Mostly Risky, page 2
part #3 of The Women of Ambrose Estate Series
Amelia’s face flushed a pretty pink. “Not in those words exactly. But that’s the gist of it.”
“Wow, Mills, that’s all so . . . clinical.”
She looked away and bit her lip again.
Grigg knew he should feel bad about the tone of his voice, which definitely had an edge to it. But he didn’t want to see Amelia throwing herself at anyone, let alone to any of those five names on her list. None of which Grigg had been particularly impressed with. Not that Amelia had asked his opinion on any of them when she dated them. And he wasn’t her older brother or her true cousin. But they were friends nonetheless, right?
He’d given her dating advice, and she’d given him dating advice. Of course his dating advice to her never went anywhere, because she would only date for a few weeks, maybe a couple months, and then as things started to get a little serious, she’d bail. As far as Grigg went, he mostly pretended he was dating longer than he actually was. Sure, he’d go out with a woman once, maybe twice, and end things before he told Amelia they were over. He didn’t want her to think he was a playboy. Because he was far from that. He was a one-woman kind of guy. And had been for the past two years. The problem was, the woman he was most interested in on this planet wouldn’t even consider going out with him on a single date.
Right now, it seemed that the floodgates were about to open for Amelia’s dating life, starting with this list. Grigg couldn’t really believe that one of these five men had the potential to be Amelia’s happily ever after. Of course he could be wrong, but if her mind frame had changed about dating in general, then what opportunities might befall her out there, beyond the glass windows of this office building? He’d seen her flirt. He’d seen her turn down offers of lunch, offers of dinner, offers of drinks. Some of them from their own clients. Some of them at meet and greets, socials, events, or conferences. He’d seen her hold back when she was interested in getting to know a man better, and he’d seen her hesitation over and over. Yeah, he felt sorry for her. But really, he felt selfish. Because the longer she didn’t date anyone else, the longer he could have her to himself. Even though their relationship had only been in the friend zone.
Right now, he found himself between a rock and a hard place. Amelia was about to go out there into the Wild West of dating. Did she even have dating apps on her phone? Amelia Ambrose was beautiful, talented, witty . . . Did he mention beautiful? Oh, and she was also filthy rich. If this had been the 19th century she would have been possibly the most eligible woman in the country. The only other exceptions would have been the rest of the Ambrose sisters, none of whom Grigg had had the opportunity to meet yet. But by listening to a dozen stories, he had learned enough about the savvy, smart women to know that if they were even one-tenth the quality of Amelia, they were also dynamic catches. Any man would be fortunate to be part of their lives.
Grigg exhaled. He had the feeling that he needed to tread carefully. If Amelia was set on this course, then he knew more than anyone else that she would head down it. She might have had plenty of seed money to start this investment firm, but it was her intellect that kept it running successfully.
So if he tried to stop her or discourage her, then she would separate from him. And not include him in her personal affairs again. But if Grigg was supportive, could he stand to watch her make these phone calls, report back about her dates, and possibly fall in love?
“Hey,” Grigg said in a soft voice. “I’m just, uh, surprised you’d want to see B Tots again. I mean, doesn’t that guy drink spinach juice for breakfast?”
The edge of her mouth lifted.
“But hey, if it’s Popeye you want, then maybe we could go out on a double date or something,” Grigg said. Where is this coming from? The last thing he wanted was a front-row seat to Amelia’s dating life. But then again, that was exactly what he wanted. He wanted to be with her every chance he got. Even if it meant on a double date. It seemed he was a glutton for punishment. Because the answer was yes: he wanted to stay in the passenger seat, next to Amelia’s life, for as long as he could.
“A double date, huh?” she asked, her smile returning.
Grigg’s heart might have betrayed him and flipped a time or two. “Yep. That’s what I said.”
“So you can give me your opinion after the date?” she said. “Let me know if you approve?”
