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"I should've been paying more attention. I should've pressed you more about the emails when I was first concerned about it. Or maybe," he paused, swallowing hard. "Maybe I shouldn't have pressured you to be open with me when all you wanted was casual. Then maybe none of this would be happening."
Grace stepped back, shaking her head as she looked him in the eye. "I don't regret any of this. Not the fact that I made some mystery weirdo mad, and definitely not the parts that caused me to grow in ways I might never have grown if it weren't for the time I've spent falling for you. And it's not just you I've been falling for... The people in this town that you call family... Ugh, I can't find the words right now—which, yes, is frustrating, but... Just know that I don't regret any of this, and I don't want you to regret it either, okay?"
Tommy's heart was nearly bursting out of his chest knowing that she was falling for him, but since she had already pushed him away so many times, he couldn't risk spooking her. So, instead of calling her out on it, he decided to make a joke.
"Well, I call most of the people in this town family, but there's one person I'm still on the fence about."
She laughed, shaking her head. "Oh, yeah? And who might that be?"
"Wait, do you think I'm talking about you?" he asked playfully, pretending to be surprised as he continued the playful banter. "No, no. Notyou. It's this other lady, stirring up some drama. When I find out what her name is, I'll let you know."
Grace rolled her eyes. "Hilarious."
"You, I'm sure about," he said softly, brushing a thumb over her cheek. "But let's save this conversation for later, okay?"
Just as he was about to lean in and kiss her—because how could he resist after that?—Jack appeared in the kitchen doorway, calling out for Tommy to come help him with something.
Tommy hesitated. Whatever it was, couldn't Nick help? His nerves were still on edge, and the last thing he wanted to do was leave her to watch her own back.
"I'll go hang out with Holly and Robin," Grace whispered, standing on her tiptoes and into his line of sight. "We'll be right out in the open. Nothing bad can happen to me with all those people around, right? Besides, maybe we're overreacting and this lady is an internet troll but not a real threat."
Even though Tommy had wondered the same thing, something in his gut—which he always trusted—told him that wasn't the case. He knew escalation when he saw it, and this woman's anger with Grace was definitely escalating. He didn't know what she'd do about it... poison Grace's cocoa? Trip her a string of garland? But he didn't want any of them to have to find out.
Still, Tommy was in uniform, and there were more people to take care of tonight than Grace. He reluctantly agreed, leading Grace to Holly and Robin by the hand. Then he kissed her temple before leaving her to meet up with Jack and Nick by the front door.
Apparently, there'd been a loud bang outside, and Jack wanted them to help him check it out.
"When we come back in," Tommy started as the three of them zipped up their coats, "I need to tell you what's really going on with Holly. And you were right, it's not relationship stuff."
Jack and Nick shared a worried glance, but then Jack smirked. "Told you I knew you."
"Yeah, yeah. Let's just check out that noise and then I'll fill you in."
CHAPTER21
Grace
Grace stoodby the frost-laden window, her breath fogging up the glass as she watched Tommy pull on his coat and adjust his scarf. He glanced back at her with a reassuring smile, but it did little to quell the anxiety that knotted in her stomach. She knew he would be careful, but the storm raging outside was relentless, making even the most mundane tasks perilous.
"Tommy, be safe," she called out, hugging herself tightly.
He shot her a wink. "Always am."
"Don't worry," Robin said, linking her arm through Grace's, "they'll figure out what that noise was and be back before you know it."
Her friend's voice was warm, like the crackling fire that filled the room with its glow, and Grace allowed it to soothe her. With everything else she had to worry about, she couldn't afford to add a quick trip outside to her list.
He'd be fine.
The other guests at the inn were still gathered in various clusters, murmuring softly amongst themselves. Thick blankets were draped over shoulders, hot cocoa cradled in hands, and an air of shared concern filled the room.
Grace watched as Joan busied herself with topping off everyone's mugs, her usual cheerful demeanor replaced by a motherly concern for all those under her roof. It was a much better thing for her to focus on than worrying about Tommy... not to mention the alternative: searching every single face in the room, trying to figure out which one of them had a serious bone to pick with her.
"This can't be the scariest storm you've been through," joked Holly from her other side, seeming to sense Grace's unease and wanting to help. "I bet you've seen some bad weather during some other trip, right?"
"I was in Oklahoma during a tornado once," Grace replied, forcing a small smile. "That was rough."
"I bet," Robin replied.
