“True,” Charity agreed with a laugh. “And if you decide you want more with Calvin, you’d better make him earn it.”
Grace wasn’t sure that was accurate, considering she’d been the one to drive him off all those years ago. Something more to think about. Later, when she was alone.
“One last thing,” Willow said. “Was the kiss as good as the one in that Regency romance you read last month?”
Grace laughed, the tension finally breaking. “Better,” she declared. “Way, way better.”
CHAPTER 9
Despite the coffee maker in the apartment, Cal dutifully swung by the Palmetto Perk for a to-go cup before heading to his meeting with Levi in Charleston. Naturally, the coffee shop was doing brisk business, though it wouldn’t ever bring in the revenue of the chain’s other locations. The market was too small on the island.
Of course, Levi had enough successful business interests to float one coffee shop. For Cal, he had enough on his plate with Levi’s marketing needs and the profit and loss for this one location wasn’t his concern.
Normally, he would’ve indulged with a shot of espresso ahead of the early appointment, but his heart didn’t need an extra jolt today. It was already vibrating at a frequency that had nothing to do with caffeine and everything to do with the ghost of Grace’s lips against his.
His mind drifted on the heavenly memory of her kisses, present and past, as he made his way to the Charleston harbor where Levi’s yacht was docked.
Even the impressive luxury vessel wasn’t enough to put thoughts of Grace out of Cal’s head completely. He was increasingly concerned that the feat was impossible for him.Somehow, the decorator managed to strike a balance between top of the line, streamlined function and comfort. Seeing the color palette and fabric patterns in the salon, he couldn’t help thinking Grace would approve.
Cal and Levi made quick work of the launch package for the newest Palmetto Perk and moved into the details and milestones for the music festival. Across from him, Levi looked far too relaxed for a man whose empire spanned half the globe. He leaned back in his seat, a mug of coffee in one hand while his gaze scanned the sunny harbor view.
“When did your reading comprehension crash?” Levi asked.
Cal jerked his mind away from Grace and back to the task. “Pardon me?”
“You’ve been staring at your screen without any reaction or movement for twenty minutes, Cal,” Levi said, amused. “Either the contract is significantly more complex or you’re thinking about the owner of a certain dress shop in Brookwell.”
Calvin closed his laptop and sighed, the sound carrying in the quiet morning air. “Is it that obvious?”
“Especially to a man who’s been there,” Levi allowed. “But in Brookwell, news of that kiss is surely traveling.”
Cal wanted to believe his top client had only heard about the kiss because Grace had confided in Willow, but small towns were notorious for their rumor mills.
Levi’s expression softened. “I know what it’s like when the right woman is within reach,” he said with the quiet confidence of a man who’d made things work.
Cal couldn’t be sure of anything with Grace. Standing, he paced toward the bow, his hands gripping the rail. “I didn’t expect to feel so much,” he admitted. “She’s different. So am I, but she’s the same.” He swore. “And I want to help her, Levi. She’s carrying the weight of the shop, the house, and her grandmother’s legacy in town like it’s a penance.”
“According to Willow, she loves Brookwell. She’s happy here.”
“She’s alone,” Cal snapped. As if seeing her with someone else would’ve made her feel any better. “She had big dreams. And she deserves to see them come true. I have the resources to help her. To give her room to breathe in the process.”
Levi set his coffee aside and joined Cal, both of them watching the sunlight play over the water. “But you haven’t offered.”
“She’s prickly. I’m looking for the right moment.”
“A word of caution?” Levi offered. At Cal’s nod, he continued. “I had similar thoughts about Willow’s situation,” Levi admitted. “I was sure I could help her find the right investment, happy to be an angel investor and use my resources as her shield.”
“But?”
“She didn’t need that from me. Didn’t need me to take the lead. Hell, she still doesn’t.” He chuckled. “What she needed was a partner. Advice if andonlywhen she asked for it. My urge to step in and handle things only annoyed her. She’s intelligent and capable and me making it all about what I could give was cheating both of us.”
“Grace is stubborn,” Calvin muttered, the memory of her fierce defense of the quilting club’s peach preserves bringing a reluctant smile to his face. “She backed our festival initiatives in the meeting, despite looking at me as if I was about to pave over her heart.”
“Brookwell is her heart and her strength,” Levi said. “They got her through the worst year of her life. You weren’t here.”
“Because she wouldn’t allow it.” Cal shoved at his hair. “Which was the right call. I would’ve been a burden.”
“Hardly,” Levi disagreed. “I know you. But the point is you both made choices in the moment. Choices, I’d say, that served you well. You’ve conquered where you needed to. Doesn’t itmake sense that while you were building your empire, she was doing the same thing?”
