“You know what, don’t answer that. I... I know I’ve been a workaholic—”
“We both were.”
“But you had good reason, and an end goal that was clearly defined. I should have been there for you this week.”
Her cheeks slackened with a twinge of regret that comes with a breakup. Even a necessary one. “Yeah, you should have. All for the best though.”
His smile reached his eyes this time. “You seem really happy.”
“I am. You and I will always be good friends. Grady is... Grady. He’s got this honest, thoughtful, passionate way about him.”
“Which is exactly why Patricia doesn’t understand him.”
“True. Mostly, I feel comfortable being my odd, quirky self around him.”
“You’re not odd.”
“Do you know how much effort it takes to not mention weird things at social functions? Remember the time I told one of your clients that there really is more than one way to skin a cat?”
He chuckled. “You do occasionally say some gross things.”
Snorting, Claire covered a hand over her mouth and nodded. “Sorry about that. I promise to behave myself tonight.”
“I can’t ask you to be my fiancée now. This would take the awkward in this stark mansion to new heights.”
“I got the Parson’s job. Grady already knows I promised you this first. If all those bigwigs that Patricia groomed and enticed to hear you out are traversing these roads to meet you, I’ll be your cheerleader.”
“I know you never wore a pleated skirt and did cartwheels across the football field.”
“Hell no. And I know you were the slick, rocker-wannabe Ryder back in those days. Football gear or no, I think you were as quirky as me. Just less nerdy.”
“Yeah, you may be right.” He nudged her foot and smiled softly. “Thanks, Claire. I wouldn’t have survived the last two years without you.”
“Damn right. But, ditto. Now, if we can all survive tonight...”
Breathing slowly inand out, counting rhythmically so he wouldn’t hyperventilate and pass out, Grady inched down the hall. It was stupid. Days. Just days. He shouldn’t be doing anything so foolish. What if she said no?
Cool and heavy in his pocket, the metal band circled a thousand doubts in his mind. Not of Claire, but... The timing was epically awful. Hardly more than a week. He couldn’t know already. But he did. Did she?
Maybe this was why he got dumped so much? Too chickenshit to make a big move. Or, leaping ten steps ahead of where he should be.
A few nights back, he’d heard Patricia telling Ryder she was glad he hadn’t bought a ring yet, as she’d been saving her grandmother’s ring for him. Far too embarrassing to be engaged to a Mallory without a dazzling diamond on her finger. Patricia had sent Ryder to fetch it from the box of heirlooms she had set aside for him. So, Grady raided his own box of heirlooms and found their great-grandmother’s ring that he had inherited. The band was simpler, but lovely, and much more Claire.
Grady paused outside of the blue suite, bracing his knees tight before he passed out from a full-on panic attack, equally terrified of Claire being present or absent. One final muster of his courage, prepared for rejection, or the dreadedI’ll think about it, he opened the door.
Her legs were draped over the arm of the leather club chair, her head leaned back over the opposite arm. Hazel eyes twinkling when she saw him, she grinned and bit her lip.
Phone to her ear, she was deep in conversation with someone. “There’s snow. Tons of it. I almost died in it.” Chuckling, Claire paused and listened to the other end of her call. “Ok, kidding. I wouldn’t have died. Probably. Maybe I would have. Regardless, I survived... It was a freak storm... Mom, stop, don’t let it scare you from Foothills... Grady drove through hell to rescue me... Yes, he kept me warm all night.” Filled with another bout of laughter, she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, the laughter on the other end as bright as hers. “I miss you, Mom... I’m not kidding. Put the house on the market. Dad can work anywhere, and you’ve been looking for an excuse to slow down anyway. You’ve both been wanting out of Phoenix for a while now.”
Grady’s breath hitched. He was in so deep. What was he thinking? Way too soon.
After placing a silent upside-down kiss on her lips, he dropped into the other chair and rested his elbows on his knees, too restless to settle. She chatted with her mom a moment longer, then promised to email their flight information before hanging up. No wonder she was so comfortable in her own skin. Her parents sounded incredibly supportive.
She spun around in the chair to mirror his position and faced him, their knees inches apart. Her knees jiggled in excitement. “I’ve almost convinced my parents to move up here. My brothers will take more convincing. Dad’s already packing his bags. He’s always hated the desert.”
“I am genuinely looking forward to meeting them. I talked Ryder into giving me his return ticket, and he’s going to head straight to his next meeting in Portland. Honestly, I don’t think it’s out of kindness, I think he’s avoiding the breakup packing.”
“You might be right. He doesn’t do emotion. What if I were to cry? He’d be so uncomfortable.”
