Page 108 of Just Let Go

“Just taking a short break, boss.” He moved past her, toward the door.

“Judge is in there.” She stopped him just before he pulled the door open.

Grady turned. “Why?”

“Checking up on you, I think.”

He let out a heavy sigh. “Great.”

She followed him inside, the echo of his phone call playing on repeat in the back of her mind. He wasn’t giving up. He was going to fight?

That was good, right?

“There you both are,” Judge said when they reappeared.

“Sorry, sir,” Grady said. “I had to take a phone call. Thought it would be best to go outside.”

“I see.” Judge eyed the younger man for several unnerving seconds. “Miss Collins tells me you’ve been an exceptional worker.”

Grady shot her a sideways glance, which she did her best to ignore. “She did, did she?”

“High praise from Quinn,” Judge said. “Our girl isn’t known to color the truth.”

“No, she’s certainly not,” he said.

Quinn took a step closer. “Grady’s helped out a lot, Judge. We started with the Winter Carnival, but he also volunteered to help me get the shop ready for my reopening.”

“Just trying to be useful, sir,” Grady said.

Judge looked skeptical, but he didn’t get a chance to say anythingbecause the front door opened and a flush-faced Jaden walked in. “Sorry I’m late.”

“Late for what?” Quinn asked. “I didn’t expect you here.”

“Not for you, Aunt Quinn,” Jaden said. “For Grady. He’s training me.”

“He’s what?”

“I needed a training partner,” Grady said. “Someone to keep me accountable. It’s hard to wake up at four thirty.”

“I wake up at four thirty every day,” Judge said.

“Of course you do.” Grady laughed. “I am not so disciplined, sir.”

“But this is what it takes to compete. Hard work and not quitting when it gets harder.” Jaden punctuated his revelation with a nod.

“Is that right?” Judge looked impressed.

“He said he wanted to learn. He wants to compete, and I thought maybe I could help him,” Grady said.

Quinn tried not to let that quell her anger, and yet, just looking at Jaden standing there, eyes all wide with expectation, she knew this was no small deal. Her nephew was training with an Olympian—for free—and it had nothing to do with community service.

Well, darn it.She’d wanted to stay mad at him forever. How was she supposed to do that now?

“He’s welcome to take a break anytime he wants to,” Grady said. “But I can’t. I’ve wasted too much time already.” His eyes found Quinn’s.

“No way. We’re doing this,” Jaden said. “Why aren’t you dressed?”

“I can’t leave yet,” Grady said.

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