Steal My Magnolia (Love at First Sight #3) - Karla Sorensen Page 0,41

like she was searching for the words for something and didn't quite know what they were. "I know my momma loves me. But she's ... she's different. She and I are very different. My parents were almost forty when they got pregnant with me, and ... I don't think she ever gave much thought to being a mother. So, when I came along, she loved me. But her love, for a lot of people, means space. Freedom, in her mind."

"Well," I said carefully, "I think the important thing is that you know she does, right? I didn't see my pops a lot growing up because my mom hated Green Valley and never wanted to come back after they divorced. But not seeing him, I could still recognize where he loved and supported us. Where it counted, at least." I took a sip of my coffee. "I think that's where people fall into a trap. They can't recognize love if it's not shown in exactly the way they want it to be shown, and it's just not that simple, you know?"

There was something on her face, something in my words that struck a chord with her, but I also saw the moment she decided the conversation was just a little too much for her.

"I do know," she said, then straightened the hem of her perfectly straight sweater. "I got the email confirmations from the conference in Nashville next week. I wasn't sure you wanted me to come with you until I saw my name on the registration list."

"Is that okay?" Shit. I hadn't even thought she might want to stay back while I went. "I'm sorry, I should've asked first. You don't have to come if you'd rather not."

Magnolia waved that off. "It's fine, I promise. I just ..." She paused. "I wasn't sure how long you planned on being there. If it was a day trip sort of thing, or if you planned on staying overnight."

Right. Traveling with Magnolia, even for one day, made me dread the trip, as much as I looked forward to the possibility of it. But maybe she didn't want to be stuck in a car with me and forced to stick to my own timeline. Maybe she didn't want to stay overnight in Nashville with her boss.

Answer this one wisely, Grady.

"I wouldn't mind doing both days," I said slowly. "Might feel less rushed in talking to people."

She nodded, and I couldn't help but notice that she was avoiding eye contact.

"You are more than welcome to stay back if you don't want to come," I assured her. "I'd love to have you with me—" I paused, trying not to stammer over my words like a freaking dope. "Because you're obviously more well-spoken than I am."

She gave me a long-suffering look. "That's not true."

"You don't trip over things either. I make a horrible first impression, and you can't deny that."

Finally, she smiled, and I felt like I'd won something important. "You were charming," she admitted. "Clumsy, but charming."

I held my fist up in the air, and she laughed.

"Whatever you're comfortable with, Magnolia. All you have to do is tell me, and I'll be fine with it."

"Okay," she said on a loaded exhale. "I'd like to learn. I'd like to meet people too because I know how important that is. I-I'm fine with an overnight trip, if we have the budget for two rooms."

"We do." I held her gaze. "But only if that's what you want to do."

"Grady," she started, then stopped. "I'll just say it because if I were you, I know I wouldn't think about it, and I'd want to know if it was someone working for me."

I faced her straight on. "Tell me," I said gently.

"I think one day would be more than enough, and I'm not sure how I feel about being away from the office for two. But I don't feel comfortable driving by myself home from Nashville, especially after dark."

My eyebrows bent in confusion. "Okay. Yeah, that's ... fine. My mom doesn't like driving at night either. She can't see as well."

Magnolia smiled softly. For some reason, I knew I was off base. "It's probably a little different in LA. It's different here in Green Valley, too, I guess. But ... in the South, girls with my color skin don't drive at night. It's not safe."

My heart stopped, and I hated—hated—how long it took me to think of it from that angle. Because I didn't have to. Every inch of my skin