Page 24 of The One You Want

He held up his hands. “Hey, I don’t mind. What do I care what some dweeb in a thousand dollar suit thinks ofme?”

The smug grins on the faces of the other girls were pretty much the last straw. I was annoyed at them for getting involved. Annoyed that they just assumed I neededhelp.

And I was even more annoyed at myself. Because I was the reason they thought that. I had never given any of them a reason to think that I could handle an uncomfortable situation on myown.

“I think I’m going to head home,” I muttered, rubbing my forehead. Maybe the cats would permit me to take a bath. That and a fresh glass of wine might be the only thing to save this disaster of anight.

“Don’t go,” Iris said, reaching over to place a hand over mine. “We were just trying to help. And Grant even said he didn’tmind.”

I managed a smile. “I’m not mad. I’m just tired. I think this week calls for a bubble bath and a nicebook.”

“Isn’t that pretty much how you end every week?” Riley asked pointedly. I didn’t even bother to glare at her, not in the mood for another lecture on how I needed to get out more. Instead, I rummaged in my purse for some cash to cover my portion of thewine.

“Actually,” Cora cut in, “Shouldn’t Grant walk you home?” I gaped at her but she merely widened her eyes innocently. “I mean, Bradford Rutherford is still here.” I had a feeling they were all going to use his full name any time he came up for the foreseeable future. I couldn’t even blame them—it wasridiculous.

“He keeps looking over at you,” Cora continued. “I bet if you leave here alone he’ll totally followyou.”

“I’m walking you,” Grant said immediately, glaring over at the bar where Bradford was, in fact, watching us. “I don’t like thatguy.”

“See,” Cora asked, smiling sweetly at me. “Everyone’s onboard.”

“Don’t you have work to do?” I snapped. “Jesus, you’ve been on your break for half anhour.”

“Jenny Hillman has some fire to her,” Libby murmured, watching me closely. “I likeit.”

Whatever fire I might have had clearly didn’t affect Cora because she just continued to smirk at me. “I’m the owner, babe. My breaks can be as long as I want. Besides, my friend was inneed.”

In need of pouring Grant’s beer all over every one of their meddling heads, maybe. I slapped my ten down and stood. “Thank you so much girls,” I muttered in my most sarcastic voice, turning togo.

“You’re welcome,” they chorused cheerfully as I made my way to the door, Grant saying hurried goodbyes behindme.

“And don’t forget,” Libby called when I was nearly free, her loud voice booming over the noise of the crowd. “You’re leading the meeting thisweek.”

I kind of wanted to flip her off but since that most definitely was not a Jenny Hillman kind of thing to do, I tried to satisfy myself with glaring at the door in front ofme.

“Hey,” Grant called, once I was outside. He caught up to me in a few long strides. “Waitup.”

“You really did not have to come,” I muttered. “You were enjoying yourbeer.”

“My beer was gone,” he said. “Besides, I have a full six-pack of Bell’s athome.”

I grumbled something unintelligible, too annoyed to make proper conversation. Grant indulged me, letting me stomp along in silence for a few longmoments.

“You look cold,” he finallysaid.

I realized my shoulders were hunched, arms crossed over my chest. I might have been shivering a little, too. “Nights are getting chillier,” Imuttered.

“Fall’s coming,” he agreed, taking a deep breath. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the flash of his teeth in the darkness—he wasgrinning.

“You like fall?” I asked, turning a little to see him better while wewalked.

“Ilovefall,” he said, still smiling about it. “It’s my favorite time ofyear.”

“Really?” On this island, most people would choose summer. Fall was gorgeous on Lilac Bay, don’t get me wrong, but it also reminded everyone that winter would soon be at our doorstep. And winter on Lilac Bay could be difficult, to say theleast.

“Fresh picked apples,” Grant was saying. “Cider. Donuts. Leaves changing color. Hot soup for dinner. All new plants coming in on the farm. What’s not tolove?”

“Hot soup for dinner?” I asked, smiling nowtoo.