“I can deal with the press. I’ve been doing it for years. It’s you I’m worried about.”
“If you’re that worried, maybe you can get the hell out of here before we all get mobbed.” Ashleigh climbed in and shut the door with a bang.
“I changed my mind,” Gray told Maddie. “I do kind of like her. The same way I kind of like Hannibal Lecter.”
“Get out, rockstar.”
He grinned. He couldn’t imagine a time when he wouldn’t enjoy messing with Ashleigh. Maybe that was a good thing. Whether Maddie knew it or not, he was planning on being around for a while.
* * *
“Your father’s in the study,” Aunt Gina told him as Gray walked through the kitchen door. “You might want to tell him you’re home.”
Gray let out a mouthful of air. The last thing he needed was another confrontation with his dad. And he knew this would be a confrontation. There were cars haphazardly parked up the road, and a group of journalists and photographers milling around the end of the driveway. They hadn’t spotted him come home, thanks to the back route through the woods, but it was only a matter of time before they came and knocked at the door again.
“I’ll go see him.”
“I warned Becca about all those cars out there. She’s staying with her friend Ellie tonight,” Aunt Gina said, untying the apron she’d been wearing to clean the dishes. “I’m heading over to Jenny Clark’s place. We’re all taking turns sitting with her.”
Another thing he was responsible for. “Should I pay for a hotel room for Maddie’s mom until things die down?”
Aunt Gina’s face softened. She walked forward and reached up to pat his cheek. “You’re a good boy, you know that? But no, Jenny prefers to stay in her house. She knows where everything is there. It’s adapted for her. She’ll wait them out. She has plenty of time.” Her expression turned grim. “And if they try to mess with her, they’ll have to get through us.”
Gray walked into his father’s study a couple of minutes later.
His dad glanced up from the newspaper he’d been reading. “I see you’ve caused mayhem outside.”
Gray leaned against the doorjamb, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “You don’t need to worry. They’ll be gone by tomorrow. I’m heading to L.A.”
“You’re leaving?”
“For a few days. There are some things I need to do.”
“Hmm.”
“I have an interview. To talk about me and Maddie Clark.”
“Your relationships are giving me whiplash. It doesn’t seem that long ago that you and Ashleigh were dating.”
Gray figured he might as well get used to talking to a hostile audience. “I dated Ashleigh when I was a kid. But Maddie’s the woman I’ve fallen for.”
“Right.” His dad carefully folded his newspaper, pushing it aside to give Gray his full attention. “And are you planning on breaking this Clark girl’s heart, too? One might be seen as a mistake. Two looks like you’re targeting the family.”
“I’m not planning on hurting her at all. I’m in love with her.”
His father’s brow lifted. “Ah. That sounds messy.”
“I’m not expecting your blessing,” Gray told him. “I’ve learned over the years to live without that. I just want you to know, in case you hear people talking.”
“I don’t listen to gossip.”
“I know that.”
His dad pushed himself to standing, wincing as his knees cracked. With his palms flat on his desk, he leaned forward, his eyes catching Gray’s. “I know you think I’ve been hard on you.”
“I don’t think it, I know it. You busted my ass constantly as a kid. And as an adult. Why do you think I never came home all these years?”
His dad winced. “There’s a reason for that. Life’s hard, Gray. Damn hard. I wanted you and your brothers to be tough enough to take it. God knows I wish somebody had taught me that.”