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“I’ve made a terrible mistake.”
* * *
Beth triedto catch her breath and calm her roiling stomach.
“What’s going on?” Grayson asked. He put the saddle he was carrying down on the hitching post next to Remington.
Five million different kinds of panic fired in Beth’s brain all at once. “I’m going to be fired. What am I going to do?” Remington stepped away from Beth.
Grayson reached out and ran his hands down the horse’s neck. “Easy.” He turned to Beth, a bit of a flush creeping from his collar upward. “If you’re talking about our…” He gave an awkward nod toward the barn door. “If you’re talking about that kiss—you aren’t actually my boss. You’re not going to get fired. Noah signs my check.”
Heat flashed through her body. She gasped—she hadn’t even thought of that. “Oh no! I’m going to get fired, and I’m a terrible, no good, very bad interim assistant camp director.”
“Seriously, Beth, it’s okay.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and drew her close. Her fingers touched the soft, worn cotton of his button-up shirt, and he smelled rich and masculine, like he’d been working for a while.
When she looked up at him, the earnestness on his face made her want to grab hold of that confidence. Cling to it.
She shook her head. It wasn’t the kiss or the fact that she was imagining what life could be like in Deep Haven if Grayson decided to stay. If he built a house on the vacant lot.
Nope. It was her gross negligence as the ACD. Because if she caused the camp to close, well, then he wouldn’t have a reason to stay.
Except for her.
Would that ever be enough?
Not to mention Eli and every other kid who counted on the camp would lose out. How selfish could she be? Her first thought hadn’t been about the kids—it had been about herself.
What she wanted.
“I messed up the camp funding.” She blinked back the stupid tears. Assistant directors didn’t cry. “It was a conditional grant renewal, and I missed the deadline.” Except, the harder she tried to hold it in, the tighter her throat felt, until she finally hiccupped a sob.
Grayson held her and cupped her head against his chest.
He smelled good, his musky scent mingling with his aftershave.
She wanted to lean into it, rest in the strength of his arms. His fingers ran through her hair and smoothed a wayward lock. She could hear his heartbeat, and she let the rhythm of it slow her breathing.
He released her but kept his hands on her shoulders. “First, explain to me what’s a conditional grant?”
“It’s a grant that requires the camp to submit paperwork requesting annual renewal. Each year, for the five-year grant period, I’m supposed to submit a report with the renewal application.” She cringed. “I didn’t get it done—I missed the deadline.”
He rubbed her shoulders. “It’s going to be okay.” He dropped his hands and paced the barn aisle. “This deadline,” he said, “there’s got to be a fix to that.” He dug in his bucket for a hoof pick and asked Remington to lift a front hoof. “What if you talk to them about this being your first year and send it in now?” He moved to the next hoof. Paused. “This is my fault—you’ve been helping me above and beyond. I should have said no.”
“It’s not your fault. I chose how to spend my time.” She groaned. “I checked their guidelines. To maintain the integrity of the process, everything is done with strict and firm requirements and deadlines.” Beth stepped around the end of the hitching post to scratch Remington’s forehead. “No exceptions.” She ran her hands over her face. “How could I mess this up?”
“You have a lot going on, and I’ve asked you to help me with Tally and the trail rides. I’m sorry.” As soon as Grayson bent down again, Remy lifted his next hoof.
“I wanted to help.”
“What if you pick up some local sponsors?” He finished the last hoof and dropped the hoof pick into the grooming bucket, pulled out a dandy brush, and flicked the remaining dust off the bay’s coat.
She mulled the idea in her mind.
She pressed her face into Remington’s sun-warmed neck. “It might be my last act as assistant director.” She groaned.
“I always thought Vivie was the dramatic one, but you might have her beat.” He winked at her.
“Funny.”
