Avery had my back after I whipped out an I love you farewell to Bree as if we’d been together for months, and as to be expected, my best friend’s wife peppered me with questions during the drive to Collin and Elena’s equine estate in the hills.
My lame-ass smile was a dead giveaway. I don’t even think the guys had ever seen me smile like this before. Either way, I played games with Avery for the entire ride. It was fun, and it kept my mind off of the lady who’d floored me by mentioning she knew my grandfather and, even stranger, knew what had happened to my mother.
I had no idea what circles Bree’s aunt paraded in, but the connection of both my grandfather and mother made me wonder how she knew them. Mostly, it made me curious about what the woman knew about my family and me. If she knew about the Graysons, was the woman honoring my grandfather’s wishes and leaving the scars of our tortured past where they belong—in the past?
My grandfather passed away many years before Mom’s stroke, which was the only thing this woman should’ve known about my mother. My mom left Southern California before I was born and had lived in Arizona ever since. So, this lady should’ve had no connections to her, and she couldn’t have known jack-shit about her stroke.
I started mentally running down lists of people in upper-class families that I knew, wondering if Mom still had ties to them. Instead of riding horses at Collin and Elena’s house, I decided to find out what I could about this mystery-woman. My friends were fully engrossed with their kids, using Elena’s therapy horses to entertain themselves, and I watched them riding cheerfully in the arena from where I sat at the picnic table.
I was in a fantastic mood, just perplexed as hell. If only my mom were still coherent, I could get the answers I wanted.
“Hey, lover,” Jim said, walking over and sitting across from me at the picnic table where I pretended to watch everyone behind my sunglasses.
“Lover? Isn’t that what Collin and Jake throw around when they get lost in each other’s eyes like the dipshits they are?” I teased, stretching out my legs. I folded my arms and leaned forward on the table.
Jim looked over his shoulder at Collin, who held his newborn son, and at his younger brother, Jake, standing at Collin’s side at the rail of the arena. Jake’s son was not a fan of these horses, and he sat on his dad’s shoulders unashamed about that fact, pointing at everyone else who was enjoying them.
“Yeah, but…” Jim paused and turned back to me. “I only say lover because Av alluded to the fact that something’s up with you and Breanne.” He held up a hand to stop me from saying anything. “Don’t think for a second I’m that naïve to believe you didn’t pack up everything and pull off one of your trademark stunts with Avery and Cameron just because Breanne Stone is your partner.”
“That’s exactly what I did,” I said.
“I know you too well.” Jim exhaled. “Spill the beans. You generally don’t give a wild fuck about anyone, and after what you did with your partner today, I mean, come on.”
I smiled at Jim’s wife, knowing she likely couldn’t stop herself from mentioning something to Jim about me saying I love you to Bree before we left. I couldn’t blame her; it probably came as a shock to her as much as it did me when I said it like I’d been using that word forever.
“Fine. I wasn’t going to allow Breanne to get buried by her dick of an ex and bitchy aunts.”
“It’s true, then,” Jim said, my eyes not leaving his after he pulled off his sunglasses. “Good God, man. Do you know that if you fuck this up as you did with Summer—”
“Don’t bring that woman into this,” I sharply cut him off. “Summer and I are over, and you know that it was for a good reason too.”
“Well, before you two were over,” Jim said firmly, “you strung that woman along and made her believe you were in love with her.”
“Summer believed what she wanted to fucking believe. If you want to take her dramatic side on this shit, fine. Know this, though: Breanne is unquestionably nothing like Summer. They are so opposite of one another that I would never have mentioned those two in the same sentence if it weren’t for you comparing them.”
“I wasn’t comparing them,” Jim countered, and then he shrugged his shoulders. “Perhaps I was. The comparison is that they’re both women with whom you were involved. You’ve stated yourself that you are incapable of giving a woman the love she deserves—any woman.”
“It all changed, I guess.”
“You guess? Jesus Christ, man.” He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. “Alex, Breanne is your goddamn partner. If you fuck this up because you wanted to get laid, I swear I’ll kick your ass.”
I shook my head. “It’s different. Bree’s different. I can’t explain it, or I would.”
“Your response is not convincing me that Monroe and I aren’t going to be dealing with a fallout in the future from the co-owners of that firm after you piss off Ms. Stone like you did Summer.”
I never aired out the dirty laundry of my messed-up relationship with Summer to anyone—unlike my ex, who told fucking everyone. I shrugged off the bad press the woman gave me, and I couldn’t blame my friends for believing her sorry-as-fuck story. Part of it was true. I led her to think I could love her, but I certainly made it known there were no guarantees I could be that man in a loving relationship. She knew that and still tried to change me. It only pissed me off and made me more closed off to the woman in the end.
