“Give me a second,” Georgia told her as she bent over and pulled something out of the oven only to cuss like a sailor who ran out of rum.
When she stood again, she pushed her hair off her sweaty forehead and slung the towel over her shoulder.
“Georgia?”
“It’s nothing. We just have an event tomorrow that I’m really behind on. It’ll be fine.” She waved it off.
I watched as hurt etched itself all over Grace’s face. Her sister was drowning and rather than asking her for help, she was pushing herself to her limit.
“Let me help,” Grace offered softly.
“I’ve got it. Gabriella is just finishing off changing over the rooms then she’ll be back to give me a hand,” Georgia explained.
Grace turned and left the room without a word, leaving me alone with a flushed and flustered Georgia.
“She just wants to help,” I tried to explain.
“I know,” Georgia sighed heavily. “And I’d love an extra set of hands …”
“Then why?”
“Look, Cole. You don’t know me, and I don’t know you. But you seem to make my sister happy, so I’m going to trust you.Which means I’m asking you to trust me.” Georgia didn’t mince her words.
“I want to.”
“Then do it. The last thing I want to do is upset Grace and drive her away—”
“That’s what you’re doing you know,” I pointed out.
“What?”
“She thinks you don’t need her. That you and Gabriella have it all sorted and she’s in the way.”
“What the fuck? Of course we want her here. That’s what this is all about,” Georgia exploded, waving her arms around.
I didn’t understand. I was definitely missing something.
“I don’t get it,” I told her honestly.
“Look, I need you to trust me and take Grace back to your place. Give me twenty-four hours and things will look different. I promise.”
I didn’t really have a choice. All I could do was make sure Grace was okay and try to soothe the sting. Maybe I’d distract her with a poddy calf who liked to listen to mommy porn.
“Twenty-four hours,” I agreed, hoping I wasn’t making the wrong call. “I better go find her,” I offered.
“She’s upstairs in her room. Packing,” Gabriella interjected.
“Packing?”
“Said something about knowing where she’s not wanted and was last seen stuffing her things into her bag.”
“Oh fuck,” Georgia swore, yanking the towel from her shoulder and throwing it down on the counter.
“Cole, can you look after her until tomorrow?”
“I’ll look after her a lot longer than that if she lets me,” I declared, setting the box of desserts Grace had brought for her sisters on the corner of the counter. I might not understand their plan but if my girl was hurting, then it was my job to make itbetter. Even if it meant going along with whatever they were up to. At least for now anyway.
“Cole!” I heard my name being called.
