The pothole littered street was going to break down Grace's little car one of these days. It was bouncing her around more than a shoe in a dryer. Reid looked unbothered but she'd seen him reaching for the passenger side handle above the door when he thought she wasn't looking. "We're nearly there," she assured him.

They'd been in the car for close to an hour by the time they reached the parking area for the hiking trails. In the middle of summer, the area was fairly deserted. Only two other cars were parked on opposite sides of the small lot. Grace slid her car into the spot closest to the entrance with hopes for an easy getaway.

They'd need a low stress exit after the hike with all of their video equipment. No doubt she'd be carrying it both there and back since Reid would be worn out from dancing. She didn't mind, not if it was going to help get his name out there.

As it turned out, walking while someone drives slowly alongside you scream-singing along to the radio is an excellent way to wear down a person's resolve.

Reid had indeed rented a car and a nice one at that. They had the windows rolled down to let in the floral scented breeze and the radio dialed down to a volume they could easily speak over. They hadn't said a word since Grace had reluctantly climbed in. All of Reid's shouting and cajoling had stopped after reminding her to wear a seatbelt.

When she risked a glance at him, his eyes were locked on the road ahead and his grip on the steering wheel looked strong enough to snap it. A knot of worry formed in her stomach the further they drove. They'd been together long enough for her to know what his nervous ticks were. This was something else.

Maybe in the time they'd been apart he'd joined a cult. Right now he could be driving her to their secret headquarters where she'd be inducted into the secret society. Or maybe he owed someone money and she was his ticket to freedom. She had no way of knowing where they were except for the map displayed between them. That wasn't much help when she didn't have a wider reference of where they were.

Grace chided herself on how ridiculous she sounded. This wasn't some thriller movie where she'd be forced to fight for survival. The knot in her stomach loosened only to tighten again. Wasn't that exactly what people thought just before the murderer stepped out of the shadows? She glanced at the road as they sped over it, gauging the distance to the tree line. Jump, duck, roll, and run. It would be that easy.

The car swerved a little and Grace shrieked. "Don't kill me!" Dead silence followed. The radio switched to some corny love song and she reached out to turn it up. Anything would be preferable to the awkward stillness going on.

"Why would I kill you when there are dozens of security cameras showing us leaving the hotel together?" Reid asked.

"If you're trying to be reassuring, you're doing a horrible job," Grace said. One hand slid from her lap to grip the door handle.

"Grace, stop, you're being ridiculous," Reid told her. He reached out to turn the music back down and turned onto another road headed towards more populated streets.

The car slowed the closer they got to the little flag that marked their destination on the map. It felt less touristy there, though no place was ever fully free of wandering visitors. More of the shops were the typical ones you'd find in a city. Grocery, convenience, and drug stores dotted the blocks with only a few gift shops to separate them. The restaurants were less flashy as well, geared more towards consistent business year round rather than single memorable experiences.

These were the locations Grace had considered first since steady year round revenue was the most desirable. Her first store had already suffered from relying too much on trends rather than sustainability. If things had gone differently she'd have been looking at a never ending desk job while she paid off the debt of a failed business. A dark job, or a life playing second fiddle to Reid's wants and desires.

Grace glanced at the lean man in the driver's seat and laced her fingers together in her lap. Just being near him brought back those feelings of needing to support him. She'd laid herself out like an intricately embroidered rug for him to wipe his pointe shoes on before pirouetting off to a new adventure. The car stopped before she could drown herself in pity.

"Thanks for the ride, enjoy your day," Grace mumbled as she slid from the car. The warm breeze slapped her in the face. It woke her up enough to remember where she was meant to be going. The property for sale was just around the corner on the far side of a parking lot. Plenty of teens and families crisscrossed her path. It was absolutely the perfect market she had been hoping for.

A hand settled along her mid back to steer her out of the way of a skateboarder headed straight for her. "Careful there, these kids will bulldoze anyone in their way," said her new guardian angel. His short brown hair was gelled up along the center of his head in a mohawk. The tips of his hair had been bleached to give the hairdo a sunburst effect of sorts.

"Thanks, I'd really like to live past today with all my limbs still attached," Grace joked. A wave of heat flashed through her. For some reason she fell into the more morbid jokes when confronted with uncomfortable situations. Friends found it charming, handsome men not so much.

The man spun her to face him and looked her over head to toe. "Looks like everything is attached still, beautiful," he said. The wind caught his open button down and it moved like a sail on the ocean. "You're not from here."

"Clearly," Grace confirmed. At that moment she was wishing she had never heard of the place. The earth was choosing not to oblige in her desire to be swallowed whole. "I should go. Thanks again for the life and all that." She quickly waved and darted past towards the glass front store with the large for rent sign on it.

This location lacked the easy beach access, not that it was hard to get to the sand and surf there. What it lacked in drastic scenic views it made up for with constant foot traffic. Grace pressed her forehead to the glass with her hands cupped around either side of her face. Light from outside easily lit up most of the storefront but she was most interested in what was behind the spacious counters.

Online, the layout pointed to a simple floor plan with one bathroom and a back office as well as a detached storage building. It was very similar to her original property and it gave her a sense of security. She could run this place as easily as the first, she was sure of that.

A warm body pressed lightly against her side as her savior joined her in looking inside. He mimicked her hand positions on the glass. "When do we break in?" The glass squeaked against his palms as he pushed against it and swiveled his body to face her.

"I'm not planning a break in," Grace corrected while trying not to laugh. "I'm thinking about buying it. "Try to picture it." She stepped back and turned him back to face the interior. His skin was warm under her hands where his sleeves had ridden up. The edge of a tattoo curled around his right bicep. "Turquoise tables and blue green chairs, drinks with little umbrellas in fruit shaped cups. A row of top of the line blenders and the freshest fruits you can find."

"This is a weird place to open a bar, but I'm down," he said after some thought.

Grace shook her head and released her hold on him. "Wrong kind of drink. I'm here for the non-alcoholic smoothies."

"There's a tradition here, you know. When someone saves you from a skateboard you have to give them free goods in exchange for services," he told her.

Someone cleared their throat loudly behind them and they found Reid standing there with his arms crossed over his chest. "That is the most made up bull I've ever heard."