His dad gave him that all-knowing “Dad” smile, the one Grant had seen a thousand times over the years. “I know so. Of course, the same thing happened to me when I fell in love with your mother. I’d been cock of the block, chasing women like there wasn’t a pair of panties I couldn’t get into. It was like a big, fun challenge to me, and one I enjoyed winning.”
It sounded an awful lot like how Grant had lived his life for the past several years. One woman after another. He’d had fun. A hell of a lot of fun.
“Then I met your mom and bam. Game over.”
And then Grant met Katrina. And nothing had been the same since.
“I fell in love with your mother. I never wanted to look at another woman after her.”
The “love” word. Grant hadn’t allowed himself to think it, let alone admit it, but there it was. His dad said the word so easily. He wondered if it had been so easy for him all those years ago. “So it was like that, huh?”
“She was it for me. My skirt-chasing days were over once I met your mother. The thought of ever being with another woman lost its appeal after her.”
That’s exactly where Grant was now. He took a few seconds to let the realization wash over him. “I don’t think I knew it until spending time with Katrina here, but that’s exactly where I am. I don’t want anyone else but her. I don’t want her to be with anyone else but me. Is that love?”
His dad gave him an all-knowing smile. “It was for me. Are you saying you don’t know?”
“I don’t know. I guess it is.”
His father gave him a stern look. “I think you’d better do more than guess. Before you mess with that girl’s heart—and those kids, too. They’re crazy about you in case you hadn’t noticed.”
Yeah, he’d noticed all right. “I know how I feel about Katrina, Dad. And about Leo and Anya. I’ve never felt this way about a woman before. And I know she’s part of a package. The kids have been in her life—in my life—since the beginning. I love her. I love all of them.”
He’d said the words out loud and it had felt good. So there was step one.
“Have you told her that?”
“No.”
“Do you know how she feels about you?”
“No.”
Dad gave him that look again, the one that told him he was being a dumbass. “I guess it’s time the two of you sit down and talk about your relationship.”
Grant scrubbed his hand over his chin. “That’s the thing. She hasn’t exactly had an easy go of it over the years. Her dad skipped out on them and her mom died when she was young, leaving her the burden of raising Leo and Anya on her own. I think she might be reluctant to give up her independence.”
“I think love and independence are two different things, Grant. You just have to show her that loving you doesn’t mean she has to give anything up. And look at what she gains.”
“What’s that?”
His dad spread his arms wide. “Us.”
Grant laughed. “So true. That’s a big win in my opinion.”
His dad stood and brought Grant in for a hug. “Talk to the woman you love. You’ll figure things out.”
“I will, Dad. Thanks.”
He walked away, thinking about the conversation he’d just had.
Never in his life did he ever think he’d get love advice from his dad.
Of all people. Mom, maybe, but Dad? He shook his head.
But his father had been right. He and Katrina needed to talk.
But not here, and not right now. He had to get up to Dallas and start getting prepped for the game on Thursday night. It was time to put all his focus on that.
After his game, he and Katrina would have that talk.
THIRTY-ONE
KATRINA HAD EVERYTHING PACKED BY THE TIME GRANT returned to the house.
She also had her mind made up. She knew what she had to do.
Now she had to hope Grant understood.
He came in the room and started toward her, a very sweet smile on his face.
Oh, no. She knew what would happen. He’d put his hands on her, his mouth on her, and all her resolve would dissipate. She purposely put a suitcase in front of him to block him from touching her.
He stared down at the suitcase and looked over at her, then frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“The kids and I are leaving.”
“I know. We’re all leaving for Dallas. I figure you all could sightsee and maybe do some shopping for a couple of days. Then the game on Thursday night. After that, we’ll head back up to my place …”
She cut him off. “No. We’re going back to New York.”
She saw the confusion on his face. “What? New York? You mean today? That’s kind of what I wanted to talk to you about. I thought maybe you and the kids would stay at my place. Like … permanently.”
“What?”
“St. Louis is a major airport. You shouldn’t have any problems catching flights wherever you want to go. There are great schools there, both public and private.”
She held up her hand. “Wait. Just stop there. What are you talking about?”
“You. Me. Leo and Anya. There’s plenty of room at the house. And I’ve already talked to a contractor about all the renovations. We can make this work, Kat. We can be a family.”