Scott #3
Though it was on the conservative side compared to most of the other houses Grandpa had around the world. This was the residence he always referred to as his “shack.”
I decided there was no need to mention that to Tess. I didn’t want to patronize her starry-eyed enthusiasm. Hopefully, I’d get to show her all the other houses in the future. I smiled, imagining seeing her reaction to the estate in Paris or the Hamptons’ mansion or the beach house in the Maldives.
Hell, it would be fun just showing her the rest of this place.
Later. After all the activity on the plane ride, I was making an executive decision. “I’ll give you the full tour before dinner. Right now, we both need a nap.”
“Did I say this was a palace? I think I meant heaven. A nap sounds—” Her words broke away with a yawn. “Heavenly.”
“Let’s get you to the bedroom, sleepyhead.
” I took her hand, planning to tow her along with me to the guest quarters.
Our luggage had already been taken up, and while maybe it was rude to not look around for my grandfather first, I hoped he’d understand us wanting to freshen up before we made an appearance.
And frankly, I needed a little bit of time to wrap my head around what I was doing.
What we were doing here together. I’d chosen to bring her to the Keys because I’d wanted to be alone with her someplace warm and safe and comfortable, but there were a hundred places that would have met that description.
I’d chosen to bring her to the Keys specifically because I’d wanted her to meet Grandpa. I’d never wanted that before.
And now I did. What did that mean about me? What did it mean about me and Tess?
I’d been so preoccupied with running away from the relationship my parents planned for me, I hadn’t had much time to examine what I was running to. This weekend would give me time to explore that. And maybe Grandpa would have some insight that I could glean.
Now that we were here, though, with the introduction looming, the significance of my decision to bring her here made my chest pinch with something that felt a lot like anxiety but warmer. Something that felt like being hugged and squeezed and released and smoothed out all at once.
I wasn’t ready to put a name to that emotion, but I was smart enough to know it would be a scary name when I did.
I was also experienced enough to know my grandfather would try to name it for me. Which was why a little break before we saw him sounded like a great idea.
Except best laid plans and all that…
We were halfway down the hall going toward the back stairs when Grandpa came in off the terrace and cornered us. “Trying to sneak in, are you? What kind of manners are those? Don’t even have time to say hello to your host? Has that good-for-nothing son of mine taught you nothing?”
I tensed, wondering if Tessa could tell that his gruff exterior was all a facade. Unlike my father, who was as much bite as he was bark, my grandfather was a big old softie.
“Didn’t want to disturb you, Grandpa,” I said, letting him embrace me.
It always felt odd when he did since neither of my parents were huggers, but the strangeness always melted away as soon as his arms folded around me.
“And I thought it would be more polite to not greet you looking so travel-worn.” A.k.a. sexed-up.
“Nonsense. I’m ninety-five years old, Scottie. That means I don’t have time to care about appearances. Though it also means I understand the lure of an afternoon nap, so I’ll make this quick.” His eyes glanced over at Tess. “Is this her?”
“She can hear you, you know. She’s not deaf like you are.”
“I’m perfectly aware she can hear me.” His eyes twinkled as he turned to my girlfriend. “Tess Turani, is it? Scott has told me all about you.”
“He has?” Her brows rose in surprise, her face radiant as she let Grandpa take her hands in his.
I worried suddenly that she’d be upset that I hadn’t told her much about him, besides the brief rundown I’d given her when we’d landed.
It wasn’t that I was trying to hide him.
Or maybe I was. In some ways, it was even harder to share the warmth and goodness of my grandfather with Tess than it was to share the ugliness of my father.
The elder Sebastian might have been the man to build SIC, but he wasn’t anything like the current face of the empire, and letting people see that felt like admitting some sort of personal failure, even though I had no control over either of them.
But I needn’t have worried because Grandpa didn’t let her have a single second to be upset. “Of course, he has. And I can see he didn’t overdo his description of you in the least. You’re absolutely breathtaking. Must have a heart of gold too to put up with a loser like this one.”
He winked at me, and I gave him a begrudged smile. He was good at laying on the charm. I’d probably learned a thing or two from him about it over the years.
“Eh, not so much a loser,” Tess said, and I could tell she was already smitten with the old man. “He’s got a few things going for him.”
“I don’t need to hear about the size of his cock, please and thank you. I’ve read all about it in those trashy magazines the housekeeper picks up from the supermarket. I’m hoping you’ve found he has some qualities that extend beyond the bedroom and the bank account.”
“Grandpa, please.” Why hadn’t I counted on him embarrassing me? Major fail on my part.
“Shush, boy. I’m a modern man. I know how these things work. It’s why you’re staying in the guest quarters. You can be as loud as you—”
“Grandpa!”
He dropped Tessa’s hand so he could swat me away. “I’ll let you get to your love nest soon enough. Just wanted to meet the girl and let you know I’ve arranged for dinner on the terrace around seven. Pulled out all the stops too. She’ll be impressed, kid.”
“No need to try,” Tessa said. “I’m already impressed. With both of you.”
He leaned in, curious. “But are you impressed enough? I could tell you all the best stories about him.”
“I assure you I’m impressed enough. But you can still tell me all the best stories about him.” It was her turn to wink.
“I know exactly which one I’ll start with.”
“Grandpa, please. Stop being weird.” I wasn’t ready to admit how enamored I was watching them engage. Admitting that was too close to naming that strange emotion in my chest, that emotion that burned and broadened with every breath in her presence.
“Am I being weird? I thought I was being a gracious host.” He turned back to Tess, angling in as though he wanted to bring her into his confidence. “I’m trying to be on my best behavior. He’s never brought a woman to meet me before.”
Oh, God. “She doesn’t need to know that, Grandpa.”
He whipped around to glare at me. “Of course, she does. If a woman doesn’t know she’s special, she’s less likely to stick around.”
“You’re being a very gracious host,” Tess said. “I feel very welcome.”
“Good. You’re always welcome here. Now I’ll let you two get to whatever it is you need to get to, and I’ll see you at dinner.”
“Napping,” I called after him as he walked away. “We’re literally taking a nap.” When I turned back to Tess, she looked like she was trying to fight back a laugh. “Don’t,” I said. “He’s not as cute as he thinks he is, so don’t say that he is.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Her smile lingered as I led her to the staircase.
My smile, on the other hand, did not. Something was bothering me, an urgency clawing at my insides, and I couldn’t pinpoint the source.
The meeting had gone well enough. Grandpa had been embarrassing, but he’d seemed to like her, and she’d seemed to like him.
The anxiety weighing down on me with my parents was still there, but nothing had changed to bring it front and center.
So what was it?
We were halfway up the stairs when it hit me, the fear that my grandfather had subtly planted, and as soon as I realized it, I couldn’t not deal with it right away.
Couldn’t not share the emotion that was unraveling into words inside of me.
Couldn’t not do everything in my power to make sure she stuck around.
“Tessa,” I said, pulling her to a stop beside me. It was on the tip of my tongue. A single exhale would push it out. I want you. I need you. I love...
At the last minute, the words became something else. Something easier to say, though not by much. “You’re special. You know that. Right?”
I could barely breathe as she studied me with serious eyes, taking me in. I wondered what she saw, what my face told her. I prayed she saw the truth in my words because the thought of her not sticking around was devastating.
After what felt like forever, she put her hand up to my cheek, rubbing it along my beard. “Yeah. I think I’m starting to know.”
It wasn’t as good as if she knew without a doubt, but it was enough to allow my breathing to resume.
And now I knew what I had to work on: proving it until she knew for real.