Chapter 15
CHAPTER 15
GRANT
G rant straightened his tie as he stared in the mirror. The worry etched into every line on his face hadn’t dissipated despite Julia’s return.
The pictures Lydia had insisted he see this morning were still burned into his brain. Visions of Julia in Kyle’s arms, his lips pressed against hers, danced in his mind.
It had been fake, as his rational side had suspected, but his heart…
His heart still struggled, wondering if there were any feelings in that kiss that they weren’t admitting.
He wandered to the nightstand and pulled the ring box from the drawer. His hand hovered over it as he contemplated opening it. He had the diamond inside memorized, having stared at it on so many occasions before. In many instances, he took solace in it, picturing it on Julia’s delicate finger as he imagined their future together.
But in some cases, it had been a source of misery. He’d never found a woman he’d even considered giving it to outside of Julia. But he’d also never found a woman he feared would reject him outside of Julia.
He swallowed hard and opened the box, staring at how the light glinted off the gem. He traced the contours of the cold diamond, each facet reflecting a different part of his journey with Julia. Was it love pulsing through him or fear of losing her? The ring, once a symbol of hope, now felt like a question mark hanging over their future.
A second later, he snapped it closed. He couldn’t look at it. Not when his emotions were so strained.
He couldn’t blame his son for falling for her. But he couldn’t imagine living in a reality where she accepted Kyle as the man for her. Yet their relationship seemed so easy, so unconstrained.
Would the contract that had governed their lives for nearly the past two years be the noose that hung him?
He shoved the box back into the drawer and stalked to the drink cart, pouring himself a bourbon. His nerves weren’t helped by Kyle’s announcement about Lydia’s impending surprise.
Whatever Lydia had planned would likely be another gut punch. He found his mind wandering through a forest of possibilities, one more dastardly than the next.
His mind turned to Sierra, praying the surprise wouldn’t ruin her. His stomach fluttered at the thought. He imagined the pictures splashed all over the society page, scrolling past on TMZ, and flooding social media. The press conferences they’d have to hold, the stocks in her publishing company plummeting, Sierra sobbing as she vowed to reinvent herself. All of it flashed through his mind.
He downed the bourbon in one swallow and poured another. Their only hope for that not happening was a gangly, awkward man who still acted like he was a gawky teen.
His nerves frayed a little more as he recalled the conversation earlier. “Big G,” Grant groaned with a scoff. “Is he serious?”
He recalled his greeting of Julia, another pain point for him. The bear hug the man had given her hadn’t gone over well with him. Why did everyone else seem to have such an easy relationship with Julia outside of him?
“Because everyone else’s relationship is real.” The words, once spoken aloud, settled on him like a physical weight. He was the one who stood out from the others. He was the only one who was different. Even his son, Kyle, had an organic relationship with her. One they’d built on truth, more or less.
The thought ripped through him, threatening to undo him. He poured another bourbon, polishing it off in one gulp before he forced himself to shove aside his concerns and don his jacket.
Julia trusted the man, and he trusted her judgment. He had to cling to that.
He adjusted the suit jacket while he gazed at himself in the mirror. With another wiggle of his tie, he sucked in a breath and raised his chin. He could handle this threat. He could handle all the threats.
He blew out a controlled breath before he strode from the room, trying to fill himself with confidence.
Voices floated from the foyer as he approached it. He descended the stairs, spotting Julia hugging a blonde woman who grinned before she stepped back next to Alex.
“It’s so good to see you, Sunshine,” Ava said, her voice warm with affection.
He bristled at the name, however fitting it was for his wife. The tension in him soured his mood on everything. It was completely nonsensical to hate that Julia had a past and people close enough to her to have given her a nickname. He reached the marble floor, plastering a slight smile on his lips.
Alex grinned at him. “Granster, good to see you again.”
His smile faltered at the nickname, though it reminded him of the man’s tech-savvy. His confidence surged a little as Julia looped her arm through his and introduced him to the blonde. “Ava, this is my husband, Grant. Grant, this is Ava Collins, Alex’s wife.”
He offered her a warm handshake, pleased that Julia had so effortlessly introduced him as her husband. The words sounded wonderful coming from her mouth. “Hi, nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” she said. “It was so good to hear from Julia. I was shocked to hear she’d left Maine behind.”
“Yeah, totally,” Alex said as they shuffled into the living room for cocktails. “I thought you lived and breathed Maine. Doesn’t sea water course through your veins?”
