“It is a big deal. You were just a kid yourself.”
She shrugged. “They’re my family. We’re a family. We had no one else but each other. What was I supposed to do? Child services wanted to take them away and put them in foster care. Can you believe that? I wouldn’t allow it—couldn’t allow it to happen. I booked jobs right away and fortunately I turned eighteen not too long after my mother passed away, so I filed for custody of the kids. Since I had immense earning potential, the courts let me have guardianship over them.”
Grant’s chest tightened at the thought of what Katrina must have gone through. Losing her mother, being all alone, and having the burden of raising her two younger siblings thrust upon her all at the age of seventeen. The pressure of her situation must have been overwhelming.
“You had no one to help you?”
“I hired a really good au pair, because I had to travel for work. I put the kids in good schools and I bought a really nice apartment in New York. I was home as much as I could. We’ve managed just fine.”
“I’ll bet you did.” He looked at her. “I have to admit, I’m damned impressed. You could have bailed.”
She lifted her chin. “I would have never done that. I love my sister and brother.”
“A lot of girls that age would have, faced with that responsibility. I admire you for taking it on, for having the balls—or the courage, I guess I should say. You’re an amazing woman.”
“I did what anyone else would have done, given the same circumstances.”
“I don’t think so. You don’t give yourself enough credit. I’m not sure I would have done the same thing. At seventeen all I wanted to do was play sports and party. The thought of that much responsibility—of having to raise my siblings?” He dragged his fingers through his hair. “No way in hell would I have been able to take that on.”
She smiled at him, and it was like the sky had lit up. “Oh, I don’t know, Grant. You don’t know what you’re capable of until you’re backed into a corner. I’m sure you would have done the same thing.”
He thought about his brothers. Hellions, all of them. A lot like him. He wasn’t the oldest, Flynn was. But still, with three brothers? Plus a little sister? Could he have done it? He didn’t know.
Hell, he did know. No way.
“Maybe. I’ll never know because I have two parents who raised me, and I lived a very comfortable life.”
“Then you’re very lucky.”
“Goddamn right I am. And you just made me realize how very lucky I am. And how very special you are for what you’ve done.”
“I didn’t tell you that story to make you admire me, Grant. I shouldn’t have told you at all.”
She was uncomfortable. Embarrassed, even. He had no idea why. “I’m glad you told me. It’s nice getting to know you.”
She shook her head. “I never tell anyone about that.”
The waitress came and took their plates. “Can I get you something else?”
“No, I’m fine, thank you,” she said, and started to gather her things, sliding them into her bag. “I should go.”
“Wait. What?” He signed the ticket, charging the meal to his room. “Why are you leaving?”
“I’ve told you enough.” She stood. “Too much.”
She hurried away. Grant followed, though she was hard to keep up with because she was practically running.
“Katrina, wait.”
She ignored him, so he hustled to catch up with her, grasping her arm as she made it down the walkway in between the restaurant and the cabanas.
“Stop. Talk to me.”
She wouldn’t make eye contact. She had her arms wrapped around her bag.
“Hey. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable, if I made you say something you didn’t want to say.”
She lifted her gaze to him. “I never tell anyone about my past—about the kids. That’s … private. I don’t know why I told you.”
He took her elbow and led her down toward the beach, where it was quiet. Fortunately, she came willingly. Whatever was bothering her was clearly upsetting. “I’m glad you did, but don’t worry. I’m not planning to broadcast it to anyone.”
“I don’t like those models with those sad backstories, you know? They use it to get media attention and that’s just not me.” She slung her bag over her shoulder, seeming a little more relaxed now. “I want my work to speak for itself. And I need to protect the kids. They have enough to deal with without having the media hounding them.”
He grinned as they walked along the beach. She glared at him.
“What?”
“You go all protective mama bear when you talk about Anya and Leo.”
“Shut up. I do not.” But her lips tilted upward. “Okay, maybe I do. You don’t even know what it’s like—” She stopped herself. “Right. Of course you know what it’s like.”
“Is that why you don’t date anyone famous? To keep the cameras away?”