CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Grayson

The past, two years ago…

I pull the Porsche to the front of the gallery where the annual children’s hospital charity event is taking place with Mia in the seat next to me. “Oh my God, I’m nervous,” she murmurs.

I grab her hand and kiss it. “You have no reason to be nervous.”

“It’s our first public outing,” she argues. “And your father is going to be here. He wasn’t supposed to be here.”

The valets try to open the doors but I leave them locked, focused on Mia. “My father loves you.”

“He and I had the coffee shop encounter. That’s all. He went out of the country right after he talked to me that day. And he wasn’t supposed to be here tonight,” she repeats.

“You’re here and on my arm. We’re doing what he suggested. Owning our relationship. He was motivated to show up.”

She turns to me. “The entire staff will know I’m fucking you.”

I laugh. “Well since you’re living with me, I think that, yes, they will assume that we’re fucking.”

“Are we really telling them I moved in with you?”

“Baby, we’ve been together six months and you haven’t stayed at your place since. I’m in love with you, Mia. You’re in love with me. It’s time to stop hiding.” The valet knocks on the window. “We need to get out. We’re blocking the drive. I’ll come around to get you.” I hesitate. “Or we can leave. If you don’t want—”

“No. I do. I don’t want to hide. I’m established enough at work. I love you. Let’s do this.” She turns toward the door and I hit the locks. I step out of the car and hand the valet a large bill that shifts his scowl to a smile.

I round the vehicle and do the same for the guy on Mia’s side and then I take her hand, walking her to me, and to the sidewalk just outside the door and behind a pillar. “You look beautiful,” I say, giving her curves in a flesh tone, sparkling, knee-length gown a once over. “Get used to spending my money. It looks good on you.”

“I don’t have to. You do it for both of us. You had a dozen gowns delivered, Grayson. That’s excessive.”

“You wouldn’t shop. I didn’t know what you’d like, but for the record, this was the one I wanted you to wear.”

“I don’t ever want you to think I care about the money.”

“You can’t live life with me and keep fighting the money, baby. I have it. I damn sure don’t want to spend it alone.”

“I know, but—”

I lean in and kiss her. “We don’t argue unless we’re naked, remember?”

“You win all those arguments.”

“That’s the idea.” I wink. “Come, baby.” I slide her arm to my elbow. “Let’s go donate some money to charity and tell the world we’re in love.”

She catches my arm. “Are you sure you love me enough to do this? Because I can’t risk my career if you don’t really love me.”

“Where did that just come from?” I cup her face. “I love you like I didn’t think I could love, but if you don’t love me enough to—”

“I do. You know I do.”

“Then we’re going now. Stop thinking so much.” I pull her under my arm, sheltering her with my body and making sure she knows how completely I’m claiming her.

We enter the gallery and we’re greeted at the door by a hostess who directs us toward one of the event rooms. We travel the long walkway and I slide our fingers together right as Mitch, Mia’s direct supervisor, walks out of the room we’re about to enter. He stops dead in his tracks, looking stunned. “What is happening?”

“I asked to meet with you for the past three days,” Mia says. “I wanted to warn you.”

He looks at Grayson. “I—what does this mean?”

“It means we live together, we’re in love, and Mia gets no special treatment.”

“I don’t want it,” she says. “I think I’ve proven I’m good at my job. I’ll continue to prove that I’m good at my job.”

I fix him in a stare. “You can continue to be an asshole and ignore your employee’s request for a meeting for three days if you like, though that’s not a behavior I personally practice. I believe you’ve gotten a meeting with me immediately each time you’ve asked.”

“I have,” Mitch says glancing at me. “I’m sorry, Mia, and I’m not saying that because you’re with Grayson. I was a shit to put you off.” He looks at Grayson. “I’m having trouble with a case. I might need your counsel.”

“Call me in the morning,” I say.

Mitch nods and steps around us, “Oh my God,” I whisper. “You just--”

“That had nothing to do with you, Mia,” I say. “I don’t approve. That’s not how I operate. That’s not how my father operates and he deserved to get sideswiped.”

“Grayson, damn it.”

I turn her to face me. “You’re my woman. If he’s a dick to you, he’s a dick to other people. He doesn’t get away with that. I expect you to tell me if there is anything that doesn’t represent me the way you know I want to be represented. Earn your own way, I get that, but you’re still my woman. We’ve talked about this. The only way to be my woman is to protect me and protecting my company is protecting me.”

“I know that. You’re right. We talked about this in advance.”

“Okay then.” I wrap my arm around her shoulder and kiss her temple. “Let’s go in.”

We enter the room with artwork on every wall, rows of small standing tables, and waiters maneuvering through the suits and tuxedos. We’re only a few steps into the chaos, but I’m aware of all the eyes that turn in our direction as I’m certain Mia is as well. Thankfully a waiter stops in front of us, deflecting the attention sure to stir her discomfort. “Champagne?” he offers.

Mia holds up her hands but I accept two glasses. “You need this,” I say, as the waiter departs.

