Page 121 of Perfectly Grumpy

“Nothing.” I lean against the counter. “I just let her stay in my cabin.”

Brax almost hoots with glee. “Don’t tell me there was one bed.”

“Technically, yes. One bed. One very small bed.”

Jaz gasps. Sloan squeals.

Vale laughs in disbelief. “Quiet, logicalSheriff—falls for the most extroverted, spontaneous person he’s ever met. Why am I not surprised?”

“The only hitch is Lauren’s interviewing for a job in Kansas City,” I say.

“Why is that a bad thing?” Vale asks. “Is it because of your offer?”

There’s a half-second of silence before Brax looks at his brother. “VALE.”

“What?” Vale frowns. “He needs to know!”

“I need to know WHAT?” I glare at the guys.

“Nothing,” Brax says, clearly lying. He wraps an arm around his brother. “Lack of sleep. Ignore him.”

“Definitelynotan NHL offer,” Leo adds as he joins the group.

“Most definitely not from a team in Seattle,” Rourke adds.

“Rourke!” they all shout in unison.

“What?” he asks. “I thought we were telling him!”

Jaz pinches the bridge of her nose. “Oh, for the love…it’s not myfault my office shares a vent system with the conference room.” She sighs. “I may have overheard some news, but you didn’t hear it from me.”

“Seattle, really?” I say, astonished. “The NHL?”

They all nod.

I wasn’t expecting this to happen now. “I wish I could tell Lauren, but she’s heading to her interview in Kansas City, and I’m not putting pressure on her. No texts or calls—for one week.”

Leo mocks, “Well, that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“What? I’m giving her space,” I argue.

Leo frowns. “Your grand plan is to make the woman you love think you don’t care enough to even wish her luck on the biggest day of her career?”

I frown. “When you put it like that…”

Jaz crosses her arms. “I agree with Leo. You don’t go radio silent during Lauren’s big week.”

“But I told her I wouldn’t contact her,” I say.

“Right.” Sloan nods. “Which means if you don’t, she’ll think you don’t care about this interview. There’s a difference between pressuring her decision and supporting her as a person.”

“Forget the rules for five seconds,” Jaz says gently. “What does your heart tell you to do?”

“To contact her,” I say with a sigh.

“There’s your answer,” Jaz says, clearly satisfied, then tosses her apron at Brax on her way out the door. “You guys think you can handle taking out the last batch of scones?”

“Where are you headed now?” Brax asks, looking slightly concerned.

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