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“Mr. Blaire is the new owner of the Grayson place,” my grandfather answered the unasked question. He had no idea what had just transpired.
I swallowed the huge lump in my throat.
Michael took his cap off and ran his hands through his hair. “Well, actually, my father is the new owner. I’m his son. You know, the guy who thinks he can get any woman he wants.”
I felt my cheeks get hot. That’s why he had looked familiar. He wasn’t a celebrity, but he was infamous. It all came together. He was dressed too casually for a business meeting, but yep, same chiseled jawline, same mouth from the pictures I’d seen in my search. And now that he’d taken off his hat, the eyes were the same rich, velvety chocolate orbs from the internet.
Pops cleared his throat, looking back and forth between us. “Mr. Blaire, let’s grab a table.”
“Sure. But please, call me Michael.”
“Will do,” he agreed and turned his head to me, wagging his eyebrows. “Siena, grab us a bottle of wine and a plate of apps, will you?”
“Okay,” I whispered, thoroughly embarrassed as Michael slid off his stool.
“Great introduction, by the way.” Pops laughed as he slapped the counter before following Michael.
“Oh, shut up.” I scowled, watching as the two of them laughed like they were the best of friends.
Michael Fucking Blaire.
I felt Jenny bump me with her hip. She smiled a huge I-told-you-so grin. “As much as I don’t want to leave right now, I have to get going.”
“Yeah, sure.” I was occupied with my own thoughts. How the fuck was I going to get my foot out of my big mouth this time?
“I’d love to stick around and see what happens next, the impending fireworks and all, but...” Jenny looked back to where Michael and Pops sat, her smile wide.
“Oh!” I huffed. “Get outta here!” I steered her forcefully toward the exit, laughing despite my screwed-up situation. I grabbed her arm playfully. “What the hell just happened?”
“Ooh wee. I don’t know. Fate?” She kept grinning.
“Yeah, right.”
“Fate’s twisted sister? That was definitelynotwhat I was expecting.”
I shook my head. “Me neither.”
“Keep me posted,” she added with a smirk. And with that, Jenny sauntered out.
I tried to mind my own business but shamelessly attempted to eavesdrop on the two men in the corner. I hoped Pops would invite me to sit down with them when I was finished. My intuition was telling me Mr. Mogul wanted something more than just to introduce himself and be neighborly. When I finally made ready to leave and walked over to check on them, under the guise of offering more food and wine, of course, I was politely, but completely, brushed off by Pops. Michael barely spared me a glance and looked irritated that I had come over at all.
This asshat was inmyspace.Myplace. And he had the nerve to regard me as the intruder? I was ready with a smart-ass comment, but my grandfather simply kissed my hand and told me he’d see me back at the house.
* * *
I barreledthrough the front door in a huff, ridiculously pissed off. The slamming echoed in the foyer as I closed it forcefully with my foot. The nerve of him. Ignoringme? Blowingmeoff? I tore into the kitchen, opened the fridge, and started hauling out veggies to make a salad, slapping them down on the counter, and then banging cupboards open and slamming them closed. I was in my own headspace and was being so loud, even for me, that I didn’t hear my grandmother come in.
“What’s all this ruckus?” Hands on her narrow hips, she glared at me before she moved around me, getting down the pots and pans to make dinner.
“Ugh!” I shouted. “Pops is down there talking with Michael Blaire!”
“And?”
“And he’s awful. Just fucking awful, Grams.”
“Why? What’d he say?”
“Not much before Pops came in. Then, off they went. Together. To talk in the corner like old friends. And I wasn’t even included.”
