Page 124 of Betrayal of a Billionaire

Kyle flicked his eyebrows up. “Definitely not the truth.”

“Why is your first instinct always to lie?”

“Like yours isn’t, Dad.”

“No, it’s not. I don’t, in general, lie first.”

“Oh, right. That’s right. Youdidn’tinvite hundreds of people to your house sixteen months ago and declare your undying love to a woman you contracted to be your wife. That must have been a different Grant Harrington.”

“I am not amused. And I’m being serious. How am I going to tell her I didn’t even see Julia?”

“I wouldn’t recommend that unless you want Sierra to have an epic freak-out the likes of which this hospital has never seen before.”

Grant closed his eyes and shook his head. The hospital corridor echoed with the sterile clinks and distant murmurs, a stark contrast to the turmoil raging with Grant. The clinical white walls seemed to close in on him, each step toward Sierra’s room now felt heavier than the last. “You’re right. If I tell her we haven’t seen her, she’s going to have a meltdown.”

“And then some. Believe me, my urge to lie in this case is spot on.”

Grant blew out a long breath as he slowed to a stop. “I hope I can do this.”

“Says the man who has spent sixteen months–”

“Don’t,” Grant said with a wave of his finger.

“Just…tell her that Julia’s fine and now she’s resting. Oh, tell her she’s been sedated and that’s why you’re not there. Simple.”

Grant sucked in a deep breath as he planned his lie to his daughter about the wife he worried he’d never see again. “Fine. Let’s go.”

Grant led them back to Sierra’s room. His daughter drummed her fingers against the bed as she waited. “Oh, there you are. Do you know how boring life is without your phone? I have been sitting here for…I don’t know how long because I can’t see the time on my phone.”

“I’m sorry, honey, we came back as quickly as we could.”

“Why?”

Grant furrowed his brow. “Didn’t you just say you were bored and hoping we’d be back soon?”

“Yes, but you should be holding Julia’s hand, not mine.” She flicked her gaze to Kyle. “Well, not you. You should be…somewhere else. Anywhere else. Waiting room. House. The moon.”

Kyle heaved a sigh as he sank into a chair in the room.

“Although,” Sierra said as she stared at Kyle, “why are you here? Why are you not holding Julia’s hand and…ogling her?”

“Actually, she’s been sedated,” Grant said. “So, no one is…ogling her.”

“How do you know? You should be down there making sure! You never know when that…whatever his name is with the sexy scruff and the–”

“Please, Sierra,” Grant said, clenching his fists.

“Whoa,” Sierra said, arching an eyebrow. “What’s with you? Ohhhh, sexy scruff was already there.”

Grant clenched his jaw as the image of Luke kissing her before she went over the cliff danced in his brain. Alicia’s words about never seeing Julia again rang through his mind. How would he explain this to his daughter?

Kyle was right not to tell her now, but she’d have to know soon. They were slated to go home in two days. What would he say when they got on that plane without Julia?

“Why don’t you try to get some sleep, Sierra?”

“Is Luke with Julia? If he is, why aren’t you there? Or you?” He poked a finger at Kyle. “Theonetime we need you to do something crazy, you’re sitting here like the sanest person on the planet.”

Kyle shot her an unimpressed look. “She’s asleep. No one is doing anything to her.”