I might as well clear the air with Jim because until I accepted my feelings about Bree, I suspected I’d hurt her too.
“Since I never mentioned the real issues I had with Summer, I guess it’s time to set the record straight once and for all. If I don’t, you’ll continue to believe what she’s led everyone to think, and you won’t know that my feelings are different with Breanne.”
“What really went down between you and Summer? You’re a closed book about anything personal, and you know I respect that, but I’m concerned that you’re going down the same road with your partner of all the people in the world.”
I gripped my forehead. I hated talking about personal shit. I was cool to hand out advice and listen to others, but when it came to flipping that coin, I wasn’t the man to open up. The scary part about opening yourself up, in my opinion, was that it always led to more questions, and that’s where I had to draw the line.
“Summer and I started as fuck-buddies, at least that’s how I saw it. She was hot, fun, and a means to an end for a man who wanted to get laid,” I started. “I thought she and I were on the same page after I referred to her as such, but she thought she’d captured my heart or whatever the fuck it is she’s out there still telling everyone.”
“I knew that. What I didn’t understand is why you got back together with her after she pulled the I love Alex bullshit, and you treated her like shit to move her along. Then, you both split up, and I figured my predictions had come true. My best friend had run off a damn good secretary of mine.” He laughed.
“Your predictions wouldn’t have come true if she would’ve accepted what I told her when we first started fucking around. There would never be anything more than us fucking, going on the occasional trip, and going out to dinner, and stuff like that. She was good with it until I allowed her to run away with her fantasies about our future. It all went to shit when she decided she wanted us to get serious. When I mentioned that’s not where I was allowing any of it to go, she rightfully broke things off with me and was supposed to move the fuck on.”
“Then, she got pissed you were over her and had moved on with that masseuse, and…”
“And after she saw us together, she quit as your secretary.”
“Why the hell did you get back together with her, then? Love?” he asked, taunting me with that word.
I knew what Jim was doing by this point. He was saving Bree the heartache he knew I could deliver. He was also making sure that I didn’t make his and Spencer’s lives a living hell if I fucked Bree over because I couldn’t sink my teeth into a relationship like a normal person would. The man had seen me in my darkest and wildest days, trying to maintain a relationship with his former secretary and then back to selectively using women for my pleasure. I’d also mentioned multiple times I wasn’t a man who was capable of loving women. I stood firmly on that and felt convinced about it until a switch had flipped with Breanne.
“Bottom line? I took Summer back, and as you know, she and I tried to make a run at the whole relationship thing. So much so, I trusted that bitch by putting her on two of my credit cards as an authorized user. It’s when her whole fucking personality changed. She was using my cars, spending my money, and acting like she was one of the Rodeo Drive Housewives. It was beyond ridiculous, and I couldn’t handle it anymore.”
“When Elena ripped into your ass about you both being wrong for each other in Hawaii, that probably added to your doubts.”
“That too. Although by that time, Summer and I were done. She was only there because I’d invited her when I was drunk.”
Jim chuckled. “And spouting off that you love Ms. Stone? Still drunk?”
“Now you’re just being a dick. I understand your concern. I fucked it all up with your secretary but trust me when I tell you that what I’m feeling for Breanne is as foreign to me as it is for you to try and accept. It’s real, and it’s fucking too fast, and yet, I don’t give a shit what any of you dipshits think about it. She’s a beautiful soul inside and out, and I’d be a fucking idiot to look the other direction and expect I’d screw it up with her too. I care about her too much to be the one who hurts her. I fucking love her, man.”
Jim’s expression was dark and calculating as we both sat in silence before he finally grinned.
“Did you just mutter the words beautiful soul? You? Alexander Grayson, my best friend, who doesn’t have an emotional bone in his body when it comes to women?”
“I abso-fucking-lutely did,” I softly laughed. “See, I can’t explain this shit. She’s nothing like the women I’ve dated before. While they’ve all been superficial, using me and my money for status, Bree is nothing like them. She’s got a heart of gold, and her smile is the only thing that’s ever put me at a loss for words.”
“Well, slap the pig, and spit in the fire. Alex is in love,” Jim repeated a saying we’d heard some drunk cowboys use at a bar.
The reason for Jim’s ridiculous attempt at a Southern accent was that he finally understood I had developed feelings for a woman for the first time since he’d known me.
