Page 22 of Betrayal of a Billionaire

His mind whirled as he wondered if it would affect them. In particular, the weight of the ring in his pocket reminded him ofhis plans. Would she be less likely to accept when her sister was so hostile toward him?

She offered him a fleeting smile. “Right. Okay. Well, I guess at least we’re heading out of town today. Sierra made a smart choice booking a tour that’ll take us away from the dozens of people we’d likely run into if we stayed around town.”

“And you don’t want to explain our relationship to them…”

“It’s not that,” she said, flicking her eyes to the floor.

“What is it?”

“If you think they’re going to take any more kindly to this than Ally did, you’re wrong. You’re an outsider. They won’t like you.”

Grant screwed up his face. “Really?”

“And…” For the first time since they’d arrived, her features took on a playful look. He’d missed that side of her. “You’re from the city.”

He smiled at her. “You’re joking.”

She shook her head. “I’m not. City folk are not appreciated in Harbor Cove. Same with tourists. You are both. And they think you stole one of their own.”

He sobered for a moment as his lips tugged back in a wince. “I’m the most hated man in this town.”

“You hit the triumvirate. And the police don’t like you either.” She offered him a tentative grin.

The corner of his lips curled as he shook his head. “Julia, I’m sorry about this.”

“Don’t be,” she said with a slight shrug. “You had no idea. And at least now I don’t have to keep lying to my sister.”

He studied her for a moment, relieved to see some of her old self returning. He hated it when she withdrew from him, taking all her problems onto herself. He wanted to solve them with her. Maybe once he told her how he felt. He slid his hand into hispocket, his fingers tightening around the velvet box. “Julia, I’ve been meaning to–"

The shrill ring of his cell phone interrupted the moment. “Sorry,” he whispered as he dropped the ring box and pulled his phone out instead. His chest tightened even more than it had when he’d prepared to tell her everything. “It’s Lydia.”

“You’d better take it,” she said.

With a shake of his head, he swiped to accept the call. “What?”

“Where are you? Where is everyone? Where is Worthington? I have been sitting here for over half an hour waiting for my morning martini. I emerge from my room to find the house empty. Literally empty, Grant. Where are you?”

“We’re not home. That’s all you need to know.”

“Why? What is happening thatno oneis home? Not you, not Little Miss Perfect, not Sierra, not even the weird one, Casey.”

“Kyle,” Grant corrected.

“Whatever,” Lydia hissed. “No one is here. Why is Worthington not here?”

Grant heaved a sigh at his ex-wife’s badgering. “We are on vacation. Sierra thought we needed a little break as a family. And she planned the whole thing. We’ll be gone for a little over a week. Enjoy the quietness of the house.”

She clicked her tongue before silence stretched. “A family vacation? Why wasn’t I invited?”

“You’d have to ask Sierra. No wait, don’t do that. Leave her alone to enjoy the trip.”

“Grant, this is outrageous. You took Dr. Strangelove before you asked me? I am crushed.”

“Sorry to have ruined your day. Look, I’ve got to get going. We’re due to leave in a few minutes, and Sierra will not be happy if we’re late. Just…take the time to relax while you don’t have to deal with all of us, okay? You might enjoy it.”

“Grant! This cannot stand. I won’t have it. Where are you? I demand to know where–“

He jabbed at the end call button and glanced up at Julia. “Oops, call dropped.”