Page 46 of Shot Through the Heart

“I’m sorry, but I just…This wasn’t what I was expecting…” I say, shaking my head and staring down at the paperwork.

“And what were you expecting?” Garrett asks, finally looking away from Paige to eye me with curiosity.

I shrug. “That I’d be leaving here without a job. So to be offered this…”

Garrett leans forward, bracing his elbows on his knees, and holds my attention.

“Would I have liked to know that there was history between you two before the contract was signed? Yes. But I can understand why you both would want your privacy and to just get the work done. Life isn’t always black and white. It would be unfair of me to hold my business to those standards when the whole reason I’m doing any of this is to help people. The way to help you both is simple. In this case, that means ending the contract.” He leans back, smirking once more. “Besides, I’ve been telling Paige for months that she needs an assistant and she keeps putting it off. If shifting you to be her assistant is what finally givesherthe help she needs, then I’d double your salary without batting an eye.”

“Thatwould be a bit much,” I say, knowing the numbers I saw on the job offer were already way more than I’m currently making, but he just lifts a shoulder.

“We’ll see about that.”

We finish up, Paige and I agreeing that I’ll come in tomorrow morning after I drop Harper off at daycare so we can go over the details of my new,newjob.

Greyson is mostly silent, aside from answering Garrett’s questions about hockey while Paige and I wrap up our conversation. Neither of us says anything as we make our way out of the building.

“I gotta be honest about something,” Greyson says once we’re alone in his car. My mind is still reeling from what just happened upstairs, but I try to focus on him.

“And what would that be?”

“I never planned on beingjustprofessional with you. When I signed that contract, it was with the intention to spend time with you so that I could figure out why you left me.” He turns to me, his brown eyes sparkling with determination. “Then after the fishing tournament, it didn’t matter why you left anymore, just that I had you in my life again. I planned to use the rest of our time fulfilling the contract to win you back.”

His honesty only makes me grin.

“You thought it would be that simple?”

“Hell no.” He chuckles, lifting a hand to gently caress my cheek. “But it would have been enough time to convince you to go on a date with me once it was up.”

I roll my eyes, but before I can answer, a call rings through the Bluetooth in his car. We both glance at the display and I straighten in my seat when I see the name.

Greyson curses, declining his mother’s call and dropping his forehead to the steering wheel. Slowly, I reach across the center console and rub his back in soothing circles.

“I told her not to call me,” he grumbles and I let out a sarcastic laugh.

“And you thought she’d actually listen to you?” I pull my hand back, slapping it over my mouth. “Sorry, that was mean.”

Greyson just laughs half-heartedly, sitting up and grabbing his seat belt.

“No, you’re right.”

I shift the conversation to lighter topics, telling him about the gymnastic classes that I signed Harper up for and the beach birthday party she was invited to. By the time he pulls up in front of my townhouse, most of the tension from his mother calling seems to have dissipated.

I’m about to get out of his car when he stops me with a gentle grip on my wrist.

“Stella, will you…” He pauses, sucking in a deep breath. I twist, noticing how nervous he looks. “These next few weeks are busy. We have all away games this week and the start of next week, but I want to take you out. On a date.”

“A date?” I parrot back. Warmth spreads across my chest, and I push back the hope that begins to blossom. “Like, just you and me, alone…romantically?”

“That would be the definition of a date, yeah.”

I nod, feeling a bit shaky as he grins back at me and leans closer. I hold my breath as he kisses my cheek. The scruff of his trimmed beard scratches against my face and my thighs clench at the sensation.

Greyson grins mischievously as if he knows the effect he has on me but doesn’t call me out for it. Instead, he leans back and acts as if all is normal.

“I’ll call you after practice?” he asks and I’m almost certain I respond before I get out.

His attention burns at my back the entire walk to my front door, and I finally give in once I have the door opened. He’s grinning from ear to ear as he watches me from his rolled down window, reminding me so much of the joyful and carefree boy I fell in love with.

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