Page 28

“What is it?” he asked, walking over.

“Come help me with this,” she said, voice sweet. He was alarmed by her tone, even more alarmed when she looked up at him, eyes bright. Her wavy hair was down today, tucked behind her ears, and there were dainty gold earrings hanging from her earlobes.

“Make this,” she said, pointing at the large box.

“What is it?”

“A daybed,” she said cheerily.

He blinked. “You want me to build a daybed?”

“Yes, and we have to do it before Charles arrives!” Lucy said. “This is where he’ll be spending most of his recovery.”

“Don’t you have magic for that sort of thing?” he asked, confused. “I’m busy.”

She stalked over to him, eyes sparking. The sweet lilt was gone from her voice when she spoke: “You want to act like this is your store? Then do some work.”

Point to her. “Fine.” He glowered. “But you’re helping. I need to leave soon to pick up Charles.”

“Who said you’re picking him up?” Lucy frowned. “I’ll go.”

“No, I’ll go,” he said, voice severe. She geared up to argue, but he held up a hand. “I already told the doctor as much yesterday when I spoke with her. I am Charles’s family, as you know.”

Point to him. She clenched her jaw, and he gave her a smile. “Shall we?” He gestured to the cardboard box. “Why are we making this here, anyway?” Grayson asked, rolling up the sleeves of his sweater.

“It doesn’t make sense for Charles to spend all day home alone,” she said slowly, as though explaining something to a child. “I need to keep an eye on him, and being in the store will do wonders to lift his spirits. What better remedy than to be surrounded by books? If you knew your grandfather at all, you would know that.”

He’d had enough of her judgment.

“You don’t know anything about me,” he said, voice hard. “Keep your opinions to yourself.”

“I know enough,” she scoffed. “You barely even spoke to Charles at the hospital yesterday. Don’t think I didn’t notice.”

“Forgive me if hospitals aren’t my favorite place in the world,” he snapped. “I haven’t been in one in more than two decades and I hoped never to be in one again.”

His parents had been in a car crash when he was six years old, and no amount of surgeries or time in the hospital could have saved them. They had left him an orphan. Soon after, his own grandparents had washed their hands of him, too.

Lucy’s expression morphed with guilt, her eyes softening. She closed her mouth, nibbling on her lower lip. He felt tired all of a sudden.

A draw, then.

“Let’s just get this done,” Grayson said. Lucy nodded.

With a wave of her hand, she opened the cardboard box, laying out the pieces for the daybed. Grayson got to work, and Lucy stood by the side, watching him with intent eyes.

He crouched down and read the manual. “I need a screwdriver,” he said. Lucy waved her hand and one appeared. He tried not to be too irritated by her flagrant use of magic and set about building the piece of furniture, which was harder than expected.

He wasn’t exactly practiced in such things, and while Lucy conjured up all the tools he needed, it still required hard work. Grayson slipped off his sweater, not wanting to ruin the cashmere, and worked in his undershirt. Even so, he broke a sweat.

Taking a quick break, he lifted the end of his shirt to wipe his brow. Then he held the pieces of the bed frame again.

“Here, hold this steady while I get the screws in,” Grayson instructed. He glanced back to where Lucy stood. Her eyes were a bit dazed as she watched him, her jaw slack. He raised his brows. “Lucy?”

She shook her head as if running off thoughts from her mind. “Hmm?”

“Hold this steady,” he repeated.

“Don’t you worry,” Lucy said. “My magic’s got it.”