It appeared the Cassidys had it covered.
This was what it was like to have a family—a support system—other people to help out. She’d been on her own for so long, had done everything herself for her entire adult life, that she didn’t know what to make of other people doing things for and with the kids.
It made her happy, but it was a little unnerving. She didn’t want the kids to fall in love with this family, to get used to having other people in their lives who might not always be there. They were connected to the Cassidys by a very thin line, and only through her relationship with Grant.
What was going to happen when she and Grant weren’t connected anymore? It was going to sever Leo’s tie with Easton, and Anya’s tie with Mia.
It sounded so awful to think it, but it was a reality she was going to have to address sooner rather than later.
These people were amazing. Kind and warm and wonderful, accepting her and Leo and Anya as if they belonged to them.
The problem was, they didn’t. She was realistic enough to know that. Last night she’d been in sweet oblivion. This morning she was a lot more clearheaded. And no amount of wine, lovemaking, and sweet words were going to make her forget this reality.
But the kids? The kids were going to be hurt when she and Grant walked away from each other, and suddenly he—and his family—weren’t in their lives anymore.
She had a lot to think about. And a lot to talk to Grant about.
But not now, because after breakfast they helped Lydia clean up, then Barrett, Tucker, and Flynn had to leave.
“We have all your schedules. Tucker, we’ll be at your game on the fifteenth,” Lydia said. “And the series you’re playing against Houston and Dallas.”
“Can’t wait to see you again,” he said, giving his mom a kiss on the cheek.
“I’ll be in touch,” Barrett said. “And you know I’ll pop down to stay when I play Dallas.”
“Here, too,” Flynn said.
“I’ll be seeing all of you soon enough,” Grant said, then hugged his brothers.
One by one they all hugged Katrina as well.
“We like you,” Tucker said to her. “We don’t know what you see in Grant, since we think he’s ugly, but we like you anyway.”
She laughed, then said her good-byes.
She headed over to the house to pack, so Grant would have some time alone with his parents.
She was going to miss them all, and felt a tug in her heart.
She’d fallen in love with his family. It wasn’t just going to hurt the kids when the ties were cut to his family. It was going to hurt her as well.
As she started putting things back in her suitcase, she paused, the realization smacking her, hard.
She hadn’t just fallen in love with Grant’s family. She’d fallen in love with Grant. That’s why all of this had been so difficult. Why the prospect of the kids getting close to his family was so difficult.
She loved him. He was hot, sexy, gorgeous, but her feelings for him went so far beyond simple chemistry.
He was also kind and funny and smart and honorable. He loved his family and he was so good to hers.
And she had no idea what to do with all these feelings.
Did he even feel the same? He might, or he might not. To him, this might just be a fun interlude. Or he might love her.
Either way, it was a disaster. She wasn’t ready for a relationship. She might never be ready for one. She had spent her whole life remembering her father, how many times he’d told her mother he loved her. How many times he’d told Katrina he loved her and how he’d always be there for her.
And look what happened there. She knew better than to trust in love. That was why she’d spent all these years saving her money and protecting her siblings.
Her independence meant everything to her. She had a road map she’d carefully constructed for her entire life, and nowhere in there had it included a man. A crazy, sexy man who would disrupt everything.
How had she allowed this to happen?
She didn’t know what to do. She needed time to think, and her heart was getting in the way.
GRANT FOUND SOME TIME ALONE WITH HIS DAD WHILE his mother was in the kitchen. They sat down outside by the pool.
“It’s been a fun couple of days, Dad. I’m glad we came.”
“I’m glad you came, too. It was good to see you.” His dad studied him. “You know what? You’re different.”
Grant arched a brow. “Different? How?”
“You’ve always had this crazy energy. Always up and doing things. You seem a lot more … settled now.”
“Yeah? I hadn’t noticed.”
“I’m not surprised. I’m sure that difference has a lot to do with Katrina.”
“You think so?”