Page 52 of His Saving Grace

“So, what’s for lunch?” Jake’s question broke the tension. She could have kissed him for being so oblivious.

“You’re a little late.” Eloise glanced at her watch. Grace knew it was already past three.

There was a picnic basket on the counter and Jake pulled it forward, getting ready to dive in.

“I don’t think so.” Mason yanked the basket out of Jake’s clutches.

Jake pouted for a second, and then trudged over to the fridge. He pulled it open, rummaged around for a few seconds, and then sighed heavily. “There’s nothing to eat here.”

Eloise tsked and shooed him out of the way. “Here, let me find you something.”

“You’re the best, mama.” Jake kissed his mother on the cheek and then turned to Grace and Mason with a huge grin.

Mason rolled his eyes and snatched up the basket. “Come on.” He grabbed Grace’s hand and pulled her toward the door. Bella was by their side in a second.

“Sorry, girl,” Mason said, stopping and scratching the dog’s neck. “You’ve got to stay here.”

Bella looked up at them with her big brown eyes, and Grace could almost see a pout on her sweet little snout. She sat down and whined.

“That’s not going to work on me.” He had a stronger will than Grace, because she would have caved like a house of cards in a hurricane. She found it hard to say no to that little doggy face. That’s how Bella ended up sleeping on her bed in the guest house every night.

Mason gave Grace’s arm a tug, and then they were out the door and on the porch before she could even say goodbye to anyone. As soon as the door closed behind them, he stopped and turned to face her. “Hello.” He tapped the brim of her baseball hat with his finger.

“Hello.” She could feel the stupid dopey grin on her face and yet couldn’t have stopped, even if it meant world peace. She was acting like a girl in middle school with her first crush. And she didn’t care.

Mason made her feel… alive again. Like she was no longer sleep walking through her life. She was looking forward to tomorrow, and the day after, and then the day after that. It was stupid, and dangerous, but she refused to think about any of that today. Today, was about living in the moment.

“Come on,” Mason said, taking her hand. They walked, hand in hand, toward the stable, the sun sinking lower in the sky, but still relentless. The ball cap, with her hair tucked up in it, had been an excellent choice.

Mason’s limp was less pronounced today. Maybe he’d gotten a good night’s rest. The jerk. That wasn’t fair at all after the torturous night she’d had.

The shade of the stable offered temporary relief from the heat. That she was already uncomfortable didn’t bode well for how she was going to hold up. She wasn’t used to this scorching weather. It wasn’t anything like this in the Pacific Northwest.

Mason walked over to the stall that held a gorgeous brown horse. He brushed the horse’s muzzle, whispering softly. The horse snorted and Mason chuckled. Grace’s heart squeezed hard at the sound.

He turned to her. “Have you ever ridden before?”

“Just once. Jake took me out when I first got here.”

“Did he now?”

No matter what her heart tried to tell her, she was not pleased by the thread of jealousy lacing his words. And that was absolutely not what caused a shiver to race down her spine, like someone traced an ice cube along her skin. “He took me around with him on his horse. To show me around.”

“Of course, he did.” The words were so low, she knew they weren’t meant for her, but that didn’t stop her lips from twitching. She genuinely shouldn’t be so pleased by all of this.

And you know what that kind of jealousy leads to, don’t you?

The sinister thought slithered through her brain, twisting her stomach inside out and dousing her amusement. She was far too intimate with that kind of jealousy. Refusing to think about it, she moved farther into the barn.

“Have you ever ridden by yourself?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Okay, then.” He opened the stall door and led the horse out. “This is Buttercup. She’s gentle and sweet and perfect for you.”

She held out her hand so the horse could smell her. “Hello, Buttercup.” Awe made her voice quiet and breathy. “You’re so beautiful.”

Buttercup neighed, tossing her head at the compliment, preening under Grace’s attention. She nuzzled Grace’s fingers and Grace fell instantly in love.