touched his chin.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Grayson
Gray wooed Sabine, all right. Her hand hadn’t left his thigh, it felt so damn good. That connection. Having someone of his own now. No longer alone.
Seeing his mom drew him out of the protective shell he’d been living in, refusing to let how he missed everyone back home get to him. Rip him to shreds. But it felt good to confess to her why he’d been putting everyone through a nightmare.
His mom leaned in, her voice turning serious. “Talk to me, Grayson, when are you going home? Luke’s driving us all nuts.”
He snuck a look at Sabine, who gave a slight nod.
“All along, I said I wasn’t talking to anyone because of what happened with the movie. Then I auditioned for this new part. I have a feeling about this one, Mom. I’ll hear any day. But I can’t face Luke and Tristan with that movie failure hanging over my head. I refused to get on his plane. I’d rather go home on my own. When I’m ready.”
He felt Sabine exhale, then she said, “And I was afraid maybe he’d change his mind. I couldn’t get him on the plane, but I told yer son, Luke, I’d make the drive with him. To make sure he didn’t...”
“Disappear again.” His mother’s eyes now looked sad.
God, all that he’d put everyone through.
Gray snatched Sabine’s hand from under the table and brought it up to his chest. “And, I got to know her. I like her. A lot.”
His mom shrugged. “Why all the secrecy? You’re adults. You’re free to do what you wish. I’m happy for you, honey.”
“I know how this must look, Mrs. Hart.” Sabine’s voice sounded shaky. “Gray being yer son’s missing person, I was paid to find.”
“Whether you like it or not, Grayson, you’ve caused your brothers to worry. I’m relieved you’re okay. And that you found a lovely woman who understands you.” Marissa snorted a laugh. “He’s a handful, honey.”
“I got four brothers. I can handle this one.” She stroked his cheek with her free hand.
“We’re having a good time together.” He smiled back then faced his mom. “And I respect her. What she’s doing. And I expect Luke to still pay her. She got me in the car, she got me on the road. She earned that fee.”
“I agree.” His mother cocked her head. “But you live in Los Angeles, sweetie? Your business is there?”
“Aye.”
“And are you going back to L.A.?” his mother asked him.
He looked down feeling confused, and caught in the emotion of what that meant. “I don’t know. I hated it there.”
“I wouldn’t make him go back.” Sabine gripped his hand tighter. “I want him to be happy.”
“That’s what we have jets for,” Sara chimed in, lightening the mood. Flicking her wrist at them, she added, “You’ll be fine. You’ll fly back and forth. Sabine, wait till you see their hotel.”
Except, Sabine couldn’t go back to New York. She’d never see The Sterling.
Sabine
SARA CONVINCED THEM to have dinner at one of the best steakhouses in Chicago.
Sabine’s stomach felt twisted up in knots, so she let Gray order for her, which he got very excited about. Despite his mom and Sara, Chicago’s new dynamic party duo sharing two bottles of wine, he was fine with club soda, but took a few sips of her Coke here and there.
While Sabine was anxious to get back to the hotel, Sara and Marissa looked like they wanted to stay put. When Sabine whispered to let the girls do their thing, Gray reluctantly agreed with a snarl.
Men were viscerally protective of their mums, her brothers were. She found it an endearing quality, sexy even. After he confirmed where his mother was sleeping, Sara answering with her now typical hand wave, in one of my suites, of course, she and Gray left the restaurant.
“Take my limo back to the hotel, lovies,” Sara had said to them right before they left.
Take my limo. Take my jet. If these people weren’t so damn nice, she’d hate them. This was Gray’s world. But he was figuring it all out since their money was new. It was like he sometimes forgot he was a billionaire and could pay anyone for anything.
Except, Luke had turned off his cards. Since his mother knew what was going on, Grayson could ask for more money guilt-free.
He stayed quiet in the limo and looked out the back window at the city. She stared along with him and found the city lights and the moon glistening over