Page 58 of Please, Stay

“I’ll meet you at Becky’s at eight tomorrow morning.” She leaned into him for one last, long kiss before walking the back way to theDispatch. Back to her reality.

18

“Idon’t understand how you plan on taking over theDispatchwhen you keep running off with Becky during the middle of the workweek. You have to treat this like a job with someone other than yourself as the boss, or else you’ll never succeed.” Juliana’s dad sat on the couch, tying the shoelaces on his horrible white sneakers.

Juliana clutched her purse strap, waiting by the back door of their house. Three minutes late leaving.

“I tell you what. I love Rebecca, but she isn’t the best influence on you when it comes to a work ethic.”

“Daddy, Becky is fine. She practically runs that diner for Ms. Iris most of the timeandbakes all the cakes they sell. I promised her a long time ago that I’d go shopping with her today. A department store we both love is having a big sale.” Partly true. “She didn’t want to miss it.”

“You should buy something, too.” Her dad stood slowly as he did first thing in the morning, stretching his back, a variety of joints cracking in response. “I always thought you looked nice in green.” He stared at her without focus. “Just like your mother.”

“Daddy…” She walked over and gave him a hug. What had brought on such a rare reference to her mom? Maybe the few interactions he’d had with Carrie yesterday had started to thaw his heart.

He patted her back. “You girls be safe. Try to think of another story to add to the paper. Something festive. Another part of owning a paper is judging what the town wants to read. With so much turmoil and hatred swirling around the country right now, I think our little town wants to read happy stories, Jules.”

“I will. I’ll get it in before we go to print.” She practically ran to her car once she stepped out of the front door. A few minutes later, she pulled in Becky’s driveway and parked next to Grayson. He sat on his motorcycle, again reminding her of some hot, motorcycle gang member. A bright pink helmet lay on the back.

She climbed out of her car and smiled. “I’m sure people flatter you all the time, but I’m going to tell you the truth.” She pointed at the helmet as he tugged on the belt loops of her jeans until their bodies met. “You will not look good in that color.”

“Good thing I know a gorgeous woman who will.” He cupped the back of her head, pulling her down into a kiss. She could get used to this. An incredible man kissing her each morning, buying her thoughtful gifts like head protection. “Get on. We’ll see if we can catch up to Becky and Cameron. They took Cameron’s truck, although he didn’t look very happy to be stuck in the truck with Becky.”

“I once saw a coyote and bobcat fight onNational Geographic. That’s what they remind me of. Two different species. Both loners. Both can be very territorial and dangerous if you make them mad.”

“Who’d win?”

“Becky.” Juliana shrugged and grabbed the helmet. After fumbling with the clasp, Grayson brushed her hands away and clipped it under her chin. “Cameron won’t actually draw blood against us. He’ll make us squirm until we know he’s won, but he won’t pull the trigger, so to speak. He loves us too much. Becky enjoys the taste of victory, blood and all.” She rested her hands on his shoulders, loving the fact she could touch him. “What did you do last night?”

“Worked out. Read over the script. Drank a six-pack of beer in my room alone. Typical boring stuff. I wish you’d have been there.”

She scratched her nails over his beard and along his cheek. “I promise I’ll try to be bored with you at least once before you leave.”

“It’s a deal.” Grayson patted the seat and cranked the motorcycle. “Let’s ride, Jules.”

Grayson sped up on the long stretch of I-75 between Statem and Atlanta. The black leather jacket she’d dug out from the bottom of her closet, hidden behind her old pair of Doc Martens from high school, kept out most of the wind. For once, she’d dressed right to ride. They had a few days left together. She hugged him close. God, she would miss him.

Grayson pulled into Eliza’s apartment complex, parking beside Nash’s nice truck that Eliza borrowed for the day.

Cameron pulled in beside them. He stepped out of the truck, his usual scowl in place and aimed at Grayson this time. “Glad you got her a helmet, but next time, try to keep it at the speed limit.”

Grayson pulled his helmet off and unclipped Juliana’s. He dropped a kiss on her nose. “Did I scare you?”

“No more than usual.”

He grinned and ran a hand through his hair. “Just my strategy for you to hold onto me tighter.”

“I don’t know if I should admit I’d probably do that anyway.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and rose on her toes for a kiss. “The motorcycle gives me a good excuse.”

“C’mon, you two.” Becky thumped Juliana on the back. “No need to rub it in for the rest of us lonely people.”

Cameron shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’m not lonely.”

Becky tossed a look over her shoulder at him. “No clue how you convinced Addie to marry you. I always thought she was such a smart woman.”

“Kids,” Juliana said. “We’re here for Eliza. Let’s go move some boxes.”

She led Grayson up the stairs, acutely aware of his hand resting along her lower back. Eliza waved as she held open the door. Cameron disappeared inside and emerged a moment later with two brown boxes cradled in his arms and headed back down the stairs.

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