“It’s all rather Austen-tatious, don’t you think?” Grady asked, still in his affected voice.
I burst out laughing. “That is literally the worst pun I’ve ever heard. Are you sure you’re related to one of the most famous authors in the country?”
He raised his eyebrows. “Do you really think she’s one of the most famous?”
I knew my face was incredulous. “Um, yes. For sure. Are you really not aware of that?”
He walked into the dining room, and I followed. “I guess? I mean, I know I’m her agent now, but it’s hard to reconcile these two people. She has always just been Mom to me.”
“Well, I assure you, she is a legend.” I admired the ornate gold-leaf china and sterling silver on the dining table. I had been here many times, but it never got old. “A legend who is already driving me nuts,” I said.
Grady laughed. “What about your family? Do they drive you nuts too?”
I smiled. “They are the best. I grew up on this big farm a few hours from here. My parents have been married for thirty-five years. They were high school sweethearts, and the farm was their dream. And now it’s my big brother’s. He’s expanded it, and it has fully become a family business.”
Grady picked up a sterling fork, and I resisted the urge to tell him not to touch it as he said, “What about you? No farming?”
I shrugged. “Writing by the ocean. That has always beenmydream.”
He smiled at me, his eyes locking on mine for a long moment. “You light up when you talk about writing,” he said. “I guess a lot of my clients do. But there’s something special about—”
“Excuse me!” a pert voice called. “Young man, pleasedo not touchanything that is a part of the display.”
I wanted to scold the woman right back! Couldn’t she see we werehaving a moment? Then again, all the signs clearly said no touching.
“I’m so sorry,” he said. “Lila and I are here doing research for my mother, Elizabeth Lancaster.”
The woman in the bonnet gasped. “Oh my word! Why didn’t you say? How can I help?”
I smiled sweetly at her. “It’s okay,” I said. “I think we’ve gotten what we needed.”
We walked out the door, laughing like children who had been reprimanded on a field trip. The waterfront was bustling with boats and tourists, seagulls and squealing children, feeling so alive, like the embodiment of summer itself. Grady and I chatted about school and friends as we picked up sandwiches and iced coffees to go, and it felt so easy, so normal.
As we walked back into Elizabeth’s house, I said, “Thanks for taking me. I mean, I didn’t need to learn about Regency clothing, but I had fun.”
Grady held me in that gaze of his again. “You know, Lila, I did too.”
I laughed. “Well, you don’t have to sound so surprised that I’m good company.”
He smiled. “No, I just mean, let’s do it again sometime.”
“Okay! Thank you, Grady!” Elizabeth interrupted, zipping into the room. “We have hours and hours of work ahead of us.”
“Hours and hours?” I croaked.
“Welcome to the dark side,” Grady whispered, leaning close, giving me chill bumps again.
“I heard that!” Elizabeth said. “Now, get out of here. We have a book to write.”
“And contracts to sign!” Grady reminded. He put his hand on my shoulder again. “Let me know if you have any questions. I’m just a phone call away if you need anything at all.” The way he smiled made me wonder what thatanything at allincluded.
As I made my way back to Elizabeth’s office, I felt like I was floating.Let’s do it again sometimewas playing on a loop in my brain.
I got back to work. I was supposed to be writing about Mrs. Percy’s stable boy. But the only romantic hero I could think about was Grady Lancaster.
Chapter 6
A Damn Good Chapter
