“She was.” Jenna scowled. “Sam tricked her into the engagement. But he was just using her to make an ex jealous.”
Grant wanted to rip the guy’s head off. “Explain.”
The front door opened. “Grant?” Ellie called.
“Shoot. Not here. Let’s convene somewhere else.”
Jenna gave him an odd look.
Simon, however, had the answer. Grant found himself liking the kid. Clearly athletic, handsome in a wholesome kind of way, and he smiled a lot. Not just with his mouth, but with his eyes. He vibed well with Jenna, who would need a strong presence to stand by her side. Just like her aunt, but softer, Grant thought.
“Let’s meet at Bragg’s Tea. My mom made a new batch of gingerbread cookies.”
“Yum.” Cade rubbed his stomach. “But I can’t meet you. I have to get to that meeting.” He grabbed Grant’s arm before Grant could follow the teenagers to their car. “You and I are going to chat later. Ellie and I are not having problems, you idiot.”
“I know. But I needed an excuse to stay at Jared’s and not your place.”
“You’re staying with Jared? He never said.”
“I asked him not to tell.”
“You what?”
“He and I have been talking about Piper. She needs a fresh start. That’s me.”
“You’re still weird.”
That hurt a little, but Grant had been told that ever since he could remember. As if being driven and dedicated were odd. “Yeah? Well, you’re still a tight-ass who drives a dirty old truck and is living well below his means. I looked at your finances the other day, and you are really underutilizing your portfolio. You should also expand your business. I could help you strategize if you wanted.” Even invest a little more cash into his brother’s business.
Cade flushed. “We’re just fine, thanks. And I like my business the size it is. I’m nearly finished paying off your loan.”
Grant rolled his eyes. “It’s not a loan. It’s an investment. And all that money you keep paying me is into a college account for Alex.”
Cade growled. “It’s your money.”
“It’s family money.” Grant paused. “You know you could be bringing in seven figures regularly if you used my plan.”
Cade blanched. “Shut up and stop freaking me out, nerdboy. I have work to do. Go involve teenagers in your love life.” He slapped himself in the head. “That sounded way different than what I meant. Jesus. Forget that. This entire situation is bonkers.” He took a step away, then returned and hugged the breath out of Grant. “But it’s good to see you.”
“You too,” Grant managed before his brother walked away.
He got directions from Jenna and followed them downtown to Bragg’s Tea Shop. A cute place that smelled like heaven, the warm shop had a table in the corner. After paying for three hot cocoas and a plate of cookies, he waited for the teens to partake before grabbing a frosted gingerbread dog.
“Delicious,” he said after devouring two.
“My mom’s recipe.” Simon dunked one into his cocoa and bit its head off.
Jenna got straight to the point. “Okay, Grant. You say you want to marry my aunt. You haven’t seen her in years. And where were you when she almost married that bonehead?”
Chapter 5
Grant needed answers too. “Explain the part about Piper getting tricked into an engagement.”
Jenna squirmed in her seat. “I don’t know what Aunt Piper was thinking. Sam was nice but a little shady. At least, to me. Basically, he used her to try to make his ex—who dumped him because he wouldn’t commit—jealous. He also used my aunt to expand his business. Aunt Piper is great. She knows everyone and everyone likes her. So she helped Sam get to know a lot of people. And they turned into investors to back his new hotel. The one he’s building in Sisters, where he and his pregnant wife now live.”
Grant wanted to punch the dirtbag in the face. “She’s better off. Piper’s a strong woman. She needs someone who loves her for who she is.” I’ve always known she’s the one for me. “It might sound weird to you, but I truly believe in love at first sight.” He thought it amusing how both teenagers refused to look at each other and found their drinks so interesting. “Had I known about Sam, I would have returned to put a stop to it.”
“No kidding?” Simon sounded surprised.
