“I’d like to tell you about him. I’m just not ready yet. But soon, I promise. I made a lot of mistakes, but I’m trying to do better this time around. Shiloh Springs is my second chance. I have a new life, a new name. New friends. I’m not going to let Jeremy ruin everything. Can you give me a little time?”
“You can tell me whenever you’re ready, and I promise to listen with an open mind. Everybody deserves a new start, a second chance. Heaven knows I did.”
“We’re quite a pair, aren’t we?”
“Kindred spirits. Somehow, I feel like I have known you my whole life. I’m comfortable around you, and I’m rarely at ease around people unless I’ve known them for years.” Leaning closer, he brushed his cheek against hers and whispered, “Gracie, I’d like to kiss you, if that’s okay?”
Color flooded her cheeks and she nodded. “Yes, please.”
Taking her face between his hands, he brushed the lightest kiss against her lips, finding them softer than he’d imagined. Butterfly light, he pressed his lips against hers, felt her tentative response that grew with each touch of his mouth. Pulling back, he stared into her deep brown eyes, and saw the same yearning he felt.
He started to lean in for another kiss before he heard his name called from a distance. Groaning, he spotted Rafe and Chance headed toward them. “Looks like my reprieve is over.” Taking her hands in his, he raised first one and then the other to his lips, brushing soft kisses across the backs. “Thank you for coming and checking on me. I’m glad we finally got to spend a few minutes of quiet together, but I have to talk to them, give them my statement. You have a ride home?”
She nodded. “Nica’s going to take me back to town. Take care of yourself, and don’t push too hard. We need you in one piece.”
“I’ll do my best.” He stood and helped her to her feet. “I’m going to make good on that raincheck. Soon.”
“I’ll hold you to it.” She smiled at Rafe and Chance. “I’ll head back inside and see if Nica’s ready to go.”
Nick watched until she was out of sight before turning to Rafe. “You’re here for my statement?”
“Yes. You okay if I record everything?”
“Go ahead.”
Going over everything he remembered, Nick told them all he could, though his mind wasn’t on the slashed tires or the car explosion. No, it was on the quirky and enigmatic woman who was coming dangerously close to stealing his heart, and he honestly wasn’t sure he wasn’t ready to give it to her.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“You sitting down?”
Grant Calvin’s voice sounded more somber than Nick had heard in a long time. His first thought was for Grant’s wife.
“Is Gemma okay?”
“What? Of course she’s alright. No, this is about Simon Norville.”
Nick rolled his neck, felt the muscles bunch up at the mention of the man’s name. “What about him?”
“He’s in critical condition. They’ve moved him to the intensive care unit at RMH.”
Royal Melbourne Hospital was one of the two largest trauma hospitals around Melbourne, and Nick was familiar with it, having been a patient at their facilities more than once.
“What happened? I thought he was on lockdown.”
“He is or was. He’s allowed one hour a day outside. Guess the guards got lax, since he’s in a wheelchair, and weren’t paying close attention. A fight broke out. Norville got thrown from his chair and stomped pretty bad. Lost consciousness, and it’s serious enough the prison doctors weren’t sure if there was any kind of traumatic brain injury, so he’s been transferred.”
“He still unconscious?”
“At latest report, yes. They’re supposed to call the minute he wakes up.”
Nick pinched the bridge of his nose, wondering when they’d catch a break. With Norville now out of commission, and the hit man still on the loose, this cat and mouse game was driving him crazy. The shooter had struck twice. First when he shot Antonio, and the second time when they bombed his car. No, wait, three times if he counted the slashed tires.
“Where do we stand on finding out about the nieces and nephew? Were you able to track their movements?”
“Jesse Norville, the nephew, was the easiest. He’s only been out of the country once in the last six months. Had a business seminar in London for his company. We were able to confirm that he checked into the hotel, charged meals at a couple of restaurants. Waiting for confirmation from the event coordinators that he actually attended, but he’s not popping as being your shooter.”
“Alright. What about the two nieces?” There was silence for a moment before Grant coughed, the sound raspy and deep. It had a choking quality to it, enough that it worried Nick. “You alright? That doesn’t sound good.”
