Page 73 of Betrayal of a Billionaire

“No,” Grant said with a shake of his head. The last thing he wanted was Kyle to greet her. “Let’s go.”

They left the police station behind and climbed into the car. Grant’s muscles tensed as they approached the dock. He climbed from the car, offering a nod to Alicia who leaned against a police cruiser. She motioned toward a sailboat in the distance. “That’s the Julia coming back.”

Ethan’s Bronco pulled up a few moments later.

Grant wasn’t certain what he preferred. Did he want her to be on the boat with Luke and safe? Or did he want her to be somewhere unknown just as long as she wasn’t with her ex?

He held his breath as the boat slid closer and closer until it approached the dock. His heart sank when he spotted Julia’s form, securing a downed sail.

Luke leapt to the dock and secured the boat.

“Good morning, Juju. Your husband’s a little concerned,” Ally said.

“I’m sorry,” she answered as she climbed to the dock with Luke’s help. “We fell asleep.”

She’d been out all night. They’d fallen asleep on the boat. Likely after reconnecting following the conversation he’d interrupted.

His stomach twisted into knots as she approached. His head pounded as disappointment and even anger brewed inside of him. She’d betrayed him.

“Told you we should have done something,” Kyle whispered.

The comment made him clench his fists.

“No worries, Juju,” Alicia said. “But your husband seemed…concerned. I figured you were out with Luke. Midnight sail?”

“Yes,” she answered, flicking him a gaze filled with guilt.

“We’ve been worried. I think we need to talk,” he said, his voice gruffer than he’d expected from the rawness of his nerves and the hangover.

She offered a nod as he reached for her, the motion harder than he’d hoped.

“Whoa,” Ethan and Alicia said, positioning themselves between him and Julia.

“Oh, come on,” Grant said with a shake of his head. “You can’t be serious?”

“I am. You seem…angry. I’m not willing to let my sister go with you right now.”

“Ally, it’s fine,” Julia said. “We do need to talk.”

Her sister slid her eyebrows up. “Call me if you need anything.”

She nodded as she offered her sister a hug. She offered Luke a soft smile. He waved, a slight smile on his lips.

The scene turned Grant’s stomach. She wanted to talk, too. This couldn’t be good. They remained silent on the ride home, but Julia’s tension was obvious. She avoided his gaze, her fingers in fists as she chewed her lower lip.

He hated every minute of this. As they strode into the house, he couldn’t hold back anymore. “What the hell happened, Julia?”

“We went sailing…and…” Her voice trailed off as she crossed into the kitchen.

“You couldn’t leave a note?” His voice was sharp, though he struggled to stop it from wavering and betraying the turmoil roiling inside him.

“I didn’t think we’d be this late,” she said with a shrug as she defended her actions. “I didn’t think anyone would miss me. I thought I’d be back before anyone was awake.”

His features scrunched at her words. “Oh, right, so you figured you’d just hide it. Nice.”

“That’s not exactly what I said,” she answered, heat entering her voice.

“So, what are you saying, Julia? That you didn’t sneak out of the house last night for a romantic sail with your ex-fiancé?”