Regret Came Too Late

Grace ended the call abruptly. Only a fool like Alice would look at a guy like Yancey and think he was worth anything.

She turned to head back to Ethan's bedroom, but the lights were off. For a moment, she considered leaving and finding some other place to crash for the night, but then the breeze from the balcony swept in.

That was when she realized Ethan wasn't in bed. He was out there, standing in the dark. She didn't have to get close to smell the cigarette smoke.

"Mr. Henderson, isn't smoking bad for your recovery?"

Wasn't his injury still healing?

The faint glow from the yard made it hard to read his expression, but Grace could still see the intensity in his eyes-something raw and expectant, something that got to her. Maybe visiting Eleanor's grave had put him in a somber mood.

She stayed beside him, unsure of what to say.

one moment, gone the next, but leaving

caught the glow of the cigarette just

to burn yourself," she

his eyes still fixed on the

thinking, Grace grabbed his wrist and blew gently on the burn. "Is there a first aid kit around? Do you

her head up to meet Ethan's gaze. He swallowed hard and tried to pull away, but she didn't

Henderson, I don't know what's going through your head, but you can't keep neglecting your health like this. As for your insomnia, I'll get in touch with an alternative medicine practitioner and find something that might help. I hope that's

words left her mouth than he asked, "Do you treat

Ever since she had regained consciousness, Ethan's

though. He never asserted his rank over her as long as she kept things respectful. He had even cared for her