The businesswoman in Tanya was thrilled – but the other part of her was disappointed. “Are you sure?”
James cast his gaze around again. “We’re sure.”
Mandy threw herself at him, pressing her lips to his as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you.”
Her smile – and her enthusiastic reaction – was enough encouragement for James to pay for an endless string of home inspections. Pushing all of that to the side, this house had everything they would ever need. And, despite himself, he could picture them there forever.
This could be their life.
Nineteen
Grady and Sophie were mauling each other on the couch when his phone rang. He sighed, pulling his mouth from hers and glancing over at the screen. It was Sunday. Who would be calling him on a Sunday?
“Who is it?” Sophie asked, propping herself up so he could lean over and grab the phone from the coffee table.
“I don’t recognize the number,” Grady said. He slid his finger over the screen and pressed the phone to his ear. “Hello.”
“Is this Grady Hardy?”
It was a man’s voice, although Grady didn’t immediately recognize it. “Yes.”
“This is Jake Harrison.”
Grady stiffened, wrapping his arm around Sophie’s naked waist so he could hold her stationary as he sat up. “Mr. Harrison, do you have something?”
“I’ve been doing some work,” Jake said. “Questioning some of the men out here when I’ve had the chance.”
“And?”
“Well, I’ve come across some disturbing information,” Jake admitted.
“Tell me.”
“It seems that Cole was bragging about coming into some money,” Jake said. “He told at least fifteen different guys here that he was going to be able to buy a house and be rich sometime soon.”
Grady mulled the statement over, rubbing Sophie’s back as she looked down at him with curious mocha eyes.
“Did he say where he was going to get the money?”
“He said he had a rich benefactor,” Jake said.
Grady nodded, brushing his lips over Sophie’s defined chin. “What are you doing now?”
“Nothing.”
“Can you meet me in Sterling Heights?”
“I guess. Why?”
“I want to introduce you to my brother.”
WHEN JAKE saw Grady getting out of his truck, he was still trying to decide if he was doing the right thing. The men he was trying to help were at risk, they were desperate. Turning into an informant didn’t sit well with him. Of course, blowing up an innocent blonde didn’t sit well with him either.
Jake watched as Grady moved to the passenger side of his truck, opening the door to help a brunette woman out. The woman was beautiful, all brown hair waves and lithe body swells. She was carrying a bag from Dairy Queen, which seemed odd to Jake.
Jake opened the door of his truck, climbing out and fixing Grady with a hard look. “I thought we were meeting your brother.”
Grady didn’t look affronted by Jake’s coldness. “This is Sophie,” he said. “She’s my girlfriend.”
Jake nodded, but he still didn’t understand. “And she can help us how?”
“She’s here because she wants to see Mandy,” Grady said. “She brought her ice cream. She’s not here because of you.”
Jake felt like an idiot. He was suspicious by nature, but the woman’s curious brown eyes had set him on edge. These people were friends, he reminded himself. They were family. Not everyone was trying to take something from someone else.
Jake hurried across the parking lot, an apologetic look on his face. “I’m sorry. This is … .”
“It’s uncomfortable,” Grady finished for him. “You feel like you’re selling out. I get it.”
Jake sighed, forcing himself to relax. “The building looks dark. Are you sure your brother is here?”
“He has an apartment on the second floor,” Grady said, unlocking the main door so Jake and Sophie could enter.
“Not for long,” Sophie said. “They saw a house yesterday.”
Grady tilted his head, his long hair dipping below his shoulder on his right side as he took in his girlfriend’s statement. “How do you know that?”
“Mandy told me,” Sophie said, shrugging. “They liked it enough to call an inspector.”
Grady smirked. “How do you know more about my brother than I do?”
“Girls are gossipy,” Sophie said. “Mandy is really excited, by the way. She’s in love with the house.”
“Which means James is going to find a way to make it work,” Grady mused, testing the door behind them to make sure it latched properly. “I can’t believe they’re buying a house. It’s so … adult.”