If someone else saw her, saw the way she lit up a room without trying, the way she carried herself, the way she was brave even when it cost her?—
If another man saw that?
Luke swallowed.
That man wouldn't hide her.
He wouldn't park down the street. He wouldn't ignore her in public. He wouldn't weigh her worth against gossip and bloodlines and what people might say.
He'd stand beside her with pride.
And Luke wouldn't be able to blame anyone but himself when Grace chose him.
The jealousy rose anyway. Hot and ugly.
Luke felt it burn.
He wasn't going to give her up without making a case for himself.
If there was a fight, it wouldn't be fists or threats or posturing.
It would be honesty.
It would be daylight.
Luke leaned forward, staring out at the empty road.
He had no right to her.
But he would fight for her anyway.
He would spend as long as it took to earn her faith. To make his choice unmistakable. To prove—to Grace, and to the rest of this town—that he wasn't ashamed anymore.
He would stand in the open and say?—
I see you. I choose you. And I'm not afraid anymore.
He'd seen for himself that the danger wasn't lurking.
But still every part of him wanted to stay, to keep watch over her all night. She was behind locked doors, safe now. And more importantly, she didn't want him there.
Luke reached for the radio.
"Dispatch," he said.
"Go ahead, Bennett."
"If anything comes in for Maple Street," he said, "I want to be notified. Wake me up if you have to. Any time. I don't care if it's three in the morning."
"Copy that," dispatch said. "We'll flag it."
"Thanks," Luke replied.
And only then was he able to drive away.
CHAPTER 23
Grace
