“Come on, Leo. It’ll only take a few minutes.” Anya slipped her arm through her brother’s and they disappeared down the hall.
After watching them, Katrina turned to him. “I’m sorry about them. They’re a handful.”
“They’re awesome kids. Funny, too.”
“They can be. They can also be terrors. Watch your back.”
“Did I mention I have three brothers—and a sister? I think I can handle this.”
“You say that now. You haven’t spent a day with them.”
He put his hands on her upper arms. “You need to relax. Maybe we should stop at a bar for alcohol first.”
“For me or for them?”
“For them, of course. It’s important to get them loaded early in the day. Makes them easier to control.”
This time she laughed. “The thought is tempting.”
“Actually, we could stop and get you a mimosa or something.”
“Even more tempting. It’s been an intense few weeks, and I wasn’t prepared for you to actually show up.”
“Why not? I told you I’d call when I got to New York.”
“I know. I just didn’t expect you to really do it.”
He moved closer, the urge to touch her more tempting than he wanted to admit. “Why? Do men typically flake on you?”
She stepped back. “No. I told you, I don’t … make dates.”
“You mentioned that before. And you should make dates. Obviously you need to get out more.”
“I get out plenty. I travel all the time. When I’m home I like to relax and spend time with the kids.”
“The kids spend a lot of time at home,” Anya said, reappearing. “And we’re ready to get the hell out of here.”
“Anya. Watch your language,” Katrina said.
“Like we’re babies. Please.” Anya grabbed her purse and turned to face them. “So are we going?”
Grant looked to Katrina.
“Hey, you’re in charge today. I’m just along for the ride.”
“Great. I’m going to let Anya and Leo tell me what I should see today as a tourist.”
“You’ve been to New York before, though, right?” Leo asked as they headed out the door.
“Yeah, but I’m in and out and I never spend much time here. It’s always for games or meetings. I’ve hit some hot spots, but I’ve never played tourist or seen the things I think I should.”
“Honestly? We haven’t, either. Most native New Yorkers don’t,” Anya said as they rode down the elevator.
Grant stopped them on the sidewalk. “So you’re saying you don’t want to go? Because we don’t have to.”
“Are you kidding?” Anya asked. “We’re dying to see this stuff. It’s not like we’ve ever been to the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building. We’ve been to all the art museums because that’s educational, of course, and Kat insisted on it. God forbid we be denied culture.”
Katrina shot him a look. “It’s like I’m the devil.” She pinned her sister with a glare. “And for your information, we all went to the Statue of Liberty when we were kids. Mom took us. You and Leo were just too young to remember.”
“So it’s like I was never there, right?” Anya shot back before turning to Grant. “We’re going there today, right?”
He laughed. “Sure. I’ve never been. We have to go.”
Anya shot a smug look over at Leo. “And again, we win.”
They piled into the car Grant had hired for the day. “Where to first?”
“Statue of Liberty, I guess,” Katrina said. “If we can even get in. Those tours book up early in the day. We’ll be lucky to even get one.”
“Oh, I can get us a tour,” Grant said pulling tickets from his shirt pocket. “I took a guess that maybe everyone would want to go there today.”
Leo cracked a smile. “Score.”
“Like always.” Grant grinned.
Katrina shook her head.
“What?” he asked.
“Nothing.”
He could tell she was irritated, but had no idea why. He aimed to change her mood.
Today was going to be a fun time for all of them.
EIGHT
KATRINA HAD GONE INTO THIS WHOLE DAY RELUCTANTLY, and mainly because Leo and Anya were excited about doing the tourist thing. But after spending hours touring the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, then moving on to the Empire State Building, and seeing the sparkle of excitement on their faces, she finally admitted defeat.
There was a magic quality about Grant Cassidy that she obviously did not possess, because while Leo and Anya were mesmerized by him, they pretty much wanted nothing to do with her. He brought out the fun in her siblings, got them to laugh and relax, and she was clearly unable to do that. With her, they were sullen and bitchy and rebellious. With him, they said yes to everything he suggested, no matter what it was.
She chalked it up to the “new” factor, and also because they liked being contrary. If she disliked something, they were bound and determined to love it.
Whatever.
“I’ve always wanted to get a hot dog from one of these corner vendors. What do you think?” Grant asked as they strolled near Central Park.
This was where her finicky brother and sister would draw the line. This was where they’d dig in their heels and say no, especially Anya, who prided herself on her culinary skill and wouldn’t be caught dead eating food from one of those vendors.