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As much as I want to keep looking at Grace because she’s never been like this with me, I need to find out who this guy is.

I offer him my free hand. “Preston King,” I say and paste a firm smile to my lips.

“Brad.”

“I’m not sure I’ve heard of you. How do you know my fiancée?”

“So it is true.” He huffs. “Where’s the ring?”

“Is there a problem?” I ask before he can say anything else. “Are you a reporter?”

“No,” Grace answers and then tugs my arm. “He was just checking in, and I was about to come find you. See you around, Brad.”

“Nice to meet you, Preston,” he says and holds out his hand.

I shake it. “You too, Brian.”

“It’s Brad.”

“My bad.”

I don’t move right away, but Grace’s grip on my hand tightens as she pulls me with her.

Even though I’d rather find out more about Brad, I give in and follow my fiancée.

“Who is that guy?” I ask quietly.

She doesn’t answer, just keeps leading the way to her office. Once we get there, she closes the door.

She leans against it, closing her eyes.

“Grace, who was that guy?” I ask again.

I don’t like what’s happening right now. She’s clearly upset over this person, and now he’s possibly staying here.

Fuck that.

“Grace.” This time she snaps her eyes open to look at me.

I’m ready for her to open her mouth or start a fight of some kind, but she just lets out a sigh that sort of comes out as a groan.

“Brad is my ex.”

“Your ex?” I ask.

That was not what I was expecting her to say. My heart starts to pound, and my fists clench.

“Yeah. Um, he … ugh. He proposed to me once, and I said no.”

My brows rise at this new admission.

Our families know damn near everything about each other. If Grace ever dated someone long enough for the guy to propose, I would have known about it, right?

Her brothers would have known about it, right?

And her saying no—we all would have for sure heard about that.

“When?” I ask, and Grace smiles.