Chapter 3
“What?” Gray had heard the words. They just didn’t quite compute. Miss Viola had left him half of the bookstore? His gaze shot to
Shelby, who stared at him as if he’d just killed her cat.
Caleb shot to his feet, eyes hot and aimed straight at him. “You manipulated her. I know you stayed in touch with her, and
there’s no way she would’ve done this on her own.”
Gray frowned. “I didn’t know anything about this.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Liddy took Caleb’s arm. “Honey.”
“I refuse to accept this,” Shelby’s father said to Mr. Greenwood. “Mom always planned to leave Shelby the shop. She mentioned
it many times.”
“She did express that she wants the shop to continue under Shelby’s direction.”
Caleb glared at Gray. “She wouldn’t have done this without some kind of coercion.”
Mr. Greenwood cleared his throat. “I know this must be upsetting and you may not understand her reasons. But I assure you,
Miss Viola was adamant about this decision.”
“We must have some legal recourse,” Stanley said.
“There’s always that option. But your mother was of sound mind— there’s not a soul alive who would dispute that. Frankly, I don’t think you’d have a legal leg to stand on.”
As Mr. Greenwood rambled on about legalities, Gray’s gaze slid to Shelby. Her long dark lashes swept downward, hiding her
brown eyes. She clamped her lush lips together the way she’d always done when she was angry or about to cry. Which was the
case right now?
Either way he couldn’t blame her. He had no right to that bookshop. Maybe he’d helped Viola a bit from afar, but he hadn’t
even stepped foot inside the store since he’d left town eleven years ago. And the last thing he wanted was to hurt Shelby.
Time and distance had shown him what an idiot he’d been. Long before his tour in the Army was up, he’d realized he’d made
a terrible mistake. But it was far too late. He’d already lost her.
Maybe he could somehow use this opportunity to finally make things right. He so regretted the way he’d hurt her. And the weight
he’d carried for years seemed to get heavier by the day.
And seeing Shelby yesterday had stirred more than a desire for closure. At the first sight of her doe eyes, all those old
feelings resurfaced. And seeing her with her boyfriend at the funeral home, his arm draped around her chair, sent jealousy
roiling through him. He had no claim on Shelby. No right to these feelings. But they were there anyway.
Shelby lifted her eyes and narrowed them, pinning him with a flinty look.
Anger it is.
More anger. He would forfeit his share of the store. It was the least he could do. Maybe then she’d finally forgive him for
being such an idiot when he was a kid.
He opened his mouth to say so... just as Mr. Greenwood’s last words rang out. “Whatever her intentions, your grandmother
had your best interests at heart, Shelby. I can promise you that.”
She lowered her gaze to the table. Her fist closed around a tattered tissue.
Gray shut his mouth. No doubt he had a fair share of business acumen, but that wasn’t what this was about. Miss Viola had
made no secret of her wish for Shelby to forgive him. The woman had arranged this stunt to accomplish just that.
Maybe he could carry out Miss Viola’s wishes while still making an honorable decision regarding the bookstore.
He cleared his throat as he stood, and all eyes darted his way. “I’d like to talk to Shelby alone.”
“I’ll bet you would,” Caleb said.
Mr. Greenwood gathered his papers. “I’m finished conveying Miss Viola’s wishes, so I’ll excuse myself. Feel free to read through
the will and contact me with any questions you might have. You’re welcome to use the conference room as long as you like.”
Stanley stood and shook the attorney’s hand, thanking him for his time.
After Mr. Greenwood left, Shelby came to her feet, staring at Gray. Her eyes flashed and she lifted her elfin chin.
He’d seen that look a time or two. Gram had passed that stubborn gene right down to her granddaughter. Despite the gravity
of the situation, he felt a smile forming—and squashed it quickly.
Shelby addressed her family. “Why don’t you guys head on out while I have a word with Gray.”
Her dad frowned. “You sure, honey? I can stick around awhile. I don’t have to work today.”
“That’s okay, Dad. I’ll be fine. Really.”
“I’m staying,” Caleb said.
Liddy handed him the baby carrier. “No, you’re not. You’re coming with us.” Her eyes warned him not to argue.
Caleb aimed a scowl at Gray as Liddy made her way toward the door. Then he set a hand on Shelby’s arm. “My phone is on. Call me if you need anything. Anything at all.”
