Page 89 of Graciously His

“Tell him I’m heading back soon.”

I don’t bother to listen to the rest of her exchange with Nate.

I need to get that so-called proof. I need to verify Mother's claims. And that means I need to get Nate to take me with him to Auckland tomorrow morning.

There’s a stretch of silence, with only the quiet sighs of the sea, and I realise Mihi has already rung off. I try to smile.

“Is he on his way?”

“No, I said I’d take you home myself—if that’s okay, Grace?”

“Of course,” I say gratefully. I’ll have a few minutes to get my head in order for what I need to do.

Mihi and I walk slowly, taking our time on the cooling sand, the waves lazy and low beside us. I tell her more about Mother. The telling hurts, but it feels good, too. My friend hugs me tight when we arrive at the cove, and I thank her for everything.

“Gracie-girl,” she murmurs, pulling back just enough to offer me her forehead. I close my eyes and lean in. We let our noses touch in ancient acknowledgement, sharing breath for a few moments.

“You’re stronger than Hadley knows,” Mihi murmurs. “Or that wretched mum of yours.”

Drawing back, I nod. Not in thanks, but in the beginnings of acceptance.

Then I see the tall man standing at the top of the cliffs, and my entire body heats with dread—and hunger.

Chapter 36

Nate

Ikeep my breathing slow and deep as I watch Grace and Mihi embrace on the beach. Shep bolts down the stairs to shoulder his way between them, but I hold my position. My girl laughs at the big dog, and I’m surprised she can find anything funny after what happened earlier. I’m not sure how far the call went before I restarted Grace’s phone remotely, but I know exactly who it was.

The Munchausen bitch has crossed the line. I knew she’d do it—she’s been promising to do it—and I refuse to be surprised or angry or even defensive. I need to investigate the situation calmly.

I force air down, deep into my chest, reminding myself that Grace is here. She’s here. Constance Fucking Reid can stretch her tentacles through calls and texts, but there’s no way she’s getting a grip on my wife. I’ve got layers of protection across all fronts, and she was on the phone for less than a minute before I cut her off. Nothing she said during that time could have made a difference.

A grisly image of Nick’s death forces its way into my mind. The crosswalk sign swaying in the wind along the Dunedin harbour. A car horn sounding too late. Blood on the road.

Less than a minute.

Less than ten seconds.

“Fuck,” I mutter, watching Shep race back up the stairs.

I kneel down to pet the dog and, knowing no one can see me, I bury my face in his neck. He smells like the sea and Grace’s floral body lotion. Shep hooks his head over my shoulder in the mastiff version of a hug. I let myself lean on him before he withdraws to look into my eyes.

“Yeah,” I say, “you’re too smart for your own good, you know. We’ll keep her safe together, right?”

He noses me for another hug, but I stand up to watch Grace climb the stairs. Pleased as I am at her recovery, I find myself missing aspects of her former delicacy. The sick version of Grace never could have spent the entire day dirtying her hands to care for animals and land. Her newfound health has taken her from me in a way I never predicted.

I shake off the thought as she arrives at the top of the cliff. She regards me with a discernment that’s both defiant… and fucking sexy. I raise my brows, waiting her out.

“What happened, Nate?”

“Well,” I say, playing on her lack of precision, “you came home after a much longer time away than either of us expected.”

Her jaw hardens and she turns to wave down at Mihi, who is clearly too far away to see.

“How were the lambs, little heart?”

Crossing her arms over her chest, she meets my eye again. “What did you do to my phone?”