Page 46 of The One You Want

His chest puffed out a little and he dropped his arms, looking pleased. “Thanks. It’s my favorite place tobe.”

“I can see why.” I shook my head, lifting a hand to touch the soft purple petals of a bouquet of wildflowers. “It’sgorgeous.”

He met my gaze, his eyes shining and happy. “Thank you,Jenny.”

I held his gaze for a long moment, something tightening in my chest that I couldn’t name. Maybe it was just nerves, knowing what I had come here to ask for. But the thought of breaking this moment with talk of lies and manipulation made me feelsick.

“What are you working on?” I asked instead, taking a step towards thetable.

“I’m getting some things ready for the next market,” he said eagerly, joining me at the side of his workspace. “The first of my fall flowers are coming in, so I thought I’d start adding some arrangements with yellows and oranges.” He picked up the bucket of mums he’d been working with when I came in. “Aren’t thesegorgeous?”

“Lovely, I think is what you told them before,” Iteased.

He lifted his chin, defiant, as he patted the flowers. “Youarelovely,” he told them, and Ilaughed.

“What’s all this?” I asked, pointing at the hanging bunches over ourheads.

“I’m drying out some herbs,” he explained. “I have rosemary and mint and basil. I thought I could start offering them at the market and if they do well, introduce them at thestore.”

I took in a deep breath, the savory scents above mixing with all the flowers on the air. No wonder it smelled so damn good inhere.

“I’ve also been playing around with some essential oils,” he continued, his voice taking on that excited, almost breathless tone it got when he was really into his work. “I haven’t gotten the method down solid yet, but if I can make it work, that would be another income stream for the wintermonths.”

“Wow,” I murmured, looking around at the evidence of all his hard work. Grant was definitely not someone who had to worry about being directionless in life. When faced with the multitude of challenges involved in making his business work on this island year round, he didn’t just pack it in or give up or turn to a different, easier option. Instead he figured out different ways he could continue to do the thing he loved, even if it meant focusing on herbs or essential oils for a few months, instead of flowerarrangements.

“What’s going on?” he asked, peering at me closely. “You look a littlepale.”

I shook my head, trying to banish the sick, envious feeling in my belly. I wanted a passion like Grant’s. I wanted to be good enough at something I loved to provide a solid income forme.

Just like that, my resolve to go through with this ridiculous plan strengthened. I was going to find a career I cared about if it was the last thing I did. And if asking Grant to help me keep my grandmother off my back helped me to get there, I was going for it, no matter how embarrassing it was toask.

“Grant, I need your help,” I blurtedout.

He looked concerned now. “Sit down, Jenny. You look like you’re going to besick.”

I took a seat at his worktable while he riffled through a small fridge I hadn’t noticed before. He pulled out two bottles of orange juice and brought them over, setting one in front of me before taking a seat across the table. “Okay. Now tell me what you need helpwith.”

I fiddled with the cap of the bottle. “You remember that guy from the bar?” His face immediately darkened and I hurried on before he could say anything. “My grandmother is being really pushy abouthim.”

“Is he still following youaround?”

“Um.” I had seen Bradford once since our talk at the cafe but he hadn’t approached me. Of course, that was after I told him I was in a serious relationship with the man sitting across from me. “He’s backed off a bit,” I said. “But my grandmotherhasn’t.”

He frowned. “Haven’t you told her you’re notinterested?”

I bit back a sigh. He didn’t know Caroline Hillman. “Here’s the thing, Grant,” I said, trying to call up every ounce of courage I possessed. “My grandparents have the ability to cut me off from my trust fund.” My cheeks warmed, shame spreading through me. He must have thought I was such a spoiled brat. “Which would be a problem since I don’t have a steady source ofincome.”

He was still frowning. “They’d really do that? Just because you don’t want to date thisguy?”

“They might,” I said glumly. “Regardless, I really want to find a job, one I like. I don’twantto rely on their money or my trust fund. I want to be able to take care of myself. And I want to enjoy whatever work I end updoing.”

He watched me carefully. “Good for you, Jenny. Is that what you need my helpwith?”

“Kind of,” I muttered, then reached for my juice. I took a long gulp, steeling myself. “Not exactly.” I forced myself to meet his eyes. “My grandmother isn’t going to leave me alone while I try to figure this out. I know she won’t. I need to buy myself sometime.”

“Okay…”

“I told her we were dating,” I blurted out before I could stop myself. Across the table, Grantfroze.