Five Days Grace by TERESA HILL

that up, he was going to wake up Grace. No way Aidan was going to allow that, even if it meant he had to leave her to take care of the dog.
    "I absolutely hate you right now," Aidan told the animal.
    Tink just whined some more, like he was the most pathetic creature on earth.
    Moving as carefully as he could, Aidan managed to get out from under Grace without waking her and tucked the blankets back around her. Then he kissed her softly on the cheek, couldn't help himself. She smiled sweetly and purred like a satisfied cat as she sank down into her spot without him.
    Aidan used the bathroom quickly, built up the fire and pulled on his shoes. Glancing out the sliding glass doors, through the screened porch, he saw what looked like the beginnings of a clear sky with no hint of rain, so he grabbed nothing but a light jacket.
    Not wanting to leave Grace without a note, he quickly scribbled. Took the dog for a walk. Back soon. Aidan. He wanted to add, Don't you dare leave before I get back, or maybe, Please, please, please don't leave before I get back , but resisted, barely.
    She wouldn't just take off, would she? Not after the day and night they'd had. Unless she was embarrassed about all that she'd told him, things she'd said she hadn't told anyone else. And maybe embarrassed about sleeping in his arms all night.
    He and the dog got outside, and he glanced toward the road, about fifty yards up through the thick woods. He saw a small, unfamiliar blue hatchback.
    "We could pull a few spark plugs, just to make sure," Aidan told the dog. "Because I know you don't want her to leave anymore than I do."
    Tink whined and took a few steps toward the road, probably wanting to go find his owner.
    "All right. We'll go," Aidan said, thinking the movement might appease Tink and knowing he needed to walk today, to keep his sore muscles from stiffening up any more than they already had, thanks to the exertions of the day before.
    He got to that spot on the road where he could usually count on getting a cell signal, pulled out a pay-as-you-go phone, which could in no way be connected to him, and dialed his commanding officer, who was almost always in the office at that hour.
    "Sir, Lieutenant Commander Shaw. Good morning."
    "Yes, it is," the captain answered, "How are you?"
    "Better, Sir."
    "Glad to hear it. What can I do for you?"
    "I was wondering if you have any additional information about the source of the threats made against me."
    "We're working on it, Commander. It might be a while, so I'd feel better if you stayed lost, since we know the threats came from within a few miles of the base."
    "Yes, sir."
    Aidan and his CO had worked together for years. Aidan knew when to ask questions and when not to, and his CO knew how to make things happen that might not be strictly according to Navy rules and regs, but needed to be done. So Aidan hadn't asked a lot of questions when a trio of threats against him had surfaced and his CO had notified Aidan and his doctor that it would be better if Aidan weren't around for a while, even if it meant leaving the rehab facility early. Aidan suspected his CO had pretty much fabricated the threat to get Aidan out of the hospital before he got any crazier than he already was, and maybe save Aidan's career.
    But Grace was here now, and Aidan wouldn't take a chance with her safety.
    "The thing is, Sir, there was an incident here yesterday. I thought someone was breaking in, and I pulled a weapon on her before I figured out... Well, it wasn't a break-in. I just need to know if I should be worried about anyone tracking me down here."
    "I can't see that happening, Commander. I'm fairly certain we know the source of the threat, and he's right here, near the base and under surveillance. We just don't have the evidence yet to pick him up, but we will. Although there's a lot going on right now, so it could be a while before we wrap this up. A month? Maybe six weeks? How does that sound?"
    Like Aidan might have his head on