Chapter Twelve
Grant was getting used to his walks around town. He had a couple of favorite routes. One that he took in the morning before heading to work, and another, the one he was on now. This took him on a bigger loop around downtown, bringing him back down Fifth Street. At the bottom of Fifth, he took his time strolling by the river. It was like a walk down memory lane to wander the promenade and watch the water and the boats. It was a bit busy for his liking today—though, what did he expect? It was Saturday. He turned away from the water and headed toward Molly’s. He’d discovered the place on one of his evening strolls his first week in town. It was great. They made coffee in the mornings and had an awesome bistro, wine bar feel in the evenings. He hadn’t been in there for lunch yet, but that was about to change.
He found himself a seat by the window and looked around. It was busy, but not overcrowded yet. He was on the early side of the lunch rush. The owner, Molly herself, came toward him with a smile. “Good morning. It’s good to see you again. I’m guessing you’re not a tourist. You’ve been around for a few weeks now.”
“No, I’m here for a few months—for a work project.”
Molly held out her hand. “Well, since you’re going to be around for a while, welcome to the community, and let me introduce myself properly. I’m Molly.”
He shook her hand with a smile. “Nice to officially meet you, Molly. I’m Grant.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh. Are you working with Hamilton-Groves?”
He nodded, wondering what kind of reaction he’d get now that she knew who he was. He was relieved when she smiled.
“I should warn you, I’m a good friend of Chelsea’s. We go back a long way. All the way to grade school.”
“Lucky you.” And where the hell had that come from? What did it even mean?
Molly seemed to think she knew. “I think so. She’s awesome. She’s one of my best friends. So, listen. If we’re going to get along, I don’t want to hear anything about your work there, okay?”
Grant chuckled. “That suits me just fine.”
Molly smiled. “Cameron and Mary Ellen are also my friends.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Why does that sound like a warning?”
She laughed. “It isn’t a warning. It was just my way of letting you know that Chelsea’s not the only one who’s hoping you’ll stick around for more than a couple of months.”
Grant’s heart raced in his chest. “She said that?”
Molly laughed. “Not in so many words, no, but Cameron did.”
Grant narrowed his eyes. It didn’t sit right with him that she was telling him this. If she were such good friends with Chelsea and Cameron, why would she be telling him what they thought?
She laughed, understanding his caution. “Don’t worry. I’m not spilling secrets I shouldn’t. I’m sure Cameron has made it clear that he’d like you to stick around and help out. As for Chelsea, she hasn’t admitted it even to herself yet, but I know she’d like it if you stuck around, too.”
“You really think so?” He couldn’t help it. He wanted to know.
Molly laughed. “Yes, I do, and now from your reaction, I know you’re as interested as she is.”
He could feel the heat in his cheeks. “You just played me, to figure out how I feel?”
Molly nodded happily. “I wouldn’t say played, as such, but I wanted to know, and now I do.”
Grant shook his head. “I didn’t think she was interested.”
Molly laughed. “Men can be so dumb.”
He rolled his eyes. “Thanks.”
“Not a problem.” She looked up as a large group came in. “Here’s your menu. I’ll be back to take your order in a few minutes.”
Grant watched her greet the newcomers. He wasn’t sure what to make of their exchange. Part of him was thrilled that she thought Chelsea would like to see him stick around. Part of him was wary. He didn’t like that she’d told him without Chelsea knowing. That felt a little like high school. He’d been burned back then by girls telling him their friends liked him—setting him up to make a fool of himself. This wasn’t high school, though, and Molly didn’t seem like a trouble causer; she seemed far too down to earth for that. Okay, so she’d tricked him into admitting that he liked Chelsea, but he had a feeling she had his best interests at heart, as well as Chelsea’s.
He looked up as the door opened again. An older guy came in by himself. He looked familiar, but, at first, Grant couldn’t place him.
“Hi, Gene. I’ll be right with you,” called Molly. “Grab a seat wherever you like.”
Gene looked around, and Grant caught his eye with a smile. Gene came over to join him. “Hi, Grant. I’m glad to see you found the best eatery in town.”
Grant smiled. “Me too. Would you like to join me?”
“No, thanks. I’m not stopping. I’ll take a seat for a few, but just till Moll comes. I’m only here to see her.”
Grant smiled. “It’s funny, Napa’s known worldwide for its wines. It has a reputation as one of the biggest wine capitals, and yet, it’s still just a small town in some respects, isn’t it?”
“I guess it is, to those of us who live here. You’re right, of course, about it being a famous place, but I don’t tend to think about that. I just get on with my life, and so do my friends.”
Molly came to join them. She bent down and dropped a kiss on Gene’s cheek. “Hey. How are you doing?”
“I’m great, thanks. I’m feeling better than I have in years.”
