AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What?” Her jaw dropped. “How would you know that?”
He shrugged.
“When did you get back?” Scott asked.
“To Destiny? An hour ago. Went to the tower first before coming home. Got here about ten minutes ago.”
Gretchen came up to her side and took the shopping bags Megan was holding from her. “Don’t let Eric fool you, Megan. As you can tell by his current attire, he’s no fashion follower.”
“What’s wrong with jeans, boots, and T-shirts?” he asked.
“See what I mean? Those and a Stetson, and he’s ready to face the day. But I do know how he knows about the price of this magnificent bag.” Gretchen grinned. “When these two joined the billionaire club, the designers came out of the woodwork. We get invitations by the truckloads for them. Starlets, too, come sniffing after these lads. What was the one’s name who was nominated for an Oscar but lost?”
Eric rolled his eyes. “I went with that actress because TBK was doing business with her uncle’s company. It was just business. God, if you bring that up again I won’t be responsible for what I do.”
Gretchen held up her fists and smiled. “Bring it on, Eric. I’m a card-carrying matriarch of Fight Club,” she said with a wink. “Oops. I’ve said too much.”
Eric hugged and lifted Gretchen off the floor.
She laughed. “Put me down. I have work to do.”
He did and then kissed her on the forehead.
Megan liked how Eric was around Gretchen. It was a side of him she wanted to get to know more. There was real affection between the Knights and the dear lady.
“This handba
g is really that much?” Megan asked.
Gretchen walked up to her. “My dear, it doesn’t matter. It’s a gift.”
“But it isn’t. It’s part of my wardrobe allowance from TBK.”
The woman brushed the hair out of her eyes. “Megan, we both know better. The thing you’ve got to learn is how to accept gifts. I know that must be hard for you. I come from the East End. It’s the part of London where families struggle just to get by. My mother and father worked in the garment industry. The only gifts I ever got were an apple on my birthday and another on Christmas in my stocking.”
Scott put his arm around Gretchen, but didn’t say a word as she continued recounting her upbringing.
“Women like us have trouble accepting gifts. We always think there’s some nefarious motive. You’ve worked hard your whole life, haven’t you, dear? You’ve also known suffering and loss. I can see it in your eyes.”
Megan looked at the kind woman and saw a kindred spirit. “I know what you’re trying to do. But seriously, this purse is too much.” She pointed to the shopping bags on the floor. “These are too much and there are more in the truck. Eric and Scott have been kind and generous. They dropped the lawsuit. That would’ve been enough.”
Scott said, “Megan—”
“Quiet,” Gretchen said, cutting him off. “Let her finish and then I will speak. You two can say your piece after, if you have something to say, but not before. Go on, child.”
“They offered me a job. That would’ve been enough. But believing someone had used my computer without my knowledge at my home, they gave me a room here in this palace and a bodyguard. They flew me to New York on a private jet. That would’ve been enough. But this?” Again, she motioned to the piles of purchases. “It’s too much. I can’t accept it.”
“Your pride is getting in the way of you really seeing this for what it is, Megan,” Gretchen said. “I’ve been with these boys for many years. Their parents were still alive, God rest their souls.” The woman did the sign of the cross over her chest. “Rich people in their own right. Eric and Scott were so young when they lost them, not even out of high school yet. I tried to console them the best I could but their grief was more than even I could help with. Luckily, the O’Learys stepped in. For Irish folks, they aren’t half bad. Being English myself, not a big fan of the Emerald Isle.” She winked, clearly trying to lighten the mood. “Patrick and Sam took these two, the Stone boys, and the three Coleman children under their wings. With their help, Eric and Scott found a way to channel their sadness into another outlet, making money, and the money they made kept multiplying their inheritance again and again. And you know where they stand now. Billionaires.”
“I’m not sure what this has to do with me, Gretchen, or all this merchandise I need to return.”
“Listen to yourself, Megan. Of course you’re uncomfortable. It’s a lot to take in. Eric and Scott have never been slow to boil.”
Megan absolutely had experienced that.
“These and all the rest.” Gretchen picked up several of the shopping bags. “Can’t you see this is my boys’ way of trying to win your heart?”
She’d come to expect bad things—abandonment, betrayal, heartache. That worldview resided deep inside every fiber of Megan’s being. Since Kip, keeping her guard up was as natural to her as breathing. No one would ever want her, not really, not forever. What did she have to offer anyone? Nothing. And men like Scott and Eric, who had everything? Again, nothing. But what if Gretchen was right? What if they were trying to win her heart?
