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 apartment for 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.
He had considered admitting his personal connection with one of the oldest family businesses in town but ultimately chose to wait. It wasn’t a conflict of interest and he didn’t want Levi to have any concerns about his focus or commitment to the real job.
His phone buzzed on the countertop and seeing Levi’s image, he snapped it up. “Lynwood,” he answered.
“Hey, you made it.” Levi sounded happier every time they spoke. Cal couldn’t quite suppress his jealousy. “Welcome to Brookwell. Everything good at the apartment?”
“Yes.” He leaned back against the countertop, admiring the whole space again. “Thanks for the heads-up. It’s perfect.”
“No trouble with the law or anything?”
“Wow.” Cal strolled toward the windows, thinking he should’ve made note of security cameras on the street. “News travels fast around here.”
Levi chuckled. “It does. Although it was the grapevine-express for me. The owner of the apartment is Willow’s best friend.”
“Your fiancée called the cops on me?”
“No. Grace Teague owns the Beach Belle and when the cops notified her about the mix-up, she called Willow.”
“Sounds like a small town doing their best work,” Cal grumbled.
“Uh-huh. Care to tell me why I had to hear about your history with Grace through Willow?”
Cal did some quick mental gymnastics. Levi was a client. His most-important client. With years of history, they interacted more as friends now, but Cal tried to mind the boundaries.
“I haven’t seen her since college,” he managed, keeping his voice even. Her story wasn’t his to share. If Levi knew anything about Grace’s education getting cut short, it would be from sources other than Cal. “We were close back then, but my feelings for her are irrelevant to your priorities.”
It was true. Reconnecting with Grace, building a bridge strong enough that she’d accept his help, wouldn’t have any bearing on his work for Levi.
“If you’re sure.”
“One hundred percent.”
“Great,” Levi declared. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Cal slipped the phone into his pocket. Restless, he thought about taking a walk and changed his mind. No sense dragging the cops out again tonight. Better to just get to work.
He carried his laptop bag to the big chair and got comfortable. Thanks to the instructions from the property manager, he was soon online and checking his office email for any urgent messages.
With no easy distraction to be found, he reviewed his notes on the new Palmetto Perk before poking at his initial ideas for Grace and the Beach Belle. He wasn’t delusional. He wouldn’t just march into her boutique tomorrow and hand over a portfolio of ideas to enhance her bottom line.
The Grace who lived in his memory was vibrant and energetic, proud of the business her grandmother had built. Though he hadn’t seen her in years, he knew she would be devastated if she failed that legacy.
This apartment confirmed his suspicions that their roles had reversed.
Back in college, he’d hidden his insecurities behind big dreams and bravado.
Unlike Grace, who’d attended Duke by choice with the help of her family of smart money managers, he’d been skating by on scholarships, grants, and loans.
When she’d returned home to care for her mother, part of him expected her to return. Within a couple of weeks, maybe a semester. Of course, she hadn’t. Her mother’s illness had been all-consuming and she’d shut him out. Shut out the world.
Calvin had doubled down on his studies, made the most of every opportunity.
He might’ve started at Duke on an empty bank account, feeling like an imposter, but by graduation day, he’d had a job, a dream, and a plan to make it come true.
He’d gone out and earned the money, the title, the confidence.
He’d built the life he believed Grace needed and become the man she could rely on.
And somehow never found the courage to test his success and show up on her doorstep to offer her everything.
He wasn’t sure which was worse: him hiding in his career or her stuck working the family business and clearly struggling to keep her head above water.
He wasn’t here to romance her or find out if anything remained of their original spark. Not yet. His first focus was to stage a rescue, preferably designed in a way that she thought it was her idea.
Grace Teague was too independent to just ask for help, but she clearly needed it.
And he finally had the wealth and means to give it to her.
He’d just bought the corporate lease to her apartment, effectively forcing his way into her life.
Now, he just had to convince her to be okay with him sticking around.
At least until she was back on her feet.