Playing with Mr. Grant (The Men #10)

“LA is where my mother lives.”

His eyes soften a touch. “Then you’ll be able to spend some time with her.”

“I will.” I nod, my heart fluttering as I soak in the magnitude of what this means. I haven’t seen my mother in months. And I’ve never been to her place in LA. She’s given me tours on video calls, but to actually be there in person with her will be incredible.

Jet strides over and packs away my laptop for me where my hands have ceased working.

“You ready to go?”

“I think so… I mean, yes. Yes!”

His eyes hold mine and something warm passes through the blue.

“Good. Then let’s go.”

“Are you getting out?” Jet arches a brow at me across the back seat.

I turn back to the door that his driver is holding open for me. “Um, yeah.”

I take in the white two-story house with terracotta roof tiles. It’s pretty, with a well-tended lawn out front and a path leading up from the sidewalk. I can’t believe Mum is inside. That I’ll be hugging her in a few minutes. I’m so excited, yet I’m struggling to make my legs move.

The sound of Jet’s door opening and closing makes me jump, then he’s standing at my door in his driver’s place.

“Come on, Ava.”

I climb out of the car, straightening my dress as Jet takes my suitcase and motions for me to go first up the path. He follows me up the path, wheeling my suitcase. The door flies open before I reach it and then she’s there.

“Mum!” I run into her outstretched arms.

“My darling, darling girl.” She squeezes me and strokes the back of my head. “Let me look at you.”

She holds the top of my arms and moves back, her face lighting up into her movie-worthy smile as she takes me in.

“My darling, you look so well and happy. I can’t believe you’re here.”

“I can’t believe it, either.” I grin. “You look amazing, Mum.”

“It’s the oxygen facials.” She drops her hand and performs a twirl, the fabric of her white, embroidered kaftan dress swishing around her legs. “And a new dress.”

Her gaze moves over my shoulder, and I follow it to Jet.

“Mum, this is Jet. Magnus’s son. We’ve been traveling together. I was helping him work.”

It’s a lie. That might have been the reason this all began. But I’ve done nothing that resembles actual work.

I’ve just been a distraction.

Jet greets my mother with a newfound charm I’ve never noticed before. He even makes it look like he’s smiling. But it’s polite, practiced.

“So lovely to meet you, Zena,” he says smoothly as my mother swoons.

He turns to me, holding my case out.

“Ava, I’m needed in the office. I’m sure you and your mother have lots you’d like to do together.”

I beam at Mum. “We do.”

She takes my case from Jet and smiles. “Thank you for looking after my daughter and bringing her to LA. I’ve been wanting her to come for years.”