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I grinned and my shoulders relaxed. I swung back to face her. “We’re dating.”
“Finally!” She clapped excitedly, looking as thrilled as I felt. “So, who made the first move?”
I shrugged. “Him, if you can believe it. The timing isn’t the best, but I’m so happy we’ve ended up where we are.”
She winked one beautifully made-up eye. “I’m glad. You deserve it.”
“It’s still early days,” I added, that voice of caution in my head warning me not to oversell our budding relationship. “I’m not sure if it will go anywhere.”
“It will,” Alice said confidently. “That man has finally realized what a catch you are. He’s not going to let you slip away now.”
A smile tugged at my lips. “I hope not.”
“Trust me.” Alice patted my knee. “It will all work out.”
43
NATE
Whoever was stalking Grace,they were smart. The bank sent us their security footage from the ATM as promised, but the person who’d withdrawn cash using Grace’s debit card had worn a hat, sunglasses, and a dark jacket that covered everything. They hadn’t looked at the camera, and from the angle of the recording, it was impossible to tell the length of their hair. All we could ascertain was that they were white and stood somewhere between five eight and six feet tall—either a tall woman or a man.
On the way home, I dropped by Maddy’s place to collect Tess for her week with me. I knocked at the door and waited until Steve answered.
“Nate, hey.” He flashed me a grin. “Maddy is just helping Tess pack. We went shopping over the weekend, so she has a few new wardrobe items she’ll probably want to show you.”
“I’m sure she loved that.” I was glad Maddy had taken her shopping. I’d do it when needed, but I avoided it whenever possible. Shopping wasn’t my forte. Fortunately, Tess was a pretty low-maintenance kid—with the exception of her book obsession.
“They had a great time.” Steve stood aside. “Come in while you wait. They won’t be long.”
I stepped into the foyer just as Maddy and Tess came into my line of view. Maddy looked harried. She passed Tess a backpack and kissed her forehead.
“Bye, baby,” she said. “I’ll see you next week, but I expect to hear from you on the phone before then.”
“Yes, Mum,” Tess said dutifully.
“I love you, Tessie.”
“Love you too.”
They hugged and Tess crossed from her mum to me. I pulled her into a firm embrace, breathing in the sweet strawberry scent of her hair. God, I missed my daughter while she was away. I didn’t know how I’d have coped if I’d ended up with a custody arrangement that gave Maddy weekdays and me weekends or the odd day here and there. I needed a good chunk of time with her.
I passed Tess a key. “Why don’t you head out to the car? I’ll be there in a minute.”
She took the key and waved at Maddy and Steve, then ducked out the door.
“She’s had a busy weekend,” Maddy told me, her shoulders slumping now that Tess was out of sight. “She might want an early night. God knows I need one.”
I chuckled. “Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll keep an eye on her. Any problems?”
“Nothing worth mentioning.”
“Good.”
“I’ve heard a bit around town about Grace’s problems.” Maddy sounded cautious. “Tess won’t be in danger by staying with you, will she?”
I grimaced. “We’ll make sure she’s never alone, and whoever is harassing Grace hasn’t given any indication that they’ll turn violent.”
“They’d better not.” Maddy’s eyes flashed with temper. “If there’s even the faintest hint that she isn’t safe with you, I want her back here with me, okay? Your priorities might be torn, but mine are completely clear. Keeping Tess safe is the most important thing.”
