Page 19 of Something Borrowed

She glanced at her list and shrugged. “Not really. You forget, I plan parties for a living. Granted, they’re fundraisers, but they’re still just fancy parties. The only difference with my wedding is that I won’t be behind the scenes.”

She looked over at him. “It bothers you, though. Bothers you that she’s working and ignoring you.”

“I should be used to it. I mean, it’s not like we’re dating or anything.”

“Oh, really?”

He snorted. “Really. I know what you’re thinking, Caroline, but it’s just sex, nothing more. And, we’re not even doing that anymore.”

She frowned. “This isn’t good. What happened?”

“She said we weren’t right for each other, that we had different paths and goals in our lives.”

“Is that true?”

He jerked his head. “I guess. I mean, I know she has to work extra hours to make partner, but when will it end? Will it ever end?”

Caroline smiled, a hint of sadness in her eyes. “You’re asking the wrong person. I grew up with a father who worked more than he was home. And now I’m marrying someone very similar.”

“Well, Brigid is nothing like my mother, thank God.” Although, in his mind, he was starting to wonder.

“Are you sure? I’ve met your mother, and I love her. But she has her own goals and is very focused on achieving them. Brigid may not be looking to make partner, but she wanted her status and position. Sound familiar?”

He grimaced. She was right. His mother had left his father when Grady was young, looking for money and status, not happy being the wife of a contractor, living the simple life. And she found her ticket, her path to her goals. Matthew had benefitted from the connections their stepfather had: good schools, the right families, a great setup for the perfect life. Grady, on the other hand, was his father’s son, interested in building things and living a simple life. He rejected college, not having the patience to sit in a chair when he wanted to be out working with his hands. Then his decision was made for him when his father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, influenced by years of alcoholism and not taking care of himself. That was when Grady stepped in to make sure his stubborn father didn’t get hurt on the job site, and to rescue the business that his father had almost destroyed.

Grady had worked hard in the years since he took over, his father slowly stepping back. Grady hadn’t seen his mother more than a handful of times since she had left, mainly at events for Matthew, once he and Grady had reconnected. Matthew had found him and his dad when Matthew turned eighteen, determined to know the other side of his family. He tried to help Grady where he could, financially with their father when he needed more care than Grady could afford, and even with business. Grady suspected some of the money, especially for the business, had come from his mother and stepfather, possibly to deal with their guilt, but Grady had been forced to accept it, if only to help his father. Having the money come through, Matthew had assuaged Grady’s pride and he accepted, paying it back in four years, with interest. Now, his business was in the black and he was finally ready for the next step in his life.

Too bad Brigid had other ideas.

“Shit.” He rubbed his hand over his face. “Maybe Brigid is right, and we’re doomed.”

She laughed and pulled his hand down from his face, gripping it tightly in her hand. “Grady, it’s not the same thing. Trust me. You’re good for Brigid, I can see it. Now, you just need to make her see it.”

He smiled. “I don’t think so, Caroline. She’s made it perfectly clear that we’re too different. We only connect in bed.”

“So, show her she’s wrong.”

“How? I can’t even get her out of the office.”

She pulled back. “Sorry, buddy. I can’t answer that for you. Maybe you need to show her you can connect out of bed. Get her out of her books and laptop, and into the real world. Maybe then she’ll see you differently. And I think you’ll have that chance this week.”

The words were said with a mysterious air, and he stared at her. “So, it’s true. You are matchmaking.”

She smiled secretively and looked away. “Maybe. This gives you the chance to get her to see you in a new light and for you to show her another way to live. I hate seeing Brigid bury herself in her work, trying to please people who will never be happy with what she’s done. There will always be another goal to chase, another symbol of success. I want her to see another way, to make her own decisions for what she wants to do and not what someone else tells her she should be doing. I think you can help her with that. If she’s worth it.”

“She’s worth it.” He vowed fervently.

“I think you’re the only one who can see that. She pushes everyone else away but, for some reason, she’s let you in. Use every trick in the book, Grady, to push the envelope and get under her skin.”

He grinned. “She acted jealous of Janine earlier.”

“Janine?” Caroline looked confused.

Shit. Grady scrambled for a plausible excuse. “Janine Edgerton. Her father had called me in to advise on some renovations they’re doing to a house. We stopped there on the way here.”

Caroline cocked her head and looked up at the ceiling, tapping a finger against the table absently. “Brigid is never jealous. Interesting. Yes, this could work well. I think you need to do more work on that renovation this week with Janine. See how far that pushes her. Then step back and be prepared for the fireworks.”

Fireworks accurately described Brigid. He only hoped she wouldn’t burn him in the process.

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