She tried to straighten up, but cried out in pain and held her side. “Don’t do this to me.”
When he started to step forward to help her, she shot daggers at him with her eyes, so he stopped. “Don’t...not if you’re ending things.”
“I can’t handle this, seeing you hurt, knowing at any time you could be paralyzed, too.”
“We’ve been over this,” she cried. “I thought we’d moved past all of this fear you had. Did you even call your sister like I asked you to?”
Grant shook his head, cursing the tears still threatening to consume him. “I will. I swear. I’m just... I can’t go all-in yet with you. I love you, but...”
With careful movements, Tessa rose to her feet and clutched her shirt around her torso. “You’re a coward, Grant Carter. You can’t take on a relationship with me until you tackle the relationship with your sister. And I don’t want a man in my life who can’t live with me the way I am.”
Grant didn’t blame her for being angry, Hell, he was angry with himself. This wasn’t what he’d planned to tell her when he arrived, but once he’d seen her hurt, that torrent of fear had rushed through him again and he realized he couldn’t live his life always worried.
Tears gathered in Tessa’s eyes, but she lifted her chin and narrowed her gaze. “You have no idea what I would give up for you. I’d give up everything this second if I knew you were ready, because I believe in us. I believe in you. But you have to face Melanie.”
Grant stepped forward, stopping when she held up her hand. “No. I don’t want to hear it. You obviously already made your choice.”
Swallowing back emotions, he shoved his hands into his pockets. “I can’t be anything to you with how my life is right now, Tessa.”
“You can’t be anything to me until you decide that what we have is more powerful than your fear.”
She turned to walk from the room, throwing a glance over her shoulder. “Lock the door on your way out.”
And she was gone. The hurt in her voice, the unshed tears...he’d caused all that.
It was time to talk to Melanie, put this nightmare from his past to rest one way or another.
He’d lost his sister years ago, and now he’d lost the woman he loved and wanted to spend his life with.
Tessa was right. He’d been a coward, but no more. It was time to face those demons that had chased away everything good in his life.
Twenty-Two
He’d come too far to back out now. And after years of avoiding this confrontation, Grant knew there was nowhere else to hide. He’d tried traveling, he’d tried drowning himself in work and he’d tried avoiding the topic altogether.
But the fact of the matter remained that years of fear and nightmares had led him right back to where he’d begun, in a small town in Kentucky. And now he stood on the stoop of his sister’s small, one-story cottage.
His parents knew he was in town, but he’d assured them he wanted to talk to Melanie alone. God, how he wished Tessa were with him now. She was so courageous, so strong. He needed to draw from that strength. But she was in his heart, and she’d made him face this moment, made him realize that nothing in his life would truly be right, and that he couldn’t move on without finally letting go of the guilt.
And there was only one way to do that. First, he’d settle his past, then he’d try to win back his future.
Before he could press his finger to the bell, the wide front door opened and Grant’s whole world stilled.
“Were you going to knock or had you changed your mind?”
Melanie sat in her wheelchair, her long dark hair spilling over one shoulder, her legs so thin. But it was her face that shocked him the most. She was smiling...at him.
“Grant?” Her eyes sought his. “Are you coming in?”
Swallowing, he merely nodded. God, what an idiot. He couldn’t even speak as he stepped over the threshold. She’d eased back, and once he was in she closed the door.
He took in the open floor plan, the spacious layout and sparse furniture. Perfect for getting around in a wheelchair.
“Dad told me you were coming,” she said, her voice sounding just as unsure as he felt. “Do you want to come into the living room?”
When he turned to look at her, damned if his whole heart didn’t clench. That questioning expression on her face only added to the guilt he felt, the shame he was here to finally admit.
“If my being here is too hard, I’ll go.” He shoved his hands into his pockets, waiting to follow her lead. The last thing he wanted was to make her even more uncomfortable. “I just... God, Mel...”
She bit her lower lip and nodded. “I want you to stay. I miss my baby brother.”
The childhood joke had him smiling. “You’re only older by twelve minutes.”
Shrugging, she wheeled past him and into the living room. Following her, he ran through his head all he wanted to say. As if years of torment and grief could be summed up in a few moments. As if any words would rectify this situation he’d caused.
When she stopped next to the couch, he took a seat beside her. He’d barely settled when she reached over and grasped his hand.
And just like that, something inside him burst. Emotions over a decade old poured out of him, and he wasn’t the least bit ashamed that he sat there crying like a baby.
“Mel, I can’t even begin...”
He held her hand to his mouth, pressed a kiss on her knuckles. Tears streamed from his eyes as she brought her other hand up and cupped his cheek.
“Grant, it’s okay. I’m fine.”
She was coming to his defense, trying to minimize the severity of this situation, this life he’d caused her. Hell no.
