Page 68 of It’s Your Love
Heat crept up Beth’s neck. She hadn’t even thought to continue searching or calling around. Because she liked being Grayson’s partner at the camp.
“Ah-ha!” Vivien set down her plate. “You don’t want anyone else.”
“It’s working out for now. I can’t think too far ahead.” Beth took another drink of tea and then snagged her laptop from her backpack and set it on the table. Flipped it open. “Okay, enough chitchat. I need your help on a few of these grant proposals.” She clicked on the digital files. “You said you’ve done some for the community theater?”
“I did—though I’m not sure I’ll be that helpful.” Vivie lifted several folders from her tote. “I was awarded one and lost out on one.”
“I’ve only done those two for the library—mostly using Joyce’s templates.” Beth dug through her backpack and hefted her own stack of files onto the table. “Maybe between the two of us, I can get at least one or two new grants, plus the renewals.” She handed Vivien a hard copy. “I think this one is ready to go. Can you take a look at the packet?”
Vivien flipped page by page while Beth proofread another grant proposal.
“You’ll want to update these budget numbers. It looks like the ones Noah has in here are several years old.” Vivien slid the folder back across the table.
“Excellent point.” Beth rubbed her palms against her eyelids. She’d rather be riding than crunching numbers on her computer.
“Nice hat, by the way.” Vivien winked.
Beth’s face warmed. “I hear I have you to thank for it.”
“Not at all—only that it fits. It’s pretty handy that I could assist.”
“It didn’t arrive with the best timing. Dad had just lectured me on being careful with my heart.”
“Oh.” Vivien held out a hand. “So he sees it too?”
“There’s nothing to see.” Beth bit into a cracker. Chewed. “Nothing.”
Vivie flipped through several pages. “Nothing at all?”
Beth slumped. “Then Grayson showed up and that was the end of it. Dad bailed out of the house.”
Vivie raised a brow. “Grayson again.”
“Stop.” Beth crossed her arms.
“He just seems to be around a lot. And by a lot, I mean you spend more time with him than you do with me.” She popped another grape into her mouth. “I’m kind of getting jealous.”
“I’m not going to be someone’s summer fling.”
“He does like you.” Vivien pointed at Beth with a slice of smoked gouda. “I knew it.”
Beth put her head in her hands. “Vivien.”
“I’m sorry. Who doesn’t love a love story? I want that for you. The fireworks. The romance. The grand gesture.” She threw her arms wide. “You’re the kindest, gentlest person I know. You are generous and devoted and loyal.”
“Thanks. I think those pregnancy hormones are making you a softy.”
“I’ve always been a romantic.”
Vehicle tires crunched on the gravel, followed by the slam of car doors. Moments later, Dylan rounded the corner of the cabin followed by Grayson.
Out of the corner of her eye, Beth saw Vivien’s head snap from Grayson back to Beth.
Beth ignored her and focused on Dylan. “Hey. What’s up?”
The men jogged up the steps of the deck.
“Thought I’d check out the digs.” Dylan scooped up crackers and cheese and handed several to Grayson. “I took Grayson to one of our current home sites.”