Her chest felt too full—anger and confusion and something dangerously close to hope all tangled together in a knot she couldn't unpick.
"Why now?" she asked.
Luke was silent for a long moment.
"Because I finally figured out what I should have been protecting," he said. “And it wasn’t my own fucking reputation.”
Grace pressed her lips together and studied his face. He wasn't looking at her—his eyes were fixed straight on the road, but something in his expression had shifted. His throat worked as he swallowed. He looked raw in a way she'd never seen from him before.
The car turned onto his street. The houses here were nicer than hers—bigger yards, newer construction.
Luke pulled into his driveway and cut the engine.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
"I have to go back to the station," Luke said finally. "I've got a few hours left of my shift. But I need to get you settled first."
Grace nodded and climbed out.
Luke unlocked the front door and held it open for her. She stepped inside, the scent of his house—wood and coffee and that faint clean smell—washing over her.
It still felt strange. Being here. In his space.
"Come on," Luke said, gesturing for her to follow.
He moved through the house methodically, showing her the security system.
"Main panel's here," he said, pointing to the keypad by the front door, giving her the code. Grace committed it to memory.
"If anything happens while I'm gone," Luke said, turning to face her, "you call 911 first. Then you call me."
Grace nodded.
"I mean it, Grace." His voice dropped, serious and a little rough. "Promise me."
"I promise," she said.
Something in his expression eased slightly.
Luke reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. "This is yours. Front door, back door.”
His palm was warm as he took her hand. He placed the keys in the center of her palm, the metal cool against her skin, and then carefully folded her fingers closed over them. His hand lingered,wrapped around her fist, holding it there for a beat longer than necessary.
Only a week ago, she would've given anything for this. For a key to his house. For the implication that she was welcome here, that she belonged.
He hesitated, like he wanted to say something else. Then seemed to think better of it.
"I'll be back in a couple of hours,” he said instead. "Lock up behind me. Alarm code, deadbolt, everything."
"I will."
Only then did he let go of her hand. He was halfway out the door when he paused, looking back at her one more time.
"You're safe here," he said quietly. "I promise."
Grace believed him.
She believed that Luke Bennett would keep her physically safe. Would stand between her and danger without hesitation. Would check every lock and drive her to work every single day if that's what it took.
