Page 50 of Keep Me Never
“You wanted to go to lunch together,” she interrupts, calling me out right here in front of her grandfather.
There is absolutely no reason for a small flicker of pride to move through me, but it does. Still, I say, “Another time. He came all this way here. You should go.”
I don’t miss the pleased way her grandfather stretches taller. “You could join us, son. If you’d like.”
My brows jump at the offer, and I can’t quite tell if the invitation came out of his need to be polite or if it’s a genuine one.
“Yeah, come with us!” Paige nods, looking over at the SUV. “There is plenty of room and we’d need to be back about the same time anyway.”
I’m already shaking my head. I’m not sure what the cost of a place her grandfather might choose for lunch might be, but chances are it’s more than I should spend on a single meal. But she’s already walking closer, stepping right in front of me, big, blue eyes on mine.
“Come on, Chase,” she whispers, and at my side, the heat of her pinkie brushes my knuckle, making my hand twitch with the need to turn it, to curl my fingers through hers and draw them to my lips.
I can’t give her much, if anything at all, but maybe little, simple things like this, I can. How could I say no when she is looking at me like this?
“Please,” she adds.
When she begs me like that?
I couldn’t possibly.
“Yeah, okay.” I nod, and when she squeals, I can’t help the chuckle that leaves me.
My eyes seem to trail her as she hurries back toward her grandfather, and when I look up, I find his gaze is on me.
“Perfect.” He nods, stepping back as Kevin steps up and opens the door for us. The three of us climb inside, and I’m surprised to find that the bucket seats are facing each other.
Paige takes the seat beside me, Grant across from us.
After a moment, as we just sit there, Paige’s brows pull and shegoes to open her mouth, but before she can get the words out, the door opposite to the one we climbed in is yanked open and none other than Prince fucking Charming appears.
My muscles grow taut, and I stare as he hauls himself inside, his attention instantly moving to the girl at my side.
I have the sudden urge to wrap my arm around her middle and haul her to me, right onto my damn lap, but I clench my fists at my sides to keep from acting like a caveman when I don’t have the right to.
But why does it feel like I have the right to?
Better question: Why the hell ishehere?
“Sorry about that. I hope you weren’t waiting long. I had to step out for a quick call.” He turns to Grant with a smile. “They went for it, at a 4 percent lower rate than originally offered.”
“That’s my boy.” Grant nods proudly, then look up at me. “Prescott, meet Chase. He goes to school here with Paige and he’s joining us for lunch today.”
“We met, actually,” he tells the older man. “At the San Jose show.”
“Ah, I see,” Grant mumbles.
Prescott glances my way, a grin in place. “Good to see you again. It was Chase, right?”
“You work with Mr. Randolph.” I can feel the small frown on my face, but I can’t seem to wipe it away.
“I do, yes.” He nods, settling back in the seat and unbuttoning his jacket, his attention immediately moving to the girl beside me.
My eyes slide toward Mr. Randolph, narrowing the slightest bit, and what do you know.
He’s looking at me, too.
So her grandfather sent her to some big show, something near and dear to her heart. I’m assuming he’s learned that much about her during all the hours they’ve spent getting to know each other. Something that means something to her, like a loving and caring grandfather would do.
