“Me.”
“And who got Grady out of trouble with that gang of bikers from LA?”
“Me.”
“And who helped out Faith, when she first arrived, pregnant with Sam.”
“It was me, Grant.”
“It was you, Lacey.”
I didn’t know what to say. I was utterly overcome with emotion. It was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for me. Grant didn’t just give me the chance to help the boys who lived in this house, he also showed me that I’d already been helping the people I loved my whole life. Everything he said was true. I had been helping the brothers. If it wasn’t for me they wouldn’t have gotten half as far, or done half as well, as they had. It was strange to realize how much of a difference I’d actually made to other people.
“I’m just giving the eight boys who live in this house the same chance you gave all of us in your father’s house,” Grant said. “And I’m doing that by introducing them to you. You’re the key. You’re the gift, Lacey. It’s always been you.”
I followed Grant into the house to meet the boys. They were kind and courteous to me. Grant had obviously prepared them, and they treated me with every respect. They seemed genuinely eager to work with us, and learn from us, in order to give themselves a better future. Even the house had been cleaned. Everything looked neat and homely. It wouldn’t be easy. I had no illusions about that. It would take many years to build those boys into the men they could be, but it would be a rewarding journey, for all of us.
I knew I wouldn’t have to live in the house with the boys, they were practically men, but it would take a lot of one on one time with them. Eventually, once we got to know them, they might even move up to the mansion, but that was a ways off yet.
I looked at Grant after we left the house. We were going to go buy some new beds for the boys. It was one of the most urgent things they needed, as well as some clothes and school things they could buy themselves with Grant’s credit card.
“Thank you,” I said to Grant, as we got into his car. “This really means a lot to me.”
“You don’t mind that I did it without asking you first?”
I smiled and shook my head. “I love it,” I said, and I meant it.
I loved what he’d done, and I loved him.
Chapter 47
Lacey
THE WAY GRANT WAS LOOKING AT ME, I knew something momentous was about to happen to me.
“We’ve got some important things to talk about,” Grant said.
“Do we?”
“Yes, so follow me.”
I followed him to his car and we headed toward the center of the city. There was an expensive restaurant overlooking the harbor that had always been one of my favorites. My father had taken me and Grant there for one of my birthdays a very long time ago, before any of the other brothers had arrived. They served classical French cuisine and the waiters wore black jackets and white shirts. It was quite overpriced, and for some reason, I had always loved it. I guess because of the memories it brought back.
“I’ve always loved this restaurant,” I said to Grant as we were seated at a table by the window.
“I know that, Lacey,” he said.
We took our seats and the waiter asked what we’d like to drink. Grant deferred to me.
“This is Lacey Eden,” he said to the waiter. “She’s one of the most important wine buyers in the city. Show her your best stuff.”
The waiter went back to the counter and brought me a worn, handwritten wine list that was obviously not used for most customers. On it were some of the fanciest and most expensive bottles of wine in the world. I was so curious about what Grant wanted to talk to me about that I probably didn’t give the wine list the attention it deserved. I chose a bottle of Merlot and when I looked for the price I saw that there was none printed.
“Right away, miss,” the waiter said, and I gave a little shudder as I wondered what the wine would cost.
Then I remembered, I couldn’t even drink it. I was pregnant, but I didn’t dare say anything.
I looked at Grant and the way he was looking at me. He had something on his mind. Something big.
“So,” I said. “I’m not sure what I just ordered.”
“I’m sure it will be excellent, like everything you do.”
I looked into his face. I know this is going to sound clichéd, and I know every woman in my position would say exactly the same thing, but he really was the most handsome man you ever could imagine. He was a real man, firm, as if built from steel and stone. I would trust him with my life.
“How’s your shoulder?” I asked.
“Better.”
“I still can’t believe Rob shot you.”
“Well, I’d have done the same thing in his position.”
“And what position was that?”
“Well, I was stealing you from him, and he knew it.”
“Excuse me?” I said, my cheeks flushing red.
“You heard me,” he said, and winked.