“That’s good to hear. Are you staying for a bite?”
“No, I’ve not got time. Rita’s got me running errands to get ready for tonight. Do you have her order ready yet?”
“Oh, gosh, no. I’m sorry. I didn’t think she’d want it early. I was planning to arrive at five-thirty and bring everything with me.”
Gene patted her hand. “Don’t worry. That’s what I said. I think Rita just wants me out from under her feet while she gets everything ready, so she made up a list of things for me to do—I think maybe half of them are bogus.”
Molly laughed. “You should make the most of it. Take your time.”
Gene shook his head and winked at Grant. “Only half of my chores are bogus. Some of them are very real, and they include a trip to the grocery store and a stop at the dry cleaners.” He turned to Grant. “It’s just a cookout, just casual, but I have to get my shirts back from the cleaners.”
Grant laughed.
“Are you going?” asked Molly.
Grant shook his head.
Gene gave him a hard stare. “Why not?”
Grant shrugged and gave them a sheepish grin. “For one thing, I’m not sure what you’re talking about, and for another, I am sure I wasn’t invited.”
“Dammit.” Gene shook his head. “I didn’t ask you?”
“Nope.”
“Well, I’m asking you now, okay? As you have no doubt gathered, we’re having a cookout this evening. It’s nothing fancy, despite the fact that I need my shirts back from the cleaners. Just friends, mostly from work.” He met Grant’s gaze, and there was a noticeable twinkle in his eye. “Chelsea’s coming.”
Molly laughed. “Did you already know about the two of them?”
Gene chuckled. “I’m saying nothing; it’s not my place.”
Grant was grateful to him for that. It seemed he did already know—but whether he knew that Grant liked Chelsea, or that she liked him, he wasn’t sure. “I’m not sure I should come.”
Gene and Molly both frowned at him, but it was Molly who spoke first. “Why not?”
He shrugged. Chelsea had been doing her best to keep her distance from him at work, and he felt he should respect that. It wouldn’t be right if he started appearing in her life outside of work—not unless she invited him.
Gene smiled. “You should come. I insist. You’ll land me in trouble with my good lady wife if you don’t. I told her I’d invited everyone.”
Molly nodded. “You really should come.”
He shrugged again—this time with a smile. “Okay, thanks.”
~ ~ ~
“Come on, Chelsea. We’d better go into that dressing up box of yours and see what you’re going to wear.”
Chelsea grinned. “Shall we have a glass of champagne first?”
Mary Ellen laughed. “We probably shouldn’t.” She checked her watch. “But we could. What are we celebrating, anyway?”
“We’re not celebrating. I just feel like a glass.”
Mary Ellen nodded and gave her a sly smile. “You seem to have acquired quite a taste for champagne lately, and I know when it started.”
Chelsea smiled. There’d be no point playing dumb. Mary Ellen wouldn’t let her get away with it. “Just because we drank champagne with Grant doesn’t mean anything. At least, nothing other than the fact that it reminded me how much I like it.”
“And how much you like him?”
She shrugged. “I’m not going to deny it, but it’s not going anywhere. It can’t.”
“I don’t see why not.”
“We’re working together!”
“Yeah, but not for long. For what it’s worth, I like him, and you know Cam does.”
“It seems everyone does. Well, except Piper. She hasn’t even met him, but she’s wary.”
“Why’s that?”
Chelsea laughed. “I don’t think it has anything to do with Grant himself. It’s because her ex was called Grant, too. From what’s she’s told me, he was an asshole.”
“Oh, of course. It sounds like he was, but that’s got nothing to do with your Grant.”
“He’s not my Grant.”
“Not yet, but we’ll see. Anyway, if we’re going to pop a cork, we should do it now. If not, we should get you dressed and get going.”
Chelsea stared out the window on the drive over to Gene’s house. “Have you ever heard of Dawson Dale wines?”
“Hmm. I think so. Weren’t they one of the old labels that went bump?”
“Yeah.”
“Why do you ask?”
“Because it belonged to Grant’s grandfather.”
“I see.”
Chelsea looked across at Mary Ellen. She was keeping her gaze fixed on the road ahead, but she had a knowing smile on her face. “Don’t look like that. I was just thinking about it. The winery was over there.” She pointed past Mary Ellen. “That’s what made me think.”
“Sure it was.”
“Whatever.” Chelsea laughed. She couldn’t argue that she’d been thinking about Grant again. “Anyway, enough of you giving me a hard time over Grant. I think I should turn it around on you. Are you going to talk to Antonio?”
“What?” Mary Ellen’s cheeks flushed. “Nobody told me he was going to be there.”
“Why would they? I mean, it’s not like you’re interested in him or need to know so you can prepare yourself or anything.”
