Free Grace (The Family Simon Book 5) by Juliana Stone

things, because I’ve lived. That man has been broken—“
    “Oh my God, mother. Why would you say something like that?”
    “Look into his eyes, Grace. Really look. And you’ll see what I see. I’m telling you this because you’re my child, my daughter, and I don’t want to see you hurt. That man will break your heart if you let him. Please don’t do anything stupid. Please think things through before you act.”
    For several long moments the only sound Grace heard was the wind blowing across the porch. It was eerie and haunting. She gave her head a shake, wanting to get rid of the feelings washing over her. “My phone’s going to die. I don’t want you to worry about me, Mom, okay? I’m good.”
    Her mother started to speak but then her phone went dark and that was that. Pocketing her cell Grace slowly walked back to the kitchen. The fire was stoked something fierce and Matt was seated at the low table across from Dory, the runt of the litter in his arms.
    Grace’s heart swelled at the sight.
    He glanced up just then, his face a wonder of shadows—dark and light. “Bluebell?” he asked, flashing a smile that made her heart constrict.
    Grace slid onto the sofa beside Dory and nodded. “Bluebell.”
    “That’s some kind of handle,” he chuckled, though his laughter slowly died as their gazes locked. There was heat there—and it was intense.
    “It is,” she managed to say. “It was my great-great-grandmother’s name. What’s yours?”
    His mouth thinned a bit, that beautiful smile fading as his gaze slid from hers. “Benjamin.”
    “Oh,” she replied. “Were you named after someone as well?”
    He gave a quick nod and got to his feet, placing the puppy back with Rosie. “I’ve got some stuff to do,” he said gruffly, and left without another word. Just like that, all the warmth in the room was sucked away and Grace shivered.
    She looked at Dory, noting concern in the woman’s eyes. “Who was Benjamin?”
    Dory picked at the edge of her sleeve and settled back on the sofa, shaking her head slowly. She didn’t speak until they both heard the front door slam shut, and then she whispered. “Benjamin is Matt’s father.”
    Grace couldn’t help but wonder. “Is he still alive?”
    “As far as I know, he is.”
    She was going to take a stab in the dark. “I take it they don’t get along?”
    Dory was silent for a few seconds. “Matt’s story is for him to tell and I have a feeling few people know the details. Hopefully he comes around and shares it with you, because if anyone needs a connection, it’s that young man.” Dory shook her head, her face resigned. “But please don’t think less of him if he doesn’t. Some things are just too hard.”
    The older woman didn’t offer up any more information and with a sigh, Grace reached for a board game on the table beside her. “Scrabble?” she asked lightly.
    It was going to be a long night.

10
    T he storm finally let up sometime in the night. Matt had spent most of it nursing a bottle of Jack, while freezing his ass off in the barn. Stupid really. After all this time the mere mention of his name, Benjamin, could take him back to a place he didn’t want to think about.
    It took a lot to make him forget, most of the bottle judging by what was left, and by the time Matt made his way back to the house, it was pushing three in the morning. He was tired as hell and more than just a little drunk. In fact, if he wasn’t such a big guy, he probably would have passed out hours ago.
    As it was, he stumbled through the dark to check on Rosie and her pups. He was about to flop his ass onto the sofa, when something made him look twice and he noticed Dory. She’d fallen asleep there and he scooped another blanket off the pile on the floor and draped it over the older woman.
    Electricity had returned a few hours ago, and he made sure the fire was out before heading up to his room. All he could think about was his bed, his pillow, and finally