“Well, sure, but...”
“What are you two talking about?” Paul asked, coming up the gravel path behind them.
Lia turned to confront him, bracing herself for the heat of his displeasure when he found out what his mother had suggested.
“There you are,” Constance said. “Rosie mentioned you’d arrived. Have you been up to see Grady? His progress is absolutely amazing.”
“Quite amazing,” Paul echoed, his distrustful green gaze flickering in Lia’s direction.
“And we have Lia to thank.”
“So I keep hearing,” Paul muttered, his tone neutral.
Seeming unaware of the tension between her son and Lia, Constance continued, “I was just telling her that Lenora and I want her to move in.”
“And I was just saying that I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Lia inserted, hoping that he would give her credit for keeping his family at arm’s length.
“There’s no need to spend money on a rental when there’s so much room here,” Constance said.
“It’s only for a couple weeks,” Lia protested. “Then Misty and I will be on our way.”
“Misty?” Paul asked.
“She’s my camper trailer.” She and Ethan had decided to stick close to her original story to avoid slipups.
“You named your camper Misty?” Paul interjected, his lips twisting sardonically.
Lia glared at him. He could insult her integrity all he wanted, but disparage her home and she’d come out swinging. “She’s vintage.”
Before Paul could reply, his mother jumped in. “Everyone is coming here to have dinner tonight. I hope you can make it.”
“I came here straight from the airport,” he said, “so I need to run home first.”
“Take Lia. I’m sure she’d love to see your home. She’s been cooped up with Grady for days. A little sea air would be good for her.” Constance turned to Lia. “And on the way back you can pick up your things and get settled in.”
“Really, I’m not sure...”
“It will be much better for Grady if you’re close by.”
Lia caved beneath Constance’s firm determination. “Okay.”
“Dinner is at seven,” Paul’s mother said.
“We’ll be back in plenty of time.” Paul hard gaze flicked to Lia as he bent to kiss his mother’s cheek before striding off.
Lia hustled to catch up to him. As soon as they were out of earshot, she said, “I want you to know I didn’t put her up to that.”
“I know you didn’t. Everyone believes what you’ve done for Grady is a miracle.”
“I haven’t done anything.”
Paul surveyed her for several silent minutes before replying, “On the contrary. You’ve done plenty.”
Despite his rampant disapproval, Paul demonstrated pristine Southern manners by opening the passenger door on his Range Rover and waiting while she climbed in before closing the door and circling to the driver’s side.
“I know you aren’t interested in spending any time with me so if you want to just drop me at my place—”
“On the contrary, I intend to spend our time away from the estate getting to know the real you.”