Grace squeezed her eyes shut to keep the tears from falling. "I'm going to miss you too."
Barb was ten years older than Grace, but she was like a big sister who was a great listener and always full of words of encouragement.
Jeanette hugged her next. "Any time you need a break or just want a fix of city life, call us. Barb and I will paint the town with you."
"I might take you up on that." Grace wondered how long it would take her to go stir crazy in the small town.
Grace picked up the basket, spotting an assortment of her favorite brand of hot chocolate, a scented candle, and bath bombs, as well as her favorite sweets. "Thanks for all the goodies. Shirley may have approved this, but I know it was you two who put it together."
"We couldn't let you leave without letting you know how much you mean to us." Barb gave her another side hug.
"Thank you. You guys mean the world to me too." Tears flooded Grace's eyes again. "And on that note, I'm going to leave before I totally start blubbering."
"Take care."
"Love you."
Jeanette and Barb's voices followed Grace down the hall where she hurried into an open elevator just as the doors started to close.
"Whoops." The tall, dark-haired man inside held out a hand to hold the doors.
"Thanks." She stepped to the back of the small compartment.
"Main floor?" He looked over his shoulder before pressing the button.
Grace nodded, still trying to keep the stupid tears in her eyes from falling. She had a lot to look forward to in Providence, but man, she was going to miss this place.
The doors closed, and the noise of gears and cables engaging sounded above them as the elevator began its descent. Then the carriage jerked to a stop, and everything went dark.
The sudden jolt threw her off balance, thanks to the weight of the basket in her arms. Her free arm flew out, desperate to steady herself. Her hand met warm flesh, and she grabbed hold as panic squeezed her chest, sucking the air from her lungs.
CHAPTER 2
Resisting the urge to drop to the floor and cover his head, Damon widened his stance and gripped the bar beside him. There had been no deafening explosion or bright flash, but the jolt, sudden silence, and pitch blackness were almost as unsettling as being under fire.
The woman yelped and grabbed his arm in a death grip.
He sucked in a deep breath then slowly let it out, telling himself he wasn't in danger. Unless he counted the fingernails digging into his forearm. Those would leave marks.
The quiet hum of the backup power system surrounded them, then dim white lights turned on, casting an eerie glow over the elevator.
"Are you okay?" Damon looked at the pretty Latino woman beside him, searching for signs of distress. She looked like she was on the verge of tears when she got on the elevator. More trauma wouldn’t help.
She sucked in a deep breath, then slowly let it out before answering. "Yes, I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" He looked down at the death grip she still had on his arm.
"Oh, I'm so sorry." She released his arm and shrank back against the wall, still hugging her basket.
"No problem." He eyed the basket. Was she the giver or the receiver? Perhaps it was from her significant other for a birthday or anniversary? His gaze jumped to her hand.
She wasn't wearing a ring.
"I was just startled." The woman looked up, studying the dim lights above them.
"Me too." Damon noted the faint glow of the buttons on the control panel. "What do you suppose is going on?"
"I think it's a power outage."
