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Grace’s eyes fall. “Yes, you do. I’ve never been close with my mom, but you’re close with your siblings. I don’t want to come between you and your family. And I don’t want to cost you your business. It’s time to face the truth. We aren’t good for one another. Not right now at least.”
I couldn’t disagree more, but I know it’s useless to keep pushing. She’s in her dress from last night, her hair is mussed from our sex, and we’re both a bit hung over. I need to lay out my plan, and now is not the time.
“I’ll have my driver take you home.” I grab my phone to text Frank, but Grace’s hand stops me.
“Already called an Uber.”
I flex my jaw. “I’m not giving up on you,” I say as I pull her in for a hug.
She sighs against my chest. “I guess we’ll see about that.”
Cat cuts into her waffle and takes a huge bite, acting more like a middle schooler than a demure thirty-four-year-old that works at a fashion magazine.
“I seriously have no idea how you hang around all those models. They must hate you.”
She laughs. “Please, I have curves and cellulite; if anything I disgust them, not that I care. This is just a pit stop until you take the company in the right direction, and I can do something under our name.”
Cat looks dreamy as she talks about what she wants to do. It’s what I want for her—for all of us—to be able to keep growing the business. To have divisions, not just alcohol. I know we can do it. I have this vision in my head. I just need to keep my eye on the prize.
“Speaking of the company, let’s discuss your recent rise in tabloid gossip. That can’t be good for the company.” She points a forkful of waffle in my direction. “What is up with the woman you met in Florida and Jonathan?”
I roll my eyes. “Nothing. They used to date, or something like that,” I grumble, remembering Grace’s words last night. My hand shakes as I go to pick up my coffee cup. I really hate Hanson, and I hate that he had his hands anywhere near Grace.
Cat looks at me thoughtfully. “Hm, I never saw Jonathan as the dating type.” I’m not sure why she keeps calling him Jonathan. It’s irritating.And it makes me wonder if Hanson actually followed through with his threat years ago.
“Didn’t know you knew him on a first-name basis, or would know what type of guy he was when it came to women at all.”I raise my eyes to hers in question and she shoos her fork at me again. If something happened, she gives nothing away, and I feel my spiking heart rate settle a bit. “You’re being weird,” she says nonchalantly.
I hold my hand up, pointing it at my chest. “I’m being weird?”
“Yes, you’re awfully territorial about a girl you hardly know.”
I huff out a breath. “Can we discuss something else?”
“Fine. Have you figured out where you’re going to live? You can’t stay in the hotel; it’s too Pretty Woman of you.”
I laugh. “Too what?”
“Ya know, Pretty Woman. Richard Gere stays in the hotel for like two weeks, pays Julia Roberts to be his fake girlfriend, although things are a bit more risqué than that since she’s a prostitute.”
“I have no idea why my staying in a hotel reminds you of this movie, but there is something very wrong with that brain of yours.” She laughs knowing she’s already gotten under my skin. “And anyway, I’m not going to stay there. I’m thinking of moving into the apartment above the office.”
“The penthouse?” she practically chokes out. “No one has lived there since Dad.”
I sigh. “I know. But I can do things differently. I won’t be like him.”
Cat rolls her eyes. “You say that, but you’re obsessed with a married woman. It kind of sounds like history repeating itself. That’s who you were with last night, isn’t it?”
I glare at my sister. She’s really getting on my nerves. “She’s getting a divorce.”
“She lied to you. Besides, this family doesn’t need the scandal. Especially when you’re just taking over. Pa isn’t here to cover up your shit like he did Dad’s. You don’t have the luxury to go after her, and you have to realize that.”
I rub my hand over my face. “I have a plan. And before you get so judgmental, I’ve already talked it over with Peters, and he agrees he can handle it. I just need to talk to her. Even if we can’t be together right now, I want to make it work.For now, I can focus on work, she can focus on her divorce, and eventually, when it isn’t so ‘scandalous,’ we can be together.”
Cat shakes her head and lets out an exaggerated breath. “What is with you? I mean she lied to you. We don’t do liars.”
“Her husband cheated on her. She found out I was her newest client and she freaked. She knew it would look bad for me taking over the company. She thought she was helping. And believe me, I didn’t go easy on her. When I found out the truth, I walked out of the restaurant and didn’t look back.”
Cat sighs. “I want to be happy for you. I want to root for you. But honestly, I think this is a huge mistake.” When I grimace, she softens her voice. “Listen, I get it, she was looking out for you when she lied… If she were dating anyone else, maybe I’d like her. But you are not someone else. You are the kindest, greatest, best guy I know, and you deserve everything. I just don’t think she’s it.”
