She hadn’t even had a chance to tell him about her findings.
A screen door slammed.
A shout went out, followed by another—two different voices.
Grace sat up. She was too young to feel such achiness, so she pushed through it. Her feet hit the floor and she pulled on a robe while stifling a yawn. Then she padded over to the window that provided a slim view of the stairs that led to the sand and beyond.
She blinked and pressed her nose against the wavy glass.
Chase?
And Jake?
She pulled on a T-shirt and yoga pants. Then she coiled her hair up on her head, fastening it with a hair tie, and dashed a look in the mirror. That would have to do.
With a slight burst of energy, Grace hurried down the hall with Zeke yelping and drooling at her heels.
Outside, she leaned on the railing of the tiny back deck, marveling. Chase and her brother were spinning a disc at each other … like children. Smiles big. Whoops going out. Hard landings in soft sand.
What in the world?
What had transpired to suddenly make them … allies?
“Duck!”
Grace lurched backwards at the sight of a flying disc spinning straight toward her head. Unfortunately, Zeke was parked right behind her and she stepped on him, pulling back sharply so she wouldn’t hurt him.
The dog yelped and Grace went flying—backwards. She let out a scream and landed on her bum. Hard.
Before she could recapture her breath, Chase was on the floor of the deck, next to her.
He searched her face with earnest eyes. “Are you okay?”
That breath she’d lost? Yeah, she hadn’t quite caught it yet.
She nodded.
“You always were a dork,” her brother said.
Grace glared at Jake, though it was a rather fake glare. Would saying I know you are but what am I? be too cliché?
Jake threw his head back, laughing. Then he picked up the disc and whistled for Zeke. “C’mon, monster. You and I need to avert our eyes.”
Zeke bounded down the steps, apparently able to switch loyalties in an instant.
Chase put his palm on the back of her head and gently released her hair from its scrunchie. He continued to watch her with serious eyes. “You sure you’re okay?”
She managed a small smile. “Just embarrassed.”
He helped her up, saying, “Are you kidding? That disc could’ve done some damage. I’m glad you didn’t take it in that beautiful face.”
They were toe-to-toe now. While Grace was regretting her decision to practically roll out of bed and come outside, Chase kissed her.
“Good morning,” he whispered, revealing the charm of crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes. Then he kissed her again, taking his time with this one.
A satisfied little sigh rolled out of her on its own volition.
Chase stepped back, a smile still on his face. He reached a hand out to her. “Walk with me? We can stop at that bakery you like and get some coffee to revive you.”
She pursed her lips, twisting a look his way. She glanced at his hand and took it without comment.
The tide was out, providing them with level, wet sand to walk along.
“So … what broke the ice between you and Jake?”
Chase shrugged and looked out to sea. “Oh, I don’t know. I think he just realized that I’m not the man he’d conjured up in his head.”
“Oh, yeah? And who was that?”
He swung a look at her. “A cad. A playboy. Some guy who didn’t have his sister’s best interest in mind.”
She stopped. “And you do?”
He took both of her hands and pulled her around until they faced each other. “Yes.”
“I see.”
He grinned, then his expression turned sober. He dropped his gaze and then looked up. “I’m not going to fight Kate for the clients.”
“Excuse me?”
“She can have them.”
She searched his face. “But why?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Wait. What is it?”
He gave his head a slight shake, his smile sad. “I didn’t tell you this, but it was Kate who discovered that we weren’t legally married. I confirmed it with Judge Cape.”
“So … ?”
“So she’s threatening to go to Peter with a sordid spin on our union. I can’t let her do that to you, Grace.” His jaw visibly tightened. “I won’t.”
“You can’t let Peter go! He’s been your father’s client for—what?—thirty years?”
“Sshh.” He cupped her shoulders, cinching her closer. “Maybe I’d like to start something new,” he said, leaning his forehead against hers, “with you.”
“I’d like that.”
“Then it’s all settled.”
She closed her eyes and breathed him in, trying to focus on the levity of his decision while not succumbing completely, body and soul, to his embrace.
“Chase,” she whispered, “no way. You have to fight. I’m in this with you.”
“That’s great to know, Grace. It is. But I already called her this morning.” He inhaled, pulling her closer still. “I’ll be meeting her this week to hand over the file.”
Without pulling away, Grace snapped a look up at him. “Well, then, maybe you’ll just have to hand her something else entirely.”
Chase frowned. “I don’t understand.”
Grace wrapped her arms around him, raised up on her tiptoes, and kissed his neck, lingering in the warmth. “Chase, I have a surprise for you.”
Chase had known that Grace was smart. But devious? That had surprised him.
After they’d stopped for coffee and scones at the bakery, he left her at the beach house to think about what she’d done.
A grin that he was unable to contain spread across his face. When he told Grace he was giving everything up for her, she’d balked. She’d urged him not to. And then she showed him something she’d been working on—for him.
What a fighter.
He drove his SUV down the tree-lined road that ended at a condominium complex on the west side. Parking wasn’t going to be easy—never was around here. He pulled a U-turn mid-block, just as a spot opened up.
