Chapter 36
Grant
It was very early when they set off for New York City. Kate had Grant’s military uniform in a hanging bag to keep it from wrinkling in the car. Gus was in his carrier, asleep. At the first morning-show stop after Grant spent way too long getting into his uniform, he received a standing ovation when he walked into the studio. Grant shook hands with the hosts, and they gushed over him. He felt empty without his lucky watch, but he had the new one on.
“Our hometown hero,” the hosts announced, “Sergeant Grant Jones!” He settled down in the uncomfortable chair and fielded questions. They were, as Kate had said, softball questions.
“Any special women in your life?” one host asked.
“We’ll see” was all he said.
The hosts giggled. “Whoever the lucky lady is will win the golden ticket. Heir to a fortune, decorated war veteran, and as handsome as all get out!”
“If I wasn’t married, honey!” the other host said, fanning herself.
Grant gave as small of a smile as he could. He did not want to get cussed out by Master Guns.
“So what are your plans after you get out of the Marines and return to the civilian world?”
“I hope to be working at Holbrook Enterprises. I have to pass through the application process. No handouts in my family.”
“As it should be!”
The audience applauded lightly at the host’s comment.
“Your father has a large charity endeavor,” one of the hosts said. “Will you be involved with that?”
“Yes, I will be working at the Holbrook Foundation. There are hundreds of stray dogs that are abandoned around military bases every year. People move there, purchase a dog, then leave it when they are posted elsewhere. As a former marine, I’ve found my stray dog to be instrumental in helping me reintegrate back into civilization, as it were. I would like to use logistics and data management solutions already implemented in other Holbrook Foundation projects to connect stray dogs and veterans together on a large scale. We helped create some of the problem, and we as a community need to help resolve it.”
There was a round of applause.
“Fantastic,” the host said, clapping.
All the noise was starting to give Grant a headache.
“And this is something personal to you, because you also adopted a stray that was dumped on the side of the road, correct?”
“Yes,” Grant said.
The camera cut to a shot of Gus in the green room. He looked up from his snack and wagged his tail at the camera.
There was a chorus of awws from the audience.
“Just when you thought he couldn’t be any better, ladies!” the host said. “America’s most eligible bachelor!”
“Nicely done,” Kate told him when he left the stage.
She was still in her professional mode. She whipped out her tablet and showed him the rest of the schedule. Five more appearances including another morning show, several daytime shows, and filming for the evening comedy shows and late-night shows.
His next appearance was across the street, and afterward, he and Kate trekked several blocks over to yet another studio for a daytime-talk-show appearance. There was more fawning, Grant plugged his father’s foundation, and Gus mugged for the camera.
In a lull between appearances, Kate made him take off his pants so she could starch them. As he stood around in his shirt stays, his phone rang, and he stepped out of the room to take the call. It was his father.
“Excellent job,” he said. “So you actually are seriously considering coming to work for me?”
“That’s what Kate said you wanted.”
“What do you want?”
Grant knew what he wanted. He wanted Kate, and if working for his father was the way to win her, then that was what he would do. She probably wanted a respectable businessman who could be a good provider. He was going to properly court her—take her out for nice dinners, expensive drinks. He was going to impress her, not just fuck her in secret in her father’s house. He grimaced. He had moved too fast, and he hoped he hadn’t ruined his chance with her.
“Are you still there?”
“Yes,” Grant replied.
“I would love to have you work with me. To avoid claims of nepotism, you will need to submit a resume and cover letter and come in for interviews. Kate can help you. We have a junior sales associate position open, and Kate knows what the VP of sales is going to be looking for.”
Grant felt his heart sing at the prospect of spending more one-on-one time with Kate.
“If it doesn’t work out, there’s always the foundation. I love your idea, by the way. It’s simple but popular. Who doesn’t love dogs and vets? I’m glad to see you embracing this new life, Grant. I’m really proud to call you my son.”
“Thank you,” Grant said. “That means a lot.”
After the last of the interviews was over, Grant was looking forward to getting out of the itchy wool uniform and going to bed, ideally with Kate, if he could talk her into it. But instead, they headed the opposite direction from home.
Nancy and Kate’s grandmother were hosting a party for him at Walter’s penthouse condo. Grant tried to look grateful when they stepped off the elevator and walked through the open door. He saw all the decorations and flowers and the caterers running around, trying to put the last few details in place.
“I know you’ve had a long day,” Nancy said sympathetically, “but this is a weeknight. People won’t stay too long.”
Grant nodded and resigned himself. He wasn’t allowed to walk and hold a plate or a cup while in his uniform, so he tried to ignore the hunger pangs while the food was passed around. He hoped they saved some for him.
He watched Kate move effortlessly through the room. His father had several higher-ups from Holbrook Enterprises present. Grant shook hands with them when he was introduced.
“I see you’ve turned over a new leaf,” a man said.
Grant didn’t recognize him.
“This is the VP of sales. Martin,” his father said, introducing him.
“I hear you’re going to be coming in to work with us,” Martin said as he took an appetizer from a server. Grant tried not to look so hungry.
“I’ll go through the hiring process, obviously,” Grant said. “I don’t want any handouts or special privileges.”
“Naturally,” Martin said, wiping his hands. “We can use someone like you. A big part of sales is confidence, which you seem to have plenty of.”
“Yes, sir,” he replied.
“This guy!” Martin said with a laugh, shaking Grant’s hand again and smiling for the photographer.
“And this is Randal.”
A surly-looking young man with slicked-back hair shook Grant’s hand.
“You’d be the same level,” Martin remarked. “Junior sales associate.”
Grant gave a slight nod.
“So the military, huh?” Randal said and sipped his drink. “I was thinking about joining, but then I went to Harvard instead.”
Randal reminded him of the surly younger Marines he had been tasked to keep track of. If he did end up working with him, Grant foresaw problems arising.
He didn’t want to worry about it now. There wasn’t anything he could do about it. He alternated between staring out the window at the view of the city lights and shaking hands with various important people that paraded through the penthouse.
When the last of the guests had trickled out, Grant leaned back against the nearest wall. Kate hurried up to him with a plate.
“You haven’t eaten anything all day!” she exclaimed, thrusting the food at him.
“I can’t. The uniform.”
“You can’t eat in uniform?” She sounded skeptical.
“I can’t eat and walk,” Grant explained.
“Then sit and eat.”
“I don’t want to spill on it.”
Kate huffed. “Then go change.”
“I’m tired.”
“Clearly,” she said and pushed him toward the stairs.
He went upstairs to the master bedroom and laboriously took off his uniform. Kate set the food down for him and helped him out of the layers of clothing. She ran her hands over his back and chest while he wolfed down the food. When he was done, he pulled her down beside him on the bed and kissed her softly. She seemed sad.
“Why can’t we be like this always?” he asked her, brushing the hair out of her face.
“I can’t, Grant.” She looked as if she was about to cry.
He kissed her and undid her dress.
“Stop,” Kate said softly, pushing him away.
“Do you really want me to stop?” he asked her.
She looked at him. He leaned over and kissed her again and unwrapped her from her dress. He felt himself grow hard at the slight noises she made, the hitch of her breath. He tried to be gentle. He wanted her to know how much he needed her and wanted her. She wrapped her arms and legs around him as he took his pleasure in her. He reveled in the tight heat of her. Being inside of Kate felt decadent. Everything about her was perfect, and he kissed her hard as he came.
Kate smiled up at him then kissed him tenderly. Grant rolled off of her and pulled her to his chest.
“Kate,” he said.
She pushed her hair out of her face and smiled at him.
“I love you.”
Her face fell, and she pushed away from him, gathered up her clothes, and left.