“I might run my mouth and say who knows what if I drink this,” she says, accepting the glass I hand her.

“If it makes you relax, that’s a good trade-off.” I hold my glass up to hers. “To us.”

Her eyes warm. “To us,” she says softly, the charge between us electric, the room fading away. My hand goes to her hip and I walk her closer. “We couldn’t hide this, Mia. It’s too damn good.”

“Look who’s here.”

At the sound of the familiar voice, I grimace, releasing Mia to settle my hand at her back as we turn to face my old college rival. “Mia,” I say, standing toe to toe with the man whose father has always been my father’s business rival, his blond hair smoothed back ever so firm tonight, a silent standoff that I don’t invite. He’s just always fucking competing with me. “This is Riley Montgomery,” I say. “You probably know him from the Montgomery firm. We went to school together.”

“Call me Ri,” Riley says, offering his hand to Mia and I swear I don’t want to let her take it.

Mia does the expected and shakes his hand but when she would pull back he holds onto it. “You’re lovely. When he’s done with you, come see me. I’ll help you lick your wounds.”

Mia yanks her hand back. “That was inappropriate,” she scolds before I can respond.

He chuckles. “I’m just an inappropriate guy.”

“Try bitter. He wanted the girl who wanted me in college. I fucked her. He didn’t.” I look at Mia. “Just so he doesn’t get the chance to tell the story and twist it on his own.”

“Oh,” Mia says, looking at Ri. “I’m sorry. That must have sucked.”

Ri’s scowl is instant. “You’re sorry? You will be when he fucks you and moves on.”

It’s in that moment that my father joins us, stepping between Mia and Ri. “Mia, honey,” he says, taking her hand. “I’m so glad to see you here and on Grayson’s arm. You look stunning despite your present company.” He glances at Ri. “How’s your pops?”

“Opening four new offices in the next four months.”

“Is he now?” he replies. “Better be careful. Too many too fast can cause grave growing pains. Good luck though.” He glances at Mia. “Walk with me and talk.” He settles her hand on his elbow and turns her away from me and Ri.

Ri steps closer. “Obviously your father thought you needed help.”

“I’m fairly certain my father wanted to flirt with Mia, just like you tried to flirt with Mia.”

He narrows his eyes on me. “You’re really into her.” His lips twitch. “Interesting. In this case, I’ll take your sloppy seconds. Let me know when you’re done.” He turns and walks away and for the first time ever, Ri hits a nerve.

***

Mia

“He’s an absolute ass,” Grayson’s father says, guiding me through the crowd and down a corridor where more art is displayed. “But he came by it honestly. His father is as well. He and I went to law school together and the rivalry started there.”

“That’s a long time to be rivals,” I say. “And are you really even rivals? You’re about double their size, right?”

“Thanks to Grayson, who’s a believer in thinking outside the box.” He stops us at a painting of a winery. “Ever been to Sonoma?”

“A few weeks ago with Grayson. It was my first time.”

“And you enjoyed it?”

“It was lovely.” I laugh. “I liked all the cheap wines. I guess I’m a Brooklyn girl with Brooklyn taste buds.”

He laughs. “And what did Grayson think of your choices?”

“He liked them. We brought some back with us.”

“Us. Interesting choice of words. Do you still love my son?”

I nod. “Yes, Mr. Bennett. Very much.” And I don’t know why but I tear up.

He reaches up and wipes away the dampness. “First. Call me Raymond. Second, why did that make you cry? Does he not love you?”

“I just—I don’t know how to deal with your money. I feel like when I tell you that I love him, you’ll think I love the money. I feel like when I tell him I love him, he will on some level always wonder. I mean tonight he had twelve dresses delivered because I wouldn’t shop. He wants me to spend his money, but I can’t.” I down my champagne and set the glass on a table. “I’m telling you this for a reason because you are the only person I know who can help me.”

“How is it that I can help?”

“You said your wife hated the money, so she didn’t want money when she met you.”

“No, she did not.”

“Did you doubt her? Did you ever think she wanted the money and not you?”

“Never. Not once, but she had to get over the fear of my money, as do you, of Grayson’s. If you love him you have to share his life, and who he is, and money is a part of who he is, like it or not.”

“If I spend his money, how does he know it’s not about the money, because it’s not. God, it’s so not. I do love your son.”

“Because I know,” Grayson steps to my side and turns me to face him. “I know,” he repeats. “If I didn’t know, I wouldn’t be so damn in love with you.” He pulls me to him and kisses me. “I’m not letting you go. Don’t you let me go.”

“Never,” I promise.

“Well then,” his father says. “Sounds like we need to plan a family day in the Hamptons.”

A family day, I think. Are these two men now my family? We start strolling the corridor, and as we laugh and talk, the clear moral compass of father and son, echo within each other, stirring admiration in me. I decide, that yes, I’d like very much to call them family and I have this sudden realization that I’m not so alone anymore. I tighten my grip on Grayson’s arm and when he automatically covers my hand with his, I decide he’s a part of me now. I not only won’t let go of him, I can’t.