He didn’t want to be here, but then again, Grace’s little secret had made the whole experience more … palatable.
Chase knocked on the door, and characteristically, Kate made him wait a full minute before answering.
“Come in.”
“Hello to you, too,” he said.
Kate clucked her tongue. “There’s coffee, if you want it.” She turned. “Is that hospitable enough for you?”
“I take mine with cream, not sugar. Of course, you already know that.”
“If you want anything else you’re going to have to have it delivered.” Then she poured him a cup and slid it across the counter toward him. It tasted bitter.
“So,” she said, eyeing the slim folder in his arms, “you’re not going to try to tell me that file contains all of Mayer’s documents.”
“No, I’m not.”
“I figured as much. There must be a horde of boxes in the storeroom, though why you never had them scanned and put on a flash drive years ago is beyond irresponsible.”
“Worked for my father all those years.”
“Hmm.”
“By the way, Judith hired an outside firm to do a detailed analysis of our billing invoices. No one was overcharged.” He paused. “But you knew that.”
She shrugged. “What’s done is done now.”
“As in, the damage you’ve done.”
“Whatever.”
He looked at her, more thoughtfully now. Kate had always been a beauty to him, but today he noted the deep crevice between her eyes, the tautness of her lips as they stretched into a thin line … the way she drummed her fingers impatiently on her kitchen counter.
She flashed a look at the file folder he carried. “So what is that? Your audit?” She
laughed as she said it.
He shook his head grimly. Then slid the file toward her.
She snatched it up, pursed her lips, and flipped it open, her expression moving from studious to severe. Her eyes flashed at him. “What is this?”
His flashed back. “It’s self-explanatory.”
She smacked the file back onto the counter. “It’s blackmail.”
“It’s the truth.”
“It was a joke!”
“I don’t think Peter Mayer would find seeing you in a dominatrix getup very funny.”
“You know very well that this was one of my dance routines!”
He chuckled. “Oh, so that’s what we’re calling it now.”
“It was all in fun, Chase. The other dance students will testify to that.”
“Somehow I don’t think Mayer will care. Even the perception that his attorney is associated with such tawdriness will dissuade him, I’m sure.”
Kate set her jaw, her eyes ablaze. “What do you want?”
“I want you to keep your findings about my marriage to Grace to yourself.” He didn’t have to add that, otherwise, he stood to lose everything … even though he knew he was about to gain so much.
“And if I do?”
“I won’t share my findings with my billionaire client.”
“You mean, my billionaire client.”
“If Peter decides to go with your firm, I won’t try to stop him.”
The tension in her expression softened some, though the finger tapping continued. “I can make that work.”
He could tell that the fight had left her. Compromise was not her strength, but she knew that without it, she’d not get her way.
And she hated that.
Grace had packed up most of her things the night before. She glanced out the picture window, taking in the gleam of satiny waves. The sun would be setting soon, and so the nightly appearance of locals had begun.
Chase had been gone all week, but he’d promised to return for one last call with her siblings. Considering how poorly the last one had ended, she wasn’t looking forward to it.
Then again, Chase and Jake had forged some kind of weird guy bond. She shook her head, unable to stop smiling at the thought of them tossing a Frisbee on the beach like, well, like brothers.
The phone rang and she dove for it, nearly tripping over Zeke again. Hopefully nobody saw that … “Hello?”
“Yes, hello. This is Lillian Madsen calling Madsen Realty and Investments. May I speak with Ms. Morelli?”
Grace shut her eyes. A Realtor. She remembered the woman the moment she’d said her full name. Grace had been so wound up about seeing Chase, that she had not checked Caller I.D. “This is she.”
“Wonderful! I remember when your family would summer here in Colibri Beach. Delightful couple. Please accept my condolences.”
“Yes. Of course. Thank you.”
“Now, I would like to visit with you soon to talk about your plans for the beach house. Would tomorrow at one o’clock in the afternoon fit your schedule?”
The front door opened and she spun around.
“I’m here,” Chase said.
“You’re here!”
Lillian interrupted her. “Excuse me? I’m not there, but I could be—”
Grace turned back to the phone, shaking her head. “No. I’m sorry, Lillian, but you’ll have to excuse me.”
“But it is imperative—”
“Goodbye now.” Grace hung up and turned her attention to Chase, who stepped across the room, eyes on her, and kissed her swiftly.
She inhaled him. “You smell good.”
“I’ll have to remember to shower every day then,” he said, a tease in his voice. Zeke yapped and danced at his feet until he bent down and gave the pup a proper rubdown.
He stood up again and Grace gave him a tentative smile. “So.”
“So?”
“You said you had some news?”
“The news is I’m inundated with business and I don’t see an end in sight.”
“Really? Oh, I’m so happy for you!” She hugged him quickly. “So I guess this means that the loss of those big clients to Kate hasn’t hurt you.”
He grinned. “I haven’t lost any clients to Kate.”
“Wait. What?”
“Peter decided to keep his corporation with me.”
She squealed, then threw her arms around his neck and hugged him, tighter this time.
