Page 55 of Crossfire

“I care about you, more than I thought possible in such a short time. But I can’t…” Grayson paused, struggling with his next words.

English, buddy.

“I know it doesn’t seem like it,” he said, “but this is for the best.”

I chuckled angrily.

Yeah, okay, dude. This is just another version of theit’s not you, it’s mespeech. Whatever. I felt fireworks, and I thought he did, too, but clearly, I misread the signals.

Did it suck? Yep.

But I’d live.

“Okay…then. Thanks for the coffee and whatever the heck this was. Have a nice life, Grayson.”

“Wait.” His hand was gentle but firm as it wrapped around my wrist. “I’d still like to be friends.”

I actually laughed out loud. Likeloud, loud. Based on the narrowing of his eyes, he was either offended or confused.

Offended, I hope.

“Save your breath, Grayson. I don’t need a consolation friendship. I’m holding out for someone who sees me as the prize, not an afterthought.”

I yanked my wrist free from him.

“Ivy, wait.”

Nope. The path to non-humiliation was a one-way road, away from the handsome pile of rejection.

I kept walking, until he said, “Ivy, I have a connection with the owner of this place. I think I can help with your grandmother.”

24

GRAYSON

“What do you mean?” Ivy’s expression was guarded, the uncertainty in her features telling me a lifetime of challenges made her suspicious of anything that sounded too good to be true. After all, hope was nothing but a painful force when left shattered.

“Compassionate Care is a chain that’s part of a corporate structure with leaders and a board of directors. My brother Jace is a CEO. He sits on various boards in the area and knows other board members for various organizations. Including this one.”

Ivy shifted her footing, and when she spoke, her tone was low. “How can you be so sure he knows one of the board members of this place?”

I shoved my hands into my pockets.

“Because years ago, Dr. Benjamin Hayes was one of the doctors who helped my mother when she was sick. He stayed in touch with our family, mostly Jace.”

Her chest swelled slightly.

“I don’t know if it would help, but perhaps I could talk to him on your behalf. See if there’s anything he could do to help.”

“How would talking to him help?”

I could tell she wasn’t pushing back on the idea; this was simply a woman who wasn’t seasoned in having connections in powerful places and was trying to understand, tactically speaking, what this would do about her bill.

“Give you more time to pay perhaps.”

Ivy didn’t know my family was loaded, that my father ran a Fortune 500 that his father had built, and the entire family fortune went to his four sons when he died.

“I can call my brother.” I shrugged slightly. “See if he can set up a meeting.”

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