Page 13 of Holding Grace

Grace didn’t finish that thought, just crossed to the bag she’d set on the counter and dug out her phone. A few seconds later, I heard my phone chime with an incoming text. I pulled it out of my pocket, opened the text that simply said “hi” and saved her contact as “G” just in case someone saw it who shouldn’t.

And now it really was time for me to go.

I crossed to the door, more reluctant with every step.

I paused with my hand on the doorknob and turned to look at Grace, giving myself a few more seconds to just take her in. She watched me quietly, showing no evidence of the nerves she so often displayed when we were together. Whether she was too exhausted to be nervous now or – I hoped – she’d started to believe she could trust me, either way, she looked calm.

Now I just hoped I could trust her in return.

“Don’t leave.”

I tried to make it sound like a request, but it came out like a demand that I had no business making.

Still, Grace seemed to understand. “No leaving. I promised, remember?”

Our eyes caught and held, the moment stretching between us as I fought the urge to cross the small distance between us and kiss Grace the way I’d imagined all these months, so long and deep and hard she’d never think of running away from me again.

I forced myself to turn the knob and step out into the stairway. I waited until I heard the snick of the deadbolt being locked behind me, then made my way down the stairs and out to the truck.

I climbed in and sat behind the wheel, thinking about everything that had happened that day. Little had I known when I’d woken up that morning that by tonight the woman I’d nearly lost hope of ever seeing again would be back in my life.

Chapter 6

Grace

I woke the next morning to the ringing of my phone. Since only one person had the number, I knew it had to be Michael.

“Good morning.” I didn’t even try to disguise the fact that he’d woken me up. I wasn’t at my best in the morning, especially before coffee. There was no way I’d be able to fake being human just yet.

“Morning, Grace. I’m sorry I woke you. We’ve been up and out for a while, so I didn’t think about it.”

I closed my eyes and let Michael’s voice rumble through me. I loved the sound of it when he was talking just to me, pitching it low enough for only me to hear. Now that I knew it sounded the same way on the phone, he’d be lucky if I ever let him end the call.

“It’s okay.” I needed to get up soon anyway. “I know you fishing people start crazy early. The diner opens at 5:30 for breakfast this time of year.” Which thank heavens was not my shift. I’d rather close than open any day.

“Yeah, we headed out right about dawn.”

---