“I see what you mean. Draft a proposal.”
“It’s already done. Sending it to your email now.”
My father grunted again. “You’re doing good. I was right to bring you back.”
I hated the surge of pride I felt at his words. I didn’t want them to matter anymore. But some part of me would always be that little boy who wanted his dad’s approval. “Thank you.”
“You still need to work on your image. You’ve damaged it with all your galivanting over the years. Look at your brother. You need to bring that new girlfriend of yours to events so people see you’ve changed. If that’s even possible.”
He said it as if I’d terrorized small children or something. I went on dates—if you could even call them that. Occasionally, those outings were photographed. But my father thought I’d committed treason just because I hadn’t settled down like he wanted.
My back teeth gnashed together. “Grae’s coming to the gala with me.”
“Wouldn’t hurt to have her show her face around the resort before then, too. You’ve got a lot to make up for.”
He hung up without another word.
I kept the receiver to my ear for a moment, listening to the dial tone. There was never a compliment that wasn’t followed by a slap. I had to remember that. Distance from my father might have helped me remain numb to him, but now that I was in his presence again, that wasn’t so easy. And it was killing me.
My cell buzzed on the desk.
I set the receiver back in the cradle and picked up my device. A text flashed on the screen.
Nash
G’s SUV caught on fire. We’re at Vacation Adventures.
I was on my feet in a flash, striding toward the door. I practically ran Jalen over as I stormed out.
“Shit. Everything okay?” he asked.
“I don’t know. Reschedule today’s meetings. I’ll call if anything changes.”
“Or if you need anything,” Jalen called after me as I jogged down the hall.
On fire.Those two words circled my brain as I headed for my SUV. Nash would’ve said if Grae were hurt, wouldn’t he? Icy claws of dread dug into my chest.
I hit Nash’s contact on my phone as I climbed behind the wheel. It rang and rang with no answer. I cursed as I started the engine.
The tires squealed as I pulled out of the parking spot and headed for the resort exit. I nearly came out of my skin, waiting for the gates to open. The moment they did, I took off down the mountain road.
Memories battered at the walls of my mind. Grae passing out in my arms. Running down the mountain trail to my car. Racing her to the EMTs. Her face so pale. The doctor telling us they weren’t sure if she would make it.
I shoved all of it from my mind. She was okay. She had to be.
I made the fifteen-minute drive into town in eight. I caught sight of fire trucks and police cars, but I didn’t see Grae.
Squealing to a stop, I jumped out of my SUV and ran toward the four hulking forms I recognized as Grae’s brothers. Their heads came up at the sound of my footsteps.
Roan was the only one who moved. It was a slight shift that allowed me to see Grae’s petite form between them all. My chest seized.
I shoved through them, pulling her into my arms and gripping her tightly. I couldn’t speak for a moment. It wasn’t until I felt the rise and fall of her chest against my torso and the beat of her heart that I could form words. “Are you okay?”
My voice was barely recognizable, even to my ears. Raw, gritty, ravaged.
Grae’s hands fisted in my shirt. “I’m fine. It was just my car. I don’t know what happened.”
I knew I needed to let her go for a million different reasons. But it was the last thing I wanted to do. I inhaled deeply, letting the scent of honeysuckle and spice fill my lungs. I held on to that as I let her go but shifted so my arm was around her shoulders. I told myself it was what a boyfriend would do, and that I was just playing the part. But I knew it was a damned lie.
