It was fair. She wasn’t enough for Luke, and what Luke was offering wasn’t enough for her.
“No,” she repeated, steadier now. “I’m not interested in being your secret. Not anymore.”
Her chest ached. God, it ached.
“Maybe Crystal Lakewillalways see me as garbage. Maybe some people will never think I’m someone that is worth their respect.” She held his gaze. “But I am. And as long as I know that, that’s enough for me.”
She stepped around him, moving toward the sidewalk. Toward school. Toward the life where she was Miss Hart. Beloved. Trusted. Wanted.
“Grace,” Luke called after her.
She tuned back.
“You’re right,” she said, and surprised herself with how calm she sounded. “It was just sex.”
Something crossed his face—shock, maybe. Uncertainty. But she didn’t wait for him to sort it out.
Grace adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder.
“I hope you have a good day,” she added, polite as a stranger. “Officer Bennett.”
And then she turned and walked away.
CHAPTER 10
Luke
Luke stared after her.
It was fine.
This was just his pride stinging. Just irritation at the way the conversation had gone sideways when it didn’t need to. He’d tried to be reasonable. He’d offered a solution. Grace had always worked around what he’d needed before.
He turned back toward his cruiser, jaw tight. He slammed the driver’s door and sat there for a moment without starting the engine.
Officer Bennett.
The words hadn’t been teasing. Hadn’t been affectionate.
Luke rested his forearms on the steering wheel and stared straight ahead.
Grace had always met him halfway.
She hadn’t today.
I’m not interested in being your secret. Not anymore.
His phone buzzed in the cup holder.
For half a second, something in his chest expanded with stupid, reflexive hope.
Then he saw the name. Mercer.
Luke leaned back and scrubbed a hand over his face. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. She was supposed to cool off. Come around. She knew what this was.
Only… she hadn’t argued. Hadn’t pleaded. Hadn’t tried to negotiate terms.
She’d just walked away.
