Bad Seed

Whatever Theresa wanted, she would get.

CHAPTER 33

THERESA

“I still can’t believe your father told Hollis to shut up,” Grant said. “He looked like he meant it.”

“He meant a lot of things he said in the hospital. Like his apology to you.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay another night before we head out?”

“I’m sure,” I said. “I want to get to Boston. I want to see your place. I want to learn about the life you created for yourself.”

“Well, I’ve already got you set up with a doctor that’s going to check you out in a few days. Just to make sure.”

“Ever the worrier,” I grinned.

“For you? Always.”

As Grant and I drove down the highway and barreled toward Boston, my mind drifted back to the hospital. With our fingers laced and his palm sitting on my thigh, I was finally off on a new adventure. I’d quit my job at my father’s dental practice, and he’d accepted my resignation with a smile on my face. Hollis was still piecing things together, but, in the end, he sent me off with a hug and a smile.

And the promise that I would call once we arrived at Grant’s place.

We’d had to stay in Maine a few extra days. Concussion protocol was triggered the moment I was rolled back through those double doors. Thankfully, there was no concussion. Instead, I had a sore jaw and some bruised ribs, but Grant holding my hand through the night and staying there with me helped to relieve a lot of the fear I was still experiencing.

In the end, my father admitted that Grant was perfect for me. Hollis didn’t like the way that statement tasted on the tip of his tongue, but he knew it all the same. He saw how Grant cared for me and how much I loved him, and in the end, he gave Grant “the lecture.” The one that went a little something like “if you hurt my sister, I’ll kill you.”

Grant’s response?

“Don’t worry. If someone hurts your sister, I’ll kill them too.”

Ike was going to prison for a very long time. Once he got out of the ICU, of course. No criminal charges came against Grant based solely on the fact that he was acting to save my life. Which was great, though I’m pretty sure Hollis strong-armed a few people into standing down.

It was one of the only ways he knew to show me that he really did want me to be happy, even if it meant shacking up with his best friend. I fell asleep on and off in the car until I felt it slow to a stop. I peeled my eyes open and took in the beautiful house in front of me and gasped. The stars were twinkling over the incredible home I was looking at, and I gawked as my eyes turned toward Grant.

“This is where you live?”

“Built it myself. What do you think?”

The beautiful

two-story home was pale gray on the outside with white trim. There was a wrap-around porch with stone accents that stabilized it on the foundation. The grass was a lush deep green underneath the pale moonlight, and the trees and beautiful flowers that sat around the house gave it pops of color that reminded me of Grant’s tattoos. The stonework was hand-laid, there were rocking chairs placed all along the porch with tables in between, and a porch swing sat off in one of the corners overlooking the whole of the property.

“Want a look inside?” Grant asked.

“Oh yes,” I said breathlessly.

We left my bags in his car, and I walked up to the front porch. He unlocked the door and ushered me in, and the entire place came alive. With one flick of his wrist, a soft light illuminated the whole of the house, bathing the mahogany floors with a decadent shimmer. There was a sitting room with a fireplace immediately to my left, a staircase against the wall to my right, and further through the house was an entertainment room as well as the kitchen. I walked into the middle of the house and looked up into the loft as my eyes danced over the hand-painted wooden artifacts that looked almost hand carved.

“You built all of this yourself?”

“Me and my team, yes. I designed it.”

“You designed it?” I asked.

“What did you think my job was?” Grant asked.

“I don’t know. Sitting and giving orders?”