Birds tweeted from a nearby pine tree and a squirrel scuttled through the leaves. It was the ideal location for someone who wanted to escape the rest of the world.
Gray glanced around the wooded property and spoke softly. “No wonder she’s lonely.”
“She used to live near town but was having trouble meeting her deadlines.”
“So she moved to anisland?”
“Miss Phoebe’s a little... eccentric.”
The door swung open and the vivacious woman grabbed Shelby’s hands. “Sweetheart, I swear you just get prettier every time I set eyes on you.”
“You’re one to talk, Miss Phoebe.” The author had a head full of auburn curls and green eyes that sparkled. She wore brick-red lipstick that flattered her coloring and a light cardigan that skimmed her curvy figure. Her smile could light up a room.
That smile found Gray and her gaze swept over him from head to toe. “Well,hello there. Who do we have here?”
Shelby held back a chuckle. “This is Gray, the temporary business partner I told you about. Gray, meet Grandville’s famous author.”
“Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“Oh, pooh. Who is this ma’am you speak of? Call me Phoebe, honey. Shelby, you didn’t mention he was such a handsome devil.” She stepped aside, letting them through. “Come in, come in. Have a seat at the table, my sweets. I’ll get us some tea. I’m so eager for company. I’ve been neck-deep in this story for days on end...” Her voice trailed as she headed into the kitchen.
Gray followed Shelby into the small dining room and set the pizza box on the table. He leveled her with a stare. “You could’ve warned me.”
Shelby waved him off. “So she’s a bit of a flirt.”
“She practically purred when I passed by.”
Shelby smothered a laugh.
His gaze sharpened on her as she barely held back a smile. “‘Bearing gifts,’ huh? Could’ve mentioned I was one of them.”
Chapter 26
Eleven years ago
For weeks Gray and Shelby saw each other only in passing at school. There were many fleeting looks, tortured smiles, and whispered greetings. Each night as he lay in bed, waiting for sleep to claim him, it was all he could do to keep from calling her. So many times he’d tapped out texts.
How are you?
I miss you.
I can’t take this anymore.
He deleted them all. They had to see this through if he had any chance of winning over her father. She would let him know when and if her father softened. Gray just had to hope and pray it would all work out. Not easy for him—optimism wasn’t exactly his default.
A couple days after he and Shelby had last spoken on the phone, Gray handwrote an apology to her father. He poured out his heart in a way he never had before. Assured Mr. Thatcher that his intentions were honorable. That he’d like the chance to earn back the man’s trust. He read the note at least ten times before sticking it in the mailbox.
Mr. Thatcher never responded to the letter. But Gray hadn’t really expected him to. Still, Graywasgenuinely sorry—and he hoped it would eventually have a positive effect.
If Gray had thought his feelings for Shelby might fade with time, he would’ve been so wrong. They only grew deeper. Every time he caught sight of her down the hall or across the room, his chest ached for want of her. At times he was crippled with the fear that her father would never give him a chance and he’d be forced to live without her forever.
It was a suffocating kind of fear. The kind he’d felt last year when his dad was sentenced to sixteen years in prison, and Gray was sentenced to life without a father—or so it seemed.
He’d confided in his grandmother about Shelby and their hopes that her dad would eventually come around. She offered continual encouragement. Somehow when she was around he could believe Mr. Thatcher might learn to trust him. He could even believe he might be worthy of Shelby.
But most of the time he just missed her so much he was miserable and hopeless.
The days dragged by. The grass turned brown, the trees shed their leaves. The weather changed. But their situation remained the same.
