Stealing Grace by Shelby Fallon Page A

Alex said exasperatingly. Elena glanced over at him quickly and saw in the dome light that he was getting upset. “I’m going home.”
    “You know, it’s not fair that they choose who gets put on the list by age. I mean, some men aren’t even ready for a wife yet. They still have things to get straight. Not me. I’ve been ready and I’m still gonna be waiting on that list for who knows how much longer. It ain’t right.”
    “I know you don’t agree with it, Silas. But that’s just the way it is.”
    He said it like they’d had this conversation before. Like Silas was venting on something he’d vented about a lot.
    “Easy for you to say, you got a wife.”
    “True. But I waited my fair share of years for one.”
    There was a silence. Silas stayed there saying nothing, and then...
    “Let me just have her for an hour,” Silas blurted out loudly. “Please, Alex. Come on.”
    Elena gasped and looked over at him for the first time. The mans’ eyes were gleaming with fresh opportunity.
    “What?” Alex yelled angrily. “Are you trying to borrow my wife?”
    “Come on, Alex. We both know there are some men in the community who do it on the down low. It’s perfectly fine.”
    “Not for me it isn’t. Now, go on and get out of here before I take this to the Elders.”
    “You wouldn’t,” Silas said incredulously.
    “Try me,” Alex spit out through clenched teeth. “You just asked me to let you have sex with my wife. Cardinal rule of the community is to save yourself for your own wife and that be that. So why would I break two rules for you.”
    “I’m tired of waiting, tired of it.”
    “Sorry about that, find a hobby,” Alex spouted with disdain.
    “You’re an as-” the officer was cut off as Alex rolled his window back up.
    He put the truck in drive and drove the two blocks to the house, pulling in the driveway and shutting it off just outside the garage. They sat in silence for a minute. Then he sighed and spoke quietly.
    “I’m sorry about that.”
    “You seem to be apologizing to me a lot, lately,” Elena said and when he looked at her, she smiled to let him know she was joking.
    She didn’t want to make him feel worse than he already did. She knew he was protecting her and trying to do the right thing. She couldn’t hold him accountable for other people’s actions.
    “I’m sorry about that, too,” he said sadly.
    “Don’t be. I know you’re trying. That’s what matters to me. I’m not worried about anybody else.”
    He looked at her for a few minutes, intensely and with fascination. She started to squirm under his scrutiny and then he spoke again, scooting a little closer in the bench seat next to her.
    “You are...the most amazing woman. You’re nothing like what I expected my wife to be like.”
    “What did you expect?”
    “Someone who hated me, was indifferent to me. Upset and angry and wanted nothing to do with me.”
    “I could never hate you, not after what you did for me.”
    “I didn’t actually do anything, Elena. It may have been an easier way for you to live because of what I did, but it was still wrong that I did it. One wrong doesn’t make a right, no matter how good the intentions.”
    “I don’t agree with that at all. If you have to do something slightly wrong and sometimes illegal to help someone, save their life, it’s totally worth it.”
    “I guess it depends on your outlook. I can’t help but feel guilty for what I did.”
    “I’m grateful that you did what you did. I’m sorry if you feel some guilt over it but I can’t wish that you hadn’t done it,” she said and looked down at her lap.
    The truck was quiet. She could hear his breathing. It was steady but quick. She couldn’t make herself look up into his face. He regretted it. He regretted coming to get her. He didn’t want her here after all and he felt guilt over it.
    Then she felt his fingers under her chin, pulling her face to look at him.
    “I don’t regret going to get you