Page 65 of Just Let Go

Slowly she inched out a little farther, and when she did, she fell forward off the bottom step with a thud. She righted herself andtook a step into the shop, aware that her attempt to stay hidden had failed. Light streamed through the two large front windows and glass door, filling the space with the promise of a new morning. But she couldn’t focus on the beauty of sunlight when she was certain she’d heard someone.

Quietly, she took a step over the threshold of the back room and farther into her shop.

“Morning.”

She gasped, clutched her chest, and turned to face Grady.

She wouldn’t delude herself by thinking it was kindness that brought him here. He probably hadn’t even gone to sleep last night. Besides, he was still angling for her good word with Judge and her dad.

“What are you doing in here?” She willed her pulse to calm down.

He stared at her for several uncomfortable seconds, then finally cleared his throat. “I came to help you. Isn’t that what I’m supposed to do?”

“But how did you get in?”

He knelt down over the can of paint she’d been using last night. She’d almost finished painting the first coat on the walls, but in the morning light, it was obvious that wouldn’t be enough. He pulled the lid off and began stirring with the stick.

“Whoa, I don’t know if this is a good idea.”

“I’ll be careful—I promise,” he said. “Tarps and everything. I watched a YouTube video on painting walls last night.”

She pretended not to be surprised by that. “You didn’t answer my question.” She stared down at him—probably the only time she’d get to see him from this angle, given that he had several inches on her.

“Your dad let me in.” He stirred the paint. “Said he thought you’d appreciate the help.”

“Did you tell him I spent half the day cleaning up after your ‘help’ yesterday?”

He glanced up at her, then stood. “Left that part out.”

“Convenient.” She walked to the other side of the counter and glanced down at the photos she’d stacked there. When the frames had broken, she’d pulled the pictures out and made a list of sizes so she could buy new homes for all of them, even though part of her thought maybe it was time to put them all back in a drawer somewhere.

“Looked like you were working pretty late last night,” he said.

Her eyes met his. “How would you know that?”

He shrugged. “Saw the light on.”

“Oh, that’s right,” she said. “Because you and Ashley had your impromptu date.” It had come off snarkier (jealous, even?) than she’d wanted it to. She turned away so he wouldn’t see the red in her cheeks.

“What’s that tone for?”

She could practically hear the amusement in his voice. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of thinking for one second that she cared who he spent his evenings with. Because she didn’t. Obviously.

“I have to go,” she said. “I’m late to meet my friends.”

“I’m taking Jaden skiing tomorrow,” he said, clearly ignoring her attempt to leave.

“Yeah, I heard,” she said. Carly had texted her to thank her for giving him the day off. Her reply had been simple:You owe me.

“Come with us.”

She faced him. “Why would I do that?”

“Well, Ryan is refinishing the floors tomorrow, so you won’t be able to work much in here.”

“There’s still plenty to do. I have to finish my application for the design competition and—”

He cut her off before she finished her laundry list, which seemed to play on repeat in her own mind. “And I heard a rumor you don’t have much fun.”

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