Page 33 of Just Let Go

“WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL?”Carly stood at her sink filling her coffee carafe with water. “Are you scared of a good-looking man?”

Quinn should’ve known better than to tell her sister about the meeting last night. Carly would never understand how annoying this guy was. She wouldn’t see past the blue eyes.

But seriously? Every time she thought about the meeting, she wanted to scream. The way Grady Benson had hijacked her group. The way Ashley Perkins had mooned over the big pro athlete. The way he’d flirted right back—not only with Ashley but with every woman there. Even Mrs. Trembley! It was like flirting was the only way he knew how to communicate.

Quinn absolutely refused to flirt back. She would not give him the satisfaction, especially when she had so much to do. But with him sitting there, it was like everyone had forgotten the real reason they were meeting at all.

Even steady, even-keeled Calvin Doyle, who helped Mrs. Trembley with the organization of the event, seemed smitten bythe star in their midst. He kept checking on their team to make sure they had everything they needed, and twice he offered to run and get Grady something to drink. The world had gone mad!

In the end, they’d left without deadlines or work divvied up, and Quinn was blaming that on Grady Benson.

Carly opened the lid of her coffee pot and poured the water in. “Seriously, you are getting really worked up over a Harbor Pointe Winter Carnival meeting.”

“You don’t understand.” She watched as her sister scooped the coffee out. “You’re making enough for me, right?”

“Yes.” Carly put another scoop in. “And what don’t I understand? This is Harbor Pointe, Quinn. It’s not the St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Chicago.”

“Thanks a lot.”

“What?”

“You’re belittling my work. This is important to me.”

Carly turned and leaned against the counter, arms crossed over her chest, sweatshirt hanging loose over her hospital scrubs. “I’m sorry. You’re right. Listen, maybe you just need to find a way to use this guy. Make him do all your grunt work. Sounds like you’re kind of his boss now.”

Quinn rolled her eyes. “He is not going to take orders from me, I can tell you that.”

“Who’s not?” Jaden walked into the kitchen wearing what looked like the same exact outfit he’d worn yesterday.

“Never mind,” Quinn said.

“That skier,” Carly said at the same time.

“Grady Benson?” Jaden pulled a box of cereal off the top of the refrigerator. “What about him?”

“Aunt Quinn doesn’t like him.”

“Is this about me?” Jaden eyed her.

“What about you?” Carly asked.

“No, it’s not about you,” Quinn said. “Though I still think you need to find someone else to look up to.”

“You wouldn’t say that if you’d seen him ski.” He grabbed a gigantic bowl from the cupboard and the milk from the fridge, then sat down at the table. “Plus, he doesn’t take crap from anyone. Just does his own thing. It’s cool.”

“Yeah, real cool,” Quinn huffed.

Jaden’s shrug told her he didn’t care what she thought. Not about Grady, anyway. What had happened to that sweet, big-eyed boy who used to coo at her and call her “Win”? Why had he gone and grown up? He hadn’t even asked their permission.

“That’s the biggest cereal bowl I’ve ever seen.” Quinn watched as Jaden poured the Cinnamon Life into what looked like a small mixing bowl.

“I’m a growing boy.” Her nephew grinned, and for a split second she saw the funny little kid he’d once been.

“Yeah, and I’m going to have to take a second job just to keep your stomach full.” Carly poured two cups of coffee, added cream and sugar, then handed one to Quinn. “Why do you think Jaden needs a new role model?”

“Have you been living under a rock?”

“I’ve been working. I don’t have time to keep up on town gossip.”

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