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“That’s great, sweetheart. It’s good to try new things sometimes, but also know that you don’t have to if it ever makes you uncomfortable.”
She nodded as though that was obvious.
While we ate, we chatted more about her trip to Queenstown, and then Grace updated Tess on where she was at with the story she was writing. I’d have to see if she’d consider making a kid-friendly version so Tess could read it when she’d finished. At one point, I noticed Tess slip Duke a piece of bread under the table and narrowed my eyes at her. She smiled angelically, clearly pretending the dog’s loud eating noises couldn’t be heard from only a few feet away.
After dinner, I cleaned up while Tess did her homework and Grace took Duke out the back to burn off the last of his energy before he turned in for the night. When we’d finished, we met in the living room and put on one of Tess’s favorite shows about a group of teenage witches. I wrapped an arm around each of my girls, and a sense of contentment settled over me unlike anything I could ever recall. The three of us felt like a family. I basked in the perfection of the moment. This was how things were supposed to be. I’d never had this feeling with Maddy, and I realized now that it was because she hadn’t been the right woman for me. I wouldn’t change my past for anything because being with her had given me Tess, but I was destined for Grace, not Maddy.
When the second episode of the show finished, I took a sleepy Tess to bed and tucked her in, then returned to Grace. She hadn’t moved from the couch, and Duke had jumped up to take my place beside her. I sat on the other side and drew her close, planting a soft kiss on her lips.
“You are incredible,” I said. “Seeing you is one of the best parts of my day.”
Her lips curved into an endearingly shy smile. “This feels really natural between us, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah,” I agreed, kissing her again.
She curled against me and rested her head on my shoulder. “I’m scared that it’s all going to disappear.”
My fists clenched instinctively. “It won’t,” I promised. “It might have taken me a long time to wake up to what was in front of me, but we’re the real thing, and I’m going to do whatever it takes every day to prove it to you.”
She tilted her face up for another kiss. I gave it to her. Then another and another. Eventually, I carried her to my room and made sweet, tender love with her until all the doubts had hopefully been erased from her mind.
44
GRACE
“How’s everything looking?”I asked Alice.
She raised her head and slipped her headphones off her ears, giving me a thumbs up. “It’s good on the release front. The negative reviews aren’t all gone, but they’re outweighed by the positive ones.” She grinned. “You’re lucky your readers love you so much.”
“I know.” I let out a sigh of relief. “I really am. They’re incredible.”
Alice and I had done everything we could to salvage my book release, and now it was just a matter of letting the cards fall where they may. So far, sales had picked up, and while we hadn’t undone the damage caused by the wrong file going out, the situation could be worse.
I glanced at my phone. “Want to get lunch at Taste of Destiny? My treat.”
“Seriously? That would be great. Let me just do one last thing.” She turned back to her computer.
I stood and stretched, my back protesting because I’d been hunched over my laptop all day. I clucked my tongue, and Duke sprang to his feet and followed me out. I grabbed a treat from the pantry and put him in the backyard. Ryan and I had set up a doghouse for him, but he hadn’t used it much, since he usually went wherever I did. Unfortunately, I didn’t trust him alone in the house for an hour or two while we were at the cafe, so he’d have to make do.
By the time I got back to the office, Alice had her handbag over her shoulder and was ready to go.
“Walk or drive?” she asked.
“Let’s walk,” I suggested. “It isn’t far, and I could use some fresh air.”
“So, have you and Nate told Tess you’re dating?” Alice asked as we walked.
“Not yet.” Although come to think of it, we ought to discuss if and when that might happen. “I guess we’ll probably wait until we’re sure it’s going somewhere.”
Alice rolled her eyes. “You guys have been friends for half your lives. I doubt you’d have crossed a line unless you thought it would go somewhere.”
“There’s no point in rushing,” I said. “We have plenty of time.”
We arrived at Taste of Destiny,and the place was buzzing, with a line of customers out the door. A pair of elderly ladies were leaving a table in front of the window that looked onto Centennial Street, and Alice swooped in and claimed it as soon as they were gone.
“What would you like?” I asked Alice. “I’ll order.”
“One of their rosemary scones and a side salad, please. Coffee too.”
