Rory’s drink is halfway to his mouth. “Duke…”
“I know Katarina is a pain in the ass,” I say before he can. “She’s volatile and she can be downright dangerous…”
“Wow, you’re really selling her appeal,” Calder interrupts.
“It’s learned behavior. It’s how she survived twenty years of being starved of love and affection, but despite that, she’s against everything Vasili stands for. She helped the Griffins save one of their own,” I remind them. “She needs people like us to show her what compassion and common decency look like.”
“Christ, you’re not thinking of marrying her for real, are you?”
I shake my head at Rory. “You’re the one who got banged in the head yesterday, not me,” I clarify. “And on that note, go the fuck home. You’re supposed to be taking a few days off to recuperate. And takehimwith you. You know he’s allergic to too much daylight.”
“Hey, I stayed at the house last night and was in bed at arespectable hour,” Calder argues. He swirls his whiskey in his glass. “After a long chat with Meri.”
Suddenly, I’m in no rush to get rid of him. “How is she?”
“Confused. Conflicted. Still grieving.”
“I told her about the fox.”
“She said,” he replies.
Calder’s being unusually reticent which can’t be good. “She still hates me then.” It’s the only conclusion I can reach.
My brother shrugs. “Give her time.”
I rub my hand over my knitted brow. “Should I try talking to her again?”
“Duke, maybe you should deal with one family drama at a time,” Rory suggests. “If anyone looks like they’ve been up all night, it’s you.”
“Says the man with a smashed-up face.”
“Precisely,” Rory counters.
“Maybe Grace needs to give you some TLC,” Calder suggests, gaining the use of his tongue again. “Or is the sweet, redeemable Katarina Barkov still laying down the law on how much time you spend with her?”
“I hear Grace has relocated to the DeVere head office,” Rory adds. “Apparently, she doesn’t want to work in this building. And, in unrelated news, Noah is asking why you sent the good-looking and very charming Oliver Chambers all the way to Alaska on a wild goose chase.”
Calder snorts a laugh. “That’s one way to deal with the competition.”
I shrug. He’s not wrong. I consider asking Rory if Noah mentioned if Grace was OK, but I’m just relieved she showed up today.
“Don’t let that one get away,” Rory says.
For her to get away, first I’d need to have hold of her. And damn, I wish she was in my arms just one more time. I close my eyes and take a breath, and fuck me… The fates must hear my silent plea because I hear Grace’s voice floating through from the main office. My heart is already pounding as the door opens and she appears.
I absorb every detail, from Grace’s flushed cheeks to the way her fingers fidget with the door handle. Her navy-blue silk blouse has a high neckline and long sleeves, her dark grey pencil skirt fits to just above her knees. Her bare legs are on show, and her pumps are low-heeled and practical. It’s the standard uniform of a professional and bears no resemblance to the outfits she was wearing last week to drive me crazy.
If she’s making a point of not dressing for my torture, it’s failing. I am tortured. I don’t care what she wears, I’ll always want to rip her clothes off. I’ll alwayswanther. Always.
Her stricken features as she pulls her gaze from me to my brothers can mean only one thing. This is the ending I’ve been dreading, and she doesn’t want to do it in front of an audience. Fuck. I’m not ready to let her go, but I know deep down in my breaking heart, it’s the right thing to do.
Chapter 22
Grace
After leaving Katarina, I’d made a quick stop in the restroom to freshen up and put on some lipstick. Speaking to Katarina had been terrifying, but I’m just as scared to face Duke. I have to remind myself that he’s the one who taught me to use my voice. A year ago, I’d told him in delicious detail what I wanted him to do to me, and I can do it again.
But as I step into his office, he doesn’t look pleased to see me. I don’t think it’s just because his brothers are watching us. I hurt Duke not once but twice yesterday. First by setting up a date with Olly, and then when I rejected his offer. I wasn’t there for him when he needed me. Is it too late?
