Page 96 of Just Let Go

She looked up at his face and found a small scar just above his right eyebrow. She hadn’t noticed it before, but then, she’d never really taken the time to actually study him. His eyes were the perfect shade of blue, and he had just the right amount of stubble on his chin. When he smiled—if he smiled—she might buckle at the knees, because she already knew the effect it had on her, though she’d done a stellar job of denying it up until this point.

“You don’t like me very much, do you?” he asked, a lazy smirk dancing across his face.

“Why would you say that?” Her heart raced as he placed his hands on the counter on either side of hers.

“I get on your nerves.”

“You do.”

“You think I’m selfish.”

She nodded.

“And you believe all that stuff you read on the Internet.”

“Most of it.”

His eyes fell to her lips, then met her gaze. “I’m not all bad, Quinn. And right now, the only thing that scares me is the thought of leaving this awful little town without ever properly kissing you.”

Say what?

She felt her jaw go slack as she searched his eyes for some indication that he was joking. She found none. Quite the opposite, really—he looked deadly serious.

“I tried to send Ashley away before you ever showed up at my door this morning.”

“You did?”

“Yes—I promise. That’s not what I’m looking for.”

“What are you looking for?” she whispered.

He edged even closer, studying her eyes for a few painstakingly long moments in which she realized shewantedto kiss him.

She wanted to kiss Grady Benson.

One simple little kiss. And technically he’d already kissed her once, so it wouldn’t even be like a first kiss that carried all kinds of questions and hidden meanings.

“You’re overthinking this,” he said quietly, his mouth turning up in the slightest smile.

She drew in a breath. He was right. She was overthinking it. She’d made up her mind already that Grady was not good for her. Decided it in a moment of clarity without even a hint of emotion involved. Had she done that in anticipation of a moment like this,when she couldn’t be trusted? She couldn’t go back on that decision now.

“I—I’ve got to get this painted.”

His face fell as he searched her eyes, but she’d severed their connection. She shrank out from under his arm and turned her back to him. Never mind what she wanted. She wasn’t accustomed to choosing her heart over her head, no matter how intoxicating the idea was.

CHAPTER

23

GRADY HAD STRUCK OUT BEFORE,but not like this. He’d met his match in Quinn Collins. She shut him down, and he knew when to walk away. Still, he was good at reading people, and he could’ve sworn that underneath her Brillo Pad exterior was a girl who actually kind of liked him.

Why else would she have shown up at his cottage that morning? Why else would she have talked to the judge about getting him permission to go skiing up north? Why else would she have looked at him the way she was looking at him only moments ago, before pulling herself away and sticking in her earbuds?

They weren’t even going to talk now?

All right, Quinn Collins. If that’s how you want to play it.

He’d give her space if that’s what she needed. But he wasn’t going to give up. That wasn’t in his nature. She’d given him plenty of work to do, and if he tried hard enough, maybe the mindless chores would be good for him.

---