“I really appreciate the help today. I mean, I could have had them assemble and deliver it, but I’m afraid it might be too big to get through the bedroom door once it’s assembled. The only way might be to take it in there, assemble it, and take it apart when we move.”
Grant nodded and bit his tongue on his immediate response. Moving was such a normal part of Alyssa’s life that she assumed she’d do it again. But he’d already stuck his foot in it once, suggesting she might stay now that she was in New York, and he suspected he’d made her uncomfortable. She was an independent woman. Had to be, to live the lifestyle she’d chosen.
“No problem. I hope Caroline likes it once it’s assembled.”
“She fell in love with it when she saw it in the picture. Even more so when she saw the floor model.”
“The girl’s got good taste. A bomb could go off in that thing, judging from how heavy the box was.”
Alyssa laughed. “She’s already got plans for everything she wants to store in there. Her hang up clothes on the rack, her folded clothes in the drawers, you name it.”
He smiled, and ran a hand over his mouth. “She’s a very sweet little girl.”
“Yes, she is.”
“You’ve done a great job with her, Alyssa.”
“Thank you.” Alyssa took a long sip of her tea. He wondered if that was her attempt to stop further discussion on that topic, but decided to push it and see where it got him.
“Forgive me if this is too personal, but is there a father in Caroline’s life?”
She went motionless, her hand holding her glass to her mouth, her eyes fixed on something across the room. The pause lasted several seconds, then she swallowed and leaned forward to place the glass on the table between them. “No, there isn’t.”
Her body language left no doubt that she was done with this topic. And yet, “What happened to him? If you don’t mind my asking.”
Alyssa sighed. She stood and walked to the window. Gripping the curtain, she addressed her answer to the view outside. “After I’d started my career, I was ready to have a child. I wanted to be a mother. I yearned for it. But I wasn’t married, didn’t even have a man in my life. I knew if I wanted a child it wouldn’t be the traditional way. So, I decided to take care of it on my own.”
He felt his pulse race a little faster. “So, what did you do?”
In the moment she opened her mouth to respond, Caroline raced into the room. “I’m ready! I know what corner it’s going in, I cleared everything away, and I want to help put it together.” She swiveled her head to look at her mom, then him. “Are you guys ready?”
Alyssa clapped her hands. “Yep. Grant?”
He rose to his feet. “Sure thing.” They walked down the hall to Caroline’s room, the opportunity for Alyssa’s response lost.
* * * *
Three hours later, the finished armoire stood in its place of honor and Caroline got busy filling it with all her earthly belongings. Alyssa glanced over at Grant, her apology surely clear on her face. She hadn’t intended to take up his whole afternoon with this chore, but here it was, closing in on 6:00 and the poor man had devoted his entire Sunday afternoon to this monotonous job.
“I’m sorry, Grant.”
He turned to her, the creases in his forehead displaying his confusion. “What for?”
“This ended up taking way longer than I ever dreamed.”
He smiled and shook his head. “No problem.” He leaned over and scooped three nuts and bolts from the carpet. He shook them in his hand like a Vegas craps dealer. “Six pieces left over. According to the directions, we should have used everything.”
She laughed. She gripped the corner of the armoire and gave it a tug. “Seems to be sturdy.”
“Ah ha. So we compromised. You read the directions, I went by instinct, and we ended up with a pretty good product.”
“We make a good team.” Alyssa rested her hand on his shoulder and patted it.
Grant rested his eyes on Caroline.
“But seriously, I’m going to release you now. I’ve taken up way too much of your time. I feel just terrible.”
“Why?” Grant took a step closer to her and she caught a whiff of his cologne. The man smelled good. The man always smelled good. And the way his snug charcoal gray sweater had hugged his chest and arm muscles all day wasn’t bad either.
“Because you’ve wasted your entire Sunday afternoon when I’m sure you had better things to do. You were nice enough to offer to help, and I feel like I’ve taken advantage of you.”
He got a strange look on his face, then pushed it away. “Not at all. I enjoyed the afternoon and you’re wrong. I had nothing better to do.” He glanced over at Caroline, bustling to and from her bed and the armoire. “I enjoyed getting to know Caroline.”
Alyssa smiled. He was really great with her. Caroline had warmed up to him immediately and kids can always tell when someone genuinely likes them. “She enjoyed spending the day with you, too. And as payback, to even things up a bit, I’m up for anything you need help with too.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean you helped me all afternoon. I’m willing to do something to help you out. You must have some chore or errand you need help with.” Or did he? As a wealthy businessman, she was sure he hired people to do whatever needed done.
“It’s not necessary, but thanks anyway.” He stepped over to Caroline and kneeled down in front of her. “I’m taking off, Caroline. It was fun being with you today.”
Caroline looked up from her task and smiled. She threw her little body into his arms and Alyssa watched Grant bring her into a hug. He closed his eyes and with his face in her hair, he inhaled deeply. When Caroline pulled away, he looked a little off balance.
