Page 76 of Guarding Grace

Lucas ended the call.

Grace’s phone dinged. I waited for her to get it, but she ignored it instead.

I gave her the good news. “Lucas is sending Constance over now with your clothes.”

She sighed a relieved breath. “Finally. What about my cats?”

“He didn’t say.”

Her phone dinged again with the arrival of another message.

“You need to get that?” I asked.

Reluctantly, she nodded. “It has to be work.” She struggled off the sectional. “How about a short timeout?”

I smiled. “To be continued.” I pulled my pants back up and buckled my belt.

She cursed as she searched her handbag for her phone. It was cute.

I was going all-in with Grace. The terror I’d felt almost losing her in the attacks today had made the feelings I held for her clear as day. I wasn’t repressing them any longer, Pete or no Pete. She wanted me as much as I wanted her, and that made this the perfect decision, the only possible decision.

Holding up the phone triumphantly, she swiped at the screen. “Hi, Peyton. What’s up?”

CHAPTER 17

Terry

Grace was stillon the phone with her assistant when the sound of my exterior motion sensors startled me. I adjusted myself before checking the doorbell camera on my phone.

“Constance is here,” I announced.

“Huh?” Grace looked over.

“Constance is at the door. She brought your clothes.”

Grace rushed to stand, and I steadied her to avoid another pass out.

The doorbell rang.

When Grace seemed steady, I let go of her and answered through my phone. “Be right there.”

Grace adjusted her top and smoothed her skirt as I strode for the door.

“Where did my panties go?” I heard her ask as she looked around.

I chuckled before descending the stairs. I unlocked and opened the heavy door. “Hey. Thanks for bringing her things,” I told Constance. “I’ll take them up.”

Constance set down several garbage bags. “You take these. I’ll get the rest.” She retreated to her Porsche and returned juggling more plastic bags and two cat carriers. “Can’t forget the important things.”

“Uh-huh.” I stepped aside to let her go first up the stairs.

“Special delivery,” Constance called out at the top.

Grace put down her wine, squealed, and ran over to let them out of the carriers. “Bonnie and Clyde.”

“I thought you’d appreciate having them with you,” Constance said. “They might not have survived with Zane.”

I swallowed my chuckle. After a moment, Clyde left Grace’s side and came over to rub against me. I kneeled down to scratch the little monster. “What’s this button thing on his collar?”