Page 124 of Moonlit Colorado

“I have a new keycard for you.”

“And one for Ms. O’Neal?” I asked. “She’ll be staying. I want Grace to have full access to the hotel.”

“Oh, yes. Of course.”

While Tobin went to make another keycard for suite 701, I turned to Grace. “I know we haven’t talked about living arrangements,” I whispered. “I understand if you need your own space. But you’re welcome here anytime you want.” I bumped my nose against hers. “I love having you with me.” In fact, it was so much worse than that. I craved having her near. Couldn’t imagine going without her, now that I’d experienced living with her.

Grace’s smile was sweet. “I love being with you too. I have a lot to catch up on now that we’re back in Silver Ridge, but…I’m sure I’ll be spending a lot of time here at the hotel.”

Her answer made me happy, even though I wanted Grace here all the time. I was selfish like that. Always wanting more.

She’d blown me away today. How well she’d been handling everything the world kept throwing at us. Dealing with Norm Haber, finding that data storage card. Not to mention shaking off the shock of discovering Nina’s gruesome death. Grace was incredible, an asset.

I’d told her once that we’d make a great team in business. Grace had a brilliant future ahead of her, and I would be lucky to be a part of it.

As soon as we get through this disaster my brother somehow pulled Knightly Global into, I thought with a sigh.

Tobin handed over the keycards we needed. Grace and I took the elevator to the top floor. We’d packed light when we left New York to make things easy, just a duffel for each of us, which I carried. Margot was going to supervise packing up Grace’s new wardrobe and everything else I needed for my move to Silver Ridge.

Upstairs, the lights in the entryway of my suite were on. A welcome basket waited on the table just inside. Grace stared at it.

“Do you think you’ll keep living here at the hotel long-term?” she asked.

I set the bags down and pulled Grace to me, kissing the top of her head. “You don’t like it?”

“It’s beautiful, and I know it’s convenient for you. But it’s kind of impersonal. Doesn’t really feel like a home. And it’s still strange to me that the hotel staff comes and goes even when you’re not around.”

“I was thinking about buying a house, actually.”

She looked up at me. “Really?”

“Yeah. I said I want to make Silver Ridge my home. I feel the same way you do about the hotel. It’s fine for now, but I’d like something that feels more…permanent.”

A place that Grace would want to live.Permanently. With me. A home we could share. But I didn’t want to push her on that. I’d only told her yesterday that I loved her, and today had been beyond stressful.

I wanted it all with Grace. She’d said she loved being with me. Not quite anI love you, but not too bad either. We would get there.

“Are you hungry?” I asked. “I’m sure they stocked the fridge.”

“No. Just want to get ready for bed.”

“Okay.” I pressed another kiss to her temple. “How about you shower and get changed. I’m going to the office to send some quick messages, and I’ll join you in a few minutes.”

“’K.”

I stopped in the kitchen for a glass of water and a protein bar. Warren needed an update, and I wanted to see if he’d learned anything new on his end. But I was bracing myself for the other message I had to write. Figured I owed my father a warning about what might happen tomorrow. I wasn’t keeping any of this a secret.

Tomorrow, after Grace and I took a closer look at Nina’s files, we would send copies to Sheriff Douglas, Chief Landry, and the NYPD detective assigned to Grace’s assault case. And then, to Norm Haber.

My father always harped about loyalty. He’d claimed I didn’t respect our family. Well, if Dad felt that way, so be it. A warning about the impending scandal was all the loyalty I could muster.

But my steps faltered as I neared the door to the office. It was mostly closed, but light showed in the crack beneath and along the side. Could the staff have forgotten to turn it off earlier when they were cleaning? I’d left a laptop here while I was gone, but it was password-protected. There wasn’t much else of value.

I reached out to push the door open. Then I blinked, caught off guard by what was waiting inside.

Ainsley Harcourt sat behind the desk.Mydesk.

“Ainsley? What thehellare you doing here?”

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