Chapter 19
Eleven years ago
In the end Shelby didn’t tell Brendan about Gray as she broke up with him. She was too worried about how Brendan and his friends
might respond. She didn’t worry she’d break Brendan’s heart. In fact, she suspected he’d move on quickly—he was never without
a girlfriend for long. Once he had another girl on his arm, maybe he wouldn’t care who Shelby was with.
She ended the relationship during her lunch break the day after the Fourth of July. He responded with a curled lip and a who cares attitude, making her wonder why she’d even been with him at all.
He and his family had such a great reputation in the community, but she was beginning to see he didn’t live up to it. Conversely
Gray, who’d been all but condemned by the town, seemed the bigger person.
I broke up with him , she texted Gray as she walked back to the bookshop, her steps light now that she’d done the deed. Gray had texted her first
thing this morning and she scanned the simple text as she awaited his reply. Good morning, Sunshine.
Her lips curved into a smile as warmth stole over her that had nothing to do with the hot sun high overhead.
A minute later his response appeared. How did it go?
Uneventful. I didn’t tell him about you though. Thought it might be better.
I’m glad. I was worried about how he might respond toward you.
He was worried about her. Shelby’s heart turned over in her chest. Who knew Gray Briggs could be so sweet?
Have you told anyone about us? he texted.
She could hardly believe there was anything to tell. But every time she remembered his kiss, every time she remembered the
way he touched her, the way he gazed at her, she craved him yet again.
Not yet , she replied.
Okay, good. Let’s talk first. Can we meet up before my shift at the hardware store? Around 3:30?
I can meet you behind the bookshop for a few minutes. It was a scraggly yard, sheltered by buildings on both sides, that went unused. She’d tried to talk Gram into glamming it
up for book club meetings but hadn’t had any luck so far.
Perfect. See you then.
The minutes dragged by as Shelby anticipated seeing him again. Would it be the same as it had been last night, or had the
storm and darkness woven some kind of magic spell around them?
Maybe in the light of day the magic would be gone. Maybe he would wonder what he’d ever been thinking. They were so different.
He was exciting and interesting and real . She was a little... boring. She read books and got good grades and excelled at small talk. Suddenly all that seemed so
trivial.
As her nerves jangled, she worked out a plan that would allow her a few minutes’ privacy. Her grandma was working downstairs
in her office. Shelby would offer to take the empty book boxes to the dumpster behind Cedar Lake Gallery—a daily task Gram
hated. No one would notice if it took Shelby a few extra minutes. Charlotte could easily cover the store.
At three fifteen she entered the office to find Gram scanning new books into the system. “Things are a little slow upstairs. I’ll take the boxes out for you.”
“Bless you, dear. That’s so thoughtful.”
Guilt pricked as Shelby gathered the broken-down boxes, took them out the back door, and hauled them to the dumpster they
shared with the gallery. Deed done, her heart thumped heavily as she approached the bookshop from the alley. When she rounded
the corner, there was Gray, sitting on the back porch, legs dangling over the side.
At the sight of Shelby, Gray dismounted the porch and headed toward her, his gaze sharpening on her as they closed the space
between them. He was drawn to her as if she were magnetized. Didn’t stop until she was in his arms and his lips were on hers.
She seemed just as eager for him. Relief enveloped him, quickly followed by desire. She embraced him as he kissed her with
the same fervor she brought out in him.
By the time he put some space between them, they were both breathing heavily. He framed her face with his hands as he consumed
her with eager eyes. “I missed you.”
Her luscious lips turned up. “I missed you too.”
He placed a soft kiss on her mouth and found her lips warm and soft. “You are far too distracting.”
“Me? You’re the distracting one.”
His gaze dropped to her mouth. “How much time do you have?”
“Just a few minutes.”
Not enough time for what he had in mind.
He sighed and put space between them, then took her hands, mostly to keep his own from wandering.
But also because he was kind of afraid she might not like what he had to say, and he was loath to mess up something that had barely begun.
“Listen... What would you say if—what if we kept this between us for a while?”
She nodded. “I was actually thinking the same thing.”
He blinked. But why should he be surprised? She was probably ashamed to be seen with him.
“I started worrying this morning about how Brendan might respond. That’s why I didn’t tell him about us. I was afraid he’d
feel as if you’d taken something away from him. He and his friends have already badgered you so much—I don’t want it escalating.
Brendan will move on quickly enough, and when he does... we can let people know then.”
A weight lifted from his shoulders. She didn’t want to make him her dirty little secret. She was worried for him . She truly saw who Brendan was now. It was such a relief for someone else to see it too. Such a relief to have someone on
his side for a change.
Her gaze drifted over his face as if she were trying to decipher his thoughts. “What?”
“That’s really sweet of you. But I don’t care about Brendan and his goons, Shelby. I can take care of myself.”
“I know that. But there’s no reason you should have to put up with that needlessly. If that wasn’t your concern, why were
you wanting to keep this on the down-low?”
He twisted the words around in his head, hoping he could express himself in a way that would make her understand. “We both
know my social standing leaves a lot to be desired. I just don’t want this dragging you down.”
She tilted a smile at him. “I’m not worried about that.”
That was only because she’d never been anything but loved and adored. It was hard to understand what being an outcast felt
like until it happened to you. “I don’t want to take that chance.”
“I don’t want to keep us a secret forever, Gray. When people see that we’re together, they’ll give you a chance. And once they get to know you, they’ll see you for the great guy you are.”
Oh boy, was she deluded. He tempered his words. “That’s a great thought, Sunshine. But it doesn’t really work that way.”
“How do you know?”
He gave a brittle laugh. “I just do.”
Her chin hiked up. “Well, I think you’re wrong.”
He kind of loved that little stubborn streak she had going. He gave her a peck on the lips. “We might not have the same reasoning.
But at least we agree that we should keep things quiet for a while. So let’s just do that. We can worry about the rest later.”
“I can’t think when you kiss me.”
“Good,” he said. And kissed her some more.