A Home by the Sea by Christina Skye Page B

could get back there more often.” She ran a hand through her hair. “Lately, all I seem to do is travel. Still, I can’t complain. I have my dream job and I savor every second of it.”
    Alex gave her a searching look. “But you miss your friends back in Oregon. And you worry about your grandfather.”
    â€œHe’s always been healthy as an ox, but he’s get ting on in years. Yes, I worry about him. He works way too hard.” Grace watched the slow, snarled traffic crawl. “But he won’t stop.”
    â€œMen are like that. My suggestion—if you’ll pardon an interfering man—is to tell him you worry about him. That might just slow him down. He’ll care about how you feel, Grace.”
    â€œMaybe. But I know how much he loves those animals of his.” She smiled at Alex. “Probably as much as you love your cars. I imagine you work twelve-hour days.”
    â€œI suppose I’m just as guilty. I’m trying to give more work to Reed. Since losing Matt, I want to be home with Tatiana. She worries about all of us.” He hesitated. “About Noah, especially.”
    Grace watched Alex’s hands tighten on the wheel. “Is it…very dangerous, this work of his?”She knew she shouldn’t ask, but somehow the words slipped out.
    â€œDangerous? I guess that depends on who you ask.”
    â€œI’m asking you, Mr. McLeod.”
    â€œAlex,” he corrected. “I’ll tell you what I know. Mind you, it isn’t a whole lot.” His eyes narrowed. “His work is hard and the hours are long. He has a great deal of responsibility.” He took a slow breath. “And yes…it can be dangerous. But most of the time it’s routine and it’s tedious, nothing more than that. So we are going to pray hard that tonight is one of the routine nights.” He forced a smile. “Since I can’t say more than that, why don’t we talk about you? I have an ulterior motive, you see.” He rubbed his neck. “My wife is feeling restless lately. I admit, I goaded her to ask for the recipe for that whole-grain bread you mentioned, but she was too proud to ask.”
    â€œOf course I can show her. We could make some this weekend, if you like.”
    â€œActually, I had a better idea.” Alex gave a guilty smile. “I hoped you might start tonight. My wife should have everything you need at the house.”
    â€œYou are tricky, aren’t you? You planned for me to come. But that’s fine. It will keep our thoughts off…other things.”
    Like Noah.
    They would all be thinking about Noah—and whether he was safe.
    â€œJust turn here, could you? I’ll run in and get some things from my apartment first.”
    While Alex turned around, Grace ran inside for her notes on the newest bread recipe she was testing. When she came out, a man stepped out from between two cars, blocking her way. He lifted a big camera and moved in on her face, the camera whirring loudly.
    â€œWh—what are you doing?” Grace blinked, frozen in the glare of his powerful flash. “Who are you?” She heard Alex call her name. The door of the Hummer opened.
    The man with the camera moved back to include Alex in the photo as he emerged from the car. “I’m nobody.”
    â€œBack off,” Alex growled.
    The man sidestepped as Alex moved protectively in front of Grace. “Free country, pal.” But he wasn’t prepared for the powerful hand that gripped his shoulder or the quick way Alex covered the lens of the camera with his palm.
    â€œ Hey —you can’t do that.”
    â€œDo what?” Alex said calmly. “I tripped on some ice. You just happened to be in the way.”
    â€œLike hell, you b—”
    The camera went flying as Alex spun the man around and pushed him against a parked truck. “The lady asked you a question. Who are you?”
    Muttering, the