Finding You (Love Wanted in Texas 4)

Grayson threw his head back and laughed. “No, bro. Not that kind of show.” Turning to Grace he said, “I’m sorry, I never did get all of the girls’ names. I certainly remember you and your red-haired friend. Seems to me y’all were a bit . . . eager to see more.”

Laughing, I knew what Grayson was doing. He always did have my back.

“Cool your stripper chaps there ,big boy. I wasn’t with Noah then, so I wasn’t stepping out on anyone. The name is Grace by the way.”

Grayson visibly relaxed. “I like you already, Grace.”

Smiling, I pulled Grace next to me. “You staying here?”

Grayson shook his head as he looked between Grace and me. “Nah, I’m staying with a buddy of mine. He flew down here with me this weekend. His parents have a place on Lake Travis.”

“Awesome, you haven’t been here long have you?” I asked as I reached into the backseat of my car and grabbed Grace’s bag and mine.

“No, Emily sent me a text and said you were almost home. I just pulled up,” Grayson said as he reached for Grace’s bag and threw it over his shoulder. “What would y’all think about hitting dinner before heading up to see Aunt Lisa?”

My heart felt as if someone was squeezing it as soon as Grayson mentioned my mother. Swallowing hard, I nodded my head as I looked at Grace. Giving me a sweet smile, she winked and grabbed my hand as we followed Grayson up to the front door.

“Tell me Flores is still open. I’m dying for some good Mexican food,” Grayson said as I unlocked the door and pushed it open. Turning off the alarm, we walked through the giant foyer.

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. This house doesn’t look this big from the outside,” Grace said.

Grayson let out a rumbled laugh as he made his way into the main living room. “That’s one thing about Uncle Pete, he loved his money and his precious name.”

I nodded in agreement at Grayson’s comment. Grayson hated my father, especially since he cut his sister out of his life after she got pregnant with Grayson. My father left his sister to live a life of struggle. She was too proud to take anything from anyone, including my mother who attempted to help her out more than once.

“Uncle Pete?” Grace asked with a confused look on her face.

Letting out a sigh, I said, “My father. I’ll tell you about it later.”

Concern washed over Grace’s face. Kissing her gently on the forehead, I said, “Grayson has issues with my father disowning his mom. It’s a long story I’d rather save for later.”

Grace nodded her head as she softly spoke. “Okay. Later.”

Taking a step away from me, Grace looked around the house, taking everything in. “Wow. This house is amazing. It reminds me of my grandparents’ house.”

Tossing my bag onto the sofa, I cursed under my breath. Grace turned and looked at me. “What’s wrong, Noah?”

Grayson set Grace’s bag down and gave me a small punch in the arm. “He’s just pissed at his old man, Grace. The dirty bastard is selling the house.”

Hearing Grace suck in a breath, I pushed away the idea that bringing her home might have been a bad idea. I didn’t want her to find out what a rotten bastard my father really was.

Turning around quickly, I couldn’t help but see the look of pity on Grace’s face. Clapping my hands, I said, “Let’s go eat. I’m starved.”

Grayson jumped up and said, “Hell to the yes. Let’s go!”

Grace gave me a funny look and I knew she had a million questions.

Questions I wasn’t ready to answer yet.

Answering questions meant accepting the truth.

Grace

Still trying to process the fact that Noah?

?s father was selling their family house while Noah’s mother was dying, I attempted to pay attention to the conversation going on around me.

“How long are you staying, Gray?” Noah asked his cousin.