Five Days Grace by TERESA HILL Page B

depended, despite feeling smothered by them at times lately. If they simply heard her voice this morning, they would start to believe, too, that she was going to be okay, she thought, and wouldn't that be a treat?
    Picking up her phone, she found three missed calls and three corresponding messages. Mom, Dad, Emma. Checking in. Hope the drive wasn't too bad in the storm. Hope it's not too awful at Ellen's. Call if you need us. Love you.
    She clicked a few buttons to dial her parents' home. Her father answered.
    "Hi Daddy," she said, because she still called him that sometimes, when she was thinking about how much she adored him.
    "Grace." He sounded surprised, pleasantly so. "You're up early, baby girl."
    "I am." She grinned.
    "Bad night? Get any sleep?"
    "Actually, I did. I slept really well. I just went to bed insanely early, so I got up early, too."
    He was quiet for a moment. "You sound different, Grace, almost happy."
    "It's a beautiful morning here, one of the prettiest I've seen in a long time. Or maybe I just haven't noticed in a while."
    Again, he got quiet, finally asked, "What's going on, Grace?"
    "I just wanted to say good morning, and that I love you."
    "I love you, too, baby girl."
    She would have said more, but right then, the screen door opened and Tink came bounding inside. His tail wagging furiously, he planted big, wet, muddy paws on the front edge of the makeshift sofa and rose up until he was practically nose-to-nose with her, maybe trying to lick her face.
    Grace laughed at the overenthusiastic greeting and knew she had to get off the phone quickly, because she was supposed to be at her in-laws and they didn't have a dog. "Tell Mom I'll call her later, okay? Bye, Dad."
    * * *
    Okay... Dad.
    Aidan thought his heart stopped for a second when he heard her say I love you , in that adoring tone of voice.
    But I love you, Dad ?
    That he could handle.
    He literally couldn't wait to see her this morning, awake and on a brand new day. It had been all he could do to stay away long enough to do two laps around the lake and check briefly on Maeve's cabin.
    Finally, he was back, and there she was, curled up in a blanket, sitting on the sofa on the porch on a perfect fall morning, sunlight leaving her practically glowing. She had a pretty smile on her face, some color in her cheeks and all that glorious, golden hair.
    Christ, she was beautiful.
    Just insanely beautiful in a way that had him fumbling for even the most mundane of things to say, like... Hi or Good morning . Words simply would not come out of his mouth.
    The cabin wasn't well lit, was even worse on a gloomy day or at night, and now, seeing her in the full light of day...
    Men probably made fools of themselves all the time over her.
    Fortunately for him, he had a moment to try to pull himself together while she fussed over the dog, petting his giant head, lighting up even more at the sight of him. Aidan was jealous of the damned dog. He wanted her face to light up at the sight of him. He wanted to have the right to rush to her, get that close and be greeted with a look of pure joy.
    "Hi," she said finally, a bit shyly, glancing at him.
    "Hi," he managed.
    Then he remembered his wayward hand on her breast. He still had to apologize, and it wasn't something he could do while staring at her and remembering how insanely soft and perfect her breast had felt in his hand. The sincerity level would plummet, especially if he looked like he was not just thinking about it, but had enjoyed the hell out of it, while he apologized.
    "Grace, about this morning..." He wasn't even certain she'd remember. She'd been sleepy, too. But if she did remember..."I was completely out of line. I'm sorry."
    She looked puzzled. "Was there something I missed?"
    "The hand?" He held it out, kind of in the shape it would have if it were still curled around her breast. The moment he realized it, his hand dropped like a stone.
    "Oh, that." A bit more color bloomed in her pretty cheeks. "I