He closed the bedroom door, climbing back into bed.

“Was she upset about me leaving her waiting?” Grace asked, cuddling back up next to him as soon as he lay down.

“I wouldn’t say that. She was having a drink with Max and Stump.”

As Grace sat up again, trying to get out of bed, Ice snagged her around the waist, stopping her. “You don’t have to protect her. I warned my men—”

“It’s not her I’m trying to protect. It’s Max and Stump.”

Chapter 25

CeCe hummed all the way back to Stephenville while Grace kept giving her curious looks.

“I’m sorry about keeping you in the car, waiting,” Grace said, flushing.

“Don’t be. I only waited about ten minutes before I came inside. It didn’t take long for you to kiss and makeup.”

Grace frowned. “Do you think I gave in too easily? I never thought I would be one of those women who would forgive her boyfriend for cheating.”

“Do you think he’ll do it again? You said you hadn’t been seeing him that long when he did it.”

“No, I don’t think he will. It sounds kind of weird, but I think he was trying to prove something to his men.”

CeCe shrugged. “Then you made the right decision, but if he does it again, I’d cut his balls off.”

CeCe looked at Grace, seeing her still frowning before turning back to the road. “Grace, you told me he’s lived at that club a long time. They don’t have the same standards for what’s right and wrong; the standards they have are very different. You’re not going to change that overnight. You let him know you won’t put up with it, though. So, either he’ll change or he won’t, but you’re giving him a chance. You’re giving both of you another chance, and if what you have is special, it’s worth it, don’t you think?”

Grace smiled, her frown disappearing. “It is,” she agreed. “Um… How was your night?”

“I had fun. Did you know that Stump’s—”

Grace quickly cut her off. “I heard.”

Thankfully, her cell phone rang, bringing an end to the embarrassing conversation. “Hi, Maman.”

“Hi, bébé. How’s your morning going?”

“Good. Why are you up so early?”

“Your father and Dax are both so busy on the movie, and I’m bored. I was thinking about coming down next weekend, if it’s all right.”

“Of course.” Even though she had just seen her mother, she would enjoy her company. She wouldn’t be able to spend as much time with Ice, but she could introduce them without the presence of her father and brother.

“Fantastic. I’ll see you this weekend.”

“Bye. Love you.”

“Je t’aime aussi, bébé.”

“Mom’s coming for a visit,” Grace told CeCe once she’d disconnected the call.

“That will be interesting.” Her friend rolled her eyes.

“You don’t think she’ll like him?”

“I think she’s being sent out in advance to get the lay of the land before the army arrives,” CeCe cautioned.

“My mother is going to love Ice.”

“Don’t get your hopes up,” CeCe said skeptically.

“It’ll work out. You’ll see.”

* * *

It was a disaster. Her mother hated Ice.

When he showed up, wearing his normal faded jeans and T-shirt with his cut, her mother looked down distastefully at his scuffed boots, which were looking much worse since they were Bear’s favorite chew toy.

During most of dinner, Grace had carried the conservation, quitting when she received only short replies. She gripped her wine glass as her mother finally began talking, wanting to slip under the table when she asked him about his job.

“I work security for Desmond Beck.”

“Before or after you got out of prison?”

“Both.” Ice lifted his beer, taking a drink.

“Have you been married before?”

“No, and I have no intention of getting married. They all end in divorce.”

“I’ve been happily married for thirty-one years.”

“Good for you.”

Grace looked down at the table, staring at the luncheon she had gone to so much trouble to fix. They were ruining it with their antagonism toward each other.

The day had already started off rocky when she had made Ice get out of bed and leave when the sun was just coming up because her mother’s plane was coming in early. His mood had darkened even more when he couldn’t find one of his boots he had pulled off in the living room. When they had found it behind Bear’s bed, the hole in the toe had grown even larger.

To make it even worse, they had gotten in an argument because she had wanted him to take the Lexus he had driven down the night before. His men had followed him, dropping off his motorcycle for him to ride back. He had left angry and hadn’t returned with a better temper.

Grace got up to carry the dishes to the kitchen and get the dessert. When she returned to the table, both were sitting in stony silence.

“How much longer before Dax and Dad finish up?” Grace asked her mother.

“Next month. They’re in post-production now. They have a three-month break before starting the next one.”

“That’s good. Any idea what you’re going to do on the break?”

“Stay here for a while.” Her mother gave a saccharine smile in Ice’s direction. “Your father and Dax miss you.”

“I saw them two weeks ago,” Grace reminded her.

“They’re both anxious to get acquainted with Ice. It seems Alec Gamble called and told them about an incident you were involved in at a benefit.”

“Alec shouldn’t have called. I was there with a friend of Ice’s.” Grace hoped Ice and Vida were friends, that way she was only technically lying.

“He said you were backstage with the band Mouth2Mouth. They were in the news last year when their road manager went to prison. Is he a friend of yours, too?”

“Maman!”

“No, he’s not a friend of mine,” Ice answered curtly.

“You didn’t meet him in the prison where you took my daughter hostage?”

“No. He must have been in a different one.” Ice finished his beer, standing up. “I enjoyed the food, but I better head back.”

As Ice walked to the door instead of the living room after they finished dessert, Grace followed behind him unhappily.

“Goodbye,” he told her mother shortly, which her mother ignored, going to sit on the couch to give them a moment of privacy.

Ice pulled her out the front door, closing it behind them. “Sorry, baby, but I thought it was better if I leave before I say something I shouldn’t.”

“You could have tried harder, Ice. She’s still upset about the prison riot.”

“She wouldn’t like me, regardless. I’m not the type of man she ever thought you would bring home to meet her. I bet she would fucking love Jones.”

“I don’t,” she said, reaching out to play with the patch on the front of his leather vest. “Would it have killed you to have dressed up a little?”