“It's going to be a fun time,” Carrie said before covering a yawn and pushing her chair back. “Drake and I have been up since four o'clock, so we'll see everyone tomorrow sometime after breakfast.”
“I'm going to head out too. I still need to finish unpacking,” Olivia, Ivy's cousin, said, following Carrie's lead and pushing her chair back.
Within a few minutes, only Tory, Duncan, and Grant remained at the table with the future Mr. and Mrs. Turner.
“Do you still want to go for a walk on the beach, Tory?”
She nodded as she gathered up her nifty laminated itinerary—only Ivy would print out the schedule on stationary decorated with pink roses and laminate it—and her present. “I want to bring these up to our room first.”
Grant once again shot daggers in Duncan's direction.
Tory waited for Duncan to push his chair in before taking his hand. “Duncan and I are going to visit the fort next door after breakfast. Afterward, we'll join everyone at the beach.”
“Take your time. Tomorrow is all about relaxing,” Ivy said.
The elevator door opened just as she heard Grant call out to her. Tory briefly considered acting like she hadn't heard him and just getting inside. But she knew Grant. All that would do was postpone the conversation.
“So close,” Duncan whispered in her ear as he put an arm over her shoulders and pulled her against his side.
“Tory, I stopped by your room before dinner, but you weren't there. I hoped we could talk.”
“How did… never mind,” Tory said, remembering Ivy had sent her a list of where everyone’s room in the resort was located—a list she hadn’t bothered to open. If she’d sent it to Tory, she’d sent it to everyone in the wedding party. “I’m here now, and I’m listening.”
Grant’s gaze moved to Duncan. “Can we talk alone?”
Other than being annoyed, she saw no harm in talking to him. “Duncan, do you mind bringing this stuff up to our suite while Grant and I talk? And then meet me back here so we can go to the beach.”
Grant clenched his jaw as Duncan kissed her temple and accepted the items she held out. “Sure. I’ll be right back.”
So they weren’t in the way of other guests, she walked to the bench opposite the elevators and sat.
“We could've gone up to my room. We'd have more privacy there.” Grant sat close to her, and Tory immediately put some space between them.
Shrugging, she glanced around. At the moment, the area was empty except for the woman leaving the middle elevator and walking away. “No one will bother us here.”
The muscle in his cheek twitched, but Grant didn't argue. “I didn't know you were bringing someone this week.”
Well, that wasn't the opening she'd expected. She'd assumed Ivy had mentioned it to Grant. The man was no stranger at their house.
“I hoped we could spend this week working on our relationship.”
“Grant, we've been over this. We're not right for each other, so we have nothing to work on this week or ever.”
“Of course we are. We have many of the same friends. Our families have been close forever. They even have homes near each other.”
“You're right about those things, and maybe that's enough for you, but it isn't enough for me. I want someone who shares some of my interests. Someone who makes me smile and will watch old black-and-white TV shows with me.” Something Grant had always refused to do.
“How can you know if Duncan is ‘right’ for you?” Grant asked, making air quotes. “You've only known the guy for, what, a month? If even that long.”
“I have known Duncan since high school.” How long she'd known someone wasn't any of Grant's business, but she rattled off the story she and Duncan had agreed upon after the auction.
“Fine. You've known him a long time. But that doesn't mean you're right for each other the way we are.” Grant gestured back and forth between them before placing a hand on her shoulder.
Annoyed, she wanted to stomp her foot because the man once again refused to listen. But instead, she removed Grant's hand and counted to ten rather than tell him he was being a stubborn jerk.
“Tory, come on, be reasonable. We belong together. I know it. Both of our families know it, and if you give us another chance, you'll realize it too.” Once again, he reached out as if to touch her, but she moved, putting herself just out of his reach.
How many more times do I need to tell you this?“You and our families can believe whatever you want, Grant. But I know we're not right for each other.” She pointed toward herself to emphasize her point. “That's all that matters to me.”