Page 78 of Perfect Harmony

“That smells delicious.”

He turned and smiled at Grace. She waswearing a t-shirt and leggings and her hair was in a bun on top of her head. Therewere still some slight shadows under her eyes, but she looked much less tired thanshe had the night before.

Tank stood and stretched before joiningGrace in the doorway. He leaned his head against her hip, and she petted hisneck.

“How are you feeling?” Gideon said.

“Better,” she said. “Thanks to your sisterbringing me some toiletries and clothes, I had a hot bath after lunch and feel alittle more human now. You should have woken me when you got home. I couldhave helped with dinner.”

“You need your rest,” he said. “But you canset the table for me if you’d like.”

“Sure.” She washed her hands and set thetable quickly, grabbing the plates and the utensils from the cupboard anddrawer without having to ask where they were.

Almost a year ago, she’d stopped coming to thebarbeques whenever they were at his house. He knew why she did, and at thetime he told himself it was for the best. But now, having Grace in his kitchenagain, watching her set the table while Tank followed her and glued himself toher side whenever she came to a stop, made Gideon’s chest ache.

He couldn’t lie to himself that this wasn’twhat he wanted. He wanted Grace in his home, in his bed, in his life, every nightfor the rest of his life, but it could never happen. Being with him would onlyput Grace in danger.

Christ. You need therapy so bad, dude.You honestly believe that if you admit you love Grace, that she’s gonna die?You know how fucked up that sounds, right?

“Gideon?”

“Sorry, what?” He stopped stirring the zucchiniand shut off the burner.

“I asked if you wanted a beer with supper?”

“No, just water is good.”

She poured them both glasses of waterbefore joining him at the counter. “What else can I do?”

“You can put the rice and the zucchini inserving bowls while I carve up the chicken.”

“Sure.” She dished out the food as he carvedthe chicken.

“How was work?” she asked.

“Good. Busy with a few calls.” He didn’telaborate and she didn’t ask him to. It was one of the things he appreciatedabout Grace. She knew he didn’t like to go into detail about calls he went onand never pressed him for more information. A sheriff who couldn’t keep hisconstituents’ private lives private didn’t stay a sheriff for very long. Hemight spend every morning listening to others gossip, but he never participated.

“Grant texted me and told me to take Fridayoff as well,” Grace said.

“That was nice of him,” Gideon said.

“It was. Mario phoned just before I nappedthis afternoon.”

“Your landlord?”

Grace sighed. “Yeah. He owns Edgar’s unittoo. He’s super pissed. Insurance will cover the damage, but he won’t be ableto start repairs and do the clean up until the insurance money comes in and hehas no idea when that will be. He’s releasing me from my lease, said he’dreturn my cheques for the rest of the year. So, I’m homeless.”

“You can stay with me,” he said.

She laughed, but a tinge of bitternesscoated it. “Yeah, thanks, but we both know that isn’t a good idea.”

He moved the chicken onto the platter andset it on the table. “Tank, to your bed.”

The big dog whined and leaned againstGrace.

“Your bed, Tank,” Gideon said.

Tank woofed under his breath, a clear ‘yousuck, human’ woof, before walking out of the kitchen. They both heard him flopdown on his bed in the living room and Grace smiled a little. “He’s mad atyou.”

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