Page 33 of Betrayal of a Billionaire

“Hey, Dad,” Ethan’s voice said from across the room.

Grant glanced at the door, his heart sinking again. The older man clapped Ethan on the shoulder before he kissed Alicia on the cheek.

The woman squeezed his shoulder before she strode toward their table.

“Oh, joy, your sister is back,” Grant said.

“Oh, hey there. Nice little family outing? I guess you booked the tour on the Crystal Echo, huh?” She clapped her sister on the back. “Of all the sea captains in all the seaside towns, huh, Juju?”

Julia ignored her remark. “Busy day policing garden gnome heights, Ally?”

“Not too bad, why?”

“Well, you couldn’t answer your texts.”

“Didn’t I? Oops,” her sister said as she pulled up a chair and stuck it between Julia and Grant. “Well, I’m glad I caught you. You know, I’ve had some time to think about things, and I think we got off on the wrong foot.”

Grant stared down at Alicia’s hand as she grabbed hold of his arm. “I’d like to get to know you all better. Do you have plans for lunch tomorrow?”

“Ally, I think it’s best if–”

“I won’t take no for an answer. How is Lakeside Lawn at noon?”

The expression on Julia’s face looked torn. Despite his intense dislike for all things Harbor Cove at the moment, he didn’t want her hurt. And he didn’t want to give her a reason to hate him. So, he’d try to make some strides with her sister. “That’s a very kind offer. We’d love to.”

“We would?” Julia asked.

“Fine, that place was on my list,” Sierra said.

Alicia picked up the glass in front of Julia. “Marina Mist? I see Luke remembered.”

“Hey, Ally,” Luke said as he approached behind her, squeezing her shoulder. “You want your to-go here instead?”

Ethan wandered over after his father left and kissed Julia on the cheek. “Hey, Juju.”

“You want to eat here, Ethan?” Alicia asked.

“Why not? Oh, unless you folks mind?” Ethan asked as he tugged a chair closer and slid it between Kyle and Julia.

Alicia tilted her head, staring at Grant. “You don’t mind, do you, Grant?”

Her passive-aggressive tone and the challenge in her eyes made his jaw clench. He wanted to call the pilot and tell him to prep the jet. His first instinct told him to whisk Julia away from this before it cost him their relationship. But instead, he forced himself to shake his head. He wouldn’t give in to her game and feed her image of him as controlling. Nor would he ruin this moment for Julia. “Of course not.”

Julia chewed her lower lip as she sat between her family. Their placement of seats made it obvious they were boxing out her new family, like two wolves protecting their pup.

Ethan slid an arm around her shoulders with a grin. “I dropped your Jeep by the house earlier. I figured you may want it for an early morning hike or something.”

“Thanks, Ethan,” she said as he dangled the keys in front of her.

Luke delivered two beers to the Whitmores, along with their meals. As the restaurant filled, it became clear how small a town Harbor Cove was. Almost everyone knew Julia, her sister, and her brother-in-law.

The dim, warm lighting of the Hungry Pelican cast long shadows, making the meal surreal. The chatter of other patrons faded into a low hum, a contrast to the tension at their table.

And almost everyone stared at Grant and his family as though they’d come straight from the ninth ring of Hell,complete with horns and tails. Julia had not been joking when she said they’d not be accepted.

Alicia shoved her empty dinner plate away before she took another sip of her beer. “So, what do you think, Juju? Has the old place changed?”

“Not much,” Julia admitted.