He laughed. “Guess I forgot to mention that.”
She rolled her eyes. “You think?”
Chase looped an arm around her waist. “It’s been an amazing week, Grace. First, Mayer stays, and once that news spread, it created a domino effect. Former clients have been calling all week, wanting to reinstate me as their attorney. Several mentioned that they took a close look at their invoices and realized that Kate had been blowing smoke.” He chuckled. “And one said, ‘If that goody two-shoes Mayer trusts you, then so do I!’”
“Wow, this is all so amazing, Chase. Congratulations.”
“Couldn’t have done it without you,” he said, his voice husky.
She smiled up at him. “Yeah?”
“She backed down—way down—after seeing the photo you’d found.” He chuckled when he said it.
A text dinged her phone. Reluctantly, she pulled her gaze from Chase and checked the screen. “Oh! It’s Maggie.” She broke away from him and jogged over to her computer, which was set up on the kitchen table next to her computer bag. She threw a glance over her shoulder. “You had me so distracted that I’m late for our call.”
Chase shrank back. “Me?”
She laughed and swatted the air between them. “Get over here.”
Maggie was the first to show, then Lacy, followed by Bella, and then Jake.
“I think we should set some ground rules for these calls,” Maggie said.
“Oh, p-shaw,” Lacy said, a mimosa in her hand. “Last week’s was the most fun I’ve had with my family in years.”
Bella cracked up at this.
Grace cut in. “I don’t think we need any ground rules. Last week’s call was weird, I’ll grant you that. We were exhausted from dealing with Wren and the fire and, you know, all the stuff.”
Jake chortled. “Yeah, I know about the ‘stuff.’” He air quoted the word.
Grace glared at him, but it was playful this time.
Maggie interrupted. “How is Wren, by the way?”
“She’s been moved to a rehab facility, but from what I understand, she should be fine. Can’t get back into the house for a long while, though. Not until repairs are made.”
Bella frowned. “Poor Wren. Is there anyone who can help her?”
Lacy gaped at Jake, but he looked away.
Grace continued, “I talked to Wren. She says her daughter, who’s a world traveler, is coming to see her, so my guess is that she’ll take over.”
Jake frowned. “I don’t remember her having a daughter.”
“I remember her,” Bella said.
“Glad to hear it,” Maggie said. “Good to know Wren won’t be alone to navigate the permitting process at the city. Dad always complained about how ignorant those people were.”
“Ha. Dad was right,” Lacy said.
Jake, who’d had his share of dealing with planning issues, managed to keep quiet through the back-and-forth. Grace’s mind wandered to when they were teens and she’d watched her father and Jake argue.
“Surprised to see you on this call, Chase,” Lacy said, “especially since you’re not exactly a member of this family anymore.”
“I’d like to be.”
All eyes turned to him.
Grace tilted her head, her mind muddled with the chaos of her musings mixed with her siblings’ constant questions. “Would like to be what?”
He grinned. Her siblings fell silent, all except for Bella who elicited a slight, high-pitched gasp.
“Did I miss something?”
Chase took her h
and, his grin growing wider still, and kissed it. His Adam’s apple bobbed and his gaze sobered.
She watched as he dropped to one knee.
Bella squealed again and Lacy uttered, “What in the world?” Maggie shushed them both.
Emotion filled his eyes in a way she’d never seen before. “You’ve surprised me, challenged me, and from what I’ve been told—undone me. Marry me. For real this time.” He flipped open a white box with a blue velvet interior, a gorgeous diamond winking up at her. “I adore you, Grace.”
She stood gawking at him and the ring in his hands, the very breath in her chest stilled. Her mind flipped through her thoughts like a computer searched for a file. She’d been planning to end this call quickly, to throw her bags into Chase’s SUV and to head home to the quiet walls of her small apartment.
She had not thought much about what would happen after that.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Grace,” Lacy said. “You’re killing us here.”
Both Maggie and Bella shushed her. To his credit, Jake kept his thoughts to himself.
Grace’s mouth broke into a smile. She laughed. “Yes, of course, I’ll marry you!”
Then Chase pulled her down to him, far out of view of the webcam, and kissed her like a starving man who had just been served a three-course meal. They tumbled to the floor in an embrace, Zeke’s hot breath on their cheeks, their laughter intertwined.
Jake’s voice broke in, his drawl lazy. “Sounds like it did the other night.”
“Jake!” Bella scolded.
“Get a room—stat!” Lacy said, her laughter light.
“Um, excuse me … Chase? Grace?” Maggie, as usual, tried to restore order.
Chase stood and pulled Grace up, keeping his hand linked with hers. He looked into the webcam, smiling. “She said yes, guys.” He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it again.
“We gathered that,” Maggie said. “Congratulations, you two, though it feels like we were just saying that not too long ago.”
Grace’s smile was sheepish. “Again, sorry about that.”
“Oh, I’m so excited for you guys,” Bella said, her voice wistful. “Will you be going on a real honeymoon? Now that you’re, you know, really getting married?”
Grace's Fake Groom Page 14
