BILLIONAIRE FOR KEEPS: Book 3 (Point St. Claire, where true love finds a way) by Robyn Grady
Authors: Robyn Grady
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need to talk to him.”
“No. I need to talk to him.” When Jace’s mouth dropped open, Vanessa huffed. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to fall into bed with him.”
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me.”
Vanessa smiled softly. “You’re a special person.”
“Thank you, and ditto.” Her eyebrows knitted. “You deserve to be happy.”
“I know. And I will be.”
“Not with Griffin Hayes in your life.”
Vanessa would have assured Jace that Griffin was out of her life for good. Only that wasn’t impossible.
Chapter 10
Griffin was wearing a track in the carpet, pacing around the cottage living room like that. Back at the café, Vanessa had decided that they’d needed to talk. But clearly, asking him back here had been a mistake.
“I just need to get one thing off my chest,” he said, stopping in front of her. “Then I’ll back off. Totally. If that’s what you want.”
“That would be appreciated.”
“I didn’t ask you out to dinner that first night for any reason other than I wanted to. Me . No one else.”
“Just convenient that becoming Ronan’s son-in-law came with inheriting a company you’d wanted for years. But you can’t dis a good Plan B. Getting Toomey Constructions at a reduced price and without tying any knots.”
“First of all, yes, Ronan wanted to see you happy. Second, he never suggested I pursue you. Third, your father practically begged me to buy that company.”
“Practically begged ?”
“You’ve said yourself. Construction is not your thing. It’s your father’s. It’s mine . Ronan knew he was a candidate for another heart attack.”
“Something else he kept from me.” But obviously not from you.
“If worse came to worst,” Griffin went on, “he didn’t want you stuck with falling share prices, dirty face offs between managers, having to accept an offer below what that company is worth.”
“So he went behind my back.”
“For god’s sakes, Nessa, can’t you give your old man that much? He worked his whole life to build that place up, and he did it for his family. He was too smart to risk it all at the end.”
She let out that breath in an agitated huff. “You still don’t get it. It’s not what Dad did. It’s how he did it.” He’d kept secrets. About his health. About Griffin.
Now Griffin closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose before trying again. “Let’s get this into perspective. You suddenly cast me out of your life for reasons I’m still not certain of. If you had known that Ronan wanted to sell his company to me, you’d have demanded he find another way. And Ronan wanted― No, damn it, he deserved to do it his way.”
“Even if it meant lying to my face.”
“Ronan wanted to protect you.”
Argh . He was driving her crazy. Something else was driving her nuts, too. Claws on glass. Incessant scratching.
She flung open the glass doors and the cat hurried in. When it twined around her legs, she picked it up, snuggled it under her chin and, closing her eyes, wished this all away.
She found her calmer center and asked, “Is that all?”
“No. That’s not all.”
He scooped the cat from her arms, dropped it to the floor then held her shoulders and searched her eyes with a determination―a pleading― that almost broke her. They’d been the perfect couple. She’d adored everything about him. And a dejected stupid part of her wanted to believe he’d loved her, too.
But Griffin had never said the words. And even if he had…
She shrugged away, swept up the cat again while Griffin set his fists low on his hips.
“Can’t we get past this?”
“Why?”
His brows dipped together. “Because if you weren’t so damn stubborn you could admit that we’re good together. Have been from the start. This is killing me, Nessa.” His hands dropped to his sides. “I miss you so much.”
Vanessa bit back the tears. Suddenly she was so tired.
“What do you want, Griffin?”
“I want you . Just
“No. I need to talk to him.” When Jace’s mouth dropped open, Vanessa huffed. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to fall into bed with him.”
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me.”
Vanessa smiled softly. “You’re a special person.”
“Thank you, and ditto.” Her eyebrows knitted. “You deserve to be happy.”
“I know. And I will be.”
“Not with Griffin Hayes in your life.”
Vanessa would have assured Jace that Griffin was out of her life for good. Only that wasn’t impossible.
Chapter 10
Griffin was wearing a track in the carpet, pacing around the cottage living room like that. Back at the café, Vanessa had decided that they’d needed to talk. But clearly, asking him back here had been a mistake.
“I just need to get one thing off my chest,” he said, stopping in front of her. “Then I’ll back off. Totally. If that’s what you want.”
“That would be appreciated.”
“I didn’t ask you out to dinner that first night for any reason other than I wanted to. Me . No one else.”
“Just convenient that becoming Ronan’s son-in-law came with inheriting a company you’d wanted for years. But you can’t dis a good Plan B. Getting Toomey Constructions at a reduced price and without tying any knots.”
“First of all, yes, Ronan wanted to see you happy. Second, he never suggested I pursue you. Third, your father practically begged me to buy that company.”
“Practically begged ?”
“You’ve said yourself. Construction is not your thing. It’s your father’s. It’s mine . Ronan knew he was a candidate for another heart attack.”
“Something else he kept from me.” But obviously not from you.
“If worse came to worst,” Griffin went on, “he didn’t want you stuck with falling share prices, dirty face offs between managers, having to accept an offer below what that company is worth.”
“So he went behind my back.”
“For god’s sakes, Nessa, can’t you give your old man that much? He worked his whole life to build that place up, and he did it for his family. He was too smart to risk it all at the end.”
She let out that breath in an agitated huff. “You still don’t get it. It’s not what Dad did. It’s how he did it.” He’d kept secrets. About his health. About Griffin.
Now Griffin closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose before trying again. “Let’s get this into perspective. You suddenly cast me out of your life for reasons I’m still not certain of. If you had known that Ronan wanted to sell his company to me, you’d have demanded he find another way. And Ronan wanted― No, damn it, he deserved to do it his way.”
“Even if it meant lying to my face.”
“Ronan wanted to protect you.”
Argh . He was driving her crazy. Something else was driving her nuts, too. Claws on glass. Incessant scratching.
She flung open the glass doors and the cat hurried in. When it twined around her legs, she picked it up, snuggled it under her chin and, closing her eyes, wished this all away.
She found her calmer center and asked, “Is that all?”
“No. That’s not all.”
He scooped the cat from her arms, dropped it to the floor then held her shoulders and searched her eyes with a determination―a pleading― that almost broke her. They’d been the perfect couple. She’d adored everything about him. And a dejected stupid part of her wanted to believe he’d loved her, too.
But Griffin had never said the words. And even if he had…
She shrugged away, swept up the cat again while Griffin set his fists low on his hips.
“Can’t we get past this?”
“Why?”
His brows dipped together. “Because if you weren’t so damn stubborn you could admit that we’re good together. Have been from the start. This is killing me, Nessa.” His hands dropped to his sides. “I miss you so much.”
Vanessa bit back the tears. Suddenly she was so tired.
“What do you want, Griffin?”
“I want you . Just
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