Page 106 of Guarding Grace

“Lucas.”

I nodded and followed him up. Upstairs, Grace had finally emerged and was in the kitchen—in nothing but a fucking bathrobe. At least it wasn’t my damned T-shirt.

“How are you doing, Grace?” Zane asked. “I mean, with all this excitement?”

She glanced at me. “Okay, considering.”

“Don’t hit on my woman,” I warned.

Zane raised a brow. “Your woman? I thought?—”

“You thought wrong.”

When I glanced over, Grace didn’t seem pleased by my warning to Zane, or maybe it was the way I’d referred to her as mine.

He nodded with a chuckle. “Copy that, brother.”

I moved closer to her. “Maybe you should get dressed,” I whispered.

“I brought you this.” Zane held out one of the cups.

Instead of acknowledging my suggestion, Grace took the coffee cup with a smile. “Why, thanks.”

Zane walked to the stove. “Breakfast smells good.”

Grace followed him into the kitchen. “It sure does,” she said, checking her watch. “I don’t have much time before I’m due at the office.”

“Then you should dig in,” Zane said as he lifted the remaining coffee cup to his lips. He turned. “Oh, and Lucas said to tell you to hustle to the same meetup point as last time.”

“Why didn’t he call?”

“He said he sent you a text.”

I checked my phone and sure enough, I’d missed the message. He’d wanted me to hurry as soon as Zane relieved me. “Fuck. You be safe,” Isaid pointing at Grace on the way to the door.No arguments and no orders.“And lock up when you leave.”

“Do I need a key for that?” Zane asked.

I changed direction to the drawer where I kept spare keys and threw one to him.

“Do I need a code to set the alarm?” he asked.

“Don’t bother with that. Locking it will be fine until I get back.”

“I’ll keep her safe,” he assured me.

“Terry,” Grace called.

I whirled.

“Be careful,” she said sweetly.

I nodded. “Always.” It killed me to leave her, but I had no choice.

She smiled. “See you at the office.”

I would remember that smile and the melody of those words until I saw her again.

Grace