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Tears pooled in her eyes, and she blinked them away.

“This head of mine,” she groaned.

She heard Garrick push up off the porch. “I shouldn’t have pestered you when you’re in pain.”

“No. You are helping. You are.” She didn’t want him to leave. She wanted him to sit back down and let her rest her head on his shoulder and pretend she wasn’t Grace Robbins and he wasn’t Garrick Clairmont.

Silence.

“Say something, please. I can’t bear to open my eyes to the sun.”

He sighed, but settled himself on the stair beside her again. “I don’t like it when you can’t see me.”

Grace waved her hand about until she found his arm, then slid her arm through his and rested her head on his shoulder. She inhaled slowly, enjoying the scent of him.

“I don’t see much very clearly, it seems.”

She felt as much as heard his chuckled.

She smiled. “Have you always been this sweet?” Grace asked.

Another chuckled. “I’d love to say yes, but I fear that’s a lie.”

“Are you sure? It seems to come naturally.”

“You must really be sick,” Garrick said, placing a hand on her forehead. “Because that doesn’t sound much like Grace Robbins.”

Grace shuddered. His touch did funny things to her. And right now, so did the sound of her name in that smooth voice. “I was quite rude to you, wasn’t I? What did you ever see in me?”

“Come now. You’re not one to think so low of yourself.”

“It’s a recent development,” Grace said.

He hesitated. “Well, let me remind you. Grace Robbins is a fireball.”

Grace snorted. “I know the color of my hair,” she said.

“Well, that’s just a part of it. I’ve seen you chew out Jonathan and any number of the Tuckers, don’t forget.”

“I was just a schoolgirl.”

“A fireball of a schoolgirl.”

Grace laughed. “Okay, fine. I’m a fireball.”

“And Grace Robbins cares deeply about people.” He ran a hand along her cheek. She leaned into his touch.

“Right. I care so much that I stuck my nose up for months on end at a gentle request to dance.”

“Not accepting a dance isn’t the same thing as unkindness. You get to have an opinion.”

“I know. But, it’swhyI did it.”

He inhaled deeply. “Whydidyou refuse me?”

“Well, for one thing, you have terrible timing.”

“Wait…you refused me because I’m a terrible dancer?” he sounded amused and a bit embarrassed.