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“There’s more than one?” I asked, stunned.

“Oh, Zachary. Yes, there are many. How can...? Never mind.” She lowered her eyes to the donut.

“Listen, we should talk about the ranch. I didn’t bring it up because...” I ran a head through my hair. “It didn’t seem to be going anywhere considering Gaston didn’t contact either of us. I figured we’d talk when he got in touch.”

Grace nodded. “Look, I’m not even sure why I’m upset.”

Fucking hell, she’s upset?I’d thought she might be confused at best, not upset.

“But you outbid me, so it’s fair that he chose you as an investor,” she continued.

“Wait a second. What do you mean, I outbid you? I asked Gaston today about you, and he just said you’re not in the running.”

“Yes...becauseyou outbid me.”

I just stared at her.

“Let me pause this,” she said, walking into the living room.

I took off my shoes and followed her. Something wasn’t right here.

“I don’t even know what your bid was, so how could I outbid you?”

After pausing, Grace glanced at me sideways. “You told Gaston that no matter what I offered, you’d outbid me. Which is fair, but—” She sighed. “I wish you’d told me sooner. Then I wouldn’t have gotten my hopes up.”

I blinked rapidly. “Grace, I told him that a million years ago when I first talked to him. I completely forgot. I wouldn’t just outright ask him now how much you’re bidding so I could purposefully offer more—not without talking to you, anyway.”

“Oh.” She’d taken out the second donut but put it back down and placed the bag on her coffee table. “Right. Okay. Sorry. I assumed... Well, never mind.”

“Tell me what you assumed.” I was panicking now. I wanted to make this right.

I cupped her face with both hands, and something changed in her body language. She seemed less closed off than when I’d first stepped in.

“I jumped to conclusions.” She winced and added, “I felt betrayed.”

“And I didn’t even pick up on that. I truly am running on too little sleep! But that’s no excuse. I wouldn’t do something to one-up you. Why would you think that?”

She broke eye contact, looking down at her hands. She seemed to shrink in front of me.

“Because of him?” I asked softly.

Grace shook her head, looking back up. “No, I think it’s time I stopped blaming everything on him. I’m obviously not healed even though I’ve tried hard. Apparently not hard enough.”She frowned, closing her eyes. She seemed to be having this conversation more with herself. “I can’t believe I didn’t just ask you what was going on. I preferred to hole up in here by myself.”

“Grace, you don’t have to be so hard on yourself. Babe...” I caressed her cheeks in small strokes, and she opened her eyes again.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“For what?”

“Today.”

“Grace, listen to me. We all interpret things incorrectly or misconstrue them. Just know I would never do anything to hurt you.”

“But this is different, and you know it. I carry more baggage than I thought.”

“So? Who cares? I love you, Grace. We’re on this journey together.”

Her eyes instantly softened. I felt the tension in her entire body ease even though I was only touching her face. I wanted to look down and double-check if her hands were relaxed by her side, but I didn’t trust myself to glance downward. Even in the midst of a serious conversation, Grace’s gorgeous body could totally throw me off my game.