Chapter 14
Why had she done it?
What was she thinking when she accepted Grant’s invitation to go on a date? This had to be the worst decision she’d made since she willingly agreed to come work in Rocky Ridge. If it weren’t for that mistake, she wouldn’t even be pacing her front room waiting for Grant to pick her up.
Bella went over their last conversation in her head several times. She was still reeling from the fact that he’d told her he was attracted to her. He’d been so upfront about it that she hadn’t had time to think of anything to say but that she wanted to go.
Her stomach churned and she placed her hand over it to quell the motion. She couldn’t get sick. Not now. Grant would be showing up at any second and as nervous as she was, she didn’t want to miss out on this date even one bit.
Lights flashed through the darkened window, and she hurried to peer through the blinds. His new truck pulled into the driveway. She couldn’t see Grant until he stepped out, but when he did, her heart did several more flips.
Grant cleaned up nice—not that he wasn’t drop-dead gorgeous as it was—but wearing dress pants and a jacket he looked comfortable and at ease. A man who was at home in jeans or a suit was a dream boat.
He ducked down to look at himself in the side mirror and glanced toward the house. Bella released the blinds and stepped back.
It would be fine. This was just a date. They’d spent enough time together for her to be comfortable with him. A date shouldn’t make any difference.
Even as she thought it, she knew she was wrong. This was very different. This was a man she was attracted to who had admitted he felt the same way. There were so many ways the night could end, and she was finding it hard to be centered.
The knock at the door spurred a quiet yelp from her chest. Bella took a deep breath and let it out slowly then she opened the door and smiled.
Grant’s gaze swept over her appreciatively—he wasn’t even trying to hide it. Bella blushed, undoubtedly matching the rose color of her dress.
She motioned toward him. “You look nice.”
“Not as nice as you,” Grant held out his hand and she took it only for him to spin her around. “You look amazing,” he murmured close to her ear as he drew her near. If music had been playing, she might have thought he was going to pull her into a dip.
The pulse in her throat fluttered wildly as she stepped back. “Thank you.”
He opened the door for her and they drove with only the music playing to fill the quiet. As strange as it was for her to be on a date, she thought it might be just as weird for him. He’d been married before. He had a kid. There were probably certain expectations for him.
No, she wasn’t going to let herself get in her head. This was supposed to be a nice night out and she was going to enjoy every last second.
They arrived at the Grand Mountain Lodge and were seated in a booth away from most of the other guests. The secluded, private area made it feel ten times more intimate than if they’d been at a typical table. She nearly asked him if there was a reason for their seating arrangement, but thought better of it. There was likely no reason save for this was an open table.
Grant stared at her from across the table, causing her to fidget even more. She had a hard time meeting his eyes and chose instead to go over the menu. Unfortunately, as soon as they’d ordered, she no longer had it to keep her distracted.
“I’m glad you came out with me.” Grant spoke first.
“Me too,” she said softly.
“You have no idea how nice it has been to have someone on my side for once. Being here, in Rocky Ridge, it’s tough to know where I belong. I feel like everyone here has been here for ages.”
She smiled, tucking a strand of loose hair behind her ear. “I understand completely. I’ve only been here for six months. It takes some getting used to, for sure.”
“Yeah.” Grant leaned back with a sigh. “I still can’t wrap my head around Dee wanting to stay here. She hated her family when we were together…” His voice trailed off. “I’m sorry, I probably shouldn’t be talking about her.”
Bella lifted a shoulder and dropped it. “Honestly? I don’t mind. That was a part of your life. You should be able to relive the things that bring you joy without fear of judgment.”
Even as she said it, she disagreed. Of course she cared. No one wanted to hear about an ex. Bella picked up her spoon and fiddled with it, wondering even more if this was a mistake.
“I didn’t, though. I mean, I cared about her back then, but now that all this time has passed, it’s a sore spot.” His brows furrowed. “There’s so much baggage that comes with that part of my life.”
She stiffened. They were headed into dangerous territory. He’d been a deadbeat like her own father. He couldn’t complain now. He had six years of perceived freedom and now he was looking back on his decisions like he couldn’t have changed anything?
Grant looked up at her and his expression shifted to something else. His eyes narrowed and his lips were pressed into a thin line. “There’s something I haven’t told you. I didn’t think it mattered, but there’s something telling me that I should.”
Bella didn’t know if she wanted to know what he was going to say. This was a first date, for goodness’ sake, and it wasn’t going in the best direction. “Okay,” she said.
“Dee didn’t tell me.”
She tilted her head, placing the spoon on the table. “Didn’t tell you what?”
“About Nick.”
All at once, her insides collided. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, when we signed the annulment papers, she didn’t tell me about Nick. I never knew she was even pregnant until her lawyer called.”
Bella felt faint. She’d been wrong. Grant had been the victim in this situation, not his ex. He wasn’t a deadbeat dad after all.
“I know what you’re thinking. I should have kept in touch better. Surely, I would have figured it out.” There was a bitterness to his tone, one that tugged at her heart.
She gasped and jumped from her seat to take the place beside him on the bench. Taking his hand in hers, she held it tight. “I wasn’t thinking that at all.”
