I gave my head a shake to clear it. “Want me to make you a sandwich or salad before you go?”

His expression gentled the slightest bit, or maybe I simply wished it did.

“Sure. Surprise me.” His eyes narrowed. “Sandwich. No weird vegetables.”

I rarely got more than twelve words out of Griffin at a time. But it had become a game of sorts for me to try and get as much out of him as I could. But the days where I made his lips twitch or eyes brighten were the ones I really felt on top of the world. “One surprise concoction, coming up.”

I turned on my heel and left Griffin to his shopping. I wasn’t sure why I got such ridiculous pleasure from providing the man one rounded meal a few times a week, but I did.

I froze at the end of the aisle as my gaze caught on Patti Jenkins. She stared at Griffin as he reached out to grab something from a shelf. I could practically see her gossip-hungry mind whirling. When he caught her stare fixated on him, she muttered something under her breath and tugged her toddler down the aisle and away from Griffin. He tensed but didn’t say a word, simply studied the chips in front of him with intense focus.

I fought the curse that wanted to surface and headed back towards my cooking station. That woman was a nosy and judgmental jerk-face. She had a daughter in Mia’s grade and was always condescendingly offering me advice and help. But seeing her cast that same judgment towards Griffin had me seeing red.

“Was that Griffin?” Bell asked as I rounded the counter.

I cut a sharp look in her direction. Too many folks on this island talked about the mysterious man behind his back, and I didn’t want my friends adding to it.

She held up both hands. “He helped drag my fiancé out of the ocean after someone tried to kill him. I’m team Griffin all the way.”

Kenna scooped up a forkful of salad. “He gave Grant a black eye, so you know I’m a fan.” Her expression sobered a fraction. “Just be careful.”

I growled in her direction. “He’s a good man.” I didn’t know with one hundred percent certainty, but everything pointed that way. He was polite if a little gruff. But that prickly exterior was understandable given everything he’d been through.

Bell grinned. “And it doesn’t hurt that you want to climb him like a tree.”

My face turned bright red. “Shhhh! He’ll hear you.” Yes, Griffin Lockwood was incredibly handsome. Gorgeous in a way that stole your breath and made you stupid. But he wasn’t for me. I simply felt a sort of kinship with the broody man. I knew what it was like to have the majority of our small island judge and whisper because of your familial history.