Of all the wacky coincidences. The corporate tenant wasn’t a nameless executive from a nationally acclaimed marketing firm. It was Calvin.
She almost wished for a serial killer.
This was too personal. Too real.
Tears stung the back of her throat as the fleeting relief that a criminal wasn’t casing her shop shattered, replaced by a fierce, hopeless ache.
CHAPTER 3
Calvin Lynwood dragged his gaze away from the departing tail lights down the block. He should’ve just gone straight up to the apartment and stayed there. But he’d been desperate to see her again.
Grace.
The familiar memory of her smiling up at him, her blue eyes dancing with laughter, her red curls shot with gold from the sunshine stole his breath. That image of their last day together, walking through the botanical garden near campus, was etched on his heart.
Permanently.
He’d tried to box it up and shove it to the back of his mind, but it never stayed there for long. Some piece of his soul had gone with her when she’d dropped out of college. He’d been so mad at first, then so worried for her, that he hadn’t noticed right away. Moving toward his goals without her left him hollow. Sure, he’d been proud of himself when he hit milestones or received accolades for his work. But every time he’d earned a celebration, he’d been wishing for her smile to make it complete.
He was hoping like hell to find some closure over these next couple of weeks. His marketing firm had booked the apartmentfor the next twelve months, but Cal didn’t plan to be here the whole time.
Levi Garrison was his top client, the anchor of the firm, but there were other clients and campaigns that required his attention.
Resigned that any reintroduction would happen tomorrow at the earliest, Cal headed to the back of the building and climbed the stairs to the apartment. The adrenaline of the cop stopping to question him was all but gone. The minor inconvenience amused him and fueled his determination.
He hadn’t expected the police, but then again, he’d forgotten how watchful small towns could be, especially around their own. He hoped whoever called it in didn’t bother Grace. Hopefully the lieutenant cleared all that up when he explained the situation.
Cal liked the cop. He’d been polite and even apologized once he’d seen the lease agreement.
It seemed surreal to be in Brookwell after hearing about the town and Grace’s family boutique for so long. Back in college, when he thought they had forever, he’d put too many other things ahead of joining her for a visit.
He tossed the thought on to the growing pile of regrets.
Using the code, he unlocked the apartment door to look around. Some part of him had expected racks of out of season clothing. Grace had told him so many tales of exploring what had been primarily storage throughout her childhood. Tonight, the apartment was a study in neutrals, without being bland or boring. Calming sea-glass green and soft ocean blue offered contrast throughout the open main living space in the throw pillows on the couch and overstuffed chair, the tile backsplash, and linens in the small kitchen.
“Wow.”
He left his bags at the end of the island that divided the kitchen from the sitting area and went exploring. The bathroom,more blues and greens, was compact but sufficient. The bedroom was spacious, the queen bed looked brand new and the window overlooked Central Avenue.
The sign for Palmetto Perk made him smile with pure satisfaction. The grand opening was only days away and it was likely to be the best one yet.
Cal let the curtain drop closed and went back for his luggage. For a man who traveled as much as he did, he should be doing back flips. This tidy apartment outranked his usual accommodations by a mile.
Instead, worry for Grace put an itch between his shoulder blades. She must be in a significant financial crisis to turn a place she’d adored into rental income. Just one reason he’d moved lightning fast when he saw the property come on the market.
Well, he could fix the financial issues. Assuming she let him.
Her business model was the reason he’d been standing on the corner, evaluating the window displays and the street-facing branding. Overall, it was exactly the way she’d described it all those years ago. He didn’t know yet if that was a positive or negative.
The coastal-cottage color palette was charming, sun-faded, resilient. Potted greenery flanked the door without crowding the entrance, adding to the welcoming vibe. From what he’d learned through his research and interviews with Levi and Willow, she put a chalkboard sign out during business hours to share sales and styling ideas.
And now he lived above her store—for the immediate future anyway. A definite plus for him, but he couldn’t be sure if she’d agree.
With his clothes in the closet and his shaving kit in the bathroom, he went back out to check the status of the kitchen. The property manager had gone above and beyond, arranging for a grocery delivery before his arrival.
Checking the fridge and cabinets, he found everything he’d asked for. Impressed, he sent an email thank you note immediately. He had what he needed for a couple of meals when he was in the mood to cook, along with coffee and other convenience foods.
Of course, he wouldn’t be cooped up in the apartment entirely. His role here was to get out and explore the town, the local restaurants, and the entertainment options. Levi had asked Cal to come out for a first-hand evaluation of the area so they could brainstorm ways to improve revenue and impact for the annual music festival.
