Headlights flashed in the window, and Ash looked toward the front of the store, his stomach tightening. The Lowells were pulling up. Even though the Lowells were selling the place, he didn’t want them to be disappointed with the changes.

“They’re here,” Ash said, helping Kincaid down from the counter.

Ash shut his laptop and grabbed the keys to unlock the front door. Kincaid stayed at his side as they watched Grace help Charlie out of the car. Charlie made a sour face and waved his wife off. Ash shook his head. The guy was too proud for his own good.

“Here we go,” Ash said. He leaned down to give Kincaid a good luck kiss, but her hand shot out lightning quick and she gripped his shoulder, halting him. Her gaze held surprise.

“We can’t.” She shifted her eyes toward the Lowells. “They can’t know.”

The words weren’t a shock, but still, their meaning hit him like an elbow to the gut. We can’t tell. You’re a secret. You’re just a friend. He fought back a grimace. If she didn’t want the Lowells to know, that was her prerogative. And as she’d reminded him a minute ago, it wasn’t as if they were officially dating. What would she even call him? Her lover? Her friend with benefits? But still, he knew that the lack of proper label wasn’t the reason. In the Lowells’ eyes, she would always be Graham’s girl.

Maybe in her eyes, too.

The thought frosted over some of the raw feelings their conversation had exposed. He needed to get his head back in the right place, stop acting like this meant something more than it was. “Got it. No PDA.”

Her expression relaxed a little. “Thanks. You get it. It’d be…weird. You know?”

Sure. Yep. Totally get it. He forced a smile and directed it at the Lowells as he held open the door. “Grace, Charlie, welcome to the new Stuffed Shelf!”

Grace was already peering through the main window and clutching Charlie’s hand. They had dressed up for the occasion—Grace in a pair of black slacks and a green sweater and Charlie in khakis and a blue dress shirt. “Wow, look at it, honey.”

At first Ash couldn’t tell if hers was a good reaction or an oh-shit, what-have-they-done one, but when Grace turned toward him and Kincaid, a sunshine smile broke over her face. Ash let out a breath.

Charlie walked up to them, his steps still a little slow, and clapped Ash on the shoulder. “Don’t you dare tempt her not to sell the place. I can already feel the sand between my toes on that Bahamas vacation.”

Ash laughed. “We’ll try to impress but only a little.”

“Good man,” Charlie said and then leaned over to kiss Kincaid on the cheek. “Lead the way, young lady.”

Kincaid guided the couple through the door and flipped on the rest of the main lights. Bright, warm light bathed the new store in its glow, and Grace sucked in a breath. “Oh, my word. It’s stunning.”