“Don’t,” he told her, gripping both her hands in his as he wiped his damp face on his shoulder. “Don’t defend me. I deserve nothing but anger from you. I honestly can’t take it if you’re going to pretend life is just fine. I stole everything from you, Mel. I robbed your life of all the dreams you had.”
She shook her head and offered him that sweet smile he’d sworn he’d never see again. “You stole absolutely nothing. I had a rough time at first, obviously adjusting, but I love my life, Grant. Do I wish I could walk? Of course, but I’m doing so much with my life, I can’t be sorry I’m in this wheelchair.”
Grant slid off the couch, crouched down at her feet, still clutching her hands. “I want to fix this. I’m used to getting what I want, used to having all I wish for. But I can’t undo this, Mel. It eats at me. I’ve struggled with what I’ve done, struggled with losing you. But every time I think of all that, I realize what you lost.”
Tears welled up in her eyes. “Being in a wheelchair is nothing compared to losing my brother. Nothing, Grant. I never blamed you. I ached for you, for the guilt I knew you’d taken upon yourself, for the fear that made you run.”
He dropped his head to their joined hands. “I’m done running, Mel. I don’t deserve to be asking to be part of your life again, but I want to be. Is there any way we can try? Is there anything I can do?
He closed his eyes, silently pleading for her to love him, though he deserved to be kicked out of her home, her life.
Instead of harsh words, she kissed the top of his head. “I’ve waited years for you to come back to me.”
Lifting his gaze to hers, Grant felt the weight of guilt and crippling fear ease from his body. “I love you, Melanie.”
“I know you do,” she told him with that sweet smile. “And if you ever run from me again, I’ll hunt you down.”
Laughing, Grant came to his f
eet, kissed her hands and sat back on the couch.
“Now, tell me about this film you’re working on.” She held up a palm before he could say anything. “But first, tell me about the woman. I know there’s a woman involved, or you wouldn’t have stayed on the set this long, with all the horses there.”
Laughing, Grant began to explain Tessa, explain how he’d messed things up with her, but planned on making them right.
“Sounds like someone I’d love to meet.”
“I can’t wait for you to meet her,” he told his twin. “You’ll love her.”
As he started to explain the film, Melanie’s eyes welled up with tears, but she smiled the entire time. And Grant knew he’d won back a place in his sister’s heart. Of course, he had a feeling she’d been holding his spot for a long time.
* * *
In the days since coming back to Stony Ridge, Tessa hadn’t seen Grant. Hadn’t seen movement around his cottage, hadn’t seen that flashy sports car...nothing.
She should’ve known when he hadn’t come down to the winner’s circle after the biggest race of her life that his priorities were film first, her second.
The hurt sliced deep, but there wasn’t much she could do about it. No way could she fight against the heavy weight that lived inside Grant’s heart.
Trying to focus on her life without him, she shoved her hair over her shoulders and headed toward the main house.
The scene today would be shot in the living room, so Tessa made a point to get there early so she could talk to Bronson or Anthony. Not that she cared where Grant was; she was just curious. That’s all.
As she entered the back door, Linda was taking freshly baked bread from the oven. Tessa inhaled the tantalizing aroma. “You could tempt a saint with your baking,” she told her.
“I keep thinking that man of yours will come in, but I haven’t seen him since before you all left for the derby.”
Tessa shrugged. No way was she commenting on the “man of yours” part, or the fact that he’d been absent around here.
“Has Bronson or Anthony come through yet?”
“I believe Damon was talking with Bronson in the living room. They’ve arranged all the furniture and even brought in some new pieces for the shoot today.”
Tessa had to admit this was pretty cool. As much as she’d hated the film at the beginning of the process, she kind of liked the crew that had been here.
“Care for some bread? Better get it before the guys come in,” Linda told her, setting the bread on the cooling rack. “I swear, this bunch likes to eat. Makes me so happy.”
Tessa laughed. “Maybe later. I really need to speak to someone first.”
Sure enough, Bronson was in the living room, but her father was nowhere in sight. Perfect. She certainly didn’t want to discuss Grant around her dad.
“Bronson,” she said, stepping over the lighting cords. “Do you have a minute?”
He turned from setting up a camera and offered her a killer smile. “Of course. What can I do for you?”
“Is Grant going to be on set today?”
Yeah, just come out and ask. No leading into that. She may as well stamp Pathetic on her forehead.
Bronson’s brows drew together. “You hadn’t heard?”
“What?” she asked, fearful of what was coming next.
“I assumed everyone knew, but Grant quit.”
Tessa’s breath caught in her throat. “Quit? How can he quit?”
With a sigh, Bronson rested his hands on his hips. “I really hate getting in the middle of things, but I work with celebrities, so that’s virtually impossible. Grant resigned his position because of the clause he violated.”
Tessa’s mind ran all over the place. They knew about her and Grant? Was he forced to quit?
