Saving Grace by Christine Zolendz Page A

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    "Shane's going insane inside," she said looking at me smiling. She pursed her lips and turned her attention to my underwear drawer, "Why can I never find any matching sets?"
    "Why?"
    "Because when I have my undies and bra match I really feel like I have my crap together and I can do anybody, I mean anything," she giggled and winked. She smiled and did a little cheer when she found a red matching set.
    "Focus, Lea. Why is Shane going insane?"
    "Maybe because the girl that he's in love with is going on a date with someone else?" She threw the bra and panties at me and I put them on. "Hey, let's have some fun. I double dare you to walk out there like that," she pointed to me, "And let's see if Shane doesn't profess his undying love for you."
    "Shut up," I laughed slipping a simple black dress over my head. "Shane Maxton is not in love with me."
    Lea walked over to where I stood looking at myself in the mirror and pulled my chin so I could look in her eyes. "Yeah, Grace. I kind of think he is. So just face it, you just caught yourself a Bad Ass, what are you going to do about it?"
    "Lea. I'm going out to dinner with Ryan. I'm thinking maybe Shane should shower that skank off from last night before I decide to do anything with him!"
    I stormed out of my room and made my way into the living room to grab my coat. Shane was pacing back and forth in front of the couch and Conner was sitting on one of the chairs. Whatever their conversation was, it stilled as soon as I walked in.
    Shane's eyes raked over my legs, my hips, my arms, dragging them slowly over the rest of my body. "Oh God," he whispered as his hands clenched and unclenched at his sides and all I wanted to do was run to him. Those icy cold blue eyes had me paralyzed and I swore I felt my panties melting down my legs. God, what that man can do to my insides with one of his looks.
    The sound of the doorbell made my mouth d ry and I ran to open it so I wouldn 't hear it agai n. Ryan leaned against the door jamb with a wide smile.
    "Man, you look beautiful , Grace," he said pushing off of the door.
    A sharp pounding headache burst from behind my eyes and I clamped my teeth down from the pain. Behind me, I could hear Conner and Shane yelling. The words were all jumbled together like they were stumbling drunkenly to my ears. All I heard was the anguish tone of them. Then Shane pushed through the front door, I leaned back to let him through. As he stepped by, he reached his arm past my waist and thrust a wrapped condom into one of my closed fists. He brushed himself against my hip, leaned in close, glaring at me right in the eyes. Time seemed to slow down at that moment like we were locked eye to eye forever. For an eternity, and I knew what an eternity was. He slowly brought his lips to my ear, "Just pull the fucking trigger on me now, please ." His warm breath sent shivers along my neck. It made me remember his touch on my skin, his lips on mine. That damn man ruined all other men for me, with those freaking lips that you can forget people in. He could easily erase all my heartache if he wanted to.
    I could feel the heat of his body against mine. It felt like an inferno blazed from inside his chest.
    "Hey , Shane," Ryan said.
    Shane did nothing but shove his hands in his pockets and storm off down the street. Conner was through the door the next second, flying down the stairs after him.
    Ryan tugged on his ear and chuckled, "Everything okay?"
    My eyes were still on Shane as Conner caught up to him. They walked to the corner of the block together and then disappeared from my sight.
    Ryan waited for my reply, puffed out his cheeks with air and blew it out.
    I looked at him for the first time since I opened the door. My head shook back and forth and my heart thudded in my chest slow but hard and loud. There were very few things I was sure of at that moment. One, I did not feel like eating anymore. Two, Ryan was not Shane. Three, my palms were sweating from holding onto the door