Page 122 of Eight Years Gone

“Thank you. You too.”

“Don’t forget your jacket.”

“Right.” She huffed out a laugh as she snagged it, then hurried outside, savoring the chilly air on her cheeks as she tried to make the last few minutes make sense.

“It can’t be right,” she assured herself as she walked the half block to Simplicity, letting herself into the store where Aunt Maggie and Jen chatted with Mrs. Tillis, one of their best customers.

Grace set the goodies on the counter, making herself smile again. “I come bearing gifts.”

Aunt Maggie frowned as she looked at her. “Are you okay, honey? You look a little pale.”

She nodded, turning up the wattage of her smile. “It’s been a long day. That’s all.”

“Why don’t you bring your tea to your office and take a break. Or better yet, head on home. Asa can pick me up when he finishes with the deliveries.”

Grace hesitated because Jen’s shift ended in thirty minutes. She didn’t like to leave Aunt Maggie at the shop alone. What if she fell and couldn’t get to the phone? “That’s all right. I have some paperwork—”

Aunt Maggie shook her head. “Didn’t you mention that Jagger has an early night because Todd’s handling the evening classes?”

“I did.”

“Good. Go see him. I’m perfectly capable of locking up, Grace.”

Recognizing that she had no choice, she nodded. “Okay. I guess I’ll see everyone tomorrow.”

She walked outside again, heading for her Sorento, slightly relieved that Aunt Maggie had bullied her out the door.

Jagger was more than likely home by now. She was eager to show him her mother’s last entry—to see if her words left him with the same ugly impression. Because she desperately needed Jagger to tell her she had it all wrong.

* * *

Ten minutes later, Grace pulled into the driveway, relieved to see the Stingray parked in its usual spot.

She quickly grabbed her purse and hurried inside, only to frown as she hung up her jacket and tugged off her loafers in the quiet house.

Typically, Jagger cranked up the music while he got a head start on dinner prep when he had a night off from the dojang.

She glanced toward the kitchen as she moved through the living room, noting that he’d taken the homemade pizza dough out of the fridge, so where was he?

She opened her mouth to call his name but closed it as she slowed outside the office, realizing he was on the phone.

“That’s not going to work,” Jagger said in a voice tight with tension.

She poked her head in to make sure he was okay, trailing her gaze over strong, naked shoulders and the black sweatpants he wore as he sat with his back to her in the office chair, sliding his fingers through his damp hair.

“Forget it. I’m not taking assignments right now. Grace still needs me.”

She stepped out of the room, pressing her lips together as she closed her eyes. This was exactly what she didn’t want—Jagger putting his life on hold for her. She didn’t want to hold him back with her endless issues and problems.

“You don’t want me to tell you what you can do with your retainer fee or this job for that matter. Grace comes first. That’s what I told you from the beginning. I’ll let you know when she’s ready for me to get back to work.”

Jagger hung up, muttering a curse.

Waiting a moment before she knocked on the doorframe, Grace slapped a smile on her face as she walked in to join him. “Hey, handsome.”

He swiveled in the chair, sending her a grin. “Hey, beautiful.” He reached out his hand to her, pulling her down in his lap, hugging her.

She hummed in her throat as she returned his embrace, breathing in soap and Jagger. “You smell good.”

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