Page 17 of Tempting Me

That’s embarrassing.

“Right. Yes. Yeah, that would be… tricky.” I blow out a breath. “Well, enjoy your night.”

“You too.” She reaches out for me, her hand rubbing my forearms as if I’m a child who needs comforting. “I really am sorry.”

“It’s all good,” I reassure her and then wave, stepping back so that I can head home and die a little from embarrassment inside the safety of my own house. “Good night.”

“Night, Luca.”

I turn and head home, walking a little faster than normal.

I called it and asked anyway.

Stupid.

No.

What’s stupid is the fact that Grace said no because Shay and her family don’t care for me.

The lights over my garage door light up as I turn to walk up my driveway. I enter the code to open the garage, but before I duck inside, I spot a gift by the front door.

It’s flowers from Mrs. Whittaker for letting her tell me stories about her late husband while I worked tonight.

See. This is the shit I’m talking about. The people of Lovers are loyal, and then you have the Parker family doing the opposite.

I let out a breath and close my eyes.

It’s not even about Grace turning me down just now.

I’ll lose my mind if Shay hires another out-of-state or even out-of-town company to finish the job.

If I were smart, I’d go to her and pitch my own idea to getthe job, but I’m not an idiot. I’d be wasting my time, because it’s clear that hiring me isn’t an option for her. Ever.

I set the flowers in the garage and then stomp to the mailbox.

It’s been years. Years.

I don’t know which pisses me off more: the fact she won’t hire me or the fact that her family still holds a grudge. I mean, can I blame them? I'm still obsessing over why they won’t forgive me, so maybe I hold one, too.

I flip through the envelopes, stopping in the middle of my driveway as a small purple one comes into view. It’s not your typical piece of mail. No, this one just says my name in all capital letters and has no return address or stamp, which means someone went out of their way to put this in my box.

Hell, for all I know, I'm going to open it and glitter will pop out, covering me head to toe.

I’ll take my chances though, because this handwriting looks vaguely familiar.

My curiosity gets the best of me.

I rip open the back and pull out the note.

Meetme tonight behind the old boat toy shack. Wait till the Main Street lights dim, and do not tell a single person where you’re going. I mean it.

I chuckle.

This has to be Shay. There is literally not another soul in this town who would be this dramatic in a letter. Or one who wants to be sure no one sees the two of us together.

This has to mean one thing. She’s desperate and ready to hire me.

The question is … am I ready to say yes and let her boss me around?

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