Page 73 of Grady

Two days later, he stopped at The Feed Store to pick up a new set of reins. After paying for them, he walked outside into the heat and stood on the steps, looking around. He smirked at all the people in town. Tourist season was great for the three towns, bringing in a lot of revenue, but he wanted to be anywhere else but here.

He looked up the street to see Savannah’s shop and wondered how he’d go on without her in his life now. Would she sell the shop or stay in Clifton? Hell, that sure didn’t sit well with him about her leaving. How was he supposed to be in the same town and not run into her?

Taking a deep breath, he jogged down the steps, climbed into his truck, started it, and pulled out onto the street. He swore as his truck seemed to have a mind of its own as he parked across the street from her shop.

He stared at the store, wrapping his hands around the steering wheel until they ached. Opening the door, he stepped out, and slammed it shut a little harder than necessary. She owed him an explanation.

After checking traffic, he crossed the street, stepped onto the sidewalk, opened the door and entered the shop. He saw her waiting on a customer but her eyes widened and her mouthdropped open when she saw him. She said something to the woman, then had Maggie help her as Savannah walked toward him.

“Where have you been?” she whispered.

“Why did he answer your phone?” he asked, avoiding her question.

She frowned. “What? Who?”

Grady inhaled and blew it out, trying to keep from shouting at her. He leaned closer to her and said through clenched teeth.

“Why did he answer your phone? Didn’t you have the guts to tell me yourself?” he snapped.

Savannah glanced around the store and gave the customers staring at them, a tightlipped smile.

“We need to go to my office,” she said, then turned and walked away from him.

Grady looked around, then followed her into the office, slamming the door behind him He leaned back against it, crossed his arms, and narrowed his eyes, when all he really wanted to do was pull her into his arms and never let her go.

“Do you want to tell me what you’re talking about?” she said, as she moved behind her desk.

He scoffed. “As if you don’t know.”

“Obviously, I don’t!” she snapped.

They stared at each other until he huffed.

“If you wanted to break it off with me and go back to your ex, you should have had the balls to tell me yourself,” he growled.

Savannah shook her head as if to clear cobwebs, then strode around the desk, marched toward him and stared into his eyes.

“What in thehellare you talking about? I didn’t want to break it off with you and if I did, Iwouldhave had the balls to do it.”

“What?”

“What do you mean what?” she blew out a breath. “Let’s start over here. Who told you I wanted to break it off with you?”

“Come on, Savannah. Your ex. Didn’t I just say that?”

“No—”

“I did,”he said with frustration, through clenched teeth. “I said, if you wanted to go back to your ex, you should have had the balls to tell me yourself.”

“Where did you get such an idea?” Then she gasped. “Who answered my phone?”

“Kirk!”Grady removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair.

“He told you I wanted to break it off with you?”

“He said he answered your phone because you didn’t want to talk to me.” He shrugged. “I figured it meant you were breaking it off with me.”

“When did he say that?”

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