Chapter 47
Kate
Kate wanted to let herself believe Grant, but she knew she couldn’t be with him. She tried to put the handsome heir out of her mind and threw herself into the work trips with Walter. After an eight-hour meeting in Seoul, the deal was finally signed and sealed, and Holbrook Enterprises was in partnership for a venture in Malaysia.
Then there was the celebratory drinking and dinner. Kate tried to look awake and alert. Walter was handling it like a champ. Early in the morning, after they finally said their last goodbyes, Kate crawled into the car and slumped into the deep leather seat.
“We have to go straight to Martha’s Vineyard from the airport,” Walter said, sitting down beside her and loosening his tie. He held out his phone to Kate. “I’ve got so many politely angry messages from Nancy.”
Kate smiled tiredly. “That’s fine. We can sleep on the plane.”
She was excited and terrified to see Grant. She hoped the distance would make him forget about her, but she also secretly wanted him to bend down on one knee and propose the minute he saw her.
The flight back was uneventful. Wendy greeted them as they got on with warm, moist towelettes. Kate tried to sleep on the flight, but she only dozed fitfully. When the plane landed in Connecticut, she and Walter went through customs then sank gratefully into the plush seat of the waiting car.
“I wish I could shower,” she complained.
“Shower when we are at the vacation house,” Walter said.
“It’s such a long drive,” she said and tried to distract herself by looking through her texts. There were irate messages from her grandmother, as well as a long series of messages from Alan that got progressively more sick and nauseating. She also received pictures from Grant of Gus in sunglasses and a hat. He also sent her a string of several sad-looking emoji.
She smiled and texted him.
You are too dramatic
A few moments later, she received a series of messages from him.
I can’t help it. I need you here.
Not like that, get your head out of the gutter.
I’m all by myself. Brandy keeps trying to corner me.
She rolled her eyes and wrote him back.
I’ll be there in four hours
It took longer. The ferry to the island was late, and Kate watched as people slowly drove their cars on.
She didn’t know if she would be able to handle being that close to Grant. It was a large island, with lots of empty space and places to be alone. Would she be able to resist him?
“There they are!” Nancy said, coming out to greet them when they arrived at the house. It was an impressive Queen Ann–style house with a rounded tower and slate shingles in a fish-scale pattern. Nancy was wearing loose linen pants and a broad hat and practically floated down the steps of the house. Grant followed behind his aunt. His hair had grown longer, and it framed his face nicely. Kate wanted to run her fingers through it.
“Are Carter and Mark coming?” Kate asked Nancy after she hugged the older woman.
“No.” She sighed. “They couldn’t take any leave, not with it being so close to the Davenport wedding. But I have my other favorite marine here!” She smiled at Grant and gave him a hug.
“Where’s your assistant?” Kate asked as Grant kissed her on the cheek after shaking his father’s hand.
Grant grimaced. “She’s at the Davenports’ mansion. They’re having some sort of ritzy soiree. Brandy did invite us to hang out at a beach party tomorrow.”
“That should be fun,” Kate said and yawned. “I’m beat.”
“You two must be so tired!” Nancy exclaimed. “I have some seafood salad and bruschetta, then you can take a bath.”
Grant gave Kate a look. She felt it run straight through her, making her toes curl.
After she and Walter ate, Grant grabbed Kate’s bags and said, “I’ll show you where you’re staying.”
She followed him up the three flights of stairs to the third level. Peering out of the dormer in the small bedroom, she could see the ocean over the treetops.
“I am conveniently right through the bathroom,” Grant said with a flourish.
She gave him a look. He grinned. His long hair made him look younger, more boyish.
“You can’t resist me,” he said as he swept her up and twirled her around the room.
“I can’t!” she protested. “I smell, and my hair is so greasy I could fry an egg in it.” Grant ignored her in favor of leaning down to kiss her while unbuttoning her blouse.
“Lucky for you,” he said as he undid her lacy bra, “I am used to being around people who smell like garbage.”
“‘I don’t smell that bad!” Kate said in mock outrage.
“No, you smell good,” he said as he bit her lightly on the shoulder and breathed in the scent of her neck then kissed his way down to her navel while she ran her fingers through his hair.
“You’re just horny,” she told him. “You should have gotten a girlfriend while I was gone.”
He looked up at her seriously. “I only want you. I told you that.”
She sighed. He slowly ran his fingers up her thigh then slipped them into her panties and stroked her.
“I shouldn’t be doing this,” she said softly.
“And yet,” he said, kissing her mouth, his tongue taking her mouth as she knew he was about to take her body, “you will.”
He shrugged off his shirt and pants, and she took in the sight of him. Now that he wasn’t so stressed out and had better food, he had added even more bulk. Kate reached up and ran her nails across his skin, catching on the ridges of his chest. She felt him jump, and she scratched him.
“You’re going to pay for that,” he growled.
He threw her back onto the bed and pinned her arms above her. She felt him slide into her. She arched her back and wrapped her legs around him.
“Take me,” she told him. He pressed his mouth to hers, silencing the screams of pleasure that wanted to burst out of her.
When it was over, they lay sweat drenched in each other’s arms.
“It is so hot in here,” Grant said breathlessly.
“I’m sure we can find you a fan, or you could have, you know, not picked the hottest part of the house.”
“It’s worth it for this,” he replied.
She rolled over and stroked his face with her palm. Grant seemed more grounded, happier, even. He turned his head and kissed her palm.
“I’m so happy you’re here,” he murmured.
She ignored him and sniffed herself. “I need a bath.”
She pulled away from him and stood up. She felt him watch her for a moment, then he followed her into the small bathroom.
“Ugh, I hate these old houses,” she complained as she took in the exposed brass pipes and cracked porcelain fixtures.
“What? These are nice accommodations!” Grant said. “At least you can shower, and look”—he pointed—“there’s even a toilet.”
She rolled her eyes and started the water.
“You should try taking a dump in a plastic bag in the middle of the desert,” he continued.
“Gross,” she said.
“That’s the part where you laugh, Kate,” he said, his hands on his hips.
“Is that how you’ve been selling Holbrook Enterprises?” she asked him silkily.
He gave her a lopsided grin.
“Half a billion, baby!” he said and struck a bodybuilder’s pose.
She pursed her lips and turned back to the bath. The water would only gush out lukewarm. It was probably for the best—
“Ahh!” she screamed as Grant picked her up and dumped her in the tub, jumping in after her. “It’s freezing.”
“It’s good!”
They could barely fit, their limbs splaying out of the small tub. They scrubbed off as best they could then dressed.
“Stop it,” she said as he picked her up, then he nuzzled her hair, set her on the bed, and tucked her in. Listening to his footsteps go down the stairs, she drifted off to sleep.