Mary Ellen shot her an evil look before turning her attention back to the road. “No, it isn’t.”
“Oh, come on, Mary El. I think you should stop ogling him from afar and go for it. You haven’t dated anyone in ages.”
“And when I do, it won’t be Antonio. He doesn’t date anyway. He just screws around. He’s a good-looking guy. He’s loaded, and he’s got that kind of personality that women are just attracted to. That’s not someone you date; that’s someone you have a one-nighter with. If he weren’t your cousin, and if I were guaranteed not to ever see him again, then I might.”
“You should.”
Mary Ellen laughed. “No, I shouldn’t. Leave it alone, Chels.”
Chelsea shrugged. “Okay, I just think the two of you would make a gorgeous couple.”
“Ha. You know I have to agree with you there. He’s so tall and dark and … see, you’ve got me going again, but it’s not realistic. I’d be happier with a poster of him than a date with him. I’m superficial. I like the way he looks, but I really don’t think much of him as a person. He’s too cocky, too arrogant.”
Chelsea laughed. “He’s cocky, but he’s not arrogant. He’s a sweetie once you get to know him.”
“I’ll just have to take your word for that since I’m not likely to get to know him.” She turned off the highway and drove down the lane that led to Gene’s house. “Do you know who’s going to be here?”
“You mean other than Antonio?”
Mary Ellen glowered at her. “You know I do.”
“Okay, okay. Obviously, Cam and Piper. Smoke and Laura are coming over with Mom and Dad.”
“I didn’t know they were in town.”
“It wasn’t planned. They just stopped in on their way home, and once Mom told them about Gene’s little get-together, they decided to stick around.”
“That’s so cool. It makes me realize how much history Gene has with your family. He still means so much to Smoke, and Smoke was gone before I ever knew you.”
“Yeah. Gene’s flown for us since I was a little kid. He was like Smoke’s mentor when he was younger. I remember whenever we used to go anywhere as a family, Smoke always sat up front with Gene, so he could learn about flying.”
“Aww, that’s so sweet.” Mary Ellen shot her a quick grin. “I will admit that your eldest brother is another one I wouldn’t mind having a poster of.”
Chelsea laughed. “You and just about every other woman I know. He used to be like Antonio until he met Laura.”
“Wow. I can’t imagine that. I don’t know him too well, but he strikes me as the devoted husband, a one-woman man.”
Chelsea laughed. “He is now, but that wasn’t always the case. He just found his perfect match. You never know, you could be Antonio’s perfect match. You could be the one he settles down for.”
Mary Ellen laughed out loud. “Drop it, would you? I could not be that woman, nor would I want to be. I told you, he’s not my type, not as a person.”
“Okay, sorry. I’ll stop teasing.”
“Thank you.” Mary Ellen pulled into Gene’s driveway. “Wow. It looks like we’re late.”
Chelsea nodded. “It does, doesn’t it? I didn’t expect there to be this many people.” She looked at all the cars parked in the driveway and spilling over onto the grass beside the garage. She sucked in a deep breath when she spotted Grant’s rental car.
Mary Ellen followed her gaze. “Ah. I didn’t know he was coming.” She grinned. “And, judging by the look on your face, neither did you.”
“I didn’t.”
“Since I’m such a good friend, I’m not going to start teasing you—yet. But consider yourself warned. One more word about Antonio and I’ll return the favor.”
Chelsea made a face.
“What? You can dish it out, but you can’t take it?”
Chelsea shrugged. “I guess, sorry. But it’s different. You insist that you don’t really like Antonio. I admit that I do like Grant, but it’s too complicated.”
Mary Ellen leaned closer and looked into her eyes. “Why? It doesn’t have to be.”
Chelsea blew out a sigh. Was Mary Ellen right? Was she making it too complicated? “I don’t know, but we probably shouldn’t sit here talking about it. It looks like we’re the last to arrive anyway. Come on.” She opened the car door and let herself out, wondering as she did whether it really was so complicated. If she waited until Grant was finished at Zosca, then what would be the problem if they wanted to see each other?
She went around to the back seat to get the trays of cupcakes she’d made. Mary Ellen came to help, and once they were both loaded up with two trays each, they set out for the house.
The yard was filled with people. Chelsea scanned the crowd—she knew them all. People from Zosca, people from the Hamilton-Groves offices. Her parents were sitting on a rattan sofa chatting with Gene’s wife, Rita. Cam and Piper were standing talking with Laura. She smiled at the sight of Smoke and Gene, deep in conversation over by the grill. She’d put money on them talking about planes and flying. She kept scanning. There he was. As if he felt her gaze on him, Grant looked up and smiled. Butterflies swirled in her stomach as she smiled back. Was Mary Ellen right? Could it really be so straightforward? She liked him, and she was fairly certain he liked her. Why not?