Page 5 of Silver Fox's Secret Baby

“I know that. I’m just saying,” Victoria continues. She pulls her lipstick out of her purse and starts to roll it up. “You don’t even try.”

I focus on the road in front of me. It’s been quite some time since I’ve been to Kent’s house and the neighborhood isn’t as familiar as it once was. I don’t get out to Burbank as much as I used to. I’m usually in Studio City on the lot. “Don’t have time to try.”

“Oh, come on, Grant,” Victoria says while slathering lipstick on her lips. “Stop lying to yourself.”

“If I wanted to make time for it, I would,” I say defensively.

“So, you’re telling me you want to remain a bachelor for the rest of your life?” Victoria asks with a raised eyebrow.

Well, I certainly don’t like the sound ofthat.

“You’re eligible. You’re still young, you’re–”

“Forty-nine isn’t young.”

“It is for a man with money in Hollywood,” she says with a smirk.

I sigh. “Okay, point taken.”

“Listen, I met a girl on my last shoot. Just your type. She knows who you are and she’s interested.”

I spot the house toward the end of the block, the Spanish Colonial with cream stucco and red tile roof. A quintessential LA home. Kent and Aileen were smart to buy it when they did. A property like this would go for several million now.

“Here, I have a picture,” Victoria announces, pulling out her phone.

I park the car. “Damn, I think we’re the first people here.”

“I knew we’d be unfashionableearly.”

That’s just me, I guess. Always timely. Always thinking a little too far ahead.

“Here, she’s gorgeous. Her family lives back in Croatia and she’s got these amazing natural lips that–”

I push her hand away as she holds the phone out to me. “I’m good.”

Victoria’s blue eyes fall at the corners. “Grant, please, just– “

“Not interested, Vic,” I say with a solemn smile. “Come on.” I pat her cheek and then climb out of the car.

As I start up the stone walkway to the front door of the Solace house, I hear Victoria’s heels hurrying after me. “Grant, you haven’t even seen her!”

“Don’t need to. I’m not interested in dating a model.”

“A Croatian model!” she says.

“Oh, aCroatianmodel?!” I ask with phony interest.

Victoria sees right through me, stops walking, and crosses her arms over her chest. “You’re not funny.”

I can’t stand when she pouts. As her older brother, it’s annoying. As someone who has cared for her the majority of her life, I want nothing more than to make her happy. “Look, Victoria–”

“You’re just scared, Grant.”

I shrug. “Maybe.”

She laughs loudly, surprised she’s hit the nail on the head. “You can’t be serious!”

“You’re the one who said it!”

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