Page 82 of Just Let Go

“Have you seen the way Grady skis?”

“Haveyouseen the way I ski?”

Quinn looked caught.

He tried—really hard—not to smile. Had she looked him up?

“I’m ready, Aunt Quinn. I swear.”

“I need to head back to the shop,” Quinn said.

“Aren’t they redoing your floor?” Carly asked. “You won’t even be able to get in.”

“There’s still a lot I can do.” Quinn grabbed her bag and stood.

“Well, I’m starving.” Grady purposely blocked her way, and she didn’t look happy about it.

“You can drop me off and go grab something to eat.” Quinn planted herself right in front of where he stood and glared up at him. “Hazel’s is right down the street.”

“I don’t really want diner food tonight. Do you have another suggestion?” He was just being difficult and he knew it. She knew it too, but he didn’t mind making her squirm.

“We can go get pizza at Dockside,” Jaden said.

“Sounds great,” Grady said, eyes still fixed on Quinn.

“Dockside is in Summers Bay, Jaden,” Quinn said.

“So?”

“Grady isn’t allowed to go anywhere but the ski slope.”Shewas just being difficult now, and she knew it. She locked her eyes on his in an intoxicating battle of wills.

She had no idea whom she was challenging. Grady didn’t back down from anything.

“I’ll call Dad, Quinn,” Carly said. “I haven’t had pizza in weeks. I might eat a whole one by myself.”

Grady opened his mouth as if to challenge her back, and Carly and Jaden walked off.

“I really need to get back,” Quinn said.

“As soon as we’re done eating, I’ll take you home.”

He could see the irritation work its way through her as she straightened her shoulders and glared at him.

“Come on, it’ll be fun.” He grinned at her, but she continued to glare. “I was so hopeful I wasn’t going to see that anymore after today.” He pointed at her forehead, but before he touched her, she swatted his hand away.

“Just because I agreed to go skiing doesn’t mean I’m going to shirk all my responsibilities to eat pizza with you.”

“It’s Saturday night, Q.” Grady picked up his bag. “And we haven’t eaten any real food all day. Give yourself a break.”

She groaned. “Fine. But we aren’t staying out late.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

She stormed past him and he turned to follow her, catching the eye of a blonde sitting at the next table. Grady couldn’t be sure, but he thought maybe he’d taken a picture with her earlier. She lifted a hand and waved at him. He waved back and started toward the door. Time was, he would’ve slid into that booth across from her and let nature take its course, but as he caught sight of Quinn, Carly, and Jaden waiting for him, he found he had no desire to waste time on a casual acquaintance who would never be anything more.

“Wow, you weren’t kidding,” Grady said when they pulled up in front of the restaurant. “It reallyisa hole-in-the-wall.”

On the drive to Summers Bay, Quinn had listened to her sister and nephew go on and on about Dockside, the tiny pizza joint they’d adopted as the Collins family favorite. With a single father, she and Carly had grown up eating pizza at least once—sometimes twice—a week, and after they’d tried every restaurant within a twenty-mile radius, Dockside had won out.

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