Chapter Twenty-Seven
“I NEVER WOULD have guessed Gracie was the bad girl,” Axsel said over a joint Skype call with Pepper and the rest of the family Saturday morning at Grace’s parents’ house. He raked a hand through his dark hair and yawned. It was only seven o’clock in Los Angeles, and he’d gotten up just for their call.
“She might have been sort of bad,” Brindle said, “but I hold the bad-girl title, and I’m proud of it.”
“That’s my girl,” their father said sarcastically, giving Brindle’s shoulder a loving squeeze.
Brindle blinked innocently up at him from her perch on a chair at the kitchen table. “I love you, Daddy.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I love you, too, pumpkin. I have you to thank for most of my gray hair.”
“Good thing you’re such a silver fox,” their mother said, and the girls all agreed.
“Y’all are going to make my head swell,” Cade said, leaning down to kiss Marilynn.
Reed realized he’d been staring at Grace as she chatted with her sisters, and when he shook his head to break the spell, he noticed Pepper watching him.
Cade must have noticed because he said, “What is it, princess?”
“I was just thinking how rare of a breed Reed is,” Pepper said.
“He’s not a horse,” Morgyn said.
“He might be hung like one,” Sable said under her breath, earning a harsh glare from her father.
Brindle choked on her juice.
Grace turned flushed cheeks toward Reed. Her confirming smile was not missed by her sisters, who went wide-eyed seconds before falling into hysterics. Reed stifled a chuckle.
Pepper rolled her eyes. “I meant that he treated Grace like a diamond before he even had a penny, with flowers and protecting her reputation.”
“Aw, isn’t that the sweetest and truest thing anyone could say?” Marilynn put her hand over her heart. “I wish you were here so I could hug you, honey.”
“Me too,” Grace said. “I miss you, Pep, and you, Axsel.”
As Reed took in Grace’s family, he was glad he’d made the call and invited Frank last night. Even though Frank had already settled in for the night and wasn’t able to make it, Reed had heard deep appreciation in his voice. Reed wanted Grace to meet him and had invited Frank to come over to his house at eleven thirty, after they visited with Grace’s family. Reed still wasn’t sure where Frank should fit into his life or of his own emotions toward him. But as he listened to Grace and her family discussing ideas for their wedding, Cade came to Reed’s side and said, “Welcome to my estrogen-filled family, son,” and he realized he could never have too many people who cared for them.
“Thanks, Cade. Maybe someday Grace and I will give you a few grandsons to even things out.”
“Did I hear something about grandbabies?” Marilynn’s smile lit up her whole face. “Sophie’s baby shower is tomorrow. I bet Lindsay and Nana would be happy to make it a double!”
“What?” Grace spun around with a confused, though delighted, expression. “Babies?”
“Now you’ve done it,” Cade said for Reed’s ears only.
“Someday, baby.” Reed reached for Grace and drew her into his arms. “I said someday.”
“Someday,” slid off her tongue in a whisper with a hefty amount of relief. “We can’t live in separate states when we have kids.”
Worry washed over her beautiful face, bringing Reed’s lips to hers in a tender kiss. “We’ll figure everything out. There’s no rush. First we build the foundation and get married, and then I’m taking you on an amazing honeymoon. Then we’ll figure out the rest.”
“You make it sound so easy and doable,” she said with a sweet smile.
“Loving you is easy, baby. That makes anything doable.”
“Sorry, sis, but I seriously think I just fell in love with your fiancé,” Amber said.
“No shit,” Sable said. “And I don’t do love.”
“Yeah, put me on that love list,” Axsel teased. “Damn, bro. You really know how to make ’em fall.”
“Oh, heck no.” Grace threw her arms around Reed. “First of all, Axsel, he’s straight. And the rest of you? Keep your paws off my man, or you will see me turn wild.”
Reed buried his face in her neck as her family went wide-eyed in shock. “Damn, baby, that was the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Grace’s phone rang. “That’s probably Sophie. I promised to come by after we meet Frank to help decorate for the shower.” She dug her phone from her pocket and glanced at the screen. All the joy drained from her face. She turned the phone toward Reed, and he saw Satchel’s name.
“Tell Soph to come over,” Morgyn called after Grace, who was walking into the living room to take the call.
Brindle waved a croissant and said, “And tell her to bring that hot husband of hers!”
“It’s not Sophie,” Reed said. “It’s work.” His gut twisted in irritation over the casting director not handling his own responsibilities and Grace being drawn into what seemed like every little thing these last few days. Not that he minded Grace doing her job, and apparently hand-holding was part of her job. He was proud of her for her dedication to the production, even when she was supposed to have time off. But she’d claimed to have little downtime, and he was beginning to wonder if even that was an understatement.
GRACE WAS NOT a crier, despite the tears she’d shed over the past few days, when it seemed years of emotions had come bubbling up. But as she ended the call with Satchel after agreeing to return to the city as soon as she could pack her bags, she was powerless to stop tears from falling. She sank down to the arm of the couch, trying to regain control as she thought of leaving Reed and her family, missing out on meeting Frank, and missing Sophie’s baby shower. But the unfairness of it all was too much, and she could do little more than bury her face in her hands and weep.
“Baby? What happened?” Reed pulled her into his arms.
“I have to—” Sobs stole her voice as he caressed her back, telling her that whatever was going on, it would be okay. No! It won’t! She heard the words in her head, but every time she opened her mouth, more sobs came. And then suddenly everyone was in the living room witnessing her meltdown, including Axsel and Pepper because her father had carried the laptop with him.
Great. Just freaking perfect.
“What’s going on?” Sable asked, glaring at Reed. “Who needs to get their ass kicked?”
Embarrassment set in for her loss of control, and that quickly morphed to anger, because Grace Montgomery did not lose control.
She straightened her spine and swiped at her tears. “Nobody’s,” Grace seethed, fire and ice filling her up like a well. “I’m going to do it myself.”
“What happened?” Reed asked.
“Keagen, the lead in the play, threatened to walk off because of some bullshit.” She eyed her parents. “Sorry, but…”
“It’s okay, honey,” her mother said. “But why are you crying?”
“Because I have to go back.” Tears burned her eyes again. Damn it. She blinked them away and said, “I have to leave now and get him to continue in the role and placate the investors, who are going to pull funding if we lose him. We have a meeting at eight o’clock tonight.”
“You’re leaving now?” several of them said at once, but it was Reed’s voice that clawed at her heart.
It was all she could do to nod as her family all converged on her at once, hugging, saying goodbye, and telling her they understood. Their support made her as thankful as it did sad, and the whole situation made her angry.
After so many hugs she felt depleted, her family walked them out to the truck.
Her father took her by the shoulders and said, “Chin up, Gracie Jean. I know you’re sad and angry, but they called you because you’re the head honcho, and we’re all very proud of you.”
He kissed her forehead and stepped back, allowing her mother to hug her one last time. She smiled the encouraging smile Grace remembered from the day they’d said goodbye when she went away to college. Why was this suddenly so hard? She’d come and gone dozens of times, usually anxiously awaiting her departure and the madness of her life in the city.
“We’ll be right here when you come back, honey,” her mother said.
“Will you video Sophie’s shower?” Grace pleaded. “I want to see everything. All the decorations, every gift, her face as she opens each one…”
“Of course, honey,” her mother said. “Now go, before you’re late. And remember, you’re not leaving us behind. We’re always with you.”