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“I’m getting less information now. I messed up somehow. I did something wrong. She doesn’t trust me.” He twisted to face her, grabbing her hand in his. “I’m sorry, Julia.”
Grant nearly choked on the bile rising in his throat as Kyle’s acting became Oscar-worthy.
“There’s nothing to be sorry about, Kyle. Nothing. You’ve done a really good job of getting information from her. We appreciate everything you’ve done.” She flicked her gaze to Grant. “Right, Grant?”
Grant raised his eyebrows as Kyle centered his gaze on him. “Yeah.”
“Could you make it sound any less honest?”
Grant flung his hands out as his frustration rose. “What do you want from me, Kyle?”
“Honesty. Why don’t you just say it? You think I’m a screw-up. You think I’m a mistake, you always have.”
“Not at all. If you want to know what I really think, I think you’re playing us. I think you’re in with Lydia, and this is all just a game for you. You’re working to destroy me while you play up to Julia for sympathy.”
Kyle settled back in the chair, shooting a glance Julia’s way. “There you have it. He always thinks the worst of me. Even after months of playing with fire, he thinks I’ve been lying the entire time.”
“No, he doesn’t. He’s frustrated, just like you are. And when you two get frustrated, you attack each other. That needs to stop.”
Grant held his hands up in defeat as Kyle shook his head, his knuckles white as he gripped the arms of his chair.
“It can’t stop, Julia,” Kyle answered. “Because no matter what I do, no matter how much I do, he just can’t accept me.”
“Look who’s talking. You show up here, you get my daughter and wife kidnapped, then you re-kidnap my wife, and you cause all kinds of trouble because you hate me. You’ve always hated me. You came to town to destroy me. You said those exact words to me. Why wouldn’t I think you’re working with Lydia and DG?”
“Oh, right, because no one ever changes. You certainly haven’t, which is why Julia should be counting the days down until she can get away from you. I’m surprised you made it through almost two years with the same woman.” He flicked his gaze to Julia, who seemed to grow increasingly upset with the conversation. “Don’t worry, Julia, it’s almost over. You can get away from this womanizing egotist soon.”
“That’s it,” Grant said as he launched himself from his chair. “I’ve had enough of you.”
Kyle leapt from his seat, slamming his glass onto the desk and balling his fists at his sides. “Can’t handle the truth?”
Julia jumped up and pushed between them before they came to blows again. “Enough, stop it.”
“No, Julia,” Grant said with a shake of his head. “I can’t. He is out of line again. Way out of line.”
“Hardly,” Kyle answered. “You just hate when you have to face what you really are.”
“Stop, stop,” Julia tried as the rising tension threatened to crush them. “I want both of you to stop this right now. Back to neutral corners.”
She pushed a hand against both of their chests, easing them away from each other. Grant grabbed hold of it, wrapping his fingers around her soft skin before he held the other hand up in the air. “Fine.”
He backed a few steps away, allowing Julia’s hand to slip from his as she stayed firmly planted where she was. She shot Kyle a demanding glance.
He swallowed hard and took a step back before he retrieved his drink and stalked to the fireplace.
“Okay, good,” Julia said as she blew out a breath. “Now, let’s all take a deep breath…and apologize.”
Grant let a harsh laugh escape his lips. “No, no way.”
“Same. I’m not apologizing for putting myself in harm’s way to save his skin.”
Julia slid her eyes closed as she opened and closed her palms into fists.
“All I did was tell the truth,” Grant grumbled.
“Same here,” Kyle shot back.
“We all have doubts all the time. But that doesn’t mean that’s reality,” Julia said.