Julia’s easy laugh was both a welcome sound and a source of pain as he realized how easily she reacted to his humor. “I do love Maine, but New Orleans has its perks.”
“Scheming ex-wives not among them?” Alex asked, centering his gaze on Grant.
“Uh, Lydia lives here, too, so maybe we shouldn’t discuss that when we’re not behind closed doors,” he answered.
The look of confusion on both Ava’s and Alex’s face was unmistakable. Ava licked her lips as she lowered her gaze to her lap, though Alex didn’t back down. “The original old lady is still in residence?”
Julia winced as she rose and slipped her arm through his again. “Yes. It’s…complicated.”
Ava flicked her gaze up and smiled. “Well, we certainly understand complicated, don’t we, Alex?”
“That we do,” the man answered. “Will the lovely first First Lady of Harrington House be joining us for dinner?”
“If we’re lucky, no,” Grant answered.
Alex flicked his eyebrows up. “Depends on how to define lucky.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Grant asked.
“I, personally, would like a crack at the chief witch’s phone.”
Grant mulled over the man’s words. He had a point. The sooner they got this over, the better. Before they could discuss it further, Sierra pounded her way into the room, eyeing the other two people.
“Sierra,” Grant said, wondering how well Alex’s strange personality would go over with his mean girl daughter. “There you are. Meet Alex Stone and his wife, Ava.”
“Sierra Harrington,” his daughter said as she thrust her hand out.
They all shook hands with Alex remaining surprisingly mum about his work to secure pictures of her. Maybe the man wasn’t stupid after all.
“So, you’re friends with Julia?” Sierra asked after a sip of sherry.
“Climb into the way-back machine because our relationship goes back decades,” Alex answered as he settled on the couch next to Ava.
Sierra scrunched her features as she stared at Alex. Kyle strode into the room and poured himself a scotch.
“Hey, there he is. Grant Junior.”
“Please do not call me that,” Kyle retorted.
“Whoa, uptight, huh?” Alex asked. “You know, I…may be able to hook you up with some…de-stressing tips. If you catch my drift.”
“Are you suggesting that I use some sort of illegal substance to relax?”
“Mind stopping the car and letting me out before you race to the next conclusion? I merely meant maybe try meditating or aromatherapy.”
“I think everyone’s just a little on edge. We’ve had a rough few weeks, and Sierra and I were in a little accident last night,” Julia said.
“Oh my goodness, are you okay?” Ava asked, her eyes flicking between Sierra and Julia.
“Yes, thankfully, we’re fine. But it was a long night. I’m afraid everyone’s still a little tense.”
“Dinner, sir,” Worthington announced before anyone else could speak.
“Excellent,” Grant said, pleased to move the night along. “Shall we?”
He and Julia led the way to the dining room, settling at the head of the table. Julia took the seat around the corner from him, which he much preferred than when she sat a table away from him at a formal meal.
Alex grinned at him as he settled into a seat at the other end of the table. A table away was the best place for the odd man who promised to save his daughter, but his son Kyle made the seating arrangement a little more unpleasant. He glared at Kyle as he settled into his seat with a smile at Julia.
Alex stared at his son. “So, Grant 2.0, are you a mini-me in all respects? Does energy flow through your veins, too?”
The smile faded from his son’s face, but an amused grin crossed Grant’s.
“No,” Kyle said, his voice a low growl, “I’m a doctor.”
“Oh, my apologies, Dr. Harrington.”
“It’s Carter.”
Alex furrowed his brow as they awaited the first course.
“Kyle didn’t grow up here,” Sierra explained from his side. “He was adopted. He only showed up a little over a year ago.”
Grant shifted his gaze to the woman next to Alex. “So, how long have you and Alex been married?”
“Since right after college,” Ava answered.
“Oh, wow, so you’re coming up on a milestone anniversary soon.”
“Nearly two decades,” she said with a bob of her head as Worthington entered the room. He took a post next to Grant, indicating he had a question.
Grant leaned sideways, and the man whispered in his ear. “Are we to wait for Ms. Lydia and her guest or proceed?”
“Guest?” Grant asked. He eyed the two empty chairs at the table next to Sierra.
“Yes, sir. Ms. Lydia informed me that she planned to attend dinner and would be bringing a guest.”
“Ah, no, let’s not wait for her. Let’s proceed.”