“Thank you, Mr. Fontaine. I love my new dresser.”
He smiled and rose. “I’m glad.”
Alyssa followed him toward the door, and almost bumped into him when he stopped in the doorway and gazed back at her daughter. She turned her head too. Caroline had returned to arranging her toys and animals in the armoire. He lingered with half a smile on his lips, then headed slowly down the hallway.
“Look,” she continued, “I’m serious about helping you with something in return for you helping me. That way, things are even, you know?”
He shook his head. “Things don’t have to be even, Alyssa. I had a free afternoon. I offered my help. No big deal.”
She puffed an aggravated breath. “You said you wanted to be my friend, right? Well, friends help each other. I’m not letting you out of here till you tell me what I can help you with.”
He leaned against the doorjamb and let his head rest against it, thinking. Then he looked down at her. “Dinner.”
“Huh?”
“Let me take you out to dinner.”
She punched him lightly on the arm. “How is taking me out to dinner helping you?”
“Because I eat alone every night. Which is fine, don’t get me wrong. But every once in awhile, I’d like to have a dinner companion. So the favor you can do for me, is to eat with me. Sometime.”
She went nearly breathless at the gorgeous smile he gave her. She couldn’t help feeling a little bit rooked, but he seemed sincere. Maybe eating with him was the best he could come up with.
“Okay, how about this? You come over here for dinner. I’ll either cook or order out, and I’ll wait on you for one meal.”
“Yes.” He agreed to her suggestion so suddenly and immediately that she laughed.
“Okay.”
“And Caroline?”
“She’ll be here, too.” Alyssa smiled. “Wednesday night?”
“Perfect.” He pushed himself off the doorframe and leaned in to her. She caught her breath as he came closer, close enough to inhale his unique scent. She fought an urge to grab his shirt at the neck and pull him in. Would he kiss her? And if he did, would she kiss him back?
After a moment’s linger, he turned and left. She struggled internall
y to bring her breathing back to normal, her eye on his ambling form, his pace suggesting that he didn’t really want to leave. When he reached the stairwell door, he turned and hesitated a moment before lifting a hand up in a wave. “See you Wednesday.”
She returned the wave and watched him complete his departure because the sight of his jeans hugging his well-formed rear end was not a sight to miss willingly.
Chapter Nine
Grant shifted the spring flower bouquet to his right arm atop the bottle of wine, freeing his left hand to push the buzzer at Alyssa’s building. She conceded him entry with a push of a button in her apartment and he pulled the door open. Inside, he hesitated before starting for the stairs. Wine and flowers – would Alyssa think it was too much?
He sighed. As much as his brain kept insisting that he couldn’t develop anything more than a casual friendship with Alyssa, his libido pushed its way onto center stage each time he was with her. He didn’t want to be attracted to her, in fact, she was the last woman in the world he should fall for. But he couldn’t help it. Among the millions of women in the city of New York, it was Alyssa Stark who had awakened feelings within him long slumbering.
He debated tossing the flowers and only presenting her with the bottle of wine as a civilized hostess gift. Ah, screw it. For whatever reason, it had made him happy to buy the flowers and wine for Alyssa, and despite what she might think about his gifts, he would deliver them. He jogged up the stairs and tapped on her door.
The door opened, allowing him a peek at Caroline, dancing copper-brown eyes, blonde hair pulled neatly back into a ponytail, a smile that he’d give a million dollars to see every day for the rest of his life. He couldn’t help returning the grin until he heard from inside the apartment, “Caroline.” The little girl turned her back on him as Alyssa hurried over to where Caroline stood.
“This is the second time I’ve told you, honey, and you have to remember. Do not open the door when there’s a knock unless I’m standing here with you.”
“Sorry, Mommy.”
“Promise me you’ll remember. It’s not safe to open the door without knowing exactly who’s on the other side.”
The little girl nodded. “I knew it would be Mr. Fontaine. He rang the buzzer and we let him in.”
Alyssa kneeled so she was eye-level with her daughter. “I know, honey, but we can’t assume the knock on the door is who we’ve buzzed in. We need to look through the peep hole to make sure, and you’re too short to see through it. That’s why I want you to wait for me.”
Grant hovered in the doorway. Mixed emotions flitted through him: admiration of Alyssa and her parenting skills. Remorse for his little girl for making an err in judgment and receiving a reprimand, however warranted or gently delivered. But over them all glowed a delirious joy that Caroline was so excited to see him, she forgot her carefully learned safety rules, just for a moment.
Alyssa pulled Caroline close for a hug and dropped a quick kiss on her cheek. Then she stood and taking her daughter’s hand, she faced the door. “Sorry about that, Grant.”
He shook his head. “Hey, no problem. I understand.”
She gazed down at Caroline, a fond frown on her lips. “I may be overly cautious but on the other hand, we are in New York and I’d rather be safe.”
