Working It Out by Rachael Anderson Page A

didn’t make a move to open his door, Grace
unfastened her seat belt. “Ready?”
    Seth continued to stare at the door. “Lanna hasn’t spoken
to me since the night of the auction and doesn’t know I’m here.”
    Grace’s hand remained on her seatbelt. “You didn’t tell
her we were coming?” What was Seth thinking? Didn’t he know that showing up
with no warning wasn’t the best way to apologize? Would Lanna even have
anything for them to do?
    Seth met Grace’s eyes. “Lanna isn’t the type to get mad,
but after the stunt I pulled, she . . .” He shook his head, his voice drifting
off as he bit his lower lip and glanced back at the building.
    He looked vulnerable, nervous even, something that Grace
had never seen on him before. It caught her off guard. He’d always been so
confident, so sure of himself. He had it all. Looks, money, talent, a natural
charisma. And yet here he was, sitting in his expensive automobile, completely intimidated
by the nondescript building in front of them—or rather, by a particular girl
inside the building.
    An unwanted prick of jealousy struck Grace in the heart,
which was ridiculous, since she wasn’t in the running for Seth’s affections.
Still, she couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like to have Seth care
about her that way.
    Shoving the feeling aside, Grace laid a hand on his arm.
“I met Lanna at the auction, and she seemed like the forgiving type. I bet it
will mean a lot to her that you’re here.”
    Seth shook his head as though he didn’t believe her.
“She’s as stubborn as—well, you.” Under the rim of his cap, his eyes met hers
again, only this time he wore a lopsided smile.
    “Me?” What was that supposed to mean? Grace was strong-willed
and determined, maybe, but stubborn?
    Seth continued to hold her gaze. “Ever since I first met
you, you’ve reminded me of the girl on the other side of that door.” He
gestured toward the building. “Something tells me that you and Lanna are going
to get along really well. If nothing else, you both have a common enemy from
the auction.”
    Grace smiled. For some reason, being compared to Lanna
felt good, as if she’d somehow earned some of Seth’s esteem.
    “You should do that more often,” Seth said, watching her
with a look she couldn’t quite decipher.
    “Do what?”
    His finger reached out to touch the corner of her mouth,
sending chills up her spine. “Smile. It looks good on you.”
    Grace’s heart sped up as she stared back, wondering what
he was thinking. Was he feeling this crazy, almost electric feeling that seemed
to zing through the car around them?
    His hand dropped back to his lap, and his eyes left hers.
He drew in a breath and reached for the handle. “Let’s get this over with.”
    They left the car behind, and Seth yanked open the steel
door, making a face as it screeched in protest. “I offered to pay for a new
door, but would she let me? No.”
    Grace smiled. Any woman who could stand up to Seth
deserved to be applauded. “I like her already.”
    “I figured you would.”
    Grace moved forward into a small reception-type room with
an empty desk off to the side. It had that musty, old-house smell mixed with a
hint of vanilla—a plug in air freshener next to the desk. Muted and muffled
voices echoed from a back room at the end of the hall.
    The door screeched open again, and a young
African-American girl walked in with long, tightly curled hair. She flashed
Grace and Seth a curious look before heading down the hall. With a quick glance
at each other, they followed.
    As the girl entered the room ahead of them, a female
voice called out, “Hey, Rayna, how are you, girl? We missed you yesterday.”
    “Hey, Miss Lanna. Sorry. I couldn’t come. I had to
babysit.”
    “Well, we’re glad you’re here today. Your favorite chair’s
open, right over there by the window. Take a seat, and I’ll be with you in a—”
She stopped when Seth entered the room, her eyes widening.