Free Seven Days Grace (A Grace Rose Novel Book 1) by Kellie Merriman Page B

a few months , working with Christian on a case where he couldn ’ t discuss the finer details. It sounded clandestine and curious though she chose not to probe further as she had enough to think about with The Voice .
    ‘ Christian , showing Jake the sights no doubt ,’ Grace said with a sideways glance to Christian who now had his arm around the shoulders of her friend.
    ‘ I ’ m actually from Melbourne so I don ’ t know Sydney much at all. ’
    ‘ Y ou ’ re both newcomers to Sydney , how exciting. We can show you around , can ’ t we Grace? ’ Kate offered.
    ‘ We wouldn ’ t want to impose but we will if you insist ,’ Christian said.
    ‘ Perhaps , it ’ s all a matter of time though , with work and all ,’ Grace said.
    Jake had a quick conversation with Kate and Christian about all the sights they should visit while he was stationed in Sydney. As they chatted at the table , Grace mentally removed herself from the situation and their voices drifted into the background noise of the bar. She became lost in her thoughts. Jacob Williams. She rolled his name around in her head again and again. She cast her mind back to New York and how they had a connection she hadn ’ t felt with anyone since she left the Big Apple. Is that why her love life had been a disaster? Had she been hanging on to the hope of meeting another Jacob? Her dating life in the States had been a series of jocks , not unlike last night ’ s episode , where they fell in love with her accent and desired a trophy on their arm. And that was the extent of it.
    He had often reprimanded her when she ’ d called him Jacob. She loved his name. She found it to be strong and masculine like his character. He often tried to line her up with some of his buddies , as he called them , though it usually didn ’ t go well. He appeared devoted to his fiancé. Of course , she was magnificent. Hispanic background with wavy , dark hair falling below her shoulders , dark brown eyes like saucers you could lose yourself in and a waif-like figure to die for. She wondered why it hadn ’ t worked out. And here he was in Sydney. Could she go there? He was here for a mere few months and how would she ever recover from such a heart break. She imagined it already. It would be as if someone had taken her heart out of her chest , thrown it on the ground , stomped on it a few hundred times then put it back in expecting it to function as it had before. I simply would not be the same , ever.
    Memories of her times with him in America came flooding back. As she scribed her police round reports onto her notepad they would sit and have lunch at his desk. He would listen to her latest love life saga , what there was of it , and offer the gentlest advice. On another occasion he made her chocolate chip biscuits , or cookies , as he liked to call them. And then there was the time he gave her flowers on her birthday because she was homesick. His kindness touched her.
    ‘ Grace? What do you think? ’ Kate asked.
    ‘ What? ’ She was drawn back to the present.
    ‘ We ’ re taking the boys out to the Blue Mountains on Saturday. Sound like a plan? ’
    ‘ Uh , possibly. ’ Grace knew a full schedule lay ahead for the week. Besides , it might be best to say , ‘ Great to see you again , enjoy working in Sydney. ’’
    ‘ What ’ s the name of the company you work for called? ’ Grace asked Jake.
    ‘ Sydney Investigators. Jake Williams at your service ,’ he bowed.
    Grace giggled which was a rare occurrence for her on a date. She found him sincere and he had an endearing quality. Unlike most other men , he hadn ’ t told her she had a stunning mane within the first five minutes of meeting her or sparkling eyes or smooth skin and this or that or something else. She was certain they all had a hidden agenda and no doubt they said this to all women. In fact , Jake hadn ’ t complimented her even when they knew each other in New York. And they were past friends , therefore ,