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Grace brightened at that prospect. And the offer of Griff being “ready, willing, and able” was conjuring all sorts of images in Grace’s mind. Some of which she found surprising, and her cheeks warmed at the thoughts dancing around in her head.
She coughed to clear her throat. ‘I’ll need to discuss it with my fam …the rest of the Eversley Events team, and get back to you.’
‘Get back to us?’ Bianca shrieked. ‘You must start today, or it’ll never be finished in time! ’
‘Bianca!’ Griff snapped.
‘Fine. You deal with it. This was your idea. I have places to be and people waiting.’ She strode out of the room and slammed the door behind her.
‘That went well,’ said Griff, raising both brows as a sarcastic grin curved on his lips.
‘I’m sorry,’ Grace said, turning to face him. ‘I really had no idea what was required.’
‘It’s not your fault, it’s mine. No. Actually, it’s Bianca’s. If she treated people with decency and respect instead of being so demanding, and insulting them, the company she has used each year would be here now, working.’ He smiled suddenly. ‘But I’m glad they’re not. It’s high time your family took over and organised the Mistletoe Dance. I know you’ll do a good job and I can’t wait to see what you come up with.’
‘Really? Are you sure?’
‘Absolutely. Aren’t you?’
‘Of course I am. But…’
‘But what?’
She looked him in the eye and her heart skipped a beat. ‘I … I’m a little surprised, to be honest. Why the sudden change of heart?’
‘Change of heart?’ His Adam’s apple rose and fell and he ran a hand through his hair. ‘I haven’t had a change of heart, Grace.’
‘Oh come on, Griff. For years all you could manage to do was scowl whenever you saw me. The last few years you’ve given me that sardonic smile, and a grunt for a greeting. Now you … you’re saying you have faith in me and you can’t wait to see my ideas? This isn’t … one of your pranks, like in the old days, is it? You really do want us to organise the dance, don’t you?’
His mouth fell open, and he stared at her for a second. ‘A prank? Is that what you think? I’m thirty-six-years-old, Grace. I don’t do pranks. And certainly not when there’s something as important as the Mistletoe Dance involved. I apologise if I’ve been rude in the past. That wasn’t my intention.’ He looked thoughtful for a moment. ‘Or maybe it was. This may sound crazy, and it’s not an excuse, but Mum’s death affected me more than I realised and it’s taken years for me to come to terms with it. I can’t believe it’s been twenty years. I still miss her, even now. Especially at this time of year. Sorry. That sounds lame. Have I changed?’ He shrugged. ‘Perhaps. But this is the real me, Grace. What you see is what you get.’
‘The coffee’s here,’ Tabby said, as the door to the morning room burst open. ‘Sorry for the delay. One of the chickens found its way into the kitchen and it took three of us to catch it and put it safely back in the coop.’ Tabby carried the tray towards the coffee table and Griff stepped forward and took it from her.
‘Chickens?’ Grace queried.
‘Don’t ask,’ said Griff, grinning.
‘Really?’
Griff laughed and shook his head, placing the tray onto the table in front of the fire. ‘Dad has decided to … take up some new hobbies.’
‘Ah.’
‘Oh. Where is Mrs Betancourt?’ Tabby asked.
‘She had somewhere else to be,’ Griff said.
‘I’m so sorry, Tabby,’ said Grace. ‘But I need to go too. I hadn’t realised quite what was expected and I’ve got to talk this over with my family.’
‘Can’t you stay for coffee?’ Griff looked as if he cared.
Grace shook her head. ‘I can’t. Mum, Dad and Hope are off to another event in about twenty minutes so I need to catch them before they leave.’
‘Just us for coffee then, Tabby,’ Griff said. ‘I’ll show you out, Grace.’
‘No need. I can find the way.’
He grinned mischievously. ‘I’m sure you can, but I want to make certain you don’t steal the silver. Oh. That was a joke. Probably a bad one. Sorry. Please don’t be upset.’
