Chapter 15
Kate
“Grant! Grant!” Kate tried to jump out of the car after him, but Walter grabbed her and pulled her back.
“A car will hit you,” he told her. “We’ll drive around and look for him. He can’t have gotten far.”
“We should call the police,” she told him frantically.
“Can we not involve the police in our family business anymore, please?”
Walter had the car turn off the main road. They cruised around several upscale neighborhoods but saw no sign of Grant.
Walter swore. “What am I doing, Kate?” he asked his assistant.
“What do you mean?”
“He’s too much like his mother. This was a mistake.”
“Don’t write him off!” she pleaded. “He recently came back from the Middle East; not even a week has gone by. He needs to do calming things. We tried to push him to do too much. He’s overwhelmed, and I don’t think he’s been sleeping.”
“You’re right, you’re right. It’s just…” Walter sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I just thought he would be the answer to all my problems.”
“That’s a lot to put on one person’s shoulders,” Kate said.
“I know, but he couldn’t even put Jack in his place. I wanted to show off Grant. The way Jack goes on and on about his sons… well, the oldest, anyways… I wanted to be able to proudly parade my kid in front of him. But Jack was the same as he usually is.”
“He’s still grieving,” Kate reminded him. “He lost two nieces and a nephew.”
“I know, it’s just, for all Danielle’s faults, she could cut Jack down to size.” Walter smiled bitterly.
“He’s not like his mother at all,” Kate said. “He’s very sweet to his dog. Danielle hates animals, remember?”
“Yes, I know. I’ll be easier on him. I promise, Kate.”
“I’ll cancel the other appearances I had for him. We’ll only keep the low-key ones. My grandmother wanted to spend time with him, too. Maybe we can play cards or something.”
Walter gave her a soft smile. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Kate. You always know how to handle things. We’ll give him until tonight to show up. He’s not stupid. He can probably find his way back.”
When they arrived back at the estate, there was no sign of Grant. Gus ran to greet them at the door, and he barked sharply at Kate.
“You wonder where Grant went, don’t you?” she said to the puppy, picking him up. He wiggled in her arms, and she set him back down, and he immediately ran to sit in front of the door expectantly.
“Maybe we should call the police,” Walter fretted. “I don’t—”
The doorbell rang.
“Maybe that’s him?” Kate said hopefully. Stefan opened the door.
“Where is my granddaughter, Walter Holbrook?” said a sharp voice as an elderly woman barged into the foyer, waving around an umbrella.
Kate resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “Gram, what are you doing here?”
“It’s late,” Margaret said. “I’m very concerned about you, especially since what happened yesterday.” She gave Walter the evil eye. “Where is that hellion marine, anyway? Don’t worry!” She waved away Kate’s protestations. “I’m not going to yell at him. I’ve never met a sane marine, and I didn’t expect him to be any different. I tell you, those boys who used to come off the ships after Vietnam, Lord have mercy, they could take you for a wild ride!”
“Grandma, hush,” Kate said.
“Don’t you shush me, young lady! I’ll have you know—”
Their argument was cut off by red lights flashing through the window. Stefan hurried to open the door, and Gus yipped and wagged his stubby tail.
“I bet I know who that is!” Kate said, smiling in relief. Stefan swung the large door open. There was Grant, covered in mud and flanked by two firemen.
“Grant!” Kate ran to him and jumped up, wrapping her arms around his neck. “You’re freezing! Come inside.”
“We found him wandering along Presidential Parkway,” one of the firemen said to Walter. “Recognized him from our last trip over here.”
“Thank you so much for bringing him back,” Walter said, shaking their hands.
“You need to keep a better eye on him,” the other fireman said. “We already had two suicides of veterans this month. There’s nothing wrong with getting mental health care. There are resources available.” He pulled out a pamphlet and handed it to Walter. “The longer you wait, the worse it gets.” He patted Grant on the shoulder. “Just take it one day at a time, son, all right?”
“Okay,” Grant mumbled.
“Draw him a bath, please, Stefan,” Kate’s grandmother said to the butler. “He’s half frozen.”
Kate moved to help Grant upstairs. “I have it. Thank you, Stefan. Maybe you could make him a tray?”
Her grandmother sniffed dramatically.
“I’ll be right back,” Kate told her.
When they got to Grant’s suite, Kate started a bath and helped peel off his muddy, sopping clothes. Gus hopped around as Grant stood naked in front of Kate. He was still dirty, and she pushed him into the shower to rinse off the worst of the mud. He gasped as the water hit his skin. His flesh was rippling with muscles, and Kate couldn’t help but run her hands over the planes of his chest and around his back to cup his chiseled buttocks.