“You don’t know how hard it was for me to grasp that not only was I a father, my son was already in kindergarten.” Grant’s voice broke but the emotion was short lived. He took a deep breath and released it with a painful chuckle. “Anyway, it’s been strange. But the worst part is that I can see the judgment on everyone’s faces in town. They all think I knew—well, everyone except a couple of the guys I’ve gotten to know at the ranch.”
She was included in that sentiment, and she couldn’t have felt more guilty about it. Bella trailed her fingers over the hand she held.
“It’s none of their business anyhow. Don’t worry about what they think.” She was a hypocrite and she knew it. Only now, she planned on doing better. “Around here, broken families don’t happen all that often. But in the city…” She let out a long sigh trying to control the disappointment and anger this memory always evoked. “My dad left us when I was a baby.”
His head whirled around, and he stared at her like she was an alien. She blushed but didn’t pull away like she itched to do—partially because she wanted to be near him, and partially because his grip on her had tightened.
“For what it’s worth, I think I would have forgiven him if he’d shown up when I was six and tried to be there for me—at least, I hope I would have.” She gave him a watery smile, fighting back her emotion. “The way you are with Nick, it’s how I wish my father would have been.”
She’d never told anyone that before. Even when she spoke to her mother, she would say how much she hated her father for leaving them high and dry. Most of the time when she thought back to her hard childhood, she’d even tell herself she had no business wanting him in her life.
Only now, next to Grant, she admitted how not having her father in her life had affected so many areas of her life. It was more than the disappointment and anger of a child--she also carried the scars of an adult who longed for a relationship with her father.
Grant touched her chin, forcing her to look at him. “If Nick turns out half as amazing as you are, I’ll count myself lucky.”
His eyes dipped to her lips and her breath hitched in her throat. As if in slow motion, Grant moved closer and closer until his mouth captured hers.
Sparks shot off around them, filling the room, the air, even her own body with light and warmth. She brought her hand to his cheek then pushed it behind his neck to pull him closer, clinging to him.
Grant wasn’t what she had expected. At every turn, she was discovering things about him that made her like him that much more. Grant was everything she’d wanted in her life and here he was beside her, holding her, and making her feel like anything was possible.
* * *
Bella was on cloud nine.Last night’s date was more than she’d bargained for, and she didn’t regret it for a moment. Everything in her life felt like it was falling into place. She’d found someone who was sweet and open, which only contributed to her own willingness to be open with him.
Grant was the first man in her life she thought she might be able to trust. This whole time, she’d been worried that he might be keeping something from her and in the end, it had been nothing. She was kicking herself for not giving him the benefit of the doubt. Why couldn’t she just let him prove himself instead of assuming?
Because she’d been hurt. That’s why.
Well, no more.
She refused to be triggered by her past.
Bella wandered toward the RV. Grant had suggested they take Nick for a nature walk before lunch. It sounded like the perfect Sunday outing, and she couldn’t have been more thrilled that he wanted to spend even more time with her.
Her hand lifted to knock on the door, but it swung out and she had to pull away quick before she got pushed to the ground.
“Officer Bella?” Nick’s worried face appeared behind it. “Good. It’s you. Come here.”
She laughed. “What’s the matter, Nick. Is everything okay?”
“Just come here.” He ducked back inside.
Bella looked over her shoulder, not seeing anyone. She wasn’t sure where Grant was if he wasn’t inside the RV. She pulled the door open and poked her head inside. “Is your dad here?”
“He went to the house for something.” Nick sat down on the top step of the RV. “I need your help.” He pointed to his untied shoes. “I don’t know how to tie them. My dad got me new shoes and I can’t tie them. Nana says if I’m not a good boy, he might leave me again.”
The boy’s confession spilled from his lips, the terror in his voice unmistakable.
“Oh, honey. Your dad isn’t going to leave you if you can’t tie your shoes.”
“He left my mom because she wasn’t good enough. Now he’s going to leave me.”
Bella’s heart broke as she sat on the bottom step. “Your dad loves you. He would never leave.”
Nick lifted his tear-stained cheeks. “I know he loves me. But Nana?—”
“Don’t worry about what your nana said. She’s probably just scared that you’re going to leave. Did you think about that? Not all nanas get to live by their grandkids. Sometimes they live really far. I bet you anything your nana was just worried about you.”
Bella’s rationalization made more sense to her than the ramblings of a six-year-old. But it did make her wonder about the differing descriptions of what had happened nearly seven years ago. Was it possible that Grant was trying to play to her trusting side and make her believe he was nothing but a pawn in his ex’s game? No. What did he have to gain in lying to her?
But what did Charlotte have to gain in scaring her grandson? The woman needed to put her own concerns in check. Nick was impressionable. He didn’t need to worry about this sort of thing.
“Tell you what, kiddo. I’ll tie these for you now. But I want you to ask your dad to teach you the next time you have to put them on, deal?”
Nick didn’t seem confident at all, but he nodded anyway.
“Good. Now, let’s go find your dad so we can go on that nature walk.”