Page 177 of Guarding Grace

She breezed in. “I saw Terry leaving downstairs. What happened? Did you guys get things settled?”

I walked toward the kitchen. “Want a drink? I think I have some margarita mix in the fridge.”

She hurried to get in front of me. “I don’t want a margarita. What happened?”

I went around her. “Nothing. I might have some wine then.” I couldn’t remember what I had in the fridge. Pulling open the door, I realized it wasa good thing she didn’t want a margarita because the bottle of mix was almost empty. “It looks like hard cider is the best I can offer.”

“Fine.”

I retrieved two bottles and handed one to her, laughing when I couldn’t find a bottle opener in the drawer.

“What’s so funny?”

“I can’t find an opener.”

“It’s okay. I didn’t want one, anyway.”

“Me either.” My laughter fell away, and my eyes went wet. “You know, he once accused me of thinking he opened bottles with his teeth?”

“Ouch.”

I smiled. “It was a joke.”

She reached out and took my hand. “Are you going to tell me what happened?” She led me to the couch.

This was hard—really hard. “He left.”

She sat next to me and leaned close, brows scrunched up. “What do you mean?”

“I fucked up. I pushed him away so hard he left.”

“Tell me.”

I explained what I remembered about the conversation.

“But he gave you a key?”

I pointed to the counter.

She picked it up and studied it. “This is so cute.”

“What?” It was a simple key. It didn’t even have any color to it.

She turned it toward me and held it up to my face. “I think it’s romantic.”

The head of the key had the word MY written on it, with a drawing of a heart underneath.

I blinked back a tear. “I’m scared. We’ve fought for years until this last week. What if it doesn’t work?” I sniffled.

“Are you kidding? The key to his heart? Of course it’ll work.”

“No, I mean us. When I told you at the party that I didn’t have time for a man, I wasn’t kidding. My business is hanging on by a thread. My people need all my time.”

“When Duke claimed me, I was scared shitless too. These military men are intense with a capital I. But what Duke and I have now is amazing.”

“I always thought you were fearless.”

She shook her head. “Not as fearless as Duke. Look, talk to Terry about your fears.”