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“That is so cool.”

“We'll see if my agent agrees after I send her this.”

She took a screenshot of the comments asking about the storage and texted it to her agent.

Madeline

Remember that housewares idea? I think we might be onto something.

Three dots appeared almost immediately, and Amanda laughed. Apparently, Madeline wasn't taking the weekend off either.

Her agent had certainly earned her commission over the past three months. Not long after Amanda returned to Antelope Rock, they'd agreed that the best way to handle the inevitable discovery of her relationship with Grady was to get ahead of the story. Rather than wait for some tabloid to publish photographs and invent its own version of events, Madeline had arranged online interviews with several magazines and entertainment news shows.

Amanda had confirmed she was dating Sheriff Grady Minor, the same man who'd arrested her for reckless driving months earlier. She'd also announced that the next season of Life, Restyled would be filmed in Wyoming, with production scheduled to begin in November.

Naturally, the paparazzi had descended on Antelope Rock again.

Grady was less than thrilled when pictures of them appeared on entertainment websites, social media, and in the tabloids. He'd grumbled about being photographed while buying groceries, walking down Main Street, and even leaving the sheriff's office. Amanda had reminded him that at least they weren't being chased down the highway this time.

Fortunately, once the photographers had their pictures and the entertainment reporters had their interviews, interest had begun to fade. Another celebrity scandal eventually pushed Amanda’s romance with a small-town sheriff out of the headlines, and the paparazzi packed up and moved on.

Life had returned to something resembling normal, though Grady still gave her a hard time whenever someone recognized him from an online photo.

Her latest book had also been released, and Madeline had arranged a weeklong promotional tour for October. Amanda was surprised when Grady agreed to accompany her, though he made one condition perfectly clear. He would stay in the background, out of camera range, and leave the interviews and publicity to her.

She'd agreed, even if she suspected he'd eventually discover that avoiding every camera at a book signing was easier said than done.

For now, though, she had several weeks before the tour and a little longer before filming began. She intended to enjoy every one, especially now that she and Grady were finally figuring out what an ordinary life together might look like.

The door opened, and he walked in carrying several bottles of water. “Thought you could all use these.”

“You're my hero.” Amanda took one from him and twisted off the cap. After two days of hauling, organizing, rearranging, and making sure everything had a place, cold water was exactly what she needed.

He distributed the rest, then surveyed the room. “So, is this masterpiece officially finished?”

Rissa and Sophie exchanged a glance, then turned in opposite directions, taking in the results of their work.

“I think we did everything on the list,” Rissa said.

“And then some,” Elaine added from beside Sophie's desk.

That was certainly true. They'd arrived yesterday morning with enough boxes to make Amanda wonder whether they'd need a storage unit for the overflow. Somehow, they'd made everything fit.

Grady checked his watch. “Well, if you're done, it's almost five. Why don't we go out for dinner? My treat.”

That got the girls moving. Sophie slid off the bed while Rissa grabbed her phone and started searching for restaurants near campus.

“What are we in the mood for?” she asked.

“Anything where I don't have to unpack another box before I can eat it.”

Rissa laughed. “I can agree to that.”

Elaine joined them, and within seconds, the three were comparing menus and tossing out possibilities.

After taking another drink of water, Amanda noticed Grady wasn't participating. His attention had wandered back to the room, and it was easy to see why. Yesterday, the place had been filled with boxes, shopping bags, tools, and five adults trying not to trip over one another. Now Rissa's clothes filled the dresser and closet. Her pictures were on the wall. Her laptop sat on the desk. Even the bed she'd sleep in tonight was made.

And when dinner was over, Grady would have to leave his daughter behind.