“I think it is. I’m fine with taking things slow, Kat. And it’s nobody’s business—including your sister’s—what’s going on between us.” He cupped her foot, began to rub it. Just a simple gesture but it fired up the heat of pleasure, and also relaxed her at the same time.
Decision made, she supposed.
“I guess we’re going to Texas, then.”
He looked up at her and the fire she saw in his eyes flamed her.
“Glad to hear it.”
She wasn’t sure if she’d just made a good decision, or a really bad mistake.
She supposed she’d find out in the next week.
In the meantime, Grant pulled her down and covered her body with his, his kiss smoldering hot, awakening the fire that was always barely banked around him.
Then all thoughts of anything but him went entirely up in flames.
TWENTY-FIVE
“TELL ME ABOUT YOUR FAMILY,” KATRINA SAID AS THEY made the drive from the airport to the ranch.
Grant’s game had been Saturday night, and they’d left town early Sunday morning, because Grant wanted to maximize the time they could spend at the ranch. It was a lengthy drive, but fun. Grant had talked a lot to Leo about the mechanics of football and how to get himself in shape. Katrina had enjoyed listening to their conversation. He and Anya chatted about music. The man had very eclectic taste.
They’d stopped at a mall so Anya and Katrina could do some shopping for more clothes, and they’d still had plenty of time left to get there, since the ranch was only about fifty miles from Austin.
“I already told you I have three other brothers. Flynn is the oldest. I’m second oldest. Then there’s Tucker and Barrett, the twins. And Mia, the youngest.”
“And your dad is Easton Cassidy,” Leo said. “He went to school at Texas, was drafted in the second round by Green Bay, and played his entire career there as quarterback. Fifteen seasons. Won two Super Bowls, too.”
Grant laughed. “You know your football, kid.”
“Who wouldn’t know about your dad? He’s a legend.”
Easton Cassidy was more than a legend, at least to Grant. He had always just been Dad, the guy whose shoulders he had ridden on when he was a kid, and the man who broke up the fights he’d had with his brothers.
When his dad spoke, everyone listened.
Okay, everyone but Mom. Because as powerful a man as Easton Cassidy was, Lydia Cassidy was even more formidable.
“Yeah, he was a great football player. He’s an even better father. He set a strong example of responsibility and honor and how to treat a woman. I’ve tried very hard to follow his example. Of course it helped that he married one hell of an amazing woman, who set some pretty fine examples herself.”
“Tell me about your mom,” Katrina said.
“Her name is Lydia. She was an attorney. She gave up her career after the twins were born and Mom and Dad bought the ranch. She decided she was a lot happier running after us crazy kids than she was dealing with the courtroom.”
“What kind of law did she practice?”
“She was a prosecutor. Damn good at it, too. But it demanded a lot of her time and Dad kept getting her pregnant.”
Katrina laughed. “I’m guessing he didn’t get her pregnant against her will, but that she likely wanted a lot of kids.”
“Okay, yeah. She did. I think you’ll really like her. She’s super smart, like you.”
“That’s a very nice thing to say, Grant. Thank you.”
“It’s the truth.”
As they made the drive through the Double C’s gates, Grant felt a pull, as always. No matter where he lived, this was always home to him. It represented family.
The dirt road blew up dust along the side of the car. He slowed down, navigating the bumps, hoping he wasn’t jostling his passengers too much.
“This. Is. Amazing,” Anya said. “So much space. Do you know how much land there is to roam around in New York City? None. Not at all.”
“That’s not true. There are plenty of places to get out and walk. And there’s Central Park,” Katrina said.
Leo snorted. “That’s not what I would call land, Kat. How many acres do your parents have here, Grant?”
“About four hundred acres. You can do plenty of roaming around while you’re here.”
“Freakin’ awesome,” Anya said.
The dirt road turned onto the paved one about a quarter mile from the house.
“Wow,” Katrina said as she spied the house up ahead.