Grigg leaned back in his chair. He stretched out his legs in front of him and crossed his ankles. Then he said in the most nonchalant way possible, “Yeah, I figure we’re pretty good friends. We’ve been working together a long time. And I might know a little something about who would make you happy. And what would make you happy. So I could meet up with you guys with my own date. And then after, we can see if B Tots stays on your list.”
“And what about the other guys?” she said, her blue eyes the color of a mountain lake.
Grigg merely tilted his head and smiled. “I’m all in, cuz.”
Amelia laughed, and Grigg ignored the rush of warmth in his veins. “I think in this case,” she said, “acting like we’re cousins will be to our advantage.”
Grigg smiled, because really it was against what he wanted to do. He wasn’t sure exactly what he had just gotten himself into. What he had just committed to. He just hoped he wouldn’t regret it.
Bryce called Amelia back at 10:00 p.m. She was both surprised and pleased. Once Grigg left the office earlier that night, Amelia had battled between feeling like a fool and feeling a strange sense of excitement. Was her life really going to move to the next level? She was only twenty-four, but she’d already reconciled herself to living like her sisters. Single. Single. Single. But now, Amelia had two half sisters who had found men to love and to love them in return.
“Amelia!” Bryce said the second she answered. “It’s been a really long time. How are you?”
Amelia turned off the television. She hadn’t been watching the latest Netflix series anyway; it was just background noise as she prepared for a meeting with a new client tomorrow. Bateson Cupcakes had sent over their financials, and she wanted to become familiar with them so that their meeting would be as productive as possible.
“Bryce,” she said, keeping her tone light, casual. “How are you? Thanks for calling back. I know this is sort of out of the blue.” She laughed, hoping that Bryce would join her. He did.
“Yeah, you did surprise me, I gotta admit.” He paused. “You still in the Denver area? Financing one entrepreneur at a time?”
“Something like that.” She smiled. It was great to hear Bryce’s voice. His tone was low and warm, and she’d forgotten how much she loved talking to him during the late nights when they were both winding down from busy days. In fact, ten o’clock was sort of like their time. Ironic now. “I’m still in Denver. Most days.”
“A woman always on the run,” he said, and she heard the smile in his voice. “So what’s new with you?”
In other words, he wanted to know why she called him. It was a fair question. So she dove right in. “Business is about the same. Busy as usual. But, like I said in my message, you’ve been on my mind for some reason. And I realize now that I probably ended things between us before I really gave you a chance. I guess I regret it.”
Bryce didn’t say anything, and Amelia worried she might have made a huge mistake.
“Sorry, that was pretty bold of me. I mean, you might have a girlfriend.” She closed her eyes and exhaled. “Heck, you might be engaged. Or even married?” She left it as a question because he still wasn’t speaking.
Another awkward silence.
“Look, Amelia,” Bryce said at last, “you’re a great woman. Beautiful. Of course you know that, since I used to tell you all the time. But I’m getting the feeling that you’re in a tough spot for whatever reason, and you think I’m going to bail you out. Maybe fill in some lonely hours that you’re experiencing. But honestly, I’m pretty happy where I’m at right now. And yeah, I am dating someone, but it’s just the beginning. So nothing serious right now.”
Amelia’s face was surely bright red. Her stomach turned, and she felt like she wouldn’t mind being swallowed up by the floor right about now. Was it possible to rewind time, for even five minutes? Was that too hard to ask with all the scientific advances in the world? There were movies about time machines. What were they based on? Science? Or imagination? And now she had to backtrack. Big time.
“I’m not surprised,” she said. “Not surprised at all. I mean, you’re a great guy, Bryce. Always were. I’m glad we talked, and please know that I wish you all the best, whether dating this woman turns into something more or you end up meeting someone else special down the road.” Was her voice shaky now too? Had Bryce noticed? Was she going to cry?
“Thanks, Amelia.” His tone sounded resigned. “It’s great to hear from you as well. And honestly, I’m glad you called. I think about you sometimes too, and I won’t deny that I kind of wondered if things would have been different between us, if . . . Well, you know.”
