Page 51 of Betrayal of a Billionaire

Grant could hear the disdain in her voice. “No, I…had a good reason that my sense of direction was impaired that night. Normally, I could have found my way back.”

“I doubt that, Grant. You’re not very good at outdoor things,” Lydia called over her shoulder.

“That’s not true. I…am…”

Ethan slid his gaze sideways. “What impaired you?”

“Drunk?” Alicia asked. “Drugs?”

“No,” Grant said through clenched teeth.

“Then what?”

“It’s not important,” Julia answered, patting his arm.

“I’m just curious as to what could have impaired his judgment that much,” Alicia said.

“I had just found out Sierra was sleeping with my driver, James. I was a little upset.”

“SIERRA IS SLEEPING WITH JAMES?” Lydia shrieked, eyes wide as she stared at them.

“Get over yourself, Mom,” Sierra said with a roll of her eyes. “Everyone knows and is fine with it.”

Lydia glared at Julia. “Why aren’t you doing something about this?”

Julia screwed up her face. “What would I do about it? James is a nice guy.”

“You imbecile,” Lydia said with clenched fists.

A number of people in the group leapt to Julia’s defense.

Lydia offered the group an unimpressed stare before she spun on a heel and stormed ahead. “Morons!”

Grant watched her as she stormed away, a nagging question in his mind. What drove her to such extremes? Was it mere spite, or a deeper, more tangled web of emotions and past grievances? “Maybe she’ll get lost.”

“Please. Then we’d just have to send Search and Rescue for her,” Alicia said before she grabbed Julia’s hand and tugged her away from Grant.

She looped an arm around her sister’s waist as they strolled, leaning their heads together.

The corners of Grant’s lips curled as he watched them walk together. Even with the turmoil, he was pleased to see Julia reconnect with the sister he knew she missed.

Maybe this would help ease her nerves and make his offer more attractive when he made it. His eyes centered on Luke as he walked next to Julia, grinning as he said something to her and pointed.

The smile faded quickly from his features. Everywhere she looked, she probably had memories of time spent with the man. He detested that. The only memories she’d have of him in her hometown would be awful.

An arm slid around his waist, pulling his attention away from Luke. He found Sierra pressing closer to him. He smiled down at her as he wrapped his arm around her. “Hi, baby.”

She didn’t answer him.

“You having fun?”

She heaved a sigh, her features pinching. “No.”

“Aw, why not? Don’t like hiking?”

She glanced up at him, pain in her eyes. “Daddy, I’m sorry.”

Grant screwed up his face as he squeezed her shoulder. “For what, Sierra?”