“You’re so perfect,” she whispered to him. And toxic, her mind whispered. Remember what happened last time. You promised you wouldn’t do this again. She ignored the voice.
Grant stepped out of the shower and into the tub, sinking down into the warm water. Kate sat on the edge of the tub, drawing circles on Grant’s chest with her hands. She could feel his body relax, and his eyes were heavy lidded when he looked at her.
“What were you thinking?” she asked him.
“I just needed some air,” he said.
He pulled her hand lower, and she stroked his shaft. She felt him grow hard in her hand as he talked to her.
“I couldn’t sit in that car anymore. I had to run. Then I got lost. I found a sign, though, and started heading back this way. I got absolutely creamed by a truck and this mud puddle. Thankfully, the fire department picked me up, or I’d still be out there.” He bit his lip as she ran her nail over the tip of his member.
“I need you,” he said to her, his voice husky from the cold walk. She kissed his full mouth and rubbed her face on his cheek. She could feel the stubble coming in.
She slowly stripped off her clothes. She let her panties fall to the floor then stepped into the tub and straddled Grant. She ran her fingers through his damp hair as she settled into his lap. She gasped as the tips of her nipples made contact with the water, and she felt his large hands around her waist. Grant ran his hands up and down the length of her body. She gave a small shiver.
“You’re insatiable.” He grinned at her.
She could tell when he was genuinely feeling playful because he bit his lower lip and smiled at the same time. She flicked her hips and let the length of him be enveloped inside of her.
She moaned, and Grant propped her up as she half floated in the large tub. She felt warm and relaxed as he slowly took her. The slight waves created by their lovemaking lapped up against the curves of her thighs and her breasts, heightening the sensation of him inside of her.
“This is perfect,” Grant said as he moved from suckling her nipples to nibbling the side of her jaw under her ear. “You’re perfect.”
His member was warm inside of her. He let one hand trail down her body between her legs and ran two calloused fingers around her pleasure. She let out a high-pitched gasp, arching over him. The sensations of his thrusting, slowly but forcefully, and the friction and heat of his fingers brought her over the edge. Grant wasn’t done, and he continued to let his hard length slide in and out of her. She felt too raw and overheated from the steam and the heat of his body as he came too with a burst of quick, powerful thrusts.
“Oh my.” She sighed and draped herself over him. “That was amazing.”
He nuzzled and kissed her for a bit then stood up, bringing her with him. “I think I’m ready to sleep now,” he said, still kissing her mouth.
They stepped carefully out of the tub, letting the signs of their lovemaking rush down the drain.
Grant pulled down the enormous fluffy towel and wrapped them both in it. She wrapped her arms around his waist and let him pepper her with small kisses.
“Stay with me,” he said.
“Of course,” she told him, smiling up at him.
She snuggled with him in the large bed, with Gus curled up on his other side. She stroked her finger along his jaw, tracing the bones on his face until his breathing steadied and he fell asleep.
I could watch him forever, she thought then shook herself out of it. He’s a terrible idea. Probably almost worse than the last one. No. Stop thinking about it. She carefully eased herself out of the bed and grabbed her phone to distract herself from the bad thoughts. There were twenty texts from her grandmother.
Where are you???
You’re canoodling with that Holbrook boy, aren’t you? You better get down here, or I’m coming up there.
Kate hurriedly texted her grandmother back.
I was just talking to him. He had some questions he needed answered.
She knew her grandmother wouldn’t believe the lie. Kate tied her damp hair up in a messy up-do, pulled on her clothes, crept out of the room, and went downstairs, taking Grant’s muddy clothes with her.
Praying that she wouldn’t run into Stefan, she dumped them in the laundry room then tiptoed down the hallway to the front door.
“There you are,” her grandmother said from the doorway leading to a small sitting room.
“Gram,” Kate hissed. “What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you. You didn’t answer my texts. I wonder why,” she said, raising an eyebrow at Kate.
“I stayed with him until he fell asleep,” she hissed to her grandmother’s skeptical look. “I should probably check in with Walter before I leave.”
“Walter is on the phone with the Tokyo office or something. Stefan, we’re off,” she said to the butler as he came into the room, carrying a tray with soup and bread.
“He’s asleep, but he might eat it,” Kate told him.
“I’ll save it for him should he wake up,” Stefan replied and bid them good night.
As the driver opened the car door, Kate looked up at Grant’s window. The room was dark, and she hoped he slept soundly.