Page 80 of Grady

Kirk sighed. “I just—”

“No. Don’t say anything. Just go and stay the…fuckaway from me and Grady.”

Kirk slowly got to his feet, looked at her, then glared at Grady, but when Grady took a step toward him, Kirk nodded. “Alright, I’m going.”

Savannah watched him get into his car, sit there for a few minutes, then pulled onto the street, and drive away. Savannah sighed, then looked at Grady.

“I’m going home.”

“Savannah, I want to talk. Please.”

“You can follow me.”

“Alright.”

She watched him cross the street, climb into his truck, then pulled out, and drove down Main Street.

Taking a deep breath, she entered the store, walked back to her office, and shut the computer down.

“Looks like I won’t be looking for any antiques tonight.” She turned the lights out, opened the door, locked it behind her, then climbed into her car and drove home.

She pulled into the driveway and saw Grady’s truck parked in front of her house at the curb. He got out and walked toward her.

“Let’s go inside,” she said. Grady nodded and followed her inside.

Bentley was waiting for her. She hung up her purse then squatted down to hug him.

“Hi, baby. Were you a good boy today? I missed you.” He ran to Grady but then to the back door. Savannah followed him and let him out.

She entered the living room, kicked her sneakers off and sat on the sofa and motioned for Grady to sit down. He sat in the overstuffed chair beside the couch, and looked at her.

“I’m sorry for hitting him.” Grady flexed his sore knuckles.

“I’m not. He deserved it. I’m sorry he hit you though. It’s going to be black and blue tomorrow.”

“It’ll heal.” He looked at her. “I need to apologize to you though.”

“You already did.”

Grady shook his head and sighed. “I can never apologize enough.”

“Once is enough.”

“Not to me, it’s not. I was a fool to believe him, but…” He took a big breath and looked at her. “Savannah, when he answered your phone and told me you didn’t want to talk to me, it cut meto the core. After being away for a while, I realized he was lying. I knew, deep in my heart, that you would never be with him again.” He looked at her but all she could do was stare at him. “Am I making an ass out of myself?”

“It wouldn’t be the first time.”

“Hey.” He sighed. “Look, Savannah, I’m new at this. I’m trying to… trying to—”

“Trying to what?”

“For God’s sake, woman, I’m trying to say I love you.”

“You love me?” She was shocked.

Grady stood up, then sat beside her on the sofa. He moved his fingers through her hair.

“I love you, Savannah. I never thought I’d fall in love, but I have. You mean everything to me, and it was killing me to think you were going to go back to him. I got so drunk one night that Maverick sent me home from work the next morning. I had the worst hangover. Maverick didn’t believe Kirk, and I sure as hell shouldn’t have.”

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