The office emptied, leaving Shelby and Gray utterly alone. Only the quiet hum of the air conditioner broke the silence. She
brushed back a tendril that had escaped her bun. Her hands were shaking. She folded her arms across her chest. “Is this where
you admit to manipulating Gram into giving you half her bookshop?”
“I don’t want her store, Shelby. Who do you take me for?”
“You don’t want me to answer that.”
“Fair enough. But I had no idea she was planning this and no desire to come back here at all, much less permanently.”
“Fine, then sign your half over to me and you can be on your way.”
He dragged his gaze from hers. Paced the length of the table.
She felt the ridiculous need to scuttle around the other direction just to keep the table between them. But he pivoted and
returned to where he was standing before. “You’ll need some help around the store until you find a replacement for your grandma.”
“I’m perfectly capable of hiring my own staff, thank you.”
“I want to help.”
“I don’t need your help.”
His stare was unwavering. “So you’re up to speed on the software for the POS system, the bookkeeping, the financials?”
Heat flooded her face. She fought the urge to squirm under his steady gaze. Drat him for being good at such things. And for
knowing she darn well wasn’t. “That’s none of your concern.”
His head tilted back a degree. He pocketed his hands. “I want to make you a proposal.”
“You’re very good at those—not so much on the follow-through though.”
Hurt flared in his eyes, there and gone.
She shouldn’t have said that. It wasn’t as if he’d technically proposed. They’d been too young for that. But they’d promised
their hearts to each other. That counted for something.
He offered a nod. “We’ll call it an offer then. I’ll stick around long enough to do a financial audit. That’ll need to be
done before you find a new bookkeeper anyway.”
“Can’t I just hire a CPA for that?”
“Sure, if you want to pay for it. I’m willing and able to do it for free. And I can step into your grandma’s position immediately
as I’m already proficient in Shopify. I helped her set it up.”
Gram hadn’t mentioned that. That would solve one problem—one big problem. But the last thing Shelby wanted was to be stuck
for days on end with Grayson Briggs. “Don’t you have a job back in Riverbend Gap? A life?”
“I can make arrangements. I’m due time off.”
“Why would you do this? You hate Grandville.”
He smirked. “It’s more that Grandville hates me, isn’t it?”
“Semantics. Answer my question.”
He took his time. “Why do you think your grandma did this?”
“That’s a question, not an answer.”
“All right, I’ll answer it then. She wanted us to put the past to rest. I think it must’ve meant an awful lot for her to have
done this. She loved you and she knew what the bookstore means to you. It wasn’t her intention to take it away from you—even
a piece of it.”
“And yet she did.”
“That brings us back to my offer.” His gaze sharpened on her. “If you allow me to stick around and help out for a couple weeks—that should be long enough to get things squared away and hire a replacement—I’ll sign over the 49 percent.”
Shelby’s lips parted. She snapped them back together. “Why would you do that? Isn’t this your dream—owning a business?”
“If I own a business someday, it’ll be because I’ve earned it.”
There had to be some trick here. She just couldn’t think clearly enough to figure out what it was.
“I have no desire to own a business in Grandville, Shelby.” He regarded her for a beat. “And maybe Gram isn’t the only one
who wants us to bury the hatchet.”
Shelby stiffened. “I’m not interested in some kind of reconciliation.”
“I’m only asking for a chance to make things right—as best I can. Maybe if I help you out, maybe if we spend a little time
together, we can work through this.”
That was exactly what she was afraid of. Gray used to have such a hold on her. She’d fallen fast and hard in a way she hadn’t
before or since. It had taken over a year to get past the heartbreak. That resentment she carried now was a block wall between
them—and it sounded as if he wanted to tear it down.
And yet... if he continued to hold 49 percent of the shop, that would tie them together indefinitely. She didn’t really
have much choice.
She regarded him through a veil of bravery. “You’ll sign papers to that effect? Two weeks at the bookshop and you’ll sign
over your share?”
“Whatever you draw up.”
There was nothing but sincerity in those pale blue eyes, in the resolute set of his jaw. But her trust in his word had evaporated
ages ago.
She lifted her chin. “Fine. Be at the store at eight o’clock tomorrow. I’ll have the paperwork, and once you sign it you can
get started.”