“It’s slap the dog, dumbass. And I see we’re back to the wealthy abusing animals again,” I smiled at him, knowing responses like that got under his skin.
“Only vocally, friend. Well, shit.” He laughed in what seemed to be utter shock. “You know I’ve asked it more than once, but seriously, what happened to bring all of us these amazing women that we don’t deserve?” he asked, glancing at Avery, then back to me.
“Trust me, I know I don’t deserve Bree or anything close to the happiness I feel by being around her. It’s so fucking surreal, but for now,” I pleaded, folding my hands together, “please, for the love of God, allow Breanne and me a week before telling everyone that Alex is in love.”
“You’re no fun,” Jim said with a laugh. “Seriously, though, I hope this all works out for you. I really do. You deserve all the happiness in the world, buddy, and I don’t say that lightly.”
I blew out a breath. “Thanks. Now, let’s pray to God that Bree doesn’t transform into a snob, steal my money, and label herself as the future missus to everyone she knows.” I smirked.
“Summer pulled that shit on you?”
“Yep,” I said with disgust. “She told every last idiot she came across that I was going to propose. The worst part was that she dragged my damn cat into the middle of it with adoption shit.”
Jim coughed out a laugh. “She definitely changed after she quit working as my secretary.” He shook his head. “Fucking hell. Why didn’t you tell me any of this shit?”
“Because it sounds enough like a goddamn soap opera as it is. I think she tried to use our engagement to get into the movie industry if I remember correctly.”
“She most likely did,” he teased. “That old money name of yours moves mountains.”
My mind drifted back to Breanne’s aunt, and I wondered if Jim knew the woman. It was a rare occasion if Jim knew someone I didn’t, but it was worth a shot.
“Hey, I wonder if you know someone,” I said. “You might not, and I was too thrown off my game to ask for a last name.”
“Try me,” he said.
“Two of Breanne’s aunts were at her condo today.”
“Yeah, Av said they looked and sounded every bit of the nasty crows you made them out to be when she went off to claim Cameron as her future husband.”
“I’m curious as to who they are. Bree mentioned they play around in some exclusive circles, and one of them mentioned that she knew my grandfather, and she also said something about my mother.”
Jim frowned. “Damn, you won’t even speak your birth surname to me. How would I know Breanne’s late father or mother’s sister’s last name? Maiden names for these women, no less.”
“Right,” I chewed on my lip. “I hate to bounce on everyone, but—”
“You’re not bowing out with that fucked up death tone in your voice.”
“I have to know how that woman knew my grandfather and how she knew my mom had a stroke.”
“Well,” Jim’s eyes widened, “if you’re so in love with Breanne Stone, text her and find out.”
“I don’t want her to question my past. You know I don’t go there, and I won’t.”
“Has she questioned it yet? I mean, if you’re in love with her, don’t tell me something came up to have you push that shit down like you always do.”
“She didn’t press me for any additional information after she found out that Grayson is my adopted name.”
“So, she’s in the same mystery boat we all row in, then?”
“And you will all keep rowing,” I smiled at Jim. “Trust me, if this shit surfaces, I’ll probably go nuclear and get thrown into a mental institution when I’m confronted with it all again.”
“Painful past, strong man?” Jim said, somewhat annoyed I wasn’t giving up secrets of my shitty past. “That’s how you pulled her off your ass, right? Your go-to quote?”
“It’s not my go-to quote, fuckhead,” I smiled. “It’s the truth.”
“You’re probably in witness protection because when you were a child, you witnessed a mob hit, and you had to testify against the mafia boss, and you’ve been on the run ever since. Your real name is probably something like Pauly O’Russo, and you’re originally from Brooklyn,” Jim said, looking at me with prying eyes as if to confirm his ridiculous conspiracy theory.
“O’Russo, huh? I’m Irish and Italian at the same time?” I asked, rolling my eyes.
“You look like you could be either, so why not?” Jim said with a grin.
“Well, you caught me. Don’t tell Tony Soprano where I am, or else,” I teased.
“I knew it. If I get whacked because of you, I’m going to come back and haunt you,” Jim said with a shrug.
I rolled my eyes and laughed as I texted Bree for her aunts’ last names.
Dimples: Charlize Foster and Blaire Gandy are their married names. Morris is the maiden name. Why?
Alex: Mother’s sisters? Or married into the family? The one referred to your dad as her brother.
Dimples: She says that for the status, and she’s a bitch. They’re actually my mom’s sisters. Why, though?
Alex: Ancestry stuff. You know, making sure we’re not related.
