"Copy that."
Luke pressed his thumb to the radio, ending the transmission. His eyes found Grace again. He sat down beside her. They were quiet for a while.
He didn’t push. Didn’t talk.
Just sat with her on the low brick wall as if they had all the time in the world.
Grace exhaled, her voice rough. “I froze.”
“You spotted the danger,” Luke said. “That’s good.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You survived,” he said. “That’s everything.”
They sat there a while longer.
Then Grace turned toward him. “I’m glad you were here.”
His eyes met hers, steady and quiet. “Always, Grace. Always.”
Luke drove carefully—likeshe was made of glass and taking an abrupt corner might shatter her.
Grace stared out the window. The world looked the same as it always did—familiar streets, autumn trees shedding leaves ontosidewalks—but everything inside her felt off-kilter. Like she was watching through a pane of frosted glass, everything one step removed.
Luke pulled into his driveway, put the cruiser in park, and cut the engine. Neither of them moved for a second.
“Okay,” he said. “Let’s get inside.”
The door was open before she thought to reach for the handle. Luke offered a hand.
Grace took it. When they reached the front steps and her knees wobbled just a little, his hand came to the small of her back. Just a brush. Just enough to steady her.
Inside, Luke steered her toward his couch. She sank into the cushions. They smelled like him.
She looked up at him.
“Why did you bring me here?” she asked. “Why not… my house? He’s arrested. It’s over.”
Luke shook his head. “Not until I replace your locks.”
Oh.
“I’m not taking chances,” he said. “I’m not letting you sleep there until I know for sure it’s safe.”
He sounded protective in a way that made something deep in her chest ache.
“I can call a locksmith?—”
“I already did,” he said. “I’m handling it.”
Grace looked down at her hands. “You don’t have to?—”
“I want to,” he said softly. “I want to take care of this. I want to take care ofyou.”
Grace swallowed hard. Her voice came out quieter than she meant. “You’re being really gentle with me.”
Luke exhaled. Sat on the edge of the armchair across from her, elbows resting on his knees. “Do you think so? Because I think I haven’t been gentle enough. Not even close.”
