They shook hands for a fraction too long before Sophie stepped in and placed a hand on Cass’s shoulder.
“Let the boy go, Cass,” she coaxed softly.
“So, Grayson,” Cass said, releasing his grip. “How do you know my sister?”
I stepped up next to Grayson. “He’s a colleague.”
“Come now, Scott,” Grayson said. “Don’t you think it’s better we tell your brother the truth?”
I looked up at him, panicked. I’d lose my job if Gray admitted who he truly was.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I blurted.
“I’d rather not lie to your brother.”
“What’s going on?” Cass asked. “What do you need to tell me?”
A mischievous grin crossed Grayson’s face, and I questioned if I could pass him off as delusional when he broke the news to Cass. I braced myself for what was to come, but Grayson wrapped an arm around my waist, and I tried to keep my expression neutral as I figured out what was going on.
“Your sister and I are seeing each other,” Grayson told them confidently.
My jaw dropped as I turned to look at him. What did he just say? I went to step away from him, but Grayson drew me closer to his side with an iron grip.
“You kept that quiet, Quen,” Cass said, eyeing us both.
“She doesn’t have to tell us everything, Cass,” Sophie reminded him.
I stood there, floundering before I said, “You, um… go unpack.”
Grayson laughed. “She always gets embarrassed.”
I shoved him hard in the side.
“But she has a point,” he continued. “It must have been a long trip. Why don’t you both unpack and freshen up and then we can all catch up properly?”
“I think that sounds wonderful,” Sophie agreed.
She picked her bag from the floor, but Cass took it from her. Shooting us a smile, Sophie walked up the stairs with Cassidy following behind.
He stopped to look back at me. “Good to see you back in the game, duck.”
Once I was sure they were both out of earshot, I pushed myself away from Grayson. Gripping his arm, I pulled him through into the living room.
“Hmm,” he mused. “I think I like a woman who can take control.”
I tried not to let the comment get to me as I pushed the door closed and rounded on him.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“I needed a plausible excuse why I’m opening the door to your brother at nine-thirty on a Saturday morning,” he explained.
If we needed an excuse, it would have been easy to tell them that Grayson was a colleague that rented a room. That was an excuse I could have lived with.
“You weren’t even meant to be here,” I told him.
Grayson looked at me knowingly. “How many times do I have to tell you? I hate to be dismissed,” he said calmly. “You were going to pack me up and send me off to Gareth.”
“That’s what we agreed on.”