“Yes, sir,” Worthington said with a bob of his head before he strode from the room.
Grant leaned closer to Julia, his stomach rolling. “Did Lydia say anything to you about a guest?”
She shook her head. “No, nothing.”
He swallowed hard, wondering if this was tied to her surprise. He didn’t like it. He didn’t like her inviting people to the house. He tried to keep his nerves in check as they threatened to unravel. His fingers curled into a fist, catching the white linen tablecloth.
Quietly, Julia placed a consoling hand on his, silently offering strength to him as she monitored the ongoing conversation about where Kyle grew up.
He unfurled his fingers and laced them through hers. She offered him a fleeting smile before she refocused her attention on Ava.
“So, what made you leave Harbor Cove?” the woman asked.
He felt her tense as she started her answer. “Oh, uh, I needed a change.”
Ava’s eyes fell on their clasped hands. “Well, it looks like it agrees with you.”
“Do you miss it?” Alex asked.
“I miss some things about it,” she answered.
The words stung him. What things did she miss?
“I’d miss it,” Ava said. “It’s beautiful there.”
“You’ve been there?” Sierra asked.
“We spent two summers there with Julia back in the old college days,” Alex answered. “Hiking, sailing, all that awesome stuff. I remember being on that sailboat named after you.”
Grant’s jaw tensed at the words, recalling the moments he’d witnessed near the Gentle Julia . The tense moments between Julia and her former fiancé still stuck in his mind.
“And what were those drinks?”
“Marina Mists,” Julia answered.
“That’s right,” Ava said, poking a finger at her. “I have never had anything like those. Oh, they were so good. Does Luke still make them?”
“He does,” Julia confirmed.
The spouses exchanged a glance at the opposite end of the table. “We may need to take a weekend getaway,” Ava said.
“What the better half wants, the better half gets. Happy wife, happy life, right, Big G?” He raised his drink at him.
Before Grant could answer, footsteps pounded toward the dining room. That definitely was not Worthington unless he’d changed into a pair of designer heels. Grant’s muscles stiffened as he realized Lydia must be on her way toward them.
A second later, Lydia appeared in the doorway, scanning the room. “My apologies for being late. I hadn’t realized we were entertaining.”
Grant raised their clasped hands. “ We are entertaining. You are not.”
Lydia’s eyes fell on Kyle, her brows furrowing. “Doogie Houser is still here? After our conversation this morning?”
“Kyle. My name is Kyle.”
“Lydia, please. We’ve waited long enough for our meal. Sit down.”
“Aren’t you even going to introduce me?”
“Alex, Ava, this is my ex-wife, Lydia. Lydia, this is Alex Stone and his wife, Ava. They’re friends of Julia’s.”
“Julia has friends?” she asked.
Alex narrowed his eyes at Lydia. “I’m not certain many people can resist Julia’s genuine charm.”
For the first time, Grant liked the man. His biting comment was the perfect response to Lydia’s rude statement.
Lydia wrinkled her nose at the man as Worthington and the staff paraded into the room to deliver the first course.
“Sit down, Lydia. We’d all like to eat.”
“I will. But I’m waiting on my guest.”
“Guest?” Grant asked.
Lydia glanced behind her. “Yes. He should be along any moment. I’d better check.”
She pounded her way out of the room. He hoped she never came back, but those hopes were dashed seconds later when the heels stomped back toward them.
Grant braced himself for the arrival of whatever poor man had fallen for Lydia’s act. He may have to subtly warn the man over after-dinner drinks to run for his life.
As he pondered it, two dark shadows cast a pall over the table, but it was the clattering of Julia’s spoon against her soup bowl that set him on edge.
He glanced at her face first, finding it a mask of disbelief and shock. His eyebrows furrowed. Who could have given Julia that reaction?
He shifted his gaze to the door, his eyes going wide and heat washing over him.
“Hi, Julia,” the man next to Lydia said.
Despite the fancy suit and the haircut, he recognized the man easily. Luke Hawthorne. Julia’s ex-fiancé now stood in his dining room, his dark eyes set on his wife like a wolf eyeing its next meal.
Grant felt a visceral twist in his gut as the man made an unwelcome intrusion into his sanctum. Kyle’s posture stiffened, a silent sentinel, also preparing to defend his family against the ghost of Julia’s past.
The arrival of the man shattered the delicate balance he’d struck to get through this tumultuous situation. And threatened to ruin everything.