Page 35 of The Darkest Chase

“Oh, yes. I did. You remember?”

“Took me a minute, but yes.” He doesn’t dance around his dementia episodes.

After they pass, he’s open to talking about them and where he is mentally. The practicality of his generation makes him the kind of man who won’t shrink away from facing his reality.

“What was it about again?” he asks. “Help an old fart out.”

“Mm.” I stare down into my tea, watching the misty curls of smoke rising. “Xavier Arrendell has a job for us. A big one. He wants us to redecorate the entire manor. Top to bottom, every piece of furniture, all the interiors. Half the stuff he wants, I’m going to have to get like a whole new certification to know how to do. An army of subcontractors. Something.”

“Damn. But it’s something you can do, if you want to,” he points out, those blue eyes still holding mine. I seem to be surrounded by men who like to skewer me with heady looks, but Grandpa’s gaze is a familiar thing. Very different from the way Micah Ainsley makes me shiver just by staring. “The real question is, do you want the work, Tally-girl?”

“I don’t know,” I admit. “It’s a lot of money, even if we could use it.” He knows why. I don’t need to say it. “But it’s also a lot for us to take on alone, even with some hired help.” I bite my lip, watching him. “Do you want to do it?”

He laughs roughly.

“You know I’m no stranger to hard work, even if I might have my doubts about the client. Those folks up on the hill always did leave a sour taste in my mouth, but I suppose I wouldn’t have to deal with them, if you’re already talking to that Xavier boy. Which leaves this in your hands.” His gaze softens. “I’ll leave it up to you, Tally.” There’s a softness to the way he says that name that just chokes me up every time. “If you want to take it on, I’ll follow your lead. But if you don’t want to, there’s no shame in turning it down.”

But I don’t want to!

Instant knee-jerk thought.

I’m not just talking about the job, either.

There’s a stubborn, restless part of me that balks at playing it safe, at being careful like I have been for my entire life.

I may tell myself I’m different now—not that frightened little girl locked away behind closed doors anymore—but when do I ever get a chance to prove it?

I’ve also never been a big fan of people who tell me how brave I am just for trying to have a normal life. It feels patronizing. Like I’m this small pathetic thing who can’t hope for anything bigger and better.

Maybe sometimes I feel like that’s what I actually am, but I don’t want to be.

I won’t deny I’m afraid.

I’m afraid of Xavier Arrendell.

I’m afraid of what Micah’s asking me to do.

But I don’t want that, either.

So I offer Grandpa a smile as resolve hardens inside me.

“I need to think a little more,” I say. “But it could be interesting.”

I need to think, sure.

I also need to meet Micah tomorrow night.

Because if he really has something compelling up his sleeve, then he deserves a chance for me to hear him out.

And I deserve a chance to find out how brave I can be.

6

DARK DREAMS (MICAH)

She came.

I won’t lie, I didn’t expect her to.