Chapter Thirty-TwoBrennan
Chapter Thirty-Two
Brennan
“ W hat do you think? Pass? It’s really run down,” my business partner and longtime friend Terrance asked after we finished touring the estate I was considering buying. Terrance was almost as tall as me, but broad, his brown head shaved bald.
“The gardens, though.” That’s what made this place extra special. But it was more run-down than I’d expected.
“The upkeep will get expensive,” he countered. “It’s also not very big.”
“Some of our properties aren’t that large. What about an event venue instead of a boutique hotel?” I threw out, as we walked back toward his car and my motorcycle. As we toured it, Evan’s suggestion kept playing in my head.
Even if he wanted to marry Grace here . Ugh. I’d gotten pictures of them going to the home store, baking a cake, and decorating the backyard for Wes’ party like a happy couple.
Terrance thought for a moment, stroking his dark goatee. “Like for weddings and mating parties?”
“Yes. Along with excellent eighteenths, pack celebrations, awakening parties, and gala dinners. Outdoors in late spring through early fall, indoors the rest of the time, but there might be a few rooms available for the happy couple or whatever,” I suggested.
“We don’t have a property that does this.
While it is a little far for a weeknight party, that might appeal to people. ”
He shrugged. “But we’re high-end. How much would we have to invest in it so it would hold up to the brand standards, and could the market bear those costs?”
“True.” I’d have someone run the numbers. We dealt only in ultra-luxury or very special hotel properties. I checked my phone. “I should head back. It’s Wes’ birthday today. They’re throwing him a barbecue.”
“Um, about Wes. Is he courting someone? Last night, my wife and I were over at the lake under the East Bridge with the twins, and well, he was in the paddle boats with this little blonde who was definitely not Evan.” Terrance pulled up a picture on his phone.
He showed me a photo of Wes and Grace in a boat at sunset, her head on his shoulder.
“Fuck.” Anger welled up in me.
“You didn’t know. Sorry.” He put his phone away. “It isn’t my business, but you know, after Caroline and everything.”
Terrance knew Caroline, too. He’d been there for me in the aftermath, just like he’d been there for me so many times in my life.
I didn’t know that Wes and Grace had gone out in public. Evan and I got back late, and considering the house reeked of popcorn, I figured they’d stayed in.
“That’s Grace.” I rubbed my forehead. “Hey, do you remember whether Wes had a girlfriend back in high school?” I frowned. That bothered me.
“Um, maybe?” His face scrunched in thought. “He brought dates to dances and stuff. I think. Oh, wait, there was that girl he used to draw pictures of. He said she was his long-distance girlfriend or something. I sort of thought she was made up. Why?”
“Just wondering.” Huh.
He rubbed his chin. “Does Evan know about Blondie?”
“They made Wes a fucking birthday cake after buying out the home store,” I huffed.
“One omega isn’t enough for Wes?” he laughed. Terrance was an alpha, his wife was a beta. We’d been friends since the third grade.
“She’s a gamma or some shit like that. Between you and me, she’s a fucking headache.
” This entire week I’d been plagued with Mrs. Beekman calling, or the detectives, or the Department of Dependent Services, or the integration team from the Center.
I didn’t have time for this. Grace had been in my house for a week, and the cases seemed nowhere near being closed.
“I’ve got a good private investigator if you need one. She’s good, discreet. Give you and your pack peace of mind, if Wes is serious about her,” he offered.
“Send me her info?” I wanted to know who Grace actually was and where she came from so that I could send her home. Maybe I could do a gen-scan with some of the blonde hair that was everywhere. Yes, I’d find her relatives for her since she couldn’t remember them.
Funny how she didn’t remember that, but she remembered all sorts of other things about Wes and math and baking.
“Of course. Tell Wes I said Happy Birthday. Sorry to miss it, but we’re going to dinner with my wife’s family.” He got into his car and drove off.
Pity he couldn’t come. It would be nice to have someone to hide with and avoid Grace.
I sent some emails, including requests to get some numbers run for the property.
Contrary to what Terrance said, it might make a suitable venue–or at least a different one–if I could get it on the gala circuit.
If I had to attend one more event at the HighTower or the Gladiola, I’d stab someone with a cocktail fork. My phone buzzed.
Katie
The party’s started, where are you?
Of course, my sister was at the barbecue. Also, Wes hadn’t just invited the sister pack, he’d invited some of our friends. There were people at my house. Okay, it was his thirtieth birthday, but ugh. Maybe we should have just gone out to dinner.
Me
Trying to buy a property. Be there soon.
Not really.
I anger-texted Wes.
Me
You took Grace out in public last night? You were seen.
Wes
Didn’t know I needed permission. Grace is my mate, not my mistress.
He added an emoji of the bird.
When I pulled up to the house on my motorcycle, cars were everywhere. My mother had called me six times. Terrance also texted me the number for the investigator.
“Yes, Mother?” I snipped as I went through the garage.
“Your packmate is having a birthday party and you’re working? ” she scolded.
“I was looking at a property that Evan wants me to buy.” I didn’t need this either.
“Is the little girl there? Dependent Services is worried. She’s a theta? When did that happen?” my mother demanded.
I checked the tracking app we used. Yes. Riley was here. Who added Grace? I deleted her.
“She’s here. This is about the time that happens.” Actually, Riley being a theta made sense. I knew a couple of them. They often ended up in real estate or running casinos or managing properties–careers where they could be independent and make a lot of money.
“I’ve been told you’re refusing required services from the Center. That’s unacceptable because this could still go sideways,” she told me.
“When can Grace leave, because I don’t want her here. ” I wasn’t making my pack do weird counseling to make Grace’s life easier.
“Not cooperating draws everything out; you’re bringing this on yourself.” Her tone rankled.
“I’m a grown-ass person, I have my own pack, you’re not the boss of me,” I fired back.
“I don’t negotiate with toddlers. She’ll be here until I say so.” My mother ended the call.
Fuck.
I texted the number of the investigator.
“Honey, are you okay?” Jett slipped into the garage.
“Yes, Dear. Just the queen mum giving me shit. No one will miss us if we leave.” I pulled him into my arms to ease my frustration.
“Mmmm, tempting. But we will be missed. Do you want Katie hunting your ass down? There’s beer and steak. Also, a delicious-looking cake,” he replied.
“How the fuck is Wes explaining Grace? He took her out on a date, ” I grumbled. The audacity!
“I think he’s mostly like, hey, this is Grace. Yeah, I know they went out. He recreated one of their first dates, then took her to his dad’s house, to help her remember more things,” he replied.
Oh, that made sense. I wanted her to remember everything. Fast. But a warning would be nice.
Riley came into the garage and opened the refrigerator. “Where do you keep the good bourbon?”
“Nowhere you can get to.” I locked up the good booze this morning. “Who’s asking?”
“No one. I wanted these.” She held up an energy drink and a lime soda.
My eyebrows rose. “Did you bring your boyfriend?”
She flipped me off. “Oh, my fuck. He’s not my boyfriend. And yes, because Grace was helping us study for the math test. Kilroy’s here too.”
“Of course she’s good at math,” I grumbled. More friends? Though Kilroy was her friend, they’d met in detention the first week of school.
“Um, she’s a mathematician. ” Riley grabbed my hand. “Fuck, you’re grumpy. Let’s get you some food before you shit a cactus.”