Phoebe shot her a look coated in doubt—despite her grief over losing Justin, she remained a pure romantic at heart when it came to other people—so Molly changed the subject to the reason Phoebe was here—lunch.
“So, what are we having for lunch today?” Molly needed to stay at the store, since her one employee, Gena, had the day off. She and Phoebe were going to share some kind of takeout in the back room.
“I’m craving deli. How does a ham sandwich from Elly’s sound?”
“Perfect,” Molly said, glad Phoebe had dropped the subject of Grant.
Molly needed to do the same. Pronto.
No matter what, she had to ignore Grant’s gorgeous blue eyes, beautiful smile and charming ways. She believed in finding everlasting, real love.
For everyone…but herself.
Chapter Two
After Grant left Bow Wow Boutique, Jade obediently trotting beside him thanks to the treats in his pocket, he went home and dug into his work. Somehow he managed to focus on computer code rather than on the appealing Molly Kent.
Sure, he’d noticed how pretty her gold-flecked green eyes were when he’d bent close to put on Jade’s leash. And how smooth and creamy her skin was, with a light dusting of freckles across her pert nose. She was friendly, too, and had a good sense of humor to round out the package quite nicely. But the fact remained, he was here to meet his deadline, not resurrect his social life, which was nonexistent for a reason.
Work and romance just didn’t mix, as his ex-girlfriend Jenna had proved to him when she’d broken up with him in grad school. How ironic was it that she’d dumped him for almost flunking out because he’d paid too much attention to her?
No doubt about it. Being successful and having a romantic relationship were mutually exclusive. Not something he was going to forget anytime soon. And he sure wasn’t going to make the same mistake again. Not even with someone as attractive as Molly.
Turning his thoughts away from the past and how it affected the present, he noted that, thankfully, Jade seemed pooped by her visit with Molly’s dogs. She’d plopped down on her bed in the corner when they’d come home, and had pretty much left him in peace to work for the better part of the afternoon. So he lost himself in his complicated task, only occasionally distracted by visions of Molly’s pretty eyes dancing through his brain.
Sometime later, the burn in his shoulders forced his attention away from work. He rose and massaged the kinks that were trying to take up permanent residence in his upper back. While he rolled his shoulders and stretched, he looked out the big picture window running the length of the front of the house.
The green-gray Pacific Ocean spread out in all its beauty for as far as he could see. White-capped waves rolled in to the shore, and seagulls dipped and soared here and there. The clouds had broken up a bit, and the sun was actually peeking through, sending golden beams of light into the roiling ocean. Wow. What a view.
Man, his mom would have been all over this.
A shaft of grief pierced him, literally taking his breath away. He pressed a hand to his heart, trying to breathe.
His mom had adored the beach, and they’d often spent time here with Aunt Rose while he’d been growing up. But Mom was gone now, and he’d never share another walk on the beach with her again. Or another breathtaking scene like the one before him.
His eyes burned.
With practiced determination, Grant shoved his grief down into its cage where he wouldn’t have to deal with it. Instead, he reiterated in his mind how important his job was to him, focusing on his career goals rather than his grief.
He’d come a long way from being the brainy geek with the pen protector in his pocket who everyone had laughed at in high school. Only at church had he been accepted. He’d found solace, community and appreciation there, and he’d truly found a connection to the Lord.
But then God betrayed him by taking Mom. And suddenly, Grant’s faith had been shattered.
Now, he was so close to finally cementing in stone the lasting career respect he needed. Work was the only thing that mattered. He sat down and got back to his computer code.
Sometime later, a knock sounded on the front door, jerking Grant from his work-induced haze. Jade sounded the bark alarm.
Grant looked up, his eyes burning, just in time to see her sprint to the door.
He rose from the makeshift computer station he’d set up at the antique roll-top desk in Aunt Rose’s living room and glanced at his watch. Six-thirty. Wow. Where had the afternoon gone?
Stretching the kinks from his back and shoulders again—maybe a few aspirin would do him some good—he headed to the front of the house.
Jade was waiting by the front door, her tail wagging, obviously eager to greet their visitor, whom, if he guessed right, had long curly red hair and stunning green eyes.
Molly.
His heart rate kicked up a notch, but he ignored the sensation. She was just here to deliver tennis balls for Jade, right? Nothing to get all excited about.
He opened the door, holding Jade’s collar—he learned fast—and saw Molly standing on the other side of the door, her face wreathed in a pretty smile that did funny things to his insides.
“Hi!” she said, her voice bright and sunny, which was all the sunshine he’d get today, given the cloudy skies. She held up a blue bag in her left hand. “I stopped at the Sports Shack and brought Jade some fresh tennis balls.”
He couldn’t help but smile back; her good mood was infectious after a long day of dry programming. “I figured it was you,” he replied, pulling a squirming Jade back, putting his shoulders into the task. Boy, the dog was strong, and obviously wanted to get to Molly.
“Remember the treats?” Molly asked, nodding to Jade, who was about to pull his arm out of its socket. “Better use them now.”
“Oh. Yeah.” Grant felt his back pocket with his free hand, then pulled the treats out.
“Tell her to sit, and stay,” Molly instructed. “Use a firm but kind voice.”
“Sit,” he said firmly. “Stay.”
Jade instantly sat, her coal black eyes beaming up at him.
“Now, give her a treat and praise her,” Molly said.
He dug a treat out of the bag and hastily gave Jade one. “Good dog.”
She gobbled it up and kept her gaze homed in on him.
Grant turned to look at Molly, shaking his head. “Amazing. It works every time.”
She shrugged. “What can I say? Most dogs will do anything for food.”
He tucked the treats back into his pocket. “Gotta remember that.”
She held up a bag of groceries in
