Chapter 44
Gray tried to put on a brave face as Shelby walked him to the door. But the boulder in his throat and grit in his eyes made
it almost impossible to pretend this parting wasn’t wrenching him in half.
He tightened his hand on hers as if he could keep her at his side. But drawing this out would only make it harder on both
of them. She seemed to think they could make things work, even from a distance. But he wasn’t so naive. He couldn’t live here,
and she couldn’t leave Grandville and her gram’s shop. Where did that leave them?
When they reached the door she fell into his arms. And what could he do but wrap her up tight? Memorize the sweet scent of
her hair? The slight press of her body? These impressions would have to last him a lifetime. Because Shelby was it for him.
There was no one else.
He couldn’t believe he’d found her only to lose her again. Why did things always have to end in ruin for him? And just when
he was starting to think he might be worthy of good things.
“This isn’t the end,” she said. “I’ll get the store back on solid ground again and then I’ll be able to sell it.”
“I don’t want you to give up this place, Shel. You were meant for this store.”
“Then I’ll hire someone to run it and move to Riverbend Gap.”
He closed his eyes as he slid his fingers into her hair. He knew better than to get his hopes up. They were in a fight they couldn’t win. He should know—he’d been in it most of his life.
“I’m not giving up hope.”
“That’s one of the things I love most about you.” He found the willpower to pull back. Cradled her face in his hands and gave
her a long look. “Focus on saving the shop, okay? It’ll make me smile thinking of you here in your gram’s store. She’d be
so proud of you.”
“Will you accept Gavin’s offer of ownership?”
He hadn’t even thought that far ahead. “I don’t know. We’ll see.”
“Call me when you get home.” Another tear spilled over.
She was killing him. He swept the tear away. “Honey... maybe it would be best if we just...” He couldn’t even finish
the sentence.
“No.”
Want tugged so hard it took all his willpower to resist the tide. “So... what? We keep seeing each other now and again?
Talk on the phone? FaceTime? And then what? It’ll always come back to where we are right now. An untenable situation. It’s
already ripping me in half to leave you.”
“Not if I’m able to move there. Don’t give up on us. Promise me.”
She had him heart and soul. He could deny her nothing. “Okay. I promise.”
Shadow nudged them apart.
Shelby’s lips wobbled and she reached down to pet him. “I’ll miss you too, Shadow. Be good for your daddy.”
The dog, clueless, wagged his rear end from side to side.
Shelby turned her attention back to Gray and their gazes tangled for a long, pain-filled moment. Her eyes said everything
that was in her heart.
Gray framed her face and brushed her lips with one last lingering kiss. When he drew away, he dredged up a smile. “I’ll call you.” Then he opened the door and slipped outside with Shadow before he could change his mind.
A minute later Gray pulled from the curb, offering Shelby a forlorn wave. As he drove away a million emotions rose like malicious
vines, entangling him. But he couldn’t give way to them yet—because he had one last stop to make before leaving Grandville.