Steal My Magnolia (Love at First Sight #3) - Karla Sorensen Page 0,27

a couple of weeks for outdoor retailers, and I thought it would be good to go meet some vendors. You up for a company road trip?"

Something was entirely too infectious about Grady Buchanan's energy. Joy had told me earlier that I had brought the sunshine with me, but he was the one who seemed to harness its power.

For some reason, that made it even harder to imagine admitting my duplicity. I knew it would dim some of that powerful spirit. My momma would probably be going to that convention or sending someone from the Bait and Tackle, at the very least. Where his daddy worked. For my mother.

"Sounds great," I told him weakly. His head disappeared back behind the shelf again, and he started whistling along to whatever music he had playing over a Bluetooth speaker in the back.

A car slowed in front of the office, the sun glinting off the side mirror, and my heart stopped when I saw who was driving.

Grace Buchanan.

Just like everyone else in town, I knew they'd gone out to California so that Tucker could meet Grace’s momma, and for some reason, I hadn't even thought about the fact she'd stop by and see her brother as soon as she returned. I stood from the desk so fast that the chair clattered backward.

"You okay?" Grady asked.

I rubbed my forehead and set the chair back to rights. "Yeah, just ... need the restroom. Stood too fast is all."

Walking past him, I struggled not to sprint back to the safety of the small room. I refused to look at his concerned face because even that one pause could spell disaster for me.

Just as I was pulling the door shut behind me, I heard Grace walk in through the front.

I clicked the lock shut and sank against the cold metal with a groan. "Oh Magnolia, you have got yourself in a pickle now," I whispered miserably.

Chapter 8

Grady

"Well holy shit, what miracle happened in this place?" Grace asked. She'd barely made it in through the front door when she jerked to a stop, set her hands on her hips, and gawked at the organized glory that was now Valley Adventures.

I adjusted a fake tie and waltzed toward her. "Not too shabby, huh?"

She nodded. "I'm impressed. It actually looks legit in here."

After she leaned over for a hug, I ruffled her hair. It earned me a narrowing of her eyes, which made me laugh. "Welcome back. Just get home?"

"Yeah. Tucker had to go into the law office to help his dad with something that came up with a big case, so I decided to come make fun of your mess again"—she turned in a slow circle, arms extended—"but lo and behold, you've stolen my thunder."

I scratched the side of my face. "I wish I could take all the credit, but I finally got some help."

Her eyes landed on the coffee and bakery bags. "How many people did you hire?"

"Just one," I said around a smile. "We both decided to be nice and bring caffeine and sugar this morning."

"Mom said to send you this." She slugged me in the shoulder.

"Ouch," I muttered. "What was that for?"

Grace peered around the space. "Because you suck at calling the woman who birthed us."

"I've been a little busy."

"Mom was good, thank you for asking. She loved Tucker, who has now replaced you in her heart."

I rolled my eyes.

Her fingers touched the edge of the pink leather purse sitting on the corner of the desk. "Whoever you hired has excellent taste."

I wanted to sigh like a moron when I thought of telling Grace about everything that had happened in the short week since she left. The words crowded into my mouth, but I swallowed them down because with Lia just a dozen or so feet away in the bathroom, it wasn't the time or place to tell Grace.

"It's been working out well so far. She's still wrapping up at her old job, but I think she's exactly what this place needed."

Grace's eyes sharpened as she watched me talk.

"What?"

Then they narrowed. "What's up with you?"

My shoulders rolled, trying to release some of the tension at her scrutiny. Twins were the worst. "Nothing, why?"

"You're being weird."

"How am I being weird? You've been in here for less than two minutes, and I've hardly said anything!"

"Exactly."

That was the problem, wasn't it? I wanted to say something. I wanted to tell my twin sister, my best friend, that I met her. Met the one.

And she was smart. Driven. Gorgeous beyond belief.