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And now… it was time to choose something different.
When she looked up from Robin and Abby, she found Tommy watching her from across the room. Her cheeks flushed as their eyes locked. He was talking to Ida against the far wall, holding a case of water bottles under his arm as if it were no heavier than a football. But the most striking thing was how one corner of his lips was pulled up in an affectionate smile.
Was he as charmed by the mother-daughter moment as she was?
Or had he been charmed by the sight ofherwatching them?
Ida motioned toward the kitchen, gaining Tommy's attention, and Grace had half a mind to run after him so they could talk. She wasn't exactly sure what to make of her realization about pushing people away. Not to mention her worries about the mystery woman possibly being under the inn's roof with them.
But she did know she needed to be more open, so she stood to follow Tommy. But just as she took a step, progress was abruptly halted as the power went out.
Sounds of alarm went through the room, but the fire and the light from the candles made it so there was only a moment of low light before the backup generator kicked on.
Grace's heart raced as the room regained its earlier glow, and she looked at Abby, giving her a wry smile. Yeah, maybe they'd both gotten a little freaked out by that.
Even more determined to find Tommy now, she made her way through the crowded room, moving with purpose. And as fate would have it, he'd already been on his way to find her because they collided just inside the kitchen.
The emotional impact of crashing into his hard chest was almost her undoing. And then, that feeling only intensified as their eyes locked, boiling over completely when he wrapped her into a hug without hesitation.
"Are you okay?" he asked into her hair as he rubbed her back.
"I am... and I'm not," she replied, her voice breaking as she fought back tears. She hated the vulnerability in her words, but she didn't fight it. Tommy stiffened, so she hurried to explain. "Physically, I'm fine. But emotionally, I'm all over the place."
He made a low sound in his throat as he held her tighter, his hands continuing to make slow, soothing circles on her back.
"Tommy, you think she could be here, don't you?" She'd said the words into his chest while he continued to hold her, unwilling to see his face when he answered.
Except, he didn't answer. He just dipped his head to kiss the top of hers, then settled his cheek over the spot.
"I can't shake the feeling that I'm being watched," she added.
Her senses went into overdrive as her voice cracked again.
The storm raging outside, battering the windows…
The power going out, even if only for a moment…
Even the hushed whispers from the other side of the kitchen. Why hadn't she realized they weren't alone?
Oh, right, because she'd barreled through the door with tunnel vision.
Tommy's arms tightened around her, offering solace amidst the chaos. "There is nowhere safer for you than right here, next to me," he reassured her softly.
"But you haven't said anything about what I asked... That means I'm right, doesn't it? She could be here?"
He hesitated. "I hope not... but if she is, I won't let her anywhere near you."
"Could it be someone I know?" Grace whispered, her anxiety mounting.
"I don't know," Tommy admitted. Then, to her dismay, he pulled back to look at her. "I don't have answers for you, Grace. Not yet. But I wish I did, and I wish you didn't have to deal with this."
Grace nodded, having no idea what to say.
"We'll figure it out," he promised, his gaze never leaving hers. "Together."
Grace nodded once again.
As the storm outside continued to build, it was scary to imagine not uncovering the emailer's identity until after it passed.
