Chapter 30 #2
She grabbed his hand and tugged him back down. “Not anymore, but I do appreciate the extra few minutes before we go back.”
He settled next to her. She appreciated the quiet sounds of nature, drinking them in as the last few moments of peace, the calm before the storm.
After a few minutes, she sucked in a deep breath. “I think we should head back. Before Sierra wakes up…and Kyle…and one of them kills the other.”
“Right,” Grant said. “I can see why you love it here. Thank you for sharing it with me.”
She smiled at him as she climbed to her feet and reached for him. “We’re a team.”
“It’s good to hear you say that.” He grinned at her as he stood.
“Well, I couldn’t let you go back alone anyway. You’d get lost.”
“I wouldn’t get lost. I’m not that bad outdoors.”
“Uh-huh,” she said with a grin as they made their way back to the car.
They returned to a quiet house, slipping inside to find only Worthington preparing for them to leave. The smile on his face made her heart warm. “Mrs. Harrington, welcome back.”
“Thank you, Worthington. I’m happy to be back.”
“Julia!” Kyle said as he hurried in from the kitchen. He grinned at her before he pulled her into a hug. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Thank you,” she said as Grant slid an arm around her shoulder.
“I guess I should thank you, too,” Grant said. “Julia told me what you did last night.”
“Someone had to do something,” Kyle said.
“Well, I’m glad you did,” he answered. “And now…we need to talk.”
Kyle arched an eyebrow as he shifted his weight. “Okay. Is this the part where you tell me you’re leaving me here?”
“No, we’re not leaving you here,” Julia said with a laugh. “But we do need to talk about something…in private.”
They stepped into the living room, and Grant closed the doors behind them.
“If this is about how I tried to kiss you last night–"
“You did what ?” Grant said, his demeanor changing from grateful to surprised in seconds.
“I’m sorry, it just…it was dark…and there was moonlight.”
“It’s not about that,” Julia said with a shake of her head. “It’s about DG Industries.”
“What about them? Did you find something?” His eyes went wide. “Did you find something here in Harbor Cove? Is it Luke?”
Julia’s brow knitted. “What? No. Why would it be Luke?”
“I don’t know. I was hoping since that kind of…boxes him out of the picture completely. I really don’t like him.”
“I told you this was a bad idea,” Grant said as he heaved a sigh.
Julia shot him a glance over her shoulder and shook her head.
“Julia, what is it?”
Julia swallowed hard as she prepared to say the words. “We know who one of the major people behind DG is. I remembered shortly after my accident.”
“And you didn’t tell me? I thought we were a team!”
Grant sighed again at the words, earning another glance from Julia.
“I’m telling you now…because we need your help.”
“My help?” A smile crossed his face. “You want my help?”
“Yes. We do.”
“Really? We do?” Kyle flicked his gaze to his father.
Grant’s jaw flexed as he pressed his lips together before mumbling a, “Yes.”
Kyle turned his head, his features scrunching. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I heard you.”
“Kyle, stop that. I’m serious. We really need you. You’re the only person who can do what we’re asking, but only if you’re okay with it.”
“I’m fine with it. Whatever you need.”
“You may want to wait until you’ve heard the ask,” Grant said.
“Julia wouldn’t ask anything of me that–"
“He’s right,” Julia interrupted. “Because this could get really dangerous. These people have already wreaked havoc and…I’m asking you to walk right into the viper’s den.”
“What are you saying?” Kyle asked.
“I’m asking you to cozy up to Lydia and be our mole in DG Industries.”
Kyle studied her for a moment before he cringed. “When you say cozy up to Lydia–"
“Just tell her you want to destroy Grant. I’m sure she’ll believe it. Don’t push too hard, though. Just get in and let her do the sharing.”
Kyle offered her a sly smile. “Consider it done.”
Before they could discuss anything further, another voice joined them. “Step-mommy!” Sierra raced into the room and crushed Julia in a tight embrace. “Finally, you’re back.”
“I’m back,” Julia said as she returned the hug.
Sierra pulled back. “You know, I was beginning to think Daddy was hiding something from me, and you weren’t coming back. But he can’t slip anything past me!”
Julia smiled at her, holding back a chuckle at the words.
Grant slid an arm around Sierra and kissed the top of her head. “You’re too sharp for me. Now, what do you say we leave this place behind and go home?”
Julia slid an arm around Sierra and the other around Kyle. It was time for them to head home as a family to handle the business with DG Industries. It wouldn’t be easy; they were stepping into an uncharted landmine and the path was fraught with danger. But they’d face it. Together.
Grant survived Julia’s ex and her family. But can they move forward together as their second contract nears its end?