She kissed Kate on both cheeks and exclaimed, “Darling, I do need a husband. I’m getting on in years. What’s better than being the assistant and slipping easily into the wife role?”
Kate did not want Grant to end up with Brandy. Kate knew she herself would never be able to be with Grant, but Brandy was certainly not good enough for him, she thought, trying not to scowl.
She gave Brandy a perfunctory tour and ran into Grant as she was leaving. He was shirtless, just having come back from a run.
“Kate,” he said awkwardly, “about the other night. I amsosorry. I don’t know what got into me.”
“Brandy is here. She is going to be your new assistant,” she said abruptly as Brandy came around the corner. Kate bared her teeth as Brandy looked Grant up and down, a smile slowly spreading on her face.
“Walter and I are leaving tomorrow morning. It’s your first day at Holbrook Enterprises, Grant, and I wanted to be here to help Brandy aboard as well, but Walter has been pushing meetings off because of the garden party, and now we really have to go. The next six weeks are going to be packed.”
“We can handle it, right, Grant?” Brandy said, sidling up to him.
“Call me if you need anything,” Kate said.
Brandy gave her a triumphant look. “I’m sure Grant and I can handle it.”
Barf,Kate thought.Why couldn’t it have been Ginny? At least I get along with her.She also made a mental note that she still needed to buy her bridesmaid dress for Ginny’s wedding.
The next few weeks were a blur. She kept receiving text messages from Nancy about Martha’s Vineyard. She really wanted Kate and Walter to be there. Kate knew this was the first time that the Holbrooks would have their big family summer vacation since last Christmas when the fire had killed the three children. Last summer, none of them had gone, but Nancy was insistent that they resume the tradition.
She kept tabs on Grant as well. It seemed as if he was slowly acclimating to his new position. Brandy wouldn’t return her calls, and when Kate was finally able to contact her, she was surly and secretive. Kate was hearing more about Grant’s progress from Ginny.
Grant had landed some small sales, only worth a few million, though. Kate knew he needed to win some bigger projects. She texted Ginny.
We’re flying in for the big quarterly sales meeting
Ginny immediately texted back.
We can go bridesmaid’s dress shopping!
Kate wasn’t sure if that was going to be possible with the schedule.
We will if I can get some time away
She felt herself looking forward to spending time with Ginny. Normally, she felt slightly envious at weddings. She always felt as if she would never have her day and none of her friends would have to spend a lot of money and time catering to her after she did all of that for them. But she liked Ginny so much that she only felt happy for her. Also, her fiancé, Eric Davenport, was a good guy, and Kate could only feel joy for the couple. They genuinely deserved to be happy with each other.
She let her thoughts meander wistfully to the topic of Grant. What if she got back and he and Brandy were an item? She didn’t know if she could handle it.
Chapter 46
Grant
The summer was finally upon them. Grant had spent the last few weeks getting acclimated in his father’s company. Kate was right. Sales wasn’t hard, just challenging. He missed having her around, but he was pretty sure he had ruined his chances with her.
The night of the party, he had passed out drunk on the bench after Kate left. He woke up with his uncle Jack shining a too-bright flashlight in his face. His father stood next to Jack with a disapproving look on his face.
“I thought marines were able to hold their liquor,” his father said.
“I’m not a marine,” Grant replied then puked on his father’s shoes.
“This is unbecoming behavior of a Holbrook,” Jack said as he and Walter had dragged Grant upright.
Grant had made a rude gesture to him and spent the weekend hungover. Then it was Monday, his first day on the job.
He wished Kate were still around. Brandy wasn’t as competent, though people seemed to like her. She was able to land him meetings, at least, though not for very prestigious clients. He wasn’t sure if she was mining her father’s contacts or those of her soon-to-be-brother-in-law. Grant was able to land a few small sales, but Randal was going on and on about these big projects he was bringing in. Martin would drop hints that he expected great things from Grant, and that he would be required to make a report at the quarterly sales meeting soon. He knew his father would be there, and he hoped Kate would show up as well.
It had been hard to acclimate to the Holbrook corporate culture. Fortunately, he was able to be on the road for several days out of the week. After exhausting Brandy’s minimal contacts, he got in touch with some former marines he used to know, including one guy who had moved into the defense industry.
