Page 56 of Just Let Go

“You’re doing it again.” He was looking at her. Just sitting there, looking at her. How was she going to get anything done with him here taking up way too much room behind her counter?

“Doing what?”

He wagged his finger in her general direction. “That thing with your forehead. The I’m-serious-all-the-time furrow.”

She set the notebook down and stuck her hands on her hips. “I am not serious all the time.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Really?”

“Really.”

“Prove it.”

She shook her head, her level of annoyance skyrocketing. “I don’t have time for this. Do you know the carnival is only three weeks away? We have so much to do to get ready.”

“I’m sorry. Is that you being serious again?”

“You’re the worst,” she muttered under her breath as she walked over to the shelving unit she’d pushed out of the center of the store only moments before he strolled in. She used her hip to push it to the other side of the store, aware that Grady was watching her the whole time.

Once it was in place, she moved some of the small gift items she had in stock onto the shelves. This would be a brand-new display with some of the wall art and home decor items she’d been waiting to exhibit.

“So you own this place, but you’re not open?” He was leaning up on the counter now, the side of his head on his fist like a child.

“I just bought it,” she said. “I have some work to do before I can reopen.”

“Like what?”

She drew in a deep breath. She didn’t really want to get into it with him. She didn’t want to explain her plans or hear how silly they sounded to the famous Olympic athlete when she knew the only thing Grady Benson really wanted to talk about was Grady Benson.

But that wasn’t fair, was it? He’d asked her more questions about herself than she’d wanted to answer.

“What do you have to do?” He stood up, still watching her.

Was he just bored or genuinely interested?

“Well, I’m going to paint the walls and refinish the floors. I’ve got new valances for the smaller windows, and I’m going to paint our new logo on the back wall behind where you’re standing. I’ve got a few more shelves like this one for all the displays and the gifts I’m selling. Mimi—she was the previous owner—never really sold gifts. Just flowers.”

“When does that all have to be done by?”

She hated that question. It was like a quiet reminder that she wasn’t going to make her deadline. When Ryan and Lane had come in with so many “simple, easy-to-do” ideas, she’d been so certain shecould get it all done. Now? Now she was pretty sure she’d reopen with nothing but a few new shelves.

And maybe that was okay.

“I wanted to reopen next Wednesday.”

He whistled, as if saying,Whoa, you’ve bitten off more than you can chew.As if she didn’t already know that.

“That and the Winter Carnival? You’ve got your hands full.”

“I’m very efficient,” she said. “I have a plan.”

“Seems like you could use some help.” His eyes were wide—as if meant to communicate something she couldn’t read.

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying I’ll help you. It’s the least I can do since you gave me a place to crash last night. I was going to sleep in my car.”

“You can’t be serious.” Could he?

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