  Grace felt her ire rise. “Lee, I am losing my patience very quickly,” she grit out between her teeth. “Start talking and start talking now.”

  Instead of launching into an explanation, Leah’s eyes misted over. “Oh, you abbreviated my name! I knew we were really becoming friends!”

  “Patience. Patience is gone,” Grace shrieked. “Out!” She pointed at the door.

  Leah smirked at her. “You don’t want to do that.”

  “Try stopping me,” Grace muttered, stalking over to the other woman with every intention of dragging her body out of her apartment.

  “Ok, here is your explanation,” she rushed out quickly. “I used to the date the guy in HR, and he still sorta has a crush on me, so that’s how I knew where you lived. That’s also how I got your sister-in-law’s phone number,” she exclaimed triumphantly.

  Confusion marred her brow. “What does she have to do with this?”

  “Don’t frown Gracie, it will give you wrinkles,” Leah said, raising her eyebrows and keeping her eyes open wide to keep from frowning at Grace.

  Grace’s eyes nearly rolled back in her head with frustration, and she let out an impatient growl.

  “Anyway, you should eat a slice of pizza. It’s the best food in the world to eat before getting your drunk on. And your sister-in-law ... Well,” she grinned. “I heard you on the phone with her the other day telling her that you were going out to girls’ night on Friday! So … I’m here to help you get ready.”

  So that’s why Leah probably stuck her tongue down Mr. HR’s throat. Now she had Sophie’s number, and despite Leah’s inability to have a conversation and stay on topic, she was basically implying that if Grace didn’t go out, she was going to call and rat her out.

  “You are one evil bitch,” she said through a clenched jaw.

  Leah smiled warmly. “Right back at ya, sistah. Make sure you eat a slice. I’m going to your closet to help you pick out an outfit!”

  Leah disappeared in less than ten seconds.

  Groaning, Grace dropped her head into her hands. Of all the people in one of the largest states in the country, she’d been befriended by a crazy woman. A crazy woman who had absolutely no boundaries or manners. Not to mention she clearly wasn’t above blackmail..

  Glowering, she picked up a slice of pizza. Leah had backed her into a corner. Taking a healthy bite, she admitted it was delicious, but she’d lost her damned appetite. She set her slice down and flipped through a magazine, hoping maybe Leah would just go away.

  Five minutes later, a very determined Leah walked into the kitchen holding something red and slinky.

  She picked up the pizza and began to eat again. While the food no longer held its appeal, she munched through the slice anyway. She needed to have something in her system.

  The only way she was going to make it through this night was with copious amounts of alcohol.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  It was after midnight, and Leah had disappeared to the bathroom more than thirty minutes ago. Grace was still perched on the same bar stool she’d been on since she first entered the bar. She’d never been out with Leah, and what if she couldn’t hold her liquor or worse, someone roofied her drink? The longer she went without word from her nutty, self-proclaimed new BFF, the more worried she grew.

  Anxious and more than a little annoyed, she vacated the stool, pushing through the throng of people trying to get the bartender’s attention.

  A plaid shirt suddenly blocked her from moving. Exasperated, she looked up into the eyes of yet another drunk idiot.

  “Hey sugar, looking for a friend tonight?”

  “No, and don’t call me sugar!” she snapped sharply, pushing past him. She continued moving through the crowd, her desperation growing, when she finally spotted Leah on the tiny dance floor. She was bumping and grinding against some guy that looked too tall for her, wearing a cowboy hat, no less.

  Grace rolled her eyes at the sight.

  Both relieved and a little disdainful, she made her way back to the
front of the bar, only to find her former seat was taken.

  She swallowed the low scream of frustration bubbling in her throat. Leah had ditched her, and she’d spent the entire evening fending off unwelcome advances from sleazy men. She couldn’t even enjoy her alcohol because someone needed to keep an eye out for the crazy chick she’d come with. Some “girls’ night out.”

  The maternity ward was going to have to hire a new nurse.

  She was going to kill Leah if they made it out of here in one piece.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Sean sipped at his brandy and tried to keep a straight face. It wasn’t exactly premium liquor, but this was where the guys had wanted to hang out. He’d turned down an invite from Lucas to come over for dinner and some ass kicking on Madden with the excuse of wanting to give the newlyweds space.

  That was true.

  It was also true that he couldn’t help his mind from wandering to Lucas’s little sister, and being around his best friend and wife just made it worse.

  So he’d agreed to come out with these clowns from the office, and after a grueling day at work, the thought of women and liquor were a welcome distraction from work.

  And, if he was forced to admit it, he needed to divert his thoughts away from a curvy redhead.

  The liquor was okay. The women didn’t hold his attention for very long.

  That is, until she walked into the bar.

  At first, he couldn’t believe his eyes. Grace never went out. The woman turned her nose up at anything social that didn’t involve a charity cause or her family. He eagerly drank in the first sight of her he’d had in six seemingly endless months.