Taking a deep breath, I make my way back over to Grace. I can tell she’s trying her best to avoid looking like she’s been watching the entire exchange. Kelsey puts on quite a show and Grace isn’t sitting too far from where we were. I know she had to have overheard some of it.

“Hey,” I say, sliding into the chair next to her. “I’m sorry about that.”

Waving her hand in front of her, she says, “Don’t worry about it. I shouldn’t have–”

“Don’t.” Reaching for her flailing hand, I stop short of actually touching her. The realization that I have no right to touch her halts my movements. The knowledge that I want nothing more than to touch her hits me with a force so strong, I fear I might fall out of my seat.

Her hand drops to the table and she looks at me. Her eyes show her confusion, and maybe more than a touch of anger. “Don’t what? Think I was a fool for coming here?” Shooting up from her chair, she mutters, “I’m going home.”

This time, I can’t stop myself from touching her. “Grace,” I call out, wrapping my fingers around her tiny wrist. Her skin is so soft, silky even. It takes more strength than I would have thought not to run my hands up the length of her arm, even if only to see how quickly I could cause goose bumps. Her eyes search my face yet again. Instead of anger, this time all I see is embarrassment. Wanting nothing more than to erase what she’s just seen, I admit, “I’m glad you came here.”

“You are?” Her voice takes on this hushed yet surprised quality.

“Yeah, look,” I explain. Extending my arm to the side, I usher us down the crowded street. When we turn down a less busy cross street, I find the peace I need to gather my thoughts. “It’s not what it looked like.” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, her face twists, shooting me a look of cynicism.

“That’s the second time you’ve said that.” Stopping in front of a walk-up brownstone, she turns to face me. “Care to explain exactly what you seem to think I saw?”

Oh, shit! What the hell have I gotten myself into? It’s not like I’m a relationship expert or anything like that. Hell, my track record would actually speak to the opposite end of the spectrum, but I’ve been around enough women to know that tone of voice. The one that means no matter what I say here, I’m going to be wrong. I know I need to avoid it like the plague, but somehow I’ve worked myself into a corner.

“Uh, that you think . . . I mean. . . . What you saw . . . Shit!” I curse, raking a hand through my hair. Beyond frustrated with the turn of events, I drop down to the steps.

Hanging my head in my hands, I keep my eyes trained on the ground. When I look up, I’m shocked to see Grace’s face softening as she lowers herself to sit next to me. “That wasn’t fair,” she admits. “You don’t owe me an explanation. Hell, I was on a date before I came to see you.”

“But I wasn’t–” My defense is cut short, but a sharp burst of laughter falling from Grace’s gorgeous lips. “What’s so funny?”

“I was on a date. My God!” Her laughter billows, wrapping itself around us and easing away some of the tension. “And I was on a date that first night, too,” she adds, sounding as if she’s just realizing this for the first time. “And now here I am chasing after you.”

Arching my brow, I smile at her. “Chasing me, huh?” She doesn’t miss the hint of pride coloring my question.

Slapping me lightly on the arm, she laughs. “Oh, get over yourself.” Before she can pull her hand away, I grab it in mine.

Pulling our joined hands to the small space between us, I focus my eyes on hers. “I don’t want to dance around this. And I sure as hell don’t want to screw this up.”

Her hand begins to tremble in mine and stroking my thumb on the tender skin of her wrist does nothing to calm her. “This?” Even her voice takes on a shaky quality.

“Yes, Grace. This,” I reassure her. “I don’t know what this is just yet, but I do know I want to get to know you more. And I can only imagine what you thought back there.”

Taking a deep breath seems to calm her somewhat, or at least enough for her to say more than one word. “I thought you were leaving with her. That she was your girlfriend and I was a fool for thinking you’d be interested in a girl like me.”

Squeezing her hand, I twist in my seat not caring at all that I bump into her legs. “A girl like you? Well, what the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Just that–”

Cutting her off, I say, “Don’t bother explaining it because no matter what shortcomings you’re about to reveal about yourself, they’re all in your head. And nothing I say is going to change them, even though they’re not true at all.”

Silence vibrates between us for a few minutes, my unguarded words dangling there. “I should go,” she says finally. It’s at that point I realize I still haven’t explained exactly what happened.

“Kelsey’s an ex.” Grace nods, letting me continue. “We weren’t even what I would call a couple, but we were enough for her to think she could walk out of the bar with me.” Grace’s skin pales, making her freckles pop even more in the stark comparison. Pulling her hands back into mine, I say, “But I wasn’t. She was drunk. All I was going to do was make sure she got home safely. That’s all.”

Another blip of silence passes between us as Grace sits there, digesting what I told her. When she faces me again, she opens and closes her mouth a few times before any words come out. Finally settling on what to say, she opens her mouth again. “And I was on a date. With a guy I didn’t even know. After having just broken up with my boyfriend. Who I really didn’t like all that much in the first place.”

Not really knowing what to say to her mini-tirade I sit there, waiting for her to say something, to do anything that makes sense of where she’s going with it all. “And you were leaving the bar with a girl who thought she was more to you than she actually was.” As each second ticks by, whatever she’s getting at is making more and more sense to her, but it’s all still lost on me. “And I thought the worst of it immediately because, well, let’s face it. I know nothing about you except that you rescued me when I was a kid.” Though it seems like she wants to say more, she bites her tongue.

Folding her hands on her lap, she looks all prim and proper. “I’d like for you to know more.” Dangling that out there, I hope that she’ll take the bait.

Waiting for what seems like forever, I can hardly breathe. When she finally says, “As friends,” my lungs begin functioning again. It’s only after taking that first breath I realize what she said.

“Friends?” I ask, wanting to be perfectly clear.

“Yes,” she agrees, smiling triumphantly. “We’re both obviously excellent judges of character,” she clarifies and suddenly her previous train of thought comes into focus. “So friends it is,” she boasts, extending her hand to me. Straightening her shoulders, a broad smile graces her beautiful face. The definition of confidence, she holds her head high waiting for me to shake on her proposed deal.

Quickly weighing my options, I decide that agreeing only to be her friend is a much better option than being nothing. Besides, friends turn into more every day. Wrapping my hand around hers, I feel her tremble again. In that instant, I know I’ll win eventually. “Absolutely. Friends.” Giving her my best wolfish smile, I revel in the fact that her hand is still trembling even after I’ve released it.

“Perfect,” she announces. As she stands from the steps, her legs wobble and I move to her side to help steady her. Pulling her arm into mine, I walk us down the street.

As we round the corner, I slide my phone out of my pocket. Quickly dialing her number, I watch as she jumps when her phone vibrates in her pocket. She pulls it out and looks at the number. Ready to dismiss the call, she sees me holding my phone to my ear. Waving the phone back and forth, I smile at her. “Now you have my number,” I explain.