“I can’t say that I blame him,” Bronson went on. “He’s in love with you, you know.”
Tessa nodded. “I know, but we aren’t together anymore. In Louisville we...”
“That’s strange.” Bronson rested a hip on the edge of the new prop sofa. “He came back the day after the race, spoke with me and Anthony, got Marty Russo on the phone and resigned, stating he’d violated the conduct code.”
“You mean, you didn’t hear it from someone else?” she asked.
“Actually, I already had an idea something was going on between the two of you. Someone named Aaron Souders left a message with my assistant, stating he had some news about Grant he was going to take to the press, but Grant is the one who told me.”
Tessa rested her hand on the end table, trying to take in Grant’s actions. What was he doing, giving up all his dreams like this? How could he just drop the one movie he’d been waiting to make?
“Marty was pretty disappointed, especially with Grant so close to getting his own production company.”
Tessa jerked her attention to Bronson. “His own company?”
The producer’s dark eyes widened. “I see you didn’t know about that. Grant was offered his own company under Russo Entertainment once this film wrapped up. I’m not sure if Marty will still offer that to him now that he’s quit.”
Tessa wrapped her arms around her waist. Questions, nerves, confusion all consumed her.
“Where’s Grant now?”
Bronson shrugged. “He mentioned going home, said he had a past to face. After that I don’t know where’s he’s going. I do know that Anthony and I are meeting with Marty, though. There’s no way we can’t stand up for Grant, when he’s the best guy we’ve ever worked with on set and we need him.”
Facing his past? Her heart clenched. Could he truly be ready to work through the nightmares and move forward?
“But what about the clause?” she asked.
Bronson smiled. “I’m pretty sure that was for the old, carefree Grant. The new Grant has eyes for only one woman now.”
Tessa had an idea, but she needed help, and Bronson was just the man for the job. If Grant was strong enough to put his heart on the line and go home, then she was certainly strong enough to put her own heart on the line and go after her future.
“Call Grant,” she told him.
* * *
Grant couldn’t believe he was back on the set. So much had happened in the past two weeks. He’d spent a good portion of that time with his sister and his parents, falling back into old patterns and reconnecting those bonds he’d thought for sure he’d severed. But they’d welcomed him with open arms, and he promised to bring Tessa once racing season was over.
But then he was doubly shocked when Marty called and asked him to return to the set. Apparently, Bronson and Anthony had come to his defense and informed Marty that Grant was in love with the woman he “broke the clause” with, and now Grant was needed back at Stony Ridge.
But being there was hard. Everywhere he looked he saw Tessa. Glancing at the stables, he could practically see her stalking through with her tattered boots and hip-hugging jeans. At his cottage he saw her when she’d spent the night, all virginal in his T-shirt, her hair spilling over her shoulders.
Today, though, would be a true test of his will. They were shooting at the cabin on the back of the property, and Bronson had asked Grant to get there early to help set up the lighting.
Sure. No problem.
He’d planned on going to her now that he was back, but he’d wanted to do it in his own time. He had hoped for something more romantic than a scene with everyone standing around as spectators to the lif
e he’d derailed, and was desperately trying to get back on track.
Grant headed out there on foot, needing the time to think. Of course, during his walk he thought back to the thunderstorm, when he and Tessa had come here...and she’d given herself to him for the first time.
Man, he missed her. He had to figure out a damn good way to let her know just how much he truly loved her, because he’d totally botched things up back in Louisville.
He remembered that the key was hidden above the lintel, but when he glanced up, he found the door already open a tad. Easing the creaking panel wider, Grant stopped in the doorway and stared at the most beautiful sight.
“I was hoping you’d show.”
Tessa sat on the chaise where they’d made love. She was wearing the gown he’d purchased for her when they’d gone to Colorado, and she had the most beautiful smile on her face.
Realization dawned on him. “We’re not filming here today.”
“No, you’re not.”
Grant eased on in, closing the door behind him.
“I was going to make you grovel,” she stated as she crossed one slender leg, shifting the side split of the dress to reveal skin all the way up to her hip. “But then I realized you’d already been through a lot, and so have I, and I’m done playing games.”
He laughed. “And you’re taking charge again.”
“Of course. First, I know you went to see Melanie. How did that go?”
Grant slid his hands into his pockets, resisting the urge to cross the room, rip that dress off her and worry about talking later.
“Better than I’d ever hoped. She’s amazing, and I cannot wait for you to meet her. She’s come so far and actually works on a horse farm for handicapped children.”
Tessa’s smile widened. “I’m so happy you went to see her. I’m really proud of you. But now I want to move on to the nonsense of you quitting over the clause.”
Grant shrugged. “I figured Aaron would no doubt tattle, so I beat him to the punch. I’m man enough to stand up for what I want, and admit when I do something wrong.”
When Opposites Attract... Page 18