Grayson Pierce and Eloise Caldwell novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18

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Eloise thought, ‘Despite what Noah said about only needing his mommy, he’s still a child. Deep down, he yearns for a father.

When Grayson held him, his eyes sparkled with a light I rarely see, mixed with a hint of shyness. That is the look a child should have.

With me, Noah often acts like a miniature adult. The thought brought a pang of sorrow to Eloise’s heart.

Forty minutes later, they arrived at the auto body shop. It was a large, well–equipped facility. Eloise’s SUV sat waiting. looking as good as new.

Unsure if there were any additional charges, Eloise approached Grayson. “Do I need to pay for anything else?”

Grayson shook his head. “No charges. But you should buy me lunch.”

Eloise blinked. “What?”

“I helped you,” he continued, his tone reasonable. “Is it too much to ask for a meal in return?”

“No, it’s not,” Eloise conceded, unable to find a logical reason to refuse. “How about today?” She figured it was best to get it over with in one go, minimizing future contact.

“Sure,” Grayson agreed easily.

Eloise suggested, “Alright. It’s almost noon anyway. We’ll find a place after this.”

“Sounds good. Whatever you say,” said Grayson.

Eloise was momentarily speechless. ‘The phrase is eerily familiar

Years ago, when they went out to eat, Grayson’s most frequent response had been, “Whatever you say.”

When she said she wanted to try out the new restaurant in town he said right away, “Whatever you say.”

When she said she wanted to eat at the five–star–rated foreign cuisine, his response was, “Sounds good. Whatever you say.”

Even when ordering, whatever her pick was, he just said, “Sure. Whatever you say. Let’s order that.”

Eloise was pulled deep into the memory, the ghost of a simpler me wrapping around her until Noah’s excited voice broke through her reverie. “Aunt Eloise, look.”

Noah had opened the rear door of her SUV and was pointing inle, his face lit up. “A child safety seat.”

Eloise walked over. Sure enough, a brand–new, high–quality chil safety seat was securely installed in the back. She turned to look for Grayson, finding him a few feet away, seemingly engage in a conversation with one of the shop managers.

Noah whispered, tugging at her sleeve. “Mommy, Mr. Pierce boht it”

Eloise knew. She was surprised by his thoughtfulness. He has in alled one in his Bentley, and now in my car too. Is this specifically for Noah? What does he mean by this?

“What are you thinking about?” Grayson’s voice came from best her, startling her out of her thoughts.

Eloise looked up. He stood tall and solid, backlit by the midday in which cast a faint halo around his broad shoulders.

The image overlapped perfectly with her first memory of him years ago, at the entrance of their old office building in

Ucrevine.

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Chapter 18

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Her files had spilled everywhere. He had stopped and helped her gather them. When she looked up, there he was, a tall silhouette against the light, handing her the stack of papers.

“Here you go,” he had said, his voice a low, magnetic rumble that had sent a shiver down her spine even then.

“Grayson,” Eloise began, forcing herself back to the present. “How much was the car seat? I’ll transfer the money to you.”

A slight frown creased Grayson’s brow, clearly displeased by her offer to pay. He ignored her question entirely, instead walking over to buckle Noah securely into the new seat before climbing into the passenger side of her car.

Sighing internally, Eloise got behind the wheel, deciding to drop the money topic for now. “Mr. Pierce, aren’t you going to drive your own car?”

Grayson’s lie was smooth and immediate. “It needs servicing. You don’t mind if I ride with you, do you?”

Eloise pressed her lips together. ‘Would it matter if I do?’

The corner of Grayson’s mouth quirked up slightly. “Let’s go. I’m hungry.”

Still relatively new to Ekloland, Eloise wasn’t familiar with the restaurant scene. “Mr. Pierce, any recommendations for lunch? I don’t know the area well.”

“Neither do I, to be honest,” Grayson admitted. “But I know someone who does. Hold on.” He pulled out his phone and called Colton.

Colton was a bona fide foodie who had eaten his way through every hidden gem in the city.

He even ran a massively popular food vlog, amassing millions of followers. A Morley, of course, had no need for the income. The blog existed solely out of passion.

Colton recommended a place. Grayson entered the address into the car’s navigation system. It was only about three miles

away.

As Eloise drove, following the GPS directions, Grayson remarked, “Your driving has improved.”

“Yes,” Eloise replied, focused on the road. “I’ve had a lot of practice driving for Mr. Hayes over the last couple of years.”

She found herself reminiscing aloud. “The first time, he’d had a rink and asked me to drive. I was terrified, said I couldn’t. He practically pushed me into the driver’s seat.

“I had no choice but to try. He was incredibly brave to get in a c with a complete novice.”

She had her license but zero real–world experience. Beckett’s fored confidence in her had, over several nerve–wracking trips, actually made her a competent driver.

She realized she’d been chattering and glanced over at Grayson is expression had darkened considerably, his jaw tight “Mr. Pierce? Did I say something wrong? Why do you look upset

Grayson remained silent, staring straight ahead. The thought of other man being the one to share those moments with her, to push her and see her grow, filled him with a bitter jealou

Eloise shrugged. Fine. Be that way. If he wants to sulk, let him not my problemt

From the back seat, Noah had had enough. In his clear, childishoice, he delivered a verdict. “Mr. Pierce, being like this makes people not like you. If you have something to say, just say. Don’t just make a face.”

Grayson hadn’t expected to find himself on the receiving end of child’s disdain. But he couldn’t bring himself to admit he was jealous of Beckett.

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Chapter 18

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