Her breath hitched. Grant had bought it?
As if called by her thoughts, the door to the shop opened, and Grant emerged. Blue paint splattered his T-shirt, and a streak of it marred his jeans. There was even a bit in his hair. Grant was followed by a man Sara didn’t recognize. He was wearing a cowboy hat and boots.
Grant blinked, as if shocked to see her there, but quickly recovered. “Hey, Sara.”
“H-Hi.”
The man in the cowboy hat stepped forward and extended his hand. “So you’re the lovely Sara Wilson. I’m Boone Smith. Pleasure to finally meet you, ma’am.”
Sara shook his hand. “Ma’am? Am I really that old?”
He laughed. “I’m from Texas, and ma’am is required. It sounds good with my drawl.”
Boone was extremely handsome, with light brown hair and sharp green eyes. Paired with his charm and drawl, she had little doubt he was a hit with the ladies. But she didn’t feel so much as a blip when they touched.
“Boone is the buddy I told you about,” Grant said. “The one whose brother is a singer for The Dixie Kings.”
She tapped her forehead with her hand. “Of course, I’m so sorry. I didn’t recognize the name. Thank you so much for helping to arrange the band’s performance tomorrow night. I can hardly believe they’re coming.”
“Oh, they are.” Boone clapped Grant on the shoulder. “For this guy, my brother would do just about anything. You know he saved my life.”
Her gaze swung to Grant, then focused back on Boone. “He did?”
“Absolutely. It’s a long story, and I’d love to tell you sometime. Right now, I have a dinner date with a beautiful lady at the diner.” He winked. “Don’t want to keep her waiting. See y’all later.”
Sara watched, half-amused and half-fascinated, as Boone ambled down the street. “How long has he been in town?”
“Four hours.”
“And he has a date already?”
“Yep. He ran into Harmony Phillips at Coop’s Coffee a few hours ago. They hit it off.”
Sara shook her head and laughed. Grant joined her. As their laughter died off, an awkward silence settled between them. She licked her lips, then gestured to the building. “You bought it?”
“I did.”
Her heart picked up speed. “Then you really are going to stay?”
“I am.” Grant stuck his hands in his pockets. “I’ve been thinking about getting out of the navy for a while, but I couldn’t see what a life beyond the military would look like. Coming home was the final shove I needed. I’ve been running from Hidden Hollows for a long time, but this town is exactly where I need to be.”
He took a deep breath and faced her. “Sara, I’m sorry for what happened last night. I sprang a lot on you all at once, and you’re already going through a stressful time with the library.”
She traced a crack in the sidewalk with her shoe. “I’m the one who should apologize. The thing I said about Jared wasn’t okay. I didn’t mean it.”
“But it was true. None of this would be happening if Jared was alive. That’s a hard pill to swallow. Not just for me, but for you too. I get it.”
Relief rushed over her, uncoiling some of the knot in her stomach. Grant had managed to put into words a feeling she’d been wrestling with but couldn’t articulate.
He met her gaze. “I know you’re scared, and I don’t blame you. One minute I’m saying I’ll never live in Hidden Hollows, the next I’m buying my dad’s old shop.”
“The switch is unsettling. I can’t tell if this is really going to last. If…” She took a fortifying breath. “If your feelings for me are temporary or the real deal.”
He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. Opening it, Grant removed a piece of paper and handed it to her. Sara unfolded it, immediately recognizing her own handwriting. It was a note she’d written to Grant and placed in one of the care packages. The message wasn’t anything special, but the edges of the paper were worn as if it’d been handled many times. “You kept this?”
“I kept them all.”
She lifted her gaze, and her heart stuttered at the look on Grant’s face. It was a mixture of love and vulnerability.
“I carry one of your notes with me everywhere.” He drew closer. “Every mission, every country. When things went south and I needed something to hold on to, I’d pull out the message and read it. And think about you. Hope and pray at that moment you were happy.”
Her chin trembled, and a fresh wave of tears stung her eyes.
“You got me through a lot of dark days, Sara. While my commitment to Hidden Hollows wavered, my love for you never did.”
She stepped forward, stumbling in her race to hug him. He caught her in his strong arms. Held her close while tears ran down her cheeks. “You keep making me cry, Grant Edwards.”
“I’m sorry.” He wiped the tears from her face. “I don’t want to make you cry. I just need you to understand where I’m coming from. This isn’t a fluke, Sara. I love you. I want a new life, and I want you and Ben to be a part of it.”
She believed him, but the fear still lingered. “My heart has been broken badly.”
“I know.” Grant kissed her forehead. “And what I’m asking for is a leap of faith. I get it. I also know that I’ve had a lot longer to sort through my feelings than you have. So take your time, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere.”
18 Grant
Grant lifted the suitcase and secured it in the trunk of his aunt’s car. The front door to the house opened, and Aunt Suzie bustled out with another bag. Grant hurried to intercept her. “I’ve got it.”
She smiled gratefully. “Thanks. I think your mother packed enough stuff for a year.”
The suitcase was heavy, but his mom would be staying in treatment
