Page 5 of From Grumpy to Forever
But I certainly didn’t remember she was a very cute, way too fucking perky granddaughter.
While I sat there, assessing the dilapidated inn, Avery pulled in behind me. Of course, her car was a lemon-yellow Volkswagen. There were probably giant daisy decals on the—yup. Just as I suspected, when I stepped out of the truck, I saw the big flower stickers on the side of her car.
I shouldn’t have been surprised.
“Did I keep you waiting?” She bounced from the car, her ponytail swinging and her breasts?—
No. I had no business looking at her tits.
Even if her T-shirt was stretched tight over them, showcasing just how full and round and absolutely perfect they were.
“You didn’t.” With a growl, I shook my head and grabbed the toolbox from the back of my truck. “Let’s get this over with.”
She led the way up the porch, which gave me a nice view of her ass in her jeans. Just like her breasts, it was full and round and very fucking tempting.
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this, Reid. I know there are going to be lots of challenges with the inn, but I guess I didn’t expect the very first one to be getting in.” Avery kept up a steady stream of chatter as we made our way to the back of the inn, and the troublesome door.
“Do you ever stop talking?”
Avery stopped walking so abruptly, that I tripped over myself to keep from crashing into her. She spun around to face me, the pretty smile still on her face. “I do, actually,” she said. “But it’s usually when I’m quiet that you need to worry.”
“Worry?”
She winked at me and, with a flip of her ponytail, turned and kept walking.
I was going to kill Grayson for tricking me into helping this woman. Not only was she an outsider—and she was, no matter what anyone else said—she was infuriatingly upbeat. That might not be a completely negative trait for most people, but after the day I’d had, I’d much rather be alone with a cold beer than deal with this level of sunshine.
“This is the door.” Avery waved her arm in the direction of the only door on the back side of the building. “It’s the only key I was given. The rest are supposed to be inside. I don’t know what’s wrong, but the door just won’t budge.”
No shit it wouldn’t open.
It didn’t take a handyman to see that the door was painted shut and obviously hadn’t been used in more years than the inn had been abandoned.
“Who gave you the key?”
“The lawyer.” She held out a ring with one key on it. “Along with the paperwork telling me this place is mine.”
“So your grandparents just left it to you, and you didn’t know?”
“My grandfather passed away last month.” It was the first time since I’d met her that her bright smile dimmed a little.
“I’m sorry,” I said genuinely. “Mr. Walker was a good man.”
Avery nodded curtly. “He was never the same after my grandma died,” she said. “And when my parents moved him into the city, well…” She shrugged and squeezed her eyes shut for a second. “Anyway.” When she opened her eyes again, some of the brightness had returned. “Turns out they decided when I was young that they wanted me to have it but never told anyone.” She blew out a sigh. “But I couldn’t be happier, and I’m going to do my best to bring it back to life.” She flashed me that pretty smile that somehow had already started to grow on me. “Just as soon as I get in.”
“Right.” I took the key from her despite the fact I already knew there was no way it was going to open the door I was looking at. “You’re sure it’s not for the front door?”
She nodded.
“You tried?”
“Of course I tried it.” Avery put her hands on her hips and her lips twisted into a frown, making me chuckle.
“Oh. You can smile.”
“That’s not a smile.” I turned away and tried the key in the door. Even if it was made for the lock, there was no way it was going to open it. “This is a lot more than a seized lock. Do you want me to break it open?”
“Break it?”
