"Alright," he said. "You wanna know why?" He stepped back, giving me a full view of the billionaire hotshot he'd become. "Because I wanted to come back as the real me – meaning the guy I am now. No stories. No faking it. No more hiding behind a toolbox or half a name. I wanted you to see it all – and still want me anyway."
I was just starting to reply when he added with a smile, "AndI wanted you to meet Mom so you'd know I’m serious." His expression turned sheepish. "So I had to wait."
"You mean…for the end of the bet?"
"Notjustthat," he said with a laugh. "For Mom to get back from her cruise."
It was so wonderful and old-fashioned, I hardly knew what to say. There was something so small-town nice about the way Griff had approached all of this, like he was folding his life into mine.
Even so, a tiny knot of uncertainty settled in my stomach. "So…I'm guessing you're looking to return to Chicago?"
"Why do you say that?"
"Because that's who you are, right?" I tried to laugh. "A hotshot billionaire?"
"I'mnobillionaire." But then he winked. "I checked the markets. As of two hours ago, I'm still a few dollars shy."
I gave him a playful swat to the chest. "Oh, come on. You know what I mean."
"So, you wanna know where home is?" He pulled me close and spoke into my hair. "It's wherever you are, Maisie Pickett."
I gave a choked little laugh. "Seriously?"
"And hey, if you want me to work at the shop, that's fine by me."
About this, he had to be joking, so I pulled back with a laugh, eyeing the back room. "Well, at least you wouldn't need to sleep here."
He looked confused. "I'm not following."
"I just mean…now that the bet's over, you won't need to bunk in the back room to escape that godawful fish smell."
But already, Griff was shaking his head. With a hint of amusement, he asked, "You thinkthat'swhy I was staying here? To escape the smell?"
"Notjustthe smell," I said with a wrinkle of my nose. "That whole boathouse, it reallywasawful."
He gave me a look so warm, it curled around my heart. "Yeah, but that wasn't the reason I was bunking in the shop."
"Oh." I tried to think but came up empty. "So,whatwas the reason?"
"I was keeping an eye out."
"For what?" But instantly, I knew. "Wait, you mean for those two guys?"
His gaze locked on mine. "Or anyone who would hurt you."
"Sothat'swhy you were staying here?" And now, I could hardly breathe. "Seriously?"
"No joke." He drew me back in, close and warm."Someonehad to watch your back."
Something swelled in my chest – huge and warm and terrifying. "So…you stayed here…to protect me? And the shop?"
"Damn straight I did."
My heart squeezed so tight I almost couldn't speak. "You didn't have to do that."
"I didn't have to. Iwantedto." A smile crept into his voice. "Call it selfish."
I laughed against him. "Why selfish?"
