Page 58 of Dating the Rebel
“At least I had a great stepmom,” Tabitha said, and she turned toward her sister. “You and Miranda were the ones who didn’t really have moms.”
“I have a great dad,” Regina said. “And Miranda had...”
“Blair,” Grant said.
Tears sprang to Tabitha’s eyes. “Oh my God...” She swallowed back a soft sob. “Because of our custody arrangements, we didn’t have to spend that much time there. But she was always there, and she would have been alone...”
“If not for Blair,” Grant said.
Regina uttered a ragged-sounding sigh. “We’ve been such bitches.”
“Yes,” Grant said.
“You’ve been an ass,” Regina accused him.
And he nodded in agreement. “A total jackass,” he acknowledged.
None of them had understood or appreciated how important Blair and Miranda’s friendship was—to both of them. After her temper toward him had cooled off, his sister had explained it to Grant, and for the first time, he’d really listened and accepted how important Miranda was to her.
And to him...
“So what are we going to do to make it up to her?” he asked. Because he needed help.
Blair had already told him that she wanted nothing to do with it. Like her friend, she didn’t trust him not to hurt Miranda.
Miranda was tougher than Blair thought, though. Or maybe she was more vulnerable than he thought.
“What do you mean?” Regina asked. “We already tried. You already tried. There’s no way she’s letting you join.”
“I don’t really want to join,” he admitted. “I want to help.”
“Joining would help,” Tabitha said. “If you could market him, Regina...” She uttered a lustful-sounding sigh.
And heat rushed to his face. He hadn’t minded laying himself bare for Miranda, but he didn’t like her sisters undressing him with their eyes.
“Sounds like the business needs capital,” he said. “I can buy in or give you a loan.”
Regina shook her head. “I wish...”
“She won’t allow that, either,” Tabitha said.
“I thought you all owned this business together,” he remarked.
“Set up with her having the most control and power,” Regina said. “Miranda really has to be in control at all times.”
He could correct them about that. He’d seen her out of control many times, screaming his name as she came over and over again.
But he’d already infuriated Miranda enough. He wasn’t going to give her yet another reason not to trust him.
“It doesn’t sound as if you two are very happy with the business,” he observed.
“I’d rather be on the stage,” Tabitha admitted.
“And I’d rather be at home,” Regina added.
“So if you can’t take a loan...how about selling your shares of the business?”
“To you?” Tabitha asked.
