AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Okay. I want to run through a couple of options with you, and then we can decide where it makes the most sense for you to start. How does that sound?”
“It sounds perfect.” At least, it sounded logical. If he was honest, what sounded perfect to him would be sitting in on Chelsea’s Monday morning meeting right now. Listening to her talk—in Spanish as well as English, feeling a part of the family that she’d built there, taking part in the good-natured banter, even if he was the subject of amusement most of the time. Now he was back in the main Hamilton-Groves offices, the difference was stark. This place still had a positive atmosphere—people were warm and friendly—but it just wasn’t the same.
“Are you sure?” Cameron raised an eyebrow, bringing him back to the moment.
“Yeah, sorry.”
“Is it strange being here, instead of at Zosca, with Chelsea?”
Grant smiled, there was no point trying to hide it from her perceptive big brother. “Yeah, it is. Chelsea seems to have affected me with her ways. I just need to get back down to business. I’ll be fine. Don’t worry. I’m on the ball.”
“I’m not worried. You’re sharper than most, even with your head in the clouds.”
Grant laughed. “I’m not that bad, am I? I’d always heard that love could do strange things to a guy, but I’m holding it together.”
Cameron grinned. “So, you’re there? You two are in love?”
Grant pursed his lips. “I don’t know about that. About the two of us. I can tell you that I’m in love with your sister.”
The door opened while he was speaking, and Mary Ellen stood there. Her jaw dropped, and the tray of coffee cups slipped out of her hands.
“Oh, dammit! I’m sorry.” She rushed to get paper towels to mop up the mess. Cameron went to help her, and Grant watched helplessly. That had been pretty dumb. He probably shouldn’t have told Cameron that he loved her—not before he told Chelsea herself—and he definitely shouldn’t have told Mary Ellen, not that he’d intended to.
When the mess was cleared up, Cameron got to his feet and smiled at Grant. “You’re the only guy I know who can make Mary Ellen lose her cool.”
“I didn’t lose my cool. I just … Oh, okay. I totally lost it.” She stared at Grant. “You’re in love with her?”
He nodded. There was no point denying it now.
“And you haven’t told her?” asked Cameron.
“No, he damned well has not! And what I want to know is why.” Mary Ellen looked pissed.
Cameron laughed. “Err, calm down, would you? I don’t think that’s something you have a right to demand the answer to. That’s between Grant and Chelsea, right?”
“I’m sorry,” she looked suitably contrite, but Grant smiled.
“Don’t be. I want to know the answer myself. I should have told her weeks ago, but there was so much else going on. First, I was the bad guy, then she’s had so much on her plate with the transfer of ownership.”
“And why didn’t you stay to help her with that?” Mary Ellen’s frown was back.
“Hey, don’t blame me. She didn’t want me.” He turned to Cameron. “She and your dad thought it was better if I moved on. Which also contributed to me not wanting to tell her yet.”
“I can see that,” said Cameron.
“I can’t!” Mary Ellen folded her arms across her chest. “The poor girl doesn’t know where she stands. The two of you are dating, and she’s doing her best to implement everything you left her with at Zosca, but she’s on her own, as far as she’s concerned.”
Grant frowned. “She’s not on her own. We’re together. I hope we’re going to be together forever.” Damn, why was he spilling all his secrets here?
Cameron grinned at him but didn’t get chance to speak.
“And why are you telling us this, but you haven’t told Chelsea?”
“Because I don’t want to rush her. Because she’s got so much on her plate.”
Mary Ellen shook her head. “Men can be so dumb.”
“What’s dumb about it?” He really didn’t get it.
