You just design them.” She shot him a reproachful look and started for the bar counter but he reached out to catch her sleeve, his fingertips just brushing the inside of her bare wrist.

“What are you going to tell my grandmother?” he asked.

It had only been the briefest of touches, and yet she could still feel the warmth of his skin against hers, and for a moment she couldn’t think, torn between anger and disappointment. She’d so enjoyed talking to him earlier, when she’d cut his hair, and yet now she just wanted to put distance between them. “I’m not going to tell her anything. She’s your grandmother. But do the right thing so that you don’t end up hurting her. She’s so excited to see you. Be kind to her.”

“I would never hurt her. I adore Gram—”

“Well, so do I.” And then she moved on, walking to the bar where Shane was pouring drinks.

“What can I get for you, Mandy?” Shane asked, brushing a long tendril of blonde hair behind her ear.

“I’d ordered a coffee but I need to get back to the salon. Can I get it to go instead?”

“No problem.”

Shane filled a paper cup, popped a lid on it, and handed it over, but then waved off Mandy’s money. “I’ve got this. Get back to work and keep making Marietta beautiful.”

Amanda laughed and headed out, but her smile faded as she approached Tyler’s booth. She squared her shoulders, and kept her gaze fixed on the door so she wouldn’t make eye contact with him, and then only exhaled after she was in the hall.

For a moment Tyler just sat there, watching Amanda exit the hotel bar, and then he rose and threw down some bills and followed her out.

Amanda was hurt, and angry, and he didn’t blame her. He should have told her who he was earlier, especially when his grandmother’s name was mentioned, but he wanted to learn as much about Amanda Wright as he could, without her being guarded, or defensive, but of course she didn’t know any of that.

He caught up with her in the middle of the Graff’s formal lobby. “Slow down,” he said gruffly, putting a hand to her upper arm. “Please?”

She stopped walking to face him, but her expression was no longer friendly or smiling, and it crossed his mind that while he still didn’t know very much about her, he’d discovered that although pretty, she wasn’t soft, and she wasn’t a pushover. Amanda Wright had a backbone. Nor did she appreciate being played for a fool.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice deep, and rough. He was uncomfortable and embarrassed. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you who I was earlier. And I apologize if I’ve made things awkward. That wasn’t my intention.”

“Then what was your intention, booking me for a haircut and giving me a false name?”

“It’s my real name.”

“And telling me you were here for a business meeting?” She looked him in the eye, unblinking, unflinching. “What was that about?”

“I do have a business meeting. Two, actually, one with an investment broker, and another with a local Realtor.”

“Why? Are you investing in Marietta? Thinking of a buying a house, or business here?”

“It never hurts to understand a local economy.”

Her full lips compressed. “There are different ways to get to know a community. There is more to Marietta than its economy—which is booming, lately. If you really want to know why your grandmother loves Marietta, get to know her friends. Discover the town. Join her for the Wednesday matinee movie. Take her to dinner at Rocco’s, or pie at the diner—”

“Gram turns eighty this year.”

“That’s right, in June, and we’re working on a lovely party for her, too.”

“She’s not going to live forever.”

“No one does, Ty. But what makes you think she’d be happier living with you in Texas or wherever it is you call home now?”

“Well, I’d be there.”

“Yes, but you work, don’t you? And I’m sure you have a social life. You’re not going to sit home with her twenty-four seven.”

“She’d make new friends.”

Amanda drew a sharp breath, furious.