Pleasure roared through him as she bit down on her lower lip. Color flooded her cheeks and for a second he pondered what might happen if his awareness was reciprocated.
Paul ruthlessly swept such musing aside. What did it matter if she was attracted to him? But then he dialed back his annoyance. Could he use it to his advantage?
His thoughts must’ve shown on his face because a wary frown drew Lia’s eyebrows together. Irritated that he’d given himself away, Paul scowled in return. With a grimace she shifted her attention to Grady. Her smile brightened with what appeared to be genuine affection. Paul’s gut clenched as he took in the tableau.
“Look who’s here,” she murmured, indicating Paul.
His grandfather turned his head and the warmth in his welcoming smile filled Paul with blinding joy. It was as if all the years of estrangement had been never been.
“Paul.”
At hearing his name spoken so clearly by his grandfather, a lump formed in Paul’s throat and stuck there. Because the stroke had affected Grady’s speech, he’d struggled to make himself understood these last few months. Obviously, the reports of Grady’s improvement hadn’t been exaggerated. But to credit this interloper was going too far. Lost in his circling thoughts, Paul still hovered where he’d stopped just inside the room until his grandfather tapped out some rhythms on a small drum next to him on the bed.
“That means come,” Lia explained.
Completely bewildered by what was happening, Paul crossed to his grandfather’s side and gave his arm a squeeze. “How are you feeling today?”
The routine question was completely unnecessary. This man bore no resemblance to the invalid from a week ago. At that point, with Grady growing weaker by the day, Paul would’ve moved heaven and earth to see the return of a mischievous glint to his grandfather’s green eyes, which had so recently been dull with defeat and grief. What he glimpsed in Grady’s manner was the exact change he’d longed for. But at what cost?
“Happy.” A distinct pattern of tapping accompanied Grady’s singing. While his voice was breathy and tuneless, the word came out surprisingly clear. Yet despite his joy, Paul was disturbed by how his grandfather’s gaze settled fondly on the young woman massaging his hand. “Lia home.”
“What’s with the drum?” Paul asked Lia, grappling with his shock at Grady’s rapid improvement and his attachment to the stranger who had invaded all their lives. Discomfort formed a hard knot in his chest. Although thrilled by his grandfather’s improvement, Paul could see nothing but trouble barreling down the road toward them and cursed his brother for doing something so radical and foolish.
“I did some research on stroke recovery and discovered that music and rhythm can help lift a patient’s spirts, enable them to communicate and improve their speech.” Lia smiled fondly at Grady. “Tomorrow we’re going to learn breathing rhythms and also practice meditating to music.”
“What’s all that supposed to do?”
“The medical explanation didn’t make all that much sense to me,” Lia said. “But there was something about how the brain processes information and how music can affect that in a positive way. I think that’s why Grady can’t speak, but he can sing.”
Paul’s chest tightened as hope surged and he set his jaw against a blast of raw emotion. From the way his grandfather beamed at Lia, it was obvious what everyone had been saying. Grady’s improvement had been inspired by the return of his long-lost granddaughter. Only Lia wasn’t Ava’s daughter and Paul hated the fraud she and his brother were perpetrating.
So, what was he going to do? Paul had never lied to his grandfather. Many times in the past when he was a kid growing up, he’d done something wrong and no matter how bad the punishment, he’d always told Grady the truth. It was a point of pride to Paul that his grandfather trusted him without question.
If he continued to let Grady believe his granddaughter had returned to her family, what sort of damage was he doing to his relationship with his grandfather? Yet Grady’s will to live seemed to have been restored by Lia’s arrival. Could Paul figure out a way to get rid of her without causing his grandfather harm?
“Do you have a couple minutes to talk?” he asked as she finished massaging Grady’s arm and carefully placed it back on the bed.
“Grady has a session with his physical therapist in ten minutes.”
With the number of relatives coming and going these days, Paul didn’t want his conversation with Lia interrupted or overheard. “I’ll meet you by the pool.”
On the flight back to Charleston, he’d prepared a number of ways to extricate her from his family. Now, with Grady’s improvement hanging on her continued presence, he wasn’t convinced sending her away was the best idea.
While he waited for Lia to arrive, Paul paced the concrete deck, oblivious to the tranquility offered by the turquoise rectangle of water, the lush landscaping and the peaceful twittering of the birds.
This whole situation would be more cut-and-dried if anything suspicious had appeared in her background check. But Paul had nothing concrete to prove that she might not be as transparent as she appeared. While deep in his gut he was certain that she was keeping secrets, Paul was a man who acted on facts not feelings.
When Lia arrived, Paul wasted no time making his position clear. “When I told you to stay away from my grandfather, I had no idea things would get this out of control. I don’t know what you and my brother were thinking, but this can’t go on.”
Because his entire family had embraced her, it fell to Paul to remain detached and keep his guard up. That would be easier if she didn’t stir his body and incite his emotions. And if she hadn’t worked miracles with his grandfather.
“You’re right,” she agreed. “I shouldn’t have let Ethan talk me into lying to everyone. I’m sorry. It’s just Ethan was so desperate to help your grandfather. And believing that I’m his granddaughter has made him better.”
Paul watched her expression, determined to see past her guileless facade to the truth. “You’ve done a good job making sure everyone is attached to you.”
Her lashes flickered at his deliberate accusation. “That’s to be expected. They all think I’m their long-lost cousin.” She crossed her arms over her chest and lifted her chin. “Have you decided how you’re going to break the news about me being an imposter?”
Paul forced air through his teeth in a soft hiss. “I’m not sure I can. The truth would crush Grady.”
Her eyebrows went up in surprise. “What are you going to do then?”
“I don’t know.” He needed to discuss the situation with Ethan.
She narrowed her eyes in confusion. “So why did you want to talk to me?”
Why had he wanted to talk to her?
“I...”
What could he say? That she’d been on his mind the entire time he was gone? That he found her fascinating despite his mistrust? He wanted to know everything about her. And not just because her mysterious background and limited digital footprint awakened his curiosity. Some of her behavior didn’t fall into easily explainable patterns. For example, why did she dress up and visit children in the hospital? Something so altruistic was contrary to how an opportunist would behave. Unless she played on the sympathies of parents with sick children to some end. He’d never know unless he got to know her better.
And then there was the pesky physical attraction she inspired in him. Even now, as his thoughts took him down a somber path, he caught himself admiring her long lashes and wondering if her full lips could possibly be as soft as they looked. Her casual outfit showed off a toned body with soft curves. He imagined framing her slim hips with his hands and pulling her close. Dipping his head and running his lips down her neck to the place where it met her shoulder. Hearing her groan in pleasure