“I’ll never surrender. And I don’t mean a foot race. I’ll race you down the banister. You take one side, I’ll take the other.” I’d been dying to slide down that banister since I’d first seen it. This was the perfect opportunity. I was a banister-sliding expert. If anyone knew grand stairways, it was me. My father’s home had three.
Grayson laughed again. “You must be joking.”
I raised both brows in answer.
“No, of course you’re not joking. This is ridiculous, you do know that, right?” But he began walking toward the staircase. It appeared he wanted what he wanted and was prepared to fight for it. I followed, and when we’d made it to the top, he moved to the right and I moved to the left. I positioned my butt up on the dark polished wood.
“I can’t even believe I’m doing this,” Grayson muttered, positioning himself on the other rail.
“If you’re nervous, I’ll give you a head start,” I said.
He grinned back devilishly. “No need, witch, let’s do this.”
I wiggled my butt on the rail, settling into place. “On your mark, get set, go!” I squealed as we both took off, sliding quickly down the smooth wood. I balanced precariously, shrieking when I almost tipped off the side but righted myself before I fell. I heard Grayson’s deep laugh next to me but didn’t dare look over at him. Gathering speed faster than I thought I would, the end came quickly, and I went flying forward into empty air, unable to land on my feet and instead catching myself on my hands as I hit the hard marble floor. I felt briefly winded and thought I heard the door open and close in front of me but couldn’t help breaking into peals of giggles when I heard Grayson’s deep laughter from next to me and looked over to see him sprawled on the floor as well. I was pretty sure I’d hit the floor first. Winner!
We both lay there for a moment catching our breath, our laughter fading. I glanced up and realized there were four pairs of shoes standing in front of us and when I raised my head, I saw Walter, one brow raised. Next to him, Charlotte gaped at me, and then moved her eyes to gape at Grayson.
I began standing slowly, the laughter fading entirely as I noticed the equally shocked looks on the faces of the tall, handsome blond man and the stunning blond woman standing next to Walter.
The blond man suddenly broke into a big grin and startled chuckling.
“Hi,” I breathed, coming to my full height and taking a step forward. I held out my hand. “I’m—”
“Shane,” Grayson said, his voice strangely clipped. “Vanessa.”
I swung my gaze to him and saw his expression was very suddenly without humor and instead coldly removed. “What in the hell are you two doing here?”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Kira
Oh my God. Shane: Grayson’s brother. Vanessa: the woman he’d been about to propose to before he’d been sent to prison. Now his brother’s wife. Here. In the flesh. I pulled in a deep breath and then smoothed my hands down my hips and tried my best to look cool, calm, and collected. Or at least as cool, calm, and collected as a person could look after having just removed herself from a sprawled position on the floor after flying off a banister.
“Is this her?” Shane asked, apparently ignoring Grayson and instead looking at me. I wasn’t sure exactly what to make of his question, but the look on his face was decidedly excited, so I smiled and held out my hand again.
“I’m Kira Dallaire,” I said.
“Hawthorn now, isn’t it?” Shane gave me an open, boyish smile and took my hand in his.
I glanced at Grayson, whose expression was still shuttered. I remembered this version of my husband. It was the one I didn’t prefer. “Um, right. Hawthorn. Well, yes.” I cleared my throat. “I keep forgetting,” I murmured.
“That’s understandable. It’s still new, right?” Shane said.
“Right…” I whispered. New and…over soon.
The tall, striking blond smiled warmly at me and stepped forward, grasping my hand in both of hers once I’d let go of Shane’s. God, she really was gorgeous—Grace Kelly’s even more beautiful sister.
Shane looked at Grayson. “When Charlotte told us the news, you can imagine our shock. But we hoped it meant—”
“That you’d be welcome in my home?” Grayson asked icily. “You were wrong. You can turn around and leave again.”
“Gray!” Charlotte scolded. “They came all this way to see you and to meet Kira.”
“You manipulated this, Charlotte,” Grayson said, his livid stare resting on her.
“Grayson,” I whispered, feeling awkward in the middle of this frigid family reunion. “Maybe I should…”
He swung his eyes to me, pausing momentarily. “I won,” he said, and for a minute I had no earthly idea what he was referring to. Then I realized he was talking about our race down the banister. I would have argued with him—for he certainly had not—but I thought what he really might mean is that I had no choice but to stay in the house now if we weren’t going to raise suspicion with his brother and sister-in-law—his ex-girlfriend, nearly fiancée. Good Lord. That was if he was going to allow them to stay. And if he was going to make it look as if we had a real marriage. My heart was beating a mile a minute and I had this instinct to bolt. Instead, I just nodded.
Walter cleared his throat. “I believe I’ll excuse myself.” Can I come with you?
“I’ll just”—I nodded toward my suitcase and Grayson’s overnight bag still sitting by the door—“take these upstairs and let you all talk.” I felt severely self-conscious and on display as I moved to pick up the bags. The foyer went utterly silent except for the sound of my clacking shoes. My face felt hot as I turned at the foot of the stairs. “So I’ll just, then”—I cleared my throat—“see you at dinner.” I looked around, but Grayson wasn’t looking at me. He was staring at Vanessa with an expression on his face I’d never seen before. He didn’t answer, didn’t even tear his eyes from Vanessa long enough to acknowledge me. My stomach cramped.
I heard Sugar Pie’s nails clicking on the stone floor and she appeared around the corner, halting, her eyes moving between us. She gave a small chuff and dropped her head. “Here, Sugar,” I said quietly and she trotted toward me.
“Nice to meet you, Kira,” Shane said, giving me a sympathetic look. Did Grayson still love Vanessa? Charlotte nodded at me, wringing her hands at her stomach. Why had she pushed me toward Grayson if that was the case? Vanessa gave me a small half smile, her eyes darting to Grayson and quickly back to me, her cheeks pink. She loves him too? Oh God. It was all too much. I didn’t want to be in the middle of this. You’re not, Kira. You’re a temporary distraction, nothing more.
I turned and hurried up the staircase and into the room I’d stayed in when I was sick, Sugar Pie on my heels. I tossed my suitcase and Grayson’s bag down and leaned against the closed door long enough to catch my breath.
What was wrong with me? A few kisses, a few personal revelations, and you thought Grayson was, what? Your friend? Your true husband? I felt like a total fool. The way he had looked at that woman downstairs was…not how he had ever looked at me. She was married to his brother… It wasn’t like he could ever have her again. But God, just the fact that he still wanted her hurt. And I hate it. Hate it.