Noah would understand. He had read her feelings almost from the first moment they had met. He was smart and decent and also the sexiest man she knew.
But sexy and decent didn’t help when his job kept him tied up 24/7. Lately Grace woke up at night in a cold sweat, seeing dark images of explosive death and shattered limbs. Though few people could be told, Noah was a bomb disposal expert and he was the very best. Because of his experience and thoroughness he had cheated death again and again.
Given how important his job was, Noah couldn’t turn and walk away. No matter the risk.
And because Grace knew how much the job meant to him, she wouldn’t ask him to. While they were perfect together, perfect equals and amazing lovers, a distance had begun to creep between them.
Grace had a suspicion that one day she’d wake up and find the distance too great to cross, and she’d lose the only man she could ever love.
Her phone chimed, and Grace answered breathlessly.
“Hey, gorgeous. How are you holding up?”
“I’ve been better.”
“I’m really sorry. Any updates? Have you seen her medical reports yet?”
“A few. There are more to be done.” Grace watched more lightning play over the mountains beyond the hospital window. “It looks like heart problems.”
“She’s awfully young for that, isn’t she?”
“They found a malformed valve. They told Jilly it was just a matter of time.”
“So they caught it early. That’s something.” Noah took a deep breath. “Tell me how you are doing.”
“I’m … managing. But Jilly’s not exactly in her best mood right now. She lives to work but her doctor says all that has to change. And seriously, Noah, I don’t know if she can.”
“Everyone can change. All it takes is motivation and commitment.”
“You really believe that?” If so, where did that leave them? Nothing had changed Noah. His job was still a jealous lover, and any day he could walk out of his apartment and not come back.
“I do believe people can change. Grace, about my transfer … I’m working it out. In fact—”
Grace heard muffled voices and then the angry cry of a siren. “Noah, are you okay? Is anything wrong?”
“Everything’s fine, honey. I’m just finishing up some loose ends.”
“Truly? You … wouldn’t lie to me? Never lie,” Grace whispered fiercely. “I can handle anything but that.”
“No, all the heavy lifting is done. We’re just waiting for the folks from Homeland to arrive so we can sign off.” His voice was calm and reassuring. “I wish I had more time to talk.” There was no hint of nerves or impatience.
But Grace wasn’t reassured. “Be careful. And if you manage to change your schedule, I guarantee you some amazing Chinese dumplings and a cable car with a view of the bay.” Grace refused to give way to desperation. They needed to meet halfway as equals—or not at all. If he was locked to his job, what kind of future did they have anyway?
“Working on it, honey. Give me another week. Then let’s book that hotel on the hill with a view of the Golden Gate. I want to order room service and wake up every morning with your head on my pillow. I promise I’ll make it happen this time.”
This was the third time they’d tried, but Grace didn’t bring that up. Third time was the charm, right? “Clear the date and I’ll arrange everything, just as long as Jilly is doing okay,” she finished.
“She’s damned tough. Your only problem will be keeping her out of the kitchen long enough to get a diagnosis.”
Both of them knew it was no joke. Cooking was the one dream that had kept Jilly afloat during a troubled girlhood and a lonely adulthood.
“We’ll think of something. Maybe Caro, Olivia and I should stage a kitchen intervention,” Grace mused.
“Hey—that’s not a bad idea. Is Olivia finally back from Europe?”
“She got back two days ago.”
“Jilly’s luckier than she knows. Not many people have friends like you three. And I vote for the intervention,” he said gravely. “Life’s too short.” His voice turned hard. “I know how short, honey. So pin her down and make her do the right thing. Meanwhile, we’ll work this out with my job. Just give me a little more time—”
Sirens split the quiet air and Grace heard the swell of urgent voices. “Noah, what did you say?”
“Sorry, honey. Gotta go. The Homeland team just arrived.”
“Okay.” Grace’s heart twisted in her chest, but she kept her voice level. “Be safe.”
She heard shouts and more sirens. She bit down all her questions. “I love you, Noah,” she said hoarsely. “Remember that. Call me when you can.”
But it was too late. He had already gone.
Life was too short, Grace thought. She wasn’t going to let Jilly ruin hers. Suddenly an intervention made perfect sense.
CHAPTER FOUR
“YOU LIKE THIS IDEA of Grace’s? You don’t think it’s too drastic?” Caro took a breath and stared up at her friend. “Be honest, Olivia.”
“I’m always honest with you.” Olivia Sullivan paced the room, frowning. Like her two other friends, she was plotting a way to help Jilly redesign her hectic life.
When Grace had first called with a wild intervention plan, the idea had seemed very extreme. But clearly something had to be done.
Caro studied the border of the baby blanket she was knitting. In the crib nearby, her daughter slept, pink-cheeked and contented.
Could her world have been more blessed and filled with magic?
Sure. You could have your husband safe, home beside you, a voice answered coldly.
“Caro, are you listening to me?” Olivia Sullivan sat in a bar of morning sunlight, tan and very elegant in a linen dress and Italian silk scarf. Her hand-knit linen shrug matched her dress perfectly.
“Of course I am.” Caro managed a smile. Clearly this trip had been a good thing. It had been years since Olivia had looked this relaxed. Her months working and studying architecture in Europe had left her glowing. “You always look so elegant, Livie. I swear if you weren’t my oldest friend, I’d have to hate you.”
“Hardly.” Olivia ran a hand over Caro’s unfinished blanket. “You’re the radiant one. When you pick up the baby, you actually glow. Someday … well, I want to look like that, too.”
“You will.” Caro squeezed her friend’s shoulder. “But you should see me at 3:00 a.m. when I have spit-up on my robe. Not a pretty sight.”
“If anyone could carry it off, it’s you. And you and Gage are so great together. At the wedding it was almost as if you could read each other’s thoughts. I loved watching you two.” Olivia frowned. “I know it must be hard without him. I’ll babysit or shop or do laundry. You name it.”
“I may take you up on that. But now I want to hear about Europe. You went everywhere you planned? Florence. Paris. Tuscany, too?”
“I did. It was amazing.” Olivia gave a rueful smile. “Great food, but I gained ten pounds.”
“You could stand to gain ten more,” Caro said, feeling just a little envious. “So what’s in your bag? You keep looking at something.”
Olivia dug in her purse and set a plastic container on the