“I don’t think so. You don’t give yourself enough credit. I’m not sure I would have done the same thing. At seventeen all I wanted to do was play sports and party. The thought of that much responsibility—of having to raise my siblings?” He dragged his fingers through his hair. “No way in hell would I have been able to take that on.”
She smiled at him, and it was like the sky had lit up. “Oh, I don’t know, Grant. You don’t know what you’re capable of until you’re backed into a corner. I’m sure you would have done the same thing.”
He thought about his brothers. Hellions, all of them. A lot like him. He wasn’t the oldest, Flynn was. But still, with three brothers? Plus a little sister? Could he have done it? He didn’t know.
Hell, he did know. No way.
“Maybe. I’ll never know because I have two parents who raised me, and I lived a very comfortable life.”
“Then you’re very lucky.”
“Goddamn right I am. And you just made me realize how very lucky I am. And how very special you are for what you’ve done.”
“I didn’t tell you that story to make you admire me, Grant. I shouldn’t have told you at all.”
She was uncomfortable. Embarrassed, even. He had no idea why. “I’m glad you told me. It’s nice getting to know you.”
She shook her head. “I never tell anyone about that.”
The waitress came and took their plates. “Can I get you something else?”
“No, I’m fine, thank you,” she said, and started to gather her things, sliding them into her bag. “I should go.”
“Wait. What?” He signed the ticket, charging the meal to his room. “Why are you leaving?”
“I’ve told you enough.” She stood. “Too much.”
She hurried away. Grant followed, though she was hard to keep up with because she was practically running.
“Katrina, wait.”
She ignored him, so he hustled to catch up with her, grasping her arm as she made it down the walkway in between the restaurant and the cabanas.
“Stop. Talk to me.”
She wouldn’t make eye contact. She had her arms wrapped around her bag.
“Hey. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable, if I made you say something you didn’t want to say.”
She lifted her gaze to him. “I never tell anyone about my past—about the kids. That’s … private. I don’t know why I told you.”
He took her elbow and led her down toward the beach, where it was quiet. Fortunately, she came willingly. Whatever was bothering her was clearly upsetting. “I’m glad you did, but don’t worry. I’m not planning to broadcast it to anyone.”
“I don’t like those models with those sad backstories, you know? They use it to get media attention and that’s just not me.” She slung her bag over her shoulder, seeming a little more relaxed now. “I want my work to speak for itself. And I need to protect the kids. They have enough to deal with without having the media hounding them.”
He grinned as they walked along the beach. She glared at him.
“What?”
“You go all protective mama bear when you talk about Anya and Leo.”
“Shut up. I do not.” But her lips tilted upward. “Okay, maybe I do. You don’t even know what it’s like—” She stopped herself. “Right. Of course you know what it’s like.”
“Is that why you don’t date anyone famous? To keep the cameras away?”
“I have enough cameras on me in my work. I need to keep them out of my personal life. And it’s not like I’m going to meet a guy at the corner coffee shop.”
He nodded. “You are a little intimidating. You probably scare the shit out of men.”
She stilled, then turned to face him. “I do not. I’m very nice.”
He pinned her with a look. “Yeah, you were all warm and welcoming when I took a seat at your table tonight.”
“That was different. You barged in on my time with my favorite book.”
“Duly noted. Don’t get between you and your books. Otherwise you’re totally approachable.”
“Okay, maybe not so much. It’s not that I don’t date anyone famous. I don’t date … anyone.”
He pulled her to a sitting spot on the sand. “Okay, now I find that hard to believe. You’re young, you’re beautiful, and well traveled. This is the time of your life you should be dating your ass off. And you’re telling me you don’t go out. Why not?”
She shrugged and stared out over the ocean. “I don’t have time.”
“Okay. I get that you’re busy, and you’re in high demand. But you get time off.”
“I spend my time off with the kids.”
“They’re teenagers and likely want to spend their time off with their friends.”
She didn’t answer.
“I’m right, aren’t I?”
She still didn’t answer, but that gave him time to study her profile. A lot of women didn’t like to be viewed at certain angles. Especially the models he’d dated. There were all these angles they’d preferred. Something about head-on being their most attractive feature, or they liked gazing into his eyes, or some such bullshit. Katrina didn’t have a problem giving him her profile. And why not? She was stunning from any angle. Or maybe she just didn’t want to make eye contact with him, because he was hitting too close to the truth.