AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I can’t do it anymore.” Grant could feel his resolve crumbling. He whirled around on the people who had shifted their attention from the fire to him. “You win, okay? You get what you wanted. Clearly, you would rather tear a family apart rather than hash out whatever you have against me as adults.” He returned his gaze to Charlotte. “You can’t expect me to stay here when Nick’s safety is at stake. I’m moving to town, and we’ll figure out where to go from there.”
Charlotte’s eyes narrowed and she stepped closer, her voice low. “I shouldn’t have to remind you about the current state of our arrangement.” Her expression shifted to that of a broken-hearted woman. “I can’t believe you would take my only grandson from me—the only connection I have left to my daughter.” She flung her finger at Bella. “You were there. You know how devastating it was for me to lose her. I can’t lose my grandbaby, too.”
His eyes bounced around wildly to Bella and then to those watching them, sure they were judging him for this. Everyone here loved Dee. Thankfully, they all seemed curious to know how he would react.
Grant’s gaze locked with Bella’s once more. She’d never told him that. Had she intentionally kept it from him? He wouldn’t have cared. At least, he didn’t think he would have. This was just further proof that they weren’t good together.
His glare shifted to Charlotte. If they were alone, Grant might have demanded to know whether she was threatening him. It sure sounded like she was. He wouldn’t have been surprised if she was trying to intimidate him into staying. Heck, she was probably trying to start the process of having them all living under one roof.
Well, he wasn’t his ex-wife. Dee was gone, and even if she’d wanted to move everyone into Charlotte’s place, Grant would have refused. Charlotte didn’t have a say in what he did with his son, but the more he looked at her, the more he wondered how this would play out if she were to actually take him to court.
Just to be safe, Grant chose the higher road. She was just worried about her grandson, and she didn’t trust Grant enough to believe him when he told her he would make sure her relationship with Nick didn’t suffer.
He heaved a sigh. “Fine. We’ll stay for one night.”
Grant didn’t miss the surprised look on Bella’s face. He couldn’t tell if she was concerned that he was sticking around or impressed he was willing to do what his ex-mother-in-law had requested.
Charlotte’s grin almost looked wicked, but there was a possibility he was reading too much into it. Long days and frayed nerves could do that to a guy.
Grant looked away from Bella, but he could still feel her scrutiny. He set his firm stare on Charlotte and waited for her to meet it. When she did, he didn’t waste a moment.
“We’ll discuss what happens next tomorrow after your shift.”
She smiled, her hands resting on Nick’s shoulders. “If we have time,” she said flippantly. “But I was thinking it would be nice to take Nick for a picnic. Does that sound fun, Nick?”
Before Grant could put his foot down, Charlotte chauffeured Nick toward the small cottage near the wrangler’s barracks. His voice died in this throat. He nearly charged after them, but Bella’s hand wrapped around his forearm.
“We need to talk about what’s happening.”
He shot a quick look in her direction before dragging his focus back to Charlotte’s retreating form. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Grant—”
“No. There’s nothing to talk about. Not with the fire. Not with us. And not with the case. You were right all along. I can’t keep Nick here when he’s in danger. And if I have to, I’ll move him out of the state.”
“But—”
“Like I said, there’s nothing to talk about. We’re not together, right? And if I don’t want to press charges, then it doesn’t matter.” Ignoring the hurt expression on her face, he strode after what was left of his family. It was the right decision. Nick needed to be his top priority.
So why did all this feel so wrong?
CHAPTER TWENTY
The words blurred on the computer. Bella couldn’t focus on the report she was supposed to have turned in. Legally, there was nothing she could do. The damaged property belonged to Grant and he wanted nothing to do with it.
She found herself wishing that there was another case of arson she could connect it to. Technically, she could try to connect it to the bigger case, but there was no guarantee it was related. The lines might have been just a little bit blurred.
Who was she kidding? The lines had definitely become blurred. Bella should never have gotten involved with Grant. She’d known better. What had she been thinking?
With a muttered groan, she pushed away from her desk and headed for the water cooler. She couldn’t think straight. Grant’s face continued to block her ability to stay focused. And if it wasn’t Grant, she found herself looking out the window or around the office—anything to avoid the work she knew she needed to complete.
It wasn’t that she was upset about Grant. She refused to believe a person could have that kind of effect on her. He was arrogant. He was reckless. And she couldn’t forget that he continued to keep secrets from her. Red flags abounded when she thought about him.
She leaned down and grabbed a paper cone from the water cooler, filling it with the cold liquid. But not even the refreshing water could soothe her. She had to admit that as much as she was relieved to be free of Grant, she also desperately missed him.
Her heart reacted to that thought. It tightened, clenched, knotted around itself as she considered all the reasons she’d fallen so easily for him. Grant was a good father, despite everything that was happening. He was passionate about his son and about being in Nick’s life. She’d never met anyone so willing to own up to his past mistakes and do better. That alone should be enough to look past the little things she disliked.
Then there was the way he made her feel.
