The absurdity level had just risen to an all-time high. They should be cousins or brothers.
Grey’s eyes squinted, and I thought he would punch Mason on the spot. “I told you not to step foot on this property.” He reached for his phone. “I’m calling the police and having you removed.”
“Wait, wait, wait.” Mason laid the wet towels on the desk and held up his hands in innocence. “You told me you wanted proof. I brought proof that I’m your uncle. Don’t you want to see it?”
I wanted to see it, but I knew this wasn’t the time to pipe in. I held my breath, waiting for Grey to respond in some way other than using his fists.
“What do you have?” He stepped away from Mason, and I finally exhaled.
Mason reached into his back pocket, withdrew a manila envelope, and shoved it into Grey’s hands.
“Call me after you’ve had a chance to look at it.” He walked out of the office.
Grey stared at the envelope and I studied his face. What in the hell was in there?
I wasn’t sure if the humming from the air conditioner or my heartbeat was louder. Grey stood staring at the envelope Mason had deposited in his palm. I wished he would just tear the damn thing open, but instead, he stood like a statue.
“I’m going to get some air.” He turned to walk away.
“No.” I dodged from behind the desk. “Can’t we open it together? Maybe I can help you with whatever is in that thing.” I couldn’t take my eyes off it.
Grey’s piercing eyes hardened. “Like letting that asshole paw all over you.”
My hands shot to my hips. “Don’t turn this around on me. I spilled my coffee. I was in the middle of telling him to get out of the office when I knocked my cup over, and then he just started helping me.”
Grey didn’t look convinced. “I saw where his hands were, Eden.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. It wasn’t like I asked him to do that.” I was close to slapping him across the face. “I didn’t invite him here. He showed up.”
“Like he did yesterday.” Grey almost spit the words out.
“Are you implying something?” I had always heard jealousy was an ugly green-headed monster? but this was ridiculous.
“No, not at all, darlin’.” He smile was crooked. “It’s just obvious he has a thing for you.”
“Thing for me? What’s that supposed to mean?” I tried to flip through my conversation with Mason. Had I indicated in any way that I was interested in him? I wasn’t going to deny the man was good-looking and flirty, but that wasn’t my fault. “I told him you and I are together. There is no way he got the wrong idea.”
Grey shook his head before sliding into the empty seat Mason had occupied. “And you think that would stop a guy like that?”
Oh my God. Did Grey actually think I would give Mason Lachlan my time or attention? I kneeled beside him. My anger melted, remembering how I felt when I saw Grey having drinks with Laura. I had felt betrayed and hurt. If he was feeling half of that, I had to do something.
“Grey, I would never even consider someone else. You and me. We’re together. I just moved all the way from North Carolina to live with you. You think I would throw that away?”
The envelope was still mangled in his fist. “No, I’m not worried about you. It’s him. He thinks he can swoop in here and steal the Palm, and if he’s got the hots for you, what’s going to stop him from trying to make a move?”
“It takes two people, and this girl is not interested in that guy. Ok?” I tilted his chin forward, looking for a smile, any sign that I had reassured him.
“I saw how he looked at you.” His voice softened.
I had seen it too, but I was done letting Mason come between us. “It doesn’t mean anything. I am with you.”
He handed me the envelope. “You open it.”
I didn’t know what to expect. I searched Grey’s eyes. I slid my finger between the flap and the seal. I pulled out a folded piece of paper along with a few photographs. I opened the paper.
“It’s a birth certificate.” I read the names in the blocks. “It says his father was Mitchell Lachlan and his mother was Lorraine Hanish.” There was a seal from the state of Texas at the bottom. I gave it to Grey to read.
“What else?” He prodded me.
We both knew the certificate could have been altered or the paternal name falsely identified. In my hand was a stack of pictures. There was a little boy blowing out candles on his third birthday cake. One of the same boy opening Christmas presents. As he got older, the pictures became clearer. His high school graduation. College graduation. There was no mistaking Mason was the boy aging over the decades. Although, I didn’t know who the man and woman were flanked on either side of him in each snapshot. I placed them in Grey’s palm.
“This is Pops.” He pointed to the man in the picture. “Son of a bitch,” he muttered under his breath, but it was loud enough for me to hear it. He flipped through the pictures, his speed increasing as Mason got older.