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Chapter twenty-two
Grey had finally agreed to host an official dinner party. In all my wandering around this place, I never even realized there was an actual ballroom. Probably because it was located in the one wing of the house that he kept closed off.
The room was large and open with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the rear garden. Tiny flecks of light danced across the floor from where the sun bounced off the crystal chandeliers. The marbled floor had been freshly polished and delivery drivers were carrying in vase after vase of fresh flowers. There was an excited buzz in the air as everyone worked around one another. I felt the energy all the way to my bones. I even found myself walking around humming at one point.
Mrs. McTavish stood on one side of the room handing white linen tablecloths to young men wearing dark green polos and jeans. I reached for one of the tablecloths, and she snatched it back. “The lady of the house does not decorate.” She pursed her lips. “She delegates.”
“I don’t mind helping.” Helping was better than reading in the library or being alone in my room. And I hated being calledthe lady of the house. It felt like a lie, especially now that I knew that title was meant for someone else.
She gave me a stern look. “You can help by delegating.”
I sighed and rolled my eyes.
“Is this one giving you trouble Mrs. McT?” Grey asked with a grin as he walked up beside me.
“Me?” My eyes widened. “Trouble?” I gasped.
A sparkle glinted in his blue eyes. Ever since our bathtub chat where he finally opened up about his past, things had been easy between us. A weight had been lifted for both of us. There were no expectations, only friendship.
“Do you mind if I steal her for a moment?” he asked Mrs. McTavish. “There’s something I want to show her.”
She beamed when she smiled. “Of course not, sir.”
What she meant was,“It’s easier with her out of the way.”
As soon as we were out of ear shot, I looked up at him with narrowed eyes. “Don’t think I don’t know what that was back there.”
His lips twitched as he fought a smile. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Mmm hmm.” I followed him up the staircase. “You never told me how you met her.” I paused. “Mrs. McTavish,” I clarified.
He peeked over his shoulder at me but kept walking. “She’s a family friend.” He chuckled when I sighed at the vague answer. “She was my nanny when I was young.”
I hurried to move beside him. “So, she knows your whole story?”
He nodded.
“As in… everything?”
We reached the top of the staircase, and he turned to face me. “She knows everything.”
“That’s why she didn’t freak out the night you brought me home.”
“She knew I would never hurt you.” His jaw flexed. “She knows I willstillnever hurt you.”
He walked over and opened the door to my room, then watched as I walked in. Lying on top of the bed was one of the most beautiful gowns I’d ever seen. It was soft pink—my favorite—with Swarovski crystals on the bodice and a long chiffon bottom.
I walked over to the bed and grabbed the dress, holding it against my front. “Grey, it’s beautiful.”
“You’ll wear it well.”
Friends.
That was all we would ever be.
Still, sometimes, like right now, butterflies erupted in the bottom of my belly when he was around. When he gave me compliments like that one, they swarmed.
“They’ll be here for the party,” he said.
