Five Days Grace by TERESA HILL Page A

straight by then, which was, no doubt, the captain's real question.
    "That sounds fine, Sir."
    "Good. You really do sound better, Aidan. Had me worried for a while."
    He took a breath, knowing if he got his career back, he'd have this man to thank for it. "This place is both quiet and private. I'm very glad to be here, Sir."
    "Good. Relax. I wouldn't worry at all about anyone finding you there."
    "Thank you, sir. Very much."
    Okay, it was exactly what he'd thought. A chance to get away, think, recover, figure out what he was going to do from here, what he wanted.
    And he'd met Grace.
    Life looked so much better since then.
    He hoped by the time he and the dog got back to the cabin, she would still be curled up asleep in their makeshift bed.

 
     
     
    Chapter 6

     
    Grace came awake slowly, her whole body deliciously warm and comfortable. It took her a moment to figure out where she was and what she'd done—spent the night in the arms of a kind-hearted stranger.
    For a minute, she couldn't actually believe she had. She hadn't just ended up here stranded by the storm, but literally slept in his arms.
    She was embarrassed to have confessed to that simple need to have someone hold her while she slept, but she couldn't bring herself to regret it. It had felt too good, and it seemed a good night's sleep could transform the whole world into a better place.
    Wrapped up in her blankets beside the roaring fire, she stretched slowly in the recliner, not wanting to leave her little nest. She couldn't help but wish he were still with her, even if things might have been awkward between them in the light of day. More importantly, for the first time in a long, long time, she felt eager for whatever possibilities the day would bring.
    And wasn't that a ridiculous thing to feel? Foolishly flattered by the attentions of a kind, compelling man? Stupidly infatuated with him after knowing him less than a day. Her? A woman who'd spent the last seven and a half months trying to figure out how she could have been so wrong about the man she'd married? After all, a woman had to hope she'd at least learn from her mistakes.
    So, what was she doing feeling so happy this morning?
    She made herself climb out of the recliner, then found his note. She hoped he hadn't taken the dog too far, considering the man had an open incision in his side, although he wouldn't appreciate her pointing that out to him.
    After putting away all the bedding, plus the mattress she hadn't used, she went into the bathroom, where she borrowed some of Aidan's toothpaste and finger-brushed her teeth, tried to tame her hair, splashed water on her face. She wasn't going to shower until she had clothes of her own to put on.
    First, she wanted coffee, which she ended up taking out onto the screened porch along with one of the blankets she'd just folded, because it was sunny but cool that pretty September morning. She sat down on a homemade thing she suspected doubled as a sofa by day and a bed by night, with another one of those thick, foam mattresses. Wrapped up in her blanket, she sipped her coffee, planning to give herself a stern lecture on being careful and remembering all she'd learned recently about love and men and promises.
    But the beauty of the morning distracted her. The sun was coming up over the far side of the lake, lighting a shimmering trail across the water. Raindrops, or maybe dew drops, glistened off the trees. Fall color was near its full glory, crimson reds, fiery oranges and dark, bold yellows. Birds sounded like they were throwing a raucous party somewhere, and the air was so fresh and clean and cool, it felt like a treat just to be alive and breathing this morning. For the first time since Luc died, she believed she was going to survive this. Not just survive, but that she would go on living, and one day be happy again.
    She teared up a bit, with happy tears, then thought of her family, whom she loved dearly. They were the rock-solid foundation upon which she