“Yeah,” Jenna and Simon said together.
Grant gave them all a wide smile, and Jenna would swear his eyes seemed to glow.
Cade’s frown faded, and he gave a big groan. “Oh no. Don’t tell me it’s time for The Grand Plan.”
“Yes. And you’re a big part of it.” Grant turned to Jenna and Simon, a calculating expression on his face. “And now apparently, you two are as well. Welcome to Operation Mrs. Marvel.”
“Huh?” Simon blinked.
Cade looked embarrassed. “You’re still calling her that?”
“Calling who what?” Jenna asked, beyond confused.
“Piper Mason,” Grant said with wonder. “I’m here to get to her say I do. But I could use a little help from the fans.”
“Fans my ass,” Cade grumbled. “More like evil minions. Grant...”
Simon grinned. “Hey, we’re good at minion-ing. Count me in.”
Jenna huffed, wondering if Grant had been hit in the head too many times with a baseball. “Oh boy. Aunt Piper? The woman left at the altar just a year and a half ago? You want that Piper to say ‘I do’?”
“My future wife, yes.”
She thought about it. Thought about what she knew of Grant, of her aunt, and how much her aunt needed help in the relationship and trust department. Jenna couldn’t think of a more deserving woman worthy of her own happily ever after.
“No way. My aunt got played not that long ago, and it broke her heart. I’m not messing with her like that.”
“Neither am I,” Grant said, his voice quiet. “What happened to Piper should never have happened. But I’m glad it did. She’d have been miserable with that jackass.” He added a few more cuss words impressive for their creativity.
“Huh. I might use that one sometime,” Simon said.
Jenna stared from Grant to his brother, noting how Cade seemed to be taking this seriously. Cade had been beyond angry, just like Dad, when Piper’s fiancé had ditched her. Jenna didn’t think he’d want any part of hurting her aunt. So maybe... “Just how long have you had this plan in place?”
“Nineteen years,” Grant and Cade said at the same time, though Cade sounded resigned while Grant sounded proud.
She stared, in awe. “You’ve been planning to marry my aunt for nineteen years?”
“Talk about commitment,” Simon added.
“Yes.” Grant smiled, and all that handsome older guy charm he had going for him flared in effect. “It was love at first sight, even all those years ago. I just had to finish baseball first.”
“Wait. Finish?” Simon frowned. “You’re leaving baseball?”
“You are?” Cade blinked. “Since when?”
“Since my contract ends next year.” Grant leaned back against his brother’s truck, seemingly unconcerned with the dirt there. “My ten year plan is about over. Now I need to get Piper and my new career in line.”
“Talk about organized. This I have to see,” Simon said with a laugh.
Jenna mentally agreed. “Me too. But I’m not about to mess with my aunt’s emotions. It took her a long time to get over what Sam did to her.” And frankly, Jenna wasn’t convinced her aunt had put it all behind her.
“I’m sorry about that, but not that it didn’t work out.” Grant scowled and turned to his brother. “How the hell did you let it get that far?”
* * *
Grant had tasked his brother with one thing. Just one—keep an eye on Piper. If she looked to be getting serious about anyone, Grant needed to know right away.
“I never thought it was serious,” Cade answered. “Then, I don’t know. They were dating and suddenly getting married. Jared was blown away too. We all thought Piper was rushing things.”
