Page 25 of Endeavor

We don’t speak for a few moments as we both take in the view. I turn to him. “Take a photo of me?”

I hand him my phone and he snaps a stellar photo of me with Los Angeles in the background.

“Wow, photo evidence of you breaking the rules,” he says with a grin.

I roll my eyes, but before I can take my phone back, he pulls me against him and takes a selfie of us.

“Now, I’m guilty too,” he adds with a wink as he hands me back my phone.

I laugh. A group of people approaches from the trail, breaking the magical spell of the moment.

“I should really get back.”

“Come on, Cinderella,” he says as he releases me and grabs my hand again. I’m beginning to like the feel of that.

We don’t say much as I follow him back to his car.

“Here, you choose the music,” he says, letting me play with the screen in his car. I buckle up and begin to scroll until I find the perfect song.

I turn up the volume to “Beautiful Day” by U2 and roll down the window. Grady follows my lead and adds to it by opening the sunroof.

We jam out to the song, messing up the lyrics and belting the chorus. The time seems to go quickly, and before I know it, Grady is pulling up to my apartment building. He manages to find a parking spot on my block.

“I’ll walk you up, just to be safe,” he states as he turns off the car.

I accept his hand again as we walk to my apartment. He insists on getting me to my door and I don’t say no.

“Thanks for a wonderful evening,” I say to him as I stand in the hallway outside my apartment.

“Thanks for coming out.” He pauses. “I wasn’t sure you would.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Shoot.”

“Why the charades?”

“The charades?” He frowns.

“Yesterday, when we met, you were a total prick.” He winces. “But, you’re not. So why the act?”

He leans against the wall and looks at me. “I’ll tell you what. You go out again with me and maybe I’ll tell you why.”

I roll my eyes. “Seriously? You’re going to hold the answer for ransom?”

He smirks. “Possibly.”

I don’t answer him right away, instead, I pull out my key and open my door. “Thanks again for a great night.” I glance over at him. If he thought he was getting a goodnight kiss, he’s sorely mistaken. I never kiss on the first date.

He looks like he wants to make a move, but he just nods at me and pushes off the wall. “I’ll text you,” he says with a smile.

“Night, Grady.”

“Night, Cinderella.” And with that, he walks back down the hall.

I shut my door and slide down it, letting my purse fall to the ground. I have no idea what just happened, but I’m pretty sure I’m going out again with Grady Daniels.

Chapter Eleven

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