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“Yeah.” I knew I sounded wistful, but there were moments when I missed having them around. The twins in particular felt as much like my children as my brothers at times.
“And has there been anyone special for you?”
My mouth dropped open. “Grace Smith, are you asking about my love life?”
She pinned me with a look. “You can’t blame me. It’s all anyone is talking about now that you’re back in town, and I never read about you in the tabloids or online because it felt like such an invasion of privacy.”
Yeah, I’d assumed the gossip would be running wild. “I appreciate that, but no, there’s been nobody special.”
Her expression turned skeptical. “So, what? You’ve been pining away for Liam all these years while starring opposite some of the sexiest men alive in films?”
Kinda.
But when she put it like that, I knew it sounded unbelievable.
“That… situation… I mentioned. It changed my policy on dating.”
She was quiet for a few seconds as she ate. “You’re being awfully cagey.”
I swigged more wine than was wise and wiped the back of my mouth on my hand. “Look, Grace.” I waited until I had her full attention. “I know a lot of my life is out there for anyone to read about, but I took a stage name for a reason, and that was to keep as much distance as possible between my personal and public lives. There are certain parts of my private life that I like to keep under wraps, and despite everything, I’ve managed to be reasonably successful at that. If you don’t know everything already, then I’d rather it stay that way until Liam hears the details—presuming he hasn’t already.” I’d like to think he’d at least speak to me if he knew about my parents’ deaths. “So if I’m being cagey, it’s because of that.”
“Okay.” Her intense eyes seemed to see into my soul. Sometimes, I could swear she had a little of Desdemona’s psychic gift. “I respect that.”
“Thank you.”
We finished our meal with polite chitchat about where I’d been and who I’d seen since I arrived. Neither of us seemed to want to delve into deeper topics. When we finished, I carried our dishes to the kitchen despite Grace’s protests.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You cooked, so the least I can do is clean,” I told her.
“You’re my guest,” she said, as though that explained everything.
“Exactly. You gave me a place to stay, and don’t think I don’t know how poorly that must have gone down with the Braddocks.” It meant a lot that she’d gone out on a limb for me, whatever the reason.
I filled the kitchen sink with hot, soapy water and frowned, realizing something I hadn’t noticed until now. I hadn’t seen any sign of a man around, and Grace hadn’t mentioned anyone.
I turned to her. “Is there a man in your life?”
Her eyes crinkled with humor. “The only men in my life are fictional or Braddocks.”
“You and Nate never became an item?” I asked as casually as I could.
“We’re just friends.” Her words didn’t ring true, just like they hadn’t eleven years ago.
Elsewhere in the house, I heard the snick of a door opening and the tread of heavy feet on the wooden floor. Panic flared across Grace’s face.
“Stay here,” she ordered, hurrying away.
My heart leaped as I heard her voice and then another, very male. I should have tuned out their conversation, but I was intrigued by what had gotten her off-kilter when she was usually calm. A moment later, I discovered the reason. Nate Braddock charged into the kitchen, all rugged handsomeness, with the grace of a lumbering bull.
He came up short when he saw me and dragged a hand over buzzed blond hair. “You.”
“Me,” I said weakly, wondering if it was too late to climb through the window. Of all the Braddocks, he’d always had the hottest temper. “How are you, Nate?”
He stomped toward me, his nostrils flaring. “I’d be better if you’d stayed where you belong. What the hell do you think you’re up to, coming here and stirring up all this old crap? Do you have any idea what it’s doing to Liam?”
“I have no intention of hurting him again,” I said, but it didn’t diminish Nate’s anger.
“You’re hurting him just by being here,” he snarled. “I speak for our whole family when I say we want nothing to do with you.”