Dimples: WTF?
Alex: Gotta get that shit out of the way if I’m in love with you today and proposing to you tomorrow.
Dimples: Oh God. Get over yourself. See you tomorrow.
I smiled at her response to the marriage joke. Shit like that would’ve had my clingy-ex texting back seven hundred heart emojis and happy-tear faces in response. I loved the fact that Bree saw through the nonsense. I also knew I’d gained her interest now, and I seriously didn’t want to bring up the past. Maybe I should just fucking let it all ride. Who gave a shit about who knew my grandfather or knew that Mom had a stroke? But fuck me to hell, that woman had a look in her eye that made me more curious about her than I could imagine she was about me.
“All good?’ Jim asked.
“Yeah. Blaire Foster and Charlize Gandy.” I looked at Jim. “Not ringing any bells on my side of the table. How about you?”
“They have maiden names? Foster and Gandy aren’t much to work with if the one knew your grandfather.”
“Morris.”
“That name isn’t connecting any dots for me either,” Jim answered.
“Fucking hell. How did that woman know who my grandfather was, but we don’t know who the fuck she is? That man hung in the same circles with your dad, Brandt’s family, Monroe, Brooks…all of them.”
“I haven’t a clue. Gandy is familiar, but I think that’s a client that you fucked over.”
“Jesus Christ,” I said. “Matthew Gandy. I saw right through his bullshit. There was no fucking way I’d let you invest in that company.”
“No shit, and that’s why the man left pissed, and his wife was held off by security in the lobby of Mitchell and Associates.”
“What the hell was the wife’s name?” I asked.
“At the time, I couldn’t give a shit, but now, that’s the million-fucking-dollar question,” Jim said. “Text Bree back and ask her.”
“You know that by doing this, I’m asking Breanne to peel me open like a fucking onion.”
“If you love this woman as you say you do, trust her to answer you, and let her in just a fucking little, man. It’s fine if you don’t confide everything into me, but I’m not your future wife.” He winked to soften the blow I knew he was about to give. “Bree needs to be aware of your past, or you might as well end it all now. Secrets suck and you know that.”
“I won’t keep secrets from her, but I know what I’m doing when it comes to delivering information about things that don’t need to be reopened.”
“Ask Breanne who the aunt’s husband is,” Jim grinned. “Stop running around with your excuses and get answers.”
Alex: Is Matthew Gandy your uncle?
Dimples: By marriage. I hate that man! Why the sudden family questions?
Alex: Curious as to why I struck a nerve with your aunt Blaire. It also looks like I’m the reason Charlize is pissed your wedding didn’t work out with that fucker.
Dimples: ???
Alex: I’m the reason she’s fucking broke
Dimples: LMFAO! No shit? When you worked at Mitchell? You didn’t buy into their business scheme, eh?
Alex: Nope. Had security take her ass out of there too.
Dimples: I think I’m more in love with you now.
Alex: Enjoy the night, Dimples. Love you
“Well, if it isn’t our sweet Alex who’s in love,” Elena said, sitting next to me and placing baby Alex in my arms. “Your Uncle Alex is in love with your godmother, little man.” She rubbed my back briskly.
Jim shrugged and laughed. “You’re the one who let it slip in front of Av.”
“Of course, you’d defend her,” I teased.
“Hey,” Elena kissed my cheek. “I told you that one day you’d find love with the right one. Look at this softer, lighter Alex that you’ve become. You’ve lost your mind if you think we’re all blind and can’t see this cheeky little grin.” She pinched my cheek. “I’m so happy for you. Now, take your little namesake, and let’s bring this party inside. I’m starving, and he’s waking up soon to eat too.”
“Should we let Alex feed him?” Jim laughed after Addison, his oldest child, ran up to him.
“Let’s not freak him out too soon,” Elena said, then she gripped my shoulder. “It had to be baby Alex who brought you both together. See? I was right about that too. I told you to marry her, and you will.” She gave me her usual wink and met Collin’s tall frame with a tight hug.
“What is Alex all smiles about?” Collin asked, eyeing me.
“Dead giveaway, man. The always firm and unwavering one is now smiling like a little girl who just got a pony? You’re fucked.” Jim laughed and stood.
He wasn’t wrong about that. I was going to hear shit about this too, but what the hell. If I were in love, I’d better face the music and own that shit like I felt it. If I didn’t, I’d be sitting and getting questioned all night, and I just got done with my interview with Jim, so I wasn’t about to do that shit again.
It was time for drinks anyway, and I could use a stiff one.