“If I hadn’t ghosted you,” Amelia finished. “Well, you’ll be glad to know that I’ve matured a little. Hopefully for the better.”
Bryce chuckled. “I don’t think you were immature. I think you were looking for something else. Someone else. And I don’t take any offense to that. The attraction has to be mutual.”
“Lack of attraction wasn’t ever the problem between us,” Amelia said. “Believe me. You’re a beautiful person too. Thanks for everything, Bryce.”
When they finally hung up, Amelia didn’t feel like she was going to cry anymore. The nervous shaking had stopped, and in fact, she was a bit relieved. Bryce was a nice guy; he was a great guy. And he’d moved on. That was what was supposed to happen. People break up, and people move on. That was the healthy thing to do.
She picked up the list of five names. Bryce had been at the top, and now she’d cross him off. She leaned her head back on the couch, closed her eyes, and thought about the next name on her list. Clint. He traveled frequently to the East Coast, so if he was there, it would be pretty late. And a midnight phone call wouldn’t be welcome, even though he was a baseball junkie and was likely watching some late baseball game right now. She also knew enough not to disturb him while he watched baseball, unless she wanted to talk about the game.
Well, being a workaholic didn’t exactly earn a girl a lot of friends. So instead of calling a girlfriend and talking about the embarrassing phone call with Bryce, she called Grigg. It seemed he was the next best thing.
The phone had already rung twice before she realized maybe she shouldn’t be calling Grigg at this time of night. It wasn’t too long after ten, but it was still late by any casual standards. Definitely too late for a work call. Of course Grigg knew her schedule, which was pretty much work anytime night or day. Still. She was about to hang up when she heard his voice.
“Hey, Mills,” Grigg answered. “What did B Tots say?”
“Bryce. And how do you know I already talked to him?” Amelia asked.
“I’m just that good,” Grigg said. “Either that or I put two and two together.”
“And what would that be?”
“First of all, you’re calling me after ten.” She heard something rustle. A wrapper? Had he been eating? Was he even alone?
“And what’s the second thing?” she prompted.
“Even though I don’t exactly approve of B Tots, I seriously doubt he would have waited more than a couple hours to call you back.” Grigg chuckled. “I mean, he is a man, and you are a beautiful woman.”
Now, Amelia didn’t think twice about Grigg calling her beautiful. Giving compliments was part of his language. He said a lot of nice things to a lot of people, including herself. And yes, he’d called her beautiful plenty of times. In fact, that used to be one of his nicknames for her, until she had put a firm stop to it.
“It seems you’re right on both counts.” She shifted on the couch and pulled her feet up.
“Then don’t hold me in suspense, cuz. What’s the time and place of our double date? And do you think if I wore a suit, it would be too much?”
Amelia laughed. Grigg only wore a suit when absolutely required. In fact he had lobbied for a company rule to have all client meetings on Mondays and Tuesdays, which would mean that the rest of the week he could wear his khakis and button-down shirts. That had not gotten approved, and it wasn’t because Amelia had wanted to vote no. It was because her company accepted most walk-in clients, and some of those turned into impromptu meetings with either her or Grigg.
After all, their firm had a reputation to uphold. Efficient, professional, and fair.
“Here’s the thing,” Amelia said. “Bryce is dating someone, so I pretty much made a fool out of myself.”
“Oh.”
“Is that all you’re going to say?” Amelia asked.
“I think I am speechless,” Grigg said, his voice sounding strangely like he was trying not to laugh.
“Laughing at me is not considered speechless,” Amelia said. “I mean, it was an honest mistake.”
“I’m not laughing at you, Mills,” Grigg said. “At least not in the way you think I am.”
The thing with Grigg was that it was hard not to smile when he laughed. He had one of those deep, rumbling, contagious laughs. Despite herself, a smile crept its way onto her face.
“And for the record, cuz, whatever B Tots has going on, he’s missing out by turning you down.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you’d make a good mom?”
