take control, but she fought it back. It was getting easier every day. She was finally starting to move on.
If she could just let the memories go.
She rubbed her neck and glanced at Noah. His hand was still on her waist, offering silent support. âSo there it is, the whole sad cliché.â
âYouâre no cliché. And youâll get through this.â
âIâm working on it, believe me.â She stood taller, feeling the cold wind bite against her wet cheeks. Some days she even thought she was over it. There had been too many tears, Grace thought. No more of them.
âYouâre a very good listener, by the way.â
âI try.â
âAnd you certainly succeed. I havenât told that to anyone.â She chewed on her lip and dug for a tissue in her pocket. âSo now itâs your turn. Tell me what really happened to your face.â
âI told you. Iââ
âYeah, right. Like I believe that. Youâre the steadiest, most coordinated man Iâve ever met.â Grace eyed him without blinking. âYou said you work for the government.â
After a moment Noah nodded.
âAnd?â
âAnd nothing.â
âBecause you canât talk about it?â
Noah released her waist and studied the street. âThatâs right.â
Grace blew out a little breath. More secrets. Sheâd had enough of them, thanks to James. But these secrets were different. They were meant to protect, not harm. That was important.
âSoâ¦did someone attack you? Was it dangerous?â
Noah said nothing.
âDid you have to kill someone?â she asked quietly.
His eyes cut to hers. She thought she saw wariness. âWhat if I did? Would you walk away?â
She heard his anger, but something told her he was baiting her. âMaybe I should. I donât have a high threshold for secrets these days, Noah.â
After a long time some of his tension faded. âUnderstandable.â He rubbed his wrist, frowning.
Something made Grace reach over and push up his cuff. Before he could react, she saw a band of bluish bruises and a long cut along the top of his hand. âYou fell,â she said quietly. âIt must have hurt.â
Noah stepped back and smoothed his cuff down. âNot so bad.â He rolled one shoulder slowly. âAs these things go.â
She had a thousand questions, a thousand frightening images of Noah lying bloody on a street, surrounded by ambulances. âSo do youâ¦fallâ¦often? At this job you canât discuss for an agency you canât mention?â
âDoes it matter?â His eyes were focused on her now, his body still and very controlled.
âYes. It shouldnât. Iâdonât want it to matter. I donât have any room in my life for a new set of secrets, Noah. But suddenly youâre here and you make me feel soâ¦safe. As if things are fresh and I can actually think about starting over.â She leaned closer and brushed snow off his collar. Her hand rose, opening over his jaw. âThat scares the hell out of me,â she said hoarsely.
His covered her hand with his. âMake that two of us.â
âYou? I canât see you being afraid of anything. Youâre always so calm, so focused. Nothing gets past you.â
âYou believe that? Only a fool or a dead man feels no fear. A healthy dose of worry can save your life in a bad place.â
âAnd you know about bad places? Because your life has been in danger?â
âI didnât say that.â
âYou didnât have to.â Grace swallowed. âNoah, exactly what kind of workââ
âI canât tell you, Grace. I canât tell you or my family or my friends. Thatâs the bottom line. And if that bothers you too muchââ
âIt does.â She looked up at him. âBut I can live with it.â
Noahâs eyebrow rose. âDonât look now, but we