The Borrowed Boyfriend (25 page)

Allison had already trimmed expenses everywhere she could and had even taken a cut in her own salary. There was nowhere else to go. You couldn’t squeeze blood from a stone. She’d spent all last night thinking about it and had barely slept a wink. The knocking noises coming from Kate’s room hadn’t helped a lot either. Beau was still there and wasn’t leaving until Wednesday. She was definitely getting a new roommate soon, or maybe she’d go live on her own. Yeah, right. Like she could afford that, when she couldn’t even properly compensate her employees.

By the time the sun rose, Allison had decided on a plan. While she was proud, she certainly wasn’t stupid. She’d never let pride stand in the way of protecting the staff that had been so loyal to her. Allison had hired them at the outset, and they’d stuck with her through lean times. All of them were great people who shared her artistic vision. Plus, they were individuals with their own financial demands and families. She couldn’t let them down.

The sweet aroma of Grady’s roses had filled the room throughout the wee hours of the morning, reminding her of his proposition. He’d said that Total Wines helped the companies it took over by offering greater security and benefits. Could Allison really believe him? It was difficult to know without thoroughly examining his offer. Yet, rather than consider it, she’d rejected it out of hand. Perhaps that’s because his approach had left something to be desired.
 

If Grady had asked her about a deal straight out, rather than undertaking such convoluted shenanigans, she might have been more inclined to trust him. Instead, he’d jumped on the pretend-boyfriend-for-the-week bandwagon, which had muddied the lines between them. Allison frowned to herself, realizing it took two to tango. She couldn’t lay the blame for what happened in Maine on Grady. She’d played an equal part in their deception.
 

The saddest thing about their time together was the dismal way it ended. Grady’s flowers had been a form of apology. Maybe she needed to say she was sorry too. And not just because she was hoping to save her company. Because her heart broke a little more each time she recalled the devastation in Grady’s eyes. He’d been shocked beyond words when she’d told him to leave, then he’d launched his parting missive about Allison staying away from cliffs. She’d said she didn’t need him to rescue her, but it hadn’t felt that way when Grady had nearly taken her in his arms. In that pulse-pounding moment, her heart had surrendered to his.
 

As much as she’d tried to deny it, Allison had fallen for Grady while they were together at the beach. He’d won over her friends and charmed her heart in a way she didn’t think possible. Grady was smart, gregarious and fun, and honorable in his personal life, even though Allison had questioned his integrity on the job. Now she wished she hadn’t done that. She wouldn’t have been drawn to him if he was anything but a good man. A good, brave man, who had literally risked his life for her. And when his blue-gray gaze washed over her and that dimple settled in his cheek, Allison felt like she’d been struck by lightning. Or, more accurately, hit by a Mack truck. And Mack trucks like Grady O’Brien didn’t rumble through Marydale every day.

Grady didn’t expect to hear from Allison right away. He reasoned that she needed time to think about it. She’d been so livid with him at the beach, he’d been convinced she never wanted to see him again. Perhaps she still didn’t, but it was worth a try. Man, this simmering was hard business. When she didn’t call on Saturday, he’d thought, okay, so she’d just returned from her trip and was unpacking. On Sunday, he’d stayed busy sanding the hardwood floors he was refinishing, but he’d kept his cell nearby and had periodically checked it. Now, it was Monday and he was back at his desk, sorting through the messages that had come in while he was away. His e-mail in-box was flooded, and his stack of phone messages towered high. Yet the one text or call he’d hoped might come in on his phone eluded him.

Diane’s paperwork was in order, and the agreements were ready to sign. It would be a simple matter of overnighting the bulk of them to the businesses he’d negotiated with, then the acquisitions team he’d put in place would get rolling to ensure smooth transitions. He flipped through the stack, extracting the contract with Bella Fortuna Wine Designs, and began to stuff it in his shredder. But something stopped him at the last minute. The terms were incredibly generous, and really beneficial to Bella Fortuna. What if Allison changed her mind?
 

Yeah, right. That would be precisely after she accepted his offer of coffee, which was looking like never. Grady switched on the shredder beside his desk and fed the document into it, thinking he could always print out another contract copy, should the need arise. Though he’d forgo that deal in a heartbeat if it meant Allison would give him another chance.

The shredder was humming so loudly, he almost didn’t hear Diane rap at his door. He always left it ajar, so she stood on the threshold, gripping a white cardboard box with an ornate gold seal. “Sorry to disturb you,” she said, “but this just came in from the bakery.”
 

Diane was fresh out of college with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She always dressed in a suit and kept her jet-black hair back in a bun. She never wore makeup as far as Grady could tell, her sole fashion accessory being a really cool pair of bright red cat-eye glasses that sat against her alabaster skin. She was the epitome of the polished professional, and Grady had no doubt she’d go far. In fact, he planned to promote her at the end of the year.

“The bakery?” Grady switched off the shredder to make sure he’d heard her correctly. Oh, no. He hoped it hadn’t begun already. Women bombarding him with cookies at work. Could the word that he was newly “single” really have gotten out so quickly? He supposed it was possible Kate had changed her Facebook status. Heck, she’d probably even done it while he was in Maine.

“Yes,” she said promptly. “Marydale Confections, the bakery on the corner.”

He’d walked by the window several times, but had never been inside. “Was there a note?”

“Just this yellow sticky one.” She held it up with her right hand. “It came attached to the box.”

“Don’t keep me in suspense.”

She steadied her glasses and read, “
I thought these might go with our coffee.
Kind of odd.” Diane looked up. “There’s no signature or anything. Just a phone number.”

A grin tugged at the corners of Grady’s mouth. “What kind of cookies are they?” he asked, as if he didn’t know.

Diane shrugged and popped the box open with her fingernail. She peered down inside and lifted a business card from some crinkly tissue resting on top. “The card says Irish Soda Bread Cookies.” She flipped it over. “The bakery’s contact information is on the back. Do you want me to call and see who sent—?”

Grady grinned so broadly his cheeks ached. “No thanks, Diane. I think I’ve got it.”

She set the box on his desk and when her back was turned, Grady silently pumped the air with his fist. But on the inside he was shouting,
Ye-es!

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Grady arrived at the appointed place holding the box of Allison’s cookies. She was already seated on a bench by the park’s central fountain. Kids played on the big grassy slope beyond it, some of them flying colorful kites while parents hovered and instructed from nearby. It was a beautiful springtime day, but the sun paled in comparison to Allison’s brilliant smile. She wore her ski vest over a sweater and a pretty white scarf, and held two carry-out cups of coffee.
 

“I was supposed to get the coffee, you know,” Grady said, settling in beside her. Her light perfume wafted toward him and he resisted the urge to move closer. Grady would need to play it cool if things were to go off right.

“Yeah, but I figured I owed you one.” She handed him a cup. “For doing me a favor in Maine. Two favors actually.” She thoughtfully set her chin against her cup lid. “Hmm. Maybe there were more than two. I’ll need to think on that.”

“I took the floor,” Grady offered helpfully.

“That’s three.”

“What were one and two?”

“Going to Maine to begin with, and saving my life.”

“Those were good ones,” he agreed.

“I just thought of a four! My Montepulciano!”

“Yes, there was that.” Grady repressed a grin. “You know, not so long ago, you were enumerating the ways you despised me.”

“I’m sorry, Grady.” She appeared sincere. “I was upset, and speaking in anger.”

A lump formed in his throat. “I never meant to hurt you. It kills me that you believe I’m—”

She lightly touched his arm. “I don’t believe that anymore. I’ve had time to think about it, and I was wrong.” Sunlight glimmered in her hair and she looked like an angel straight out of heaven.
 

“I was wrong too. I was hurt when you pushed me away. Angry. More angry than I should have been. It took me a while to figure out why.” Grady gathered his nerve. “You may have thought it was all pretend. But it wasn’t, really. Not on my end anyway. I was honestly starting to care.” He stopped himself. “I mean, I do care. Still.”

He gazed into her eyes and his heart pounded.

Allison shyly ducked her head. “The roses were lovely.”

“I’m glad that you liked them,” he said, swallowing hard.

 
She peered up at him through long, dark lashes. “You want to know something funny?”

Grady waited.

“Kate thought they were for her.”

“Nooo…”

“It’s true! I practically had to wrestle them away from her.”

Grady chuckled. “I’ll bet that was a sight to see.”

“Believe me, Beau would have watched if he could...” She quit talking, turning crimson. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to mention—”

“It’s all right,” he told her calmly. “I know all about the ex-boyfriend popping back into the picture—during the precise week I happened to be away.”

“What a coincidence,” she said wryly.

“My thoughts exactly.”

“It’s a shame to learn we were right about Kate.”

“Doesn’t bother me,” Grady said honestly. “I just hope Beau knows what he’s getting into.”

Allison laughed. “Well, presumably…since he’s dated her before.”

“Burn me once…” Grady said.

“Yeah, but he’s a grown man.”

“Too true. You never know. It could work out between the two of them.”

They sat a moment in silence, enjoying their coffees and the light breeze. At length, Allison said, “This may come as a bit of surprise, but I wanted to ask you about Total Wines’ proposal for Bella Fortuna.”

Grady choked on his coffee. “Excuse me?” he said after catching his breath.

“I’m serious, and I’m not asking in a bad way. This isn’t a trick or anything, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

All at once, he understood. Of course it was about the proposal. Here he’d been hoping Allison wanted to see him for personal reasons. Boy, what an idiot Grady was. He tried to remain professional, fighting the burn in his chest. “What do you want to know?”

“Well, for one thing, I’d like to read your offer.”

“After everything you said—and think—about
big business
? Why?”

“Maybe I’ve reconsidered.”

“I see.” He briefly turned away, watching the gurgling waters of the fountain.
 

“I’ll shoot straight with you,” she said, recapturing his attention. “Bella Fortuna is in trouble.”

His brow creased with worry. “How deep?”

“You might be surprised when you see the numbers.”

“Will you show them to me?”

“Yes. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you; I’m willing to consider your deal. I mean, if it can really help the way…” Her lips trembled and she seemed on the verge of tears.
 

Grady steadied her chin in his hand. “Allison, I’m very good at making magic happen. Pulling proverbial rabbits out of hats. I’ve saved more than one firm that was going under. I may be a mess when it comes to being a boyfriend, but in business I know what I’m doing.”

“This is my company, my baby. And my people—”

“I’ll fix it for you, I promise. If you don’t like Total Wines’ terms, you can walk away.”

She nodded and he slowly released her.
 

“It must have taken a lot of courage for you to tell me that. To ask me to help Bella Fortuna. I’ll do everything in my power to make it work for everyone concerned. Don’t worry, I’ll look out for your employees.”

“Thank you, Grady. I really appreciate that.” Her eyes were teary, but beautiful just the same. “And you’re not, you know.”

“Not what?”

Her voice quaked, but she smiled as she wept. “A mess when it comes to being a boyfriend. Actually, you were a pretty great one.”

He reached up and gently stroked back her tears. “Why don’t we see if we can try that for real?”

She looked lovingly into his eyes. “One step at a time?”

“I was thinking the first step should be a date.”

“What do you call this?”

He considered it a moment, then said, “A pre-date.”

Allison giggled and dabbed her cheeks with a napkin. “Fine, then for our
first date,
do you mind if I make a suggestion?”