Grigg didn’t hide his laughter now. It was a running joke between them. Whenever they were either annoyed at each other or wanting to give a backhanded compliment, they brought in the mom card.
“Why? Because I’m trying to make you feel better?”
“Yes, exactly. Mom.”
“Well, if moms speak the truth, then I’ll own the title,” he said. “Maybe I should start wearing a T-shirt about how awesome moms are.”
Amelia snickered. “I’m not going to dare you to do it, because somehow I think you would.”
“It seems you make me do a lot of things I normally would not,” Grigg said. “Such as going on a double date. Who’s up next on your list? Hayden?”
“No, Clint.”
“Ah, Mr. Baseball Stats,” Grigg said in a smooth tone. “Think he could work you in? I mean, it’s the middle of the season.”
He was right, but still. “Lunch date?”
Grigg’s laughter was warm, reaching through the phone like a friendly hug. “Mills, these men won’t know what’s hit them. I feel sorry for the poor sap whose heart is going to get broken next.”
Amelia straightened up at this. “What do you mean? I’m totally open to a relationship with one of them. These are my top five ever. Well, top four now. But no one’s heart is going to get broken, because I’m a new woman now.”
“Not to disagree,” Grigg said, “but you’re the same Amelia with or without the curse hanging over you. You have to admit that if you’d really fallen in love with one of them, you would have found a way to make it work no matter what. I mean, you’re Amelia Ambrose, founder of one of the most prestigious investment firms in Denver. Heck, maybe the entire nation.”
“Easy, Grigg,” she said. “I forgot how grandiose you get after your bedtime.”
“Babe, you haven’t seen anything yet.”
Amelia’s breath stalled. Babe. That was a new one. She should ignore it. Move on. She had to think of something, and quick, because she didn’t like the goose bumps spreading across her arms one bit. “Tell me who your date’s going to be? That Melanie woman?”
“Melanie?” His tone sounded confused.
“The blond?”
“Oh, she’s, uh, out of the picture,” he said. “But don’t worry, I’ll find someone, and she’ll probably be a huge baseball nut too. Then you and I can eat their dessert on the sly while they talk about batting averages.”
Amelia giggled. Which told her she was getting too tired to keep up the banter with Grigg. “Sounds like a plan.”
When she hung up with Grigg, Amelia stared at nothing for several moments. Tomorrow she hoped the embarrassment of calling Bryce would fade. But tonight she was going to have to live with it. At least she was no longer in this alone.
It turned out that getting a date at the last minute was not so difficult after all. Grigg had simply asked Maggie on his usual coffee run to Starbucks if she had any lunch plans later that day. He knew she only worked as a barista in the mornings, because she was also a grad student at the University of Denver.
“Is three o’clock your usual lunch hour?” Grigg asked while they walked together to the restaurant that was down the block from the coffee shop.
“Fridays I don’t have classes,” Maggie said. She was about two inches shorter than Grigg. Apparently she had been a volleyball player all through college. So at six foot three she was perhaps the tallest woman he’d ever dated.
Well, dated was not quite the right word. Because this was going to be a one-and-done date. He just hoped that she wouldn’t mess up on his coffee the next time he came in when he didn’t ask her out again.
So here they were, walking to the Italian café where Amelia and Clint would be meeting them.
Truthfully, Grigg was relieved that Bryce had been crossed off the list already. In physical looks, Bryce was hard for any man to compete with. Not that Grigg had a low self-esteem or anything; even he thought Bryce was good-looking. But thankfully, he’d turned Amelia down flat, so only four more were left in the running. Four more to convince to cross off her list.
“So how’s work at your firm going?” Maggie asked.
“Busy as usual,” Grigg said, “but things are going well.” This might be a long lunch, since he and Maggie really knew very little about each other, so it would be awkward if they were talking about basics like number of siblings, favorite color, and favorite foods on a double date.
Whereas, with Clint and Amelia, they were already past that stage, or at least they had been when they’d been dating.
