Chapter 20
“Do I what?” He asked in surprise.
“Do you hog the blankets? If you don’t then of course you can sleep with me. But if you’re a blanket hog, then you’ll have to take the couch.” I kept a solemn expression on my face, as though I was really serious about the blanket issue.
Bradley held up his hand in the ‘scout’s honor‘ position and replied. “I promise you I am not a blanket hog. And as long as I can spoon you, the blankets won’t matter, because I’ll keep your toasty warm.”
That did it. I couldn’t hold back my laughter. This man was too much. I don’t care if it’s four days, four weeks, four months, or four years, this man was made for me. I was going to trust him. Marry him. Live with him. And love him.
I
“Then I guess you’re sleeping with me, then. Bradley’s face lit up with a megawatt smile.
Dear God in heaven. My heart skipped a beat, and it felt like my bones melted under the warmth of that smile. How had some woman not snatched him up before now? How did I get so lucky?
I must have spoken that out loud because he stopped laughing. “Like you, Red. I haven’t dated. much, or
had a serious relationship. I’m not going to lie, though I’ve never been in a serious relationship, I have engaged in casual s*x, mostly while in university. An occasional hookup a few times since. And none in the past eighteen months. I’ve been checked, I’m clean. You don’t have to worry about catching anything.”
Oh, man. This got real serious real fast. I could feel my eyes widen in disbelief of how quickly Bradley was comfortable with discussing his past intimate life.
“Funny thing, I was talking to your grandparents a year and a half ago, and they asked me if I had though about marriage and a family. I told them I wanted to find a woman that connected with me on every level. I wanted a woman who not only wanted me to be her husband, but the father to her children. I wanted a woman that could make me laugh, make me feel protective, make me believe that I was her everything. I want to make her feel the same about me.”
for me was out there
“Your grandmother said that I had to be patient. That the right woman but hadn’t yet crossed my path as an adult. She told me that woman would be smart, funny, and fiery. I didn’t think that woman existed. Until I met you again on Monday. I was so taken. with you. With your intelligence, your humor, with your fiery red hair. And it hit me. She was talking about you.”
Chapter 20
I
That sneaky witch. I don’t mean that in a bad way, at all. I loved my grandmother dearly. But there were times she knew things that no one could know. Almost like she knew what was going to happen. Or maybe she subtly influenced people or events to align with what she thought should be. Whatever it was, she knew things. Grandfather used to affectionately call her “his little witch.”
“Bradley, when exactly did you have that conversation with my grandparents?” I asked, curious if it coincided with one of my visits that happened around eighteen monts ago.
“Mmm, I do believe it was in February of last year. Why?“His brow was furrowed in puzzlement.
“Oh, just something my grandmother said to me the weekend before valentines day that year. We were talking about love, marriage, babies, and all that stuff. She knew I didn’t date. Laughed and told me I was waiting for my snickerdoodle boy. I now suspect she was talking about you, Bradley Gray.”
“I swear, your grandmother was a witch! How did she know that? Do you know she was the one that told me when and where to open my company? Even suggested that getting involved in the tech industry was the way to go. She said I would make a killing with the programs |– was developing. Another time, she suggested that I invest in an up and coming startup company, that has now gone on to one of the most lucrative investments I’ve ever made. Pushed me into the billionaire status, it did.”
I had to shake my head. Two weeks before my grandmother passed away from cancer, we had been talking about the way most business operate. I had mentioned that I believed most people put more effort into their career when they were able to share in the profits. She said there was a difference between a job and a career. Somebody pays you to do a job, but you have a career when you can pay yourself. But not everyone can work for themselves, as they don’t have the financial backing to get established. It was at that point I though of the business model that will soon become Graystone International.
Then it hit me. What Bradley just said about being pushed into billionaire status. “Wait, what? You’re a billionaire? How long ago did you start your company?”
“I was twenty–three when I established Gray Industries. I had a tremendous amount of help from your grandparents. You had just left for university in Nova Scotia, I had just moved back to Toronto, and your grandparents needed something to fill their time. So they helped me with
contacts, introduced me to some of their business partners, even arranged a substantial business loan. I had that loan paid back with interest within five years. They owned ten percent of the shares in Gray Industries. Come to think of it, you probably now own those
shares.”
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I was saved from commenting when a loud knock on the door startled me. Bradley stood up and moved to the door, suspecting it was his PA., Victor, with the suitcase of Bradley’s clothes. And he was right. Victor wasn’t anything like I expected, not that I really had much time to think about it. Victor was huge! Not in the overweight sloppy dude kind of way. But huge in the s
six foot four inches tall, well muscled, extremely fit kind of way. Jenna was going to love him!
Bradley made introductions, and I invited Victor to in us for a drink. I had ordered two bottles of wine to be delivered with our evening meal, so I asked if he wanted the hard stuff or a glass
of wine.
Victor looked in the direction I indicated and upon spying the Pinot Noir, was quick to ask for a glass of it. Bradley did the host duties and poured a glass for each of us. Once we were seated and comfy, Bradley brought up the upcoming trip to Halifax, suggesting Victor join us. Something told me that Victor was more than a PA. He had all the attributes of a bodyguard. Victor instantly agreed to the trip.
Especially when, at Bradley’s urging, I played the video of Jenna as she disabled my entry keypad at the house.
I watched Victor’s reaction with delight. “Holy frig! She is freaking gorgeous! Is she married,
engaged, dating, single? Have you got any othe pictures of her?”
Bradley and I exchanged smirks as we listened to this huge man gush over the video of
Jenna. I opened the photos folder on my laptop and brought up the album that contained the
photos of Jenna and my day at Lawrencetown Beach. She spent most of the afternoon in and
out of the water, wearing a two piece swimsuit that displayed all her well–toned assets.
“Brad, that woman right there is my future wife. Mark my words.” Victor’s voice sounded a bit
husky. I think someone is smitten.
“Her name is Jenna Carmichael, she is twenty–five, single, a very successful real estate agent
with a national company. She is a black belt in taekwondo, swims like a dolphin, is an
amazing cook, loves kids, is a blast to hang out with, and any man would be blessed to have
her in his life, and a fool if he let her go.” Hey, I might as well give the guy enough info to get
him out of the starting gate. After that it’s up to him.
sup
“I have one more question, Anna. What time is the flight? I can be packed and ready to leave
when you are. As a matter of fact, I will meet you and Bradley here at ten in the morning. Is she going to be your Maid of Honor? I’m Brad’s Best Man. Maybe she can fly back with us next week.”
The man continued to talk and plan, already imagining a future with Jenna. Two hours later,
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the second bottle of wine gone, and I insisted he take a cab home. I don’t know if it was the
alcohol, the lack of oxygen from hardly stopping talking long enough to draw a breath, or if it was just anticipation. But the dude was clearly feeling no pain.
“See you here at ten. Victor called as he left the suite to go home.
