Page 74 of His Saving Grace

Chapter 17

Gracestoodinthe small guesthouse bedroom, staring at the closet. Or, more accurately, not looking at the bed. The bed she and Mason had shared only a few hours ago.

After Mason had left last night, she and Declan had talked for a while. He’d been patient and understanding, even admitted he wouldn’t report her whereabouts, given the circumstances.

Her gaze caught on the dress she’d worn on the fourth of July. The one she’d bought especially for her date. She pulled it off the hanger. Her insides felt hollowed out, empty. She folded the soft material once, twice, three times and then slipped it into her bag.

Declan had wanted to know why she hadn’t gone to the authorities, and she’d been honest. More honest than she’d been with anyone in a long time. She’d been scared, embarrassed, not sure they’d believe her.

“I did what I thought was right,” she’d said then, and said now to the empty room. She wandered into the bathroom. Where had all this stuff come from? She’d made herself far too comfortable here on the ranch. She sorted through it all, keeping the essentials, like her toothbrush, and tossing the rest into the wastebasket. What had she been thinking, buying all this stupid makeup? What a waste of money. She flipped off the light and trudged back into the bedroom.

Declan had promised to help her if she wanted to go to the authorities. She didn’t doubt he had her back. If nothing else, the Callahans were honest and honorable. It was what made leaving them so bloody hard.

She tossed the last of her stuff in her bag and zipped it closed. The sound was loud in the quiet house. She picked it up. It weighed next to nothing, which was depressing. How could one person’s whole life fit into something so tiny?

The silence crackled in her ears. No voices, no laughter, no buzz of family. She couldn’t stand it. Her whole body ached. Fears and questions and doubts crept in. No, no, she wouldn’t be swayed. Staying was too hard.

She turned to leave, and her gaze landed on the bed. It felt like someone punched her in the chest. She hadn’t been able to sleep in here last night. Too many memories. So, she’d spent a sad and restless night on the sofa, hoping Mason would come to her. Talk to her. But he hadn’t. And she’d been too afraid to seek him out. Chalk something else up to her cowardice.

Tears filled her eyes, making the room waver. She hurried to the front door, blinking hard to keep them from falling. Once she started crying, she wouldn’t be able to stop. She’d known better than to get involved, let alone fall in love. She’d let Mason Callahan and his family into her heart, and it got smashed to infinitesimal pieces.

She stepped onto the porch, locking the door and bending down to place the key under the mat. Sneaking out without telling anyone was shitty, but it was for the best. Everyone would understand.

“Going somewhere?”

She jumped so high at the deep voice behind her, she could practically see her skin lying in a heap on the ground. She whirled around.

“Owen.” His name came out on a rush of breath. She pressed her knuckles to her chest, trying to stop her heart from galloping away. “You startled me. What are you doing here?”

“I was awake when you brought the dog back to the house.”

“Oh,” she said, not sure what else to say.

From his perch on the porch railing, he let his gaze travel to the bag in her hand and then back to her face. “Were you even going to say goodbye to them?”

She licked her lips and glanced away. Dammit, she’d been hoping to be far away before anyone noticed. “It’s easier this way.” She forced her gaze back to his. If she did this, she was at least going to own it.

“Sure.” He crossed his arms and nodded. “I get it. Cutting and running is always the easiest thing. Question is, is it the right thing?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Always is, but that’s what makes it so worthwhile.”

She opened her mouth to respond, but he held up his hand.

“I’ll be the first to admit, I don’t know Mason all that well anymore. We let our stubbornness and stupidity get in the way of things. I have a lot of regrets, Grace, and that one is pretty close to the top of the list.” He glanced at the house, but she got the impression he wasn’t really looking at it, just caught up in his memories, his choices, his regrets.

When he turned back to her, the anguish in his eyes was like a mule kick to the chest.

“You’re good for him and he’s good for you. Don’t let anything get in the way. I know what heartbreak is, what it feels like to lose everything. If I could go back, I’d fight like hell to make sure things turned out differently. The question is, are you gonna run or are you gonna fight for what you want?”

He pushed off the railing and was off the porch and striding across the lawn before she could think of something to say. Her throat ached at the devastation in his voice. Over the past few weeks, she’d finally managed to piece together his and Isabella’s story, and it was utterly heartbreaking. He’d lost so much.

She watched him stalk around the ranch house and the fragments of her heart, already in millions of tiny, razor-sharp pieces, swirled inside her chest, like they were caught in a tiny little twister. The shards stabbed and slashed everything they came in contact with, making her chest throb and breathing hurt. A tear slipped down her cheek.

She wanted to run after him, tell him she was sorry for everything he’d lost.

But she didn’t. She knew he wouldn’t welcome her fussing and blubbering. And he was right. She’d spent the majority of her adult life catering to David’s whims, trying to please him. After she’d managed to get away, she’d been so afraid of someone recognizing her, she spent all of her time looking over her shoulder or trying to blend into the background. She still wasn’t free.