Summer Temptation (Hot in the Hamptons Book 2) by Wendy S. Marcus Page B

black heels, her eyes red and puffy, and my heart broke. She didn’t look surprised to see me and said nothing as she stepped aside to let me in. After she closed the door, she said, “Kelsey called to tell me you were on the way. I tried to call you but—”
    “I didn’t answer. Nothing you could have said would have stopped me from coming.” I walked toward her. “I’m so sorry to hear about your grandfather.” I gave her a hug. She stood stiffly and didn’t hug me back, not at all like the warm, affectionate Leigh I’d been dating for more than six weeks. A bad sign. I released her.
    “We just got home from my grandfather’s memorial service.”
    “So soon?”
    “Dad wanted it done right away, so like he always does, he made it happen.” She dabbed at her eye with a tissue. “My grandfather’s body will be cremated later today.”
    The doorbell rang. “Damn it. I told him to stay in the car until I could—”
    Leigh opened the door and there stood Murphy, holding the fruit basket he’d insisted I stop to get after he’d insisted on coming with me.
    “Murphy!” Leigh took the fruit basket and thrust it in my direction. “I’m so glad you came.” Then she threw herself into my granddad’s arms and sobbed harder than I’d ever seen a woman cry in my life.
    “There, there.” Murphy patted her back while he looked over her shoulder and gave me one of his, ‘I told you so’ looks.
    Fine. He’d been right. Again.
    Garrett DeGray walked into the entryway, wearing a dark gray suit, asking, “Who’s at the door?”
    “Mr. DeGray.” I held out my hand. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
    “In my home, it’s Garrett.” He shook my hand, his grip firm, glancing toward Leigh and my granddad, then back at me.
    “That’s my grandfather, Murphy Kenzy,” I explained. “He and Leigh have grown close over the past few weeks. He insisted on coming with me.”
    Murphy held out a hand, Leigh still clinging to him, crying. “Nice to meet you.”
    Garrett shook his hand. “Please. Come in. Leigh, let Murphy move.” He turned back to me. “She and her grandfather were very close. She’s taking his passing very hard.” He looked at his daughter with concern and quietly added, “I’ve never seen her this upset. Not even after her mother died.”
    Leigh stepped away from Murphy, wiping her eyes, still sniffling. “I’m sorry.” She took the fruit basket, not making eye contact with any of us. “Thank you for your thoughtful gift. You’ve had a long drive. Please come in.” We followed her to a nice, very upscale sitting room. “Make yourselves comfortable. The bathroom is down the hall on the right.” She pointed. “I’ll go pour us some iced tea.” Then she turned and left the room.
    Typical Leigh, striving to do the right thing and take care of others, but she didn’t have to, not today, not for Murphy and me. “I’ll go help,” I told Garrett, following after her.
    I found Leigh in the huge, modern kitchen, with lots of black and lots of chrome, holding on to the handle of a huge black refrigerator, staring down at the speckled marble countertop, motionless.
    I walked up behind her. “You don’t have to wait on us.”
    She turned, slowly, looking so sad, so lost. I opened my arms and she stepped into them, setting her head to my shoulder. I hugged her tightly. This time she hugged me back. “I know it sounds trite, but everything really is going to be okay.”
    She nodded. “At some point. But right now…” She inhaled a shuddery breath, then let it out. “Right now it doesn’t feel that way.” We stood there for a few minutes. It was as if I could feel her body relaxing in my arms. It felt good.
    “Storme told you,” she said.
    “That you’re pregnant? Yes.”
    “That you’re what?” Garrett DeGray bellowed. “Pregnant?” He grabbed onto the island counter with one hand and clutched his chest with the other.
    “Daddy!” Leigh ran toward him. “Where are your