Raegan and Bert were the first two to spot us. I couldn’t tell if they were excited to meet the Nora Curry in person, or if it was because I’d got the girl.
“Oh my, God!” Bert said as she rushed towards us.
I thought she was going to launch herself on Nora, but she hugged me instead.
“See! I knew you could do it. What did you say?”
I laughed. “I didn’t say much of anything. Nora came to me.”
Bert sniffed. “Stop. Really? That’s so sweet. Oh my, God. I don’t know why I’m tearing up,” she said with a laugh.
Raegan put her hand out. “Raegan Lane. Ryder helped me decode Nico.”
Nora shook her hand. “And, Nico is the…tech guy?”
Raegan nodded.
While the three of them got to know each other, I looked at them and pictured Leah beside them. They were an eclectic bunch of girls, perfectly suited to an eclectic bunch of guys. As I was thinking this, Petra happened to come up and stand between Bert and Raegan and I decided she quite suited the group as well.
Then Leah and Hawk were there and I didn’t have to imagine anymore.
Bert. Leah. Raegan. Nora. Petra.
It worked and I wasn’t going to let anyone tell me otherwise.
Someone, though, maybe needed to tell Tank to lock that shit down before she moved on to less oblivious pastures.
“Bert, bubbles?” Hawk asked his little sister and I realised they’d all done introductions while I was working out how to get Petra and Tank together.
She shook her head. “No, thanks.”
“You all right?” Petra asked.
“Yeah, fine. Ate too much, feeling a bit…ick.” She rubbed her stomach.
Petra nodded. “I told you to lay off the profiteroles.”
Bert smiled. “But they’re so yummy, sitting there with their little soft deliciousness all begging to be eaten.”
“Yeah,” Petra huffed. “And now you’ve given yourself a tummy ache like you’re five and can’t control yourself at a party.”
Bert looked at her seriously. “But I can’t control myself at a party.”
We all laughed at that.
“Right, I either need another drink or a dance,” Petra said, looking around.
“I know what you’re looking for.” Bert nudged her.
“What am I looking for?” Petra asked, nonchalantly, still looking around.
“It starts with ‘T’ and ends with ‘ank’,” I said and Petra batted me playfully.
“I’m not doing anything.”
“You know…” Hawk said slowly. “That’s four down. There’s only one to go.”
I nodded thoughtfully. “That’s right. And it does just so happen to be Tank.”
Petra gave me a knowing look. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“They’re talking about you finally womaning up and making Tank your man,” Bert said helpfully, throwing me a shit-eating grin.
Petra’s mouth dropped open like she’d been betrayed. “Who told you?”
“You,” I laughed. “Every single time I see you.”
Petra batted her eyelids. “Yes, all right. I suppose you’ve discovered my secret.”
It was hardly a secret. Every time I went into Petra’s shop for a fitting – it was the only place the Grace Grayson team even thought about buying our suits – she mentioned something about how she’d quite like to have her way with the gentle giant.
“Oi, Tank!” I called and he turned around.
He saw me waving and came over, giving polite smiles to Petra and Bert, and doing the standard introductions with Nora.
None of us knew what he wanted in a partner. None of us knew what he thought about Petra. But I’d be damned if the nicest one of us bastards went without love for a second longer than he had to. If any of us deserved it, Tank did.
“Petra needs a dance partner,” Hawk told him.
Tank looked for a moment like he was about to ask what that had to do with him, but then the lightbulb went off and he just held his hand out to her and gave a short bow.
“May I have this dance?” he asked.
“We thought you’d never ask,” Bert said, nudging Petra into Tank.
Petra, for all her assertiveness and strength and dirty mouth, looked out of her depth for a moment. It was quite possibly even uncertainty on her face. But, it was soon righted as Tank took her hand, laid it very gently on his arm, and walked her to the dance floor.
“Thank God,” came a very recognisable voice and I found Mrs Fortescue at my elbow.
“This your handiwork?” Hawk asked her?
“Mrs Fortescue’s Matchmaking Services still going strong?” Leah added.
Mrs Fortescue touched the pearls at her neck and looked around the room innocently. “I don’t know what you mean, dear. I just suggested that Miss Walsh would make a fine addition to his party and wasn’t it a shame that young Gavin didn’t have a date.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet,” Nico muttered and he and Mrs Fortescue shared a smile.
“Now, I have yet to meet this ravishing creature, Ryder.”
I introduced her to Nora, and we all spent a great deal catching her up on our activities until she was desperately needed somewhere else and she sashayed away in the glamourous way she’d arrived.
The time passed in a blur of friendship and camaraderie until the countdown to midnight was eventually approaching and people around the room were starting to find their loved ones.
As the cries of “Happy New Year” rang around us, I kissed Nora. That little happy bubble swelled in my chest and I didn’t regret a single thing. Except maybe how stupid I’d been.
The road ahead was uncertain, but I was tired of running. I was tired of hiding. I deserved to let my future overshadow my past. I deserved to let go and live my life. My own life. Not just a life of making everyone around me laugh – although, I wasn’t giving that up any time soon – but a life of my own where I could laugh as well.
Maybe Nora and I would make it. Maybe we wouldn’t. We weren’t just exploring a new relationship but new – or, rather, old – selves. But we’d never know if we didn’t try.
I wasn’t worried though.
Rock and roll belonged together. It just made sense.
Grace Grayson Security
The Grace Grayson team all have their own story to tell.
Next up is Tank. Read on for more info.
Tank & the Rebel
See what all your favourite characters are up to down the track and maybe meet some new ones in Tank’s story.
PETRA
I was the juvenile delinquent now in her late-twenties and with very little hope in sight. But I got along okay. I had a good group of friends, some delicious eye-candy, and my business was growing in leaps and bounds. Going out for a few benders with the girls of a Saturday night was what being in your twenties was all about. Right? Who needed to settle down?
My life is mess and disorder, but maybe there’s one man who’ll make me want to straighten it out.
GAVIN
When I was younger, they called me the gentle giant. I was actually one of the most picked on kids at school because I refused to return a punch. It wasn’t just that I knew, as the biggest kid, I’d get into the biggest trouble. I just didn’t like trouble. Odd then that I ended up in the Navy and turning a blind eye to the antics of the Grace Grayson boys.
My life is ordered and stable, but maybe there’s one rebel who’ll make me want to shake it up.
Buy now.
Rollie & the Rocker
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Thanks
I have never hated a book as much as I hated this one. Writing, that is. I could easily come up with a list of books I hated reading more than I hated reading this one, so that’s something.
Six months, and still I had no plan for it. Still no ideas for scenes. Still nothing other than a few choice Rollie lines bumping around my head. It sucked. It was stressful. I am so glad it’s over.
What sucks more is that I absolutely loved Rollie in the lead-up and I don’t know why he was so uncooperative when it came to his own story. I guess that’s just like him, though; make other people happy but not wanting to bother anyone with his own stuff.
I think what I ended up with is fine, but getting it out onto paper were possibly the worst four days of my life.
Still, I made it and it is in no small part due to my husband, my mum, and Charny, who are always by my side and in my corner cheering me on. So, thank you for believing in me when I forget to.
My Books
I’m working on my adult list, but you can find out about what I have planned at my website, as well as have a look at my older YA books;
www.elizabethstevens.com.au/after-dark.
About the Author
Writer. Reader. Perpetual student. Nerd.
Born in New Zealand to a Brit and an Australian, I am a writer with a passion for all things storytelling. I love reading, writing, TV and movies, gaming, and spending time with family and friends. I am an avid fan of British comedy, superheroes, and SuperWhoLock. I have too many favourite books, but I fell in love with reading after Isobelle Carmody’s Obernewtyn. I am obsessed with all things mythological – my current focus being old-style Irish faeries. I live in Adelaide (South Australia) with my long-suffering husband, delirious dog, mad cat, two chickens, and a lazy turtle.
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Rollie & the Rocker (Grace Grayson Security Book 4) Page 12
