“I understand,” he said.
There was something about the way that he said it that made her think to herself that hedidunderstand. Though she wasn’t sure why a man with the world at his fingertips would feel that way.
Just as Wyatt said, when they stepped into the nursery, it was filled with beautiful decorations as well as tables of scarlet and white poinsettias.
Grayson grabbed a cart and they walked the aisles. Every time Evangeline stopped to look at something, he threw it in the cart. Once again, he didn’t even look at the price tags.
She knew she should be grateful, but it gave her an odd feeling.
Exactly how rich is he?
But Evangeline didn’t want to think about that. She wasn’t sure why the idea made her so uncomfortable, but it was easy enough to put her mind on the decorations and the happy shoppers and the way Leo wiggled and squeaked when they stopped and looked at the display of lights.
“Those are cool, aren’t they?” Grayson asked him.
Leo let loose a string of excited syllables and kicked his little legs out straight like he was marching in a parade.
Evangeline had to smile at the sweet sight.
They finished their shopping, and as promised, the tree was wrapped in netting and ready to be loaded onto the SUV by the time they got to the register.
“Do you want to take him for a bit?” Grayson asked Evangeline as they waited in line. “Maybe just get him outside to walk a little and he’ll be calmer in the car.”
“Of course,” she said, happy to take the little one into her arms.
It was only as she walked outside with him that she realized maybe Grayson hadn’t wanted her to see how much this trip had cost.
A moment later, he headed her way, along with Wyatt, carrying the giant tree together, another employee hurrying after them with the shopping bags.
Grayson looked so happy that all her worries were forgotten.
He’s a good man,she told herself.You can just tell.
She headed to the car, wondering what kind of woman might be good enough for Grayson and Leo Ward.
15
GRAYSON
Grayson bent over a stack of two-by-fours the next morning at the open air market, checking them over for inconsistencies and splits. This wood would be the framing for the low stage at the special farmer’s market and Christmas Campfire event next weekend, and it needed to be sturdy.
“Hey,” a familiar deep voice boomed.
“Levi?” Grayson said, straightening to find an old buddy standing there with a toolbox and a friendly smile.
Levi Williams was a local attorney. Like Grayson, he had served in the military and was home for good now. Since the upcoming festivities were sponsored by the Homecoming Heroes Foundation, a ton of local veterans were volunteering to help out with it during the setup and with running the actual event.
“Good to see you, man,” Levi said, extending his hand.
“You too,” Grayson said, taking it and shaking firmly. “You on stage duty too?”
“Absolutely,” Levi said. “Lily has a helper at the toy store today so she can be home with Flora, which means I can get my hands dirty.”
“A lawyer who wants to get his hands dirty,” Grayson teased, shaking his head.
“Hey, I’m a farm boy at heart,” Levi said. “I get a little restless sitting behind a desk all day.”
“I could see that,” Grayson said.