Grant shrugged. “No need to explain anything to me. I knew you were a phenomenal mother, and now you’ve just demonstrated it.”
Alyssa stepped back so he could come into the apartment. He breathed in deep and appreciated a savory smell. “Something smells good. Have you been cooking?”
Alyssa chuckled. “I haven’t been, but someone has. Antonio, I presume.”
Grant smiled and nodded. “I’ve developed a mean talent for ordering takeout and Antonio’s is one of my favorites, too.” He presented her his gifts. “For you.”
Alyssa hesitated, the look on her face just what Grant feared it would be. He held his hands up helplessly, the wine and flowers dangling. “My mama taught me right, what can I say? I don’t show up for dinner empty-handed.”
Alyssa shook her head. “Wine and flowers. It’s a little much.”
“Actually,” he said as he handed the bottle of wine to her, “this is just to supplement the dinner.” He kneeled in front of Caroline and handed her the flowers. “These are for Caroline.”
The little girl squealed and took them into her arms. “Mommy! My very own flowers.”
“What do you say?” Alyssa prompted.
“Thank you, Mr. Fontaine.” She was practically breathless as she jumped up and down. He smiled at how the flowers were surviving the enthusiastic reception, a few leaves and baby’s breath raining on the carpet. He bit his tongue over his desire to tell her to drop the “Mr.”
“You’re welcome, sweetie. Beautiful flowers for a beautiful girl.”
She beamed a big smile and brought the bouquet up to her nose for a huge sniff.
“Let’s go to the kitchen to find a vase for those,” Alyssa said, pointing at the flowers. “And I’ll open this and pour us a glass.”
“I’d be happy to do that for …”
But she’d already disappeared through the kitchen door, waving away his offer of help.
They enjoyed a simple but elegant meal of Antonio’s spaghetti marinara, garlic bread and the red wine he’d brought. The three of them sitting around the tiny dining table made him wonder if this was what it felt like to come home after a long day at work, not to an empty luxury penthouse, but to a home filled with a family – people he loved, who he shared his life with. It had been so long since he’d shared a weeknight meal with a woman and a child – if ever? – that his heart yearned for what might have been.
If that truck hadn’t collided with his car in Hawaii. If his pregnant wife hadn’t been killed that day. If their baby had been allowed to experience life instead of death in the womb.
“Grant?”
He jerked to attention when her hand brushed over his. He shook his head and realized that he’d been so distracted by his thoughts that he’d lost awareness of the conversation for a moment. “I’m sorry.” He cleared his throat and wiped a bead of perspiration from his forehead.
“Are you okay?”
“Sure, why?” He looked at his dinner companions to find that both Alyssa and Caroline were staring at him, more than a little worry in their eyes.
“You dropped your fork and you went a little pale. You didn’t seem to hear us for a little while.”
Shit. He’d better pull it together.
“My apologies. I’m fine. I was just thinking of something else, that’s all.”
“Something sad?” Caroline asked, studying him as if he were an insect in a science experiment.
He hesitated. “Yes,” he said slowly, “in fact, it was something sad.”
“What was it?” the little girl asked.
He looked over at Alyssa. She raised her eyebrows in an invitation to share. Silence stretched and filled the moment and he couldn’t bring himself to tell her. He didn’t have much experience with kids, but he was quite sure this wasn’t a good topic to share with an eight-year-old.
Alyssa came to his rescue. She looked at her daughter with a smile. “Caroline, how about you go into the kitchen and put the ice cream, bowls, spoons and a scoop on the tray? Let me know when you’re ready and I’ll carry it all in here. How’s that sound?”
Caroline frowned, visibly torn between her need to hear his sad story and her desire for dessert. “Mom...,”
“Go on, now,” her mom said, so she pushed back from the table, sighed and trotted out of the room.
Alyssa removed her hand from his, leaving a tingling spot on his skin.
“I’m sorry about that. My mind wandered and I started thinking about how different my life would be if I had a family of my own. Coming home to a meal shared around the table with a wife and child. A simple thing, really, but something I’ve never had.” He yanked his gaze up from his hand and looked into her eyes. �
��My apologies.”
“None needed.”
“I hope I didn’t upset Caroline. I’m not usually this sentimental. I’m not sure what got into me.”
Alyssa stood and began to gather their used dishes. “No, of course you didn’t. You’ve gone through a tragedy.”
“Ages ago.”
“Yes, but it was awful, and I think it’s natural to mourn what you missed out on.”
He had so much – wealth, success, about anything he could ever want. Except for the love of his life and their child. Which was why he was traveling down this crazy path of pursuing a relationship with this child. Caroline.
Alyssa wasn’t Marguerite. But they did share a child together, a child who had his blood running through her veins. Caroline personified a gift that he’d thought for years would never be his. An unexpected miracle. If he could forge a relationship with Caroline, he’d at least achieve his dreams of having a family, even if he never found love again.
“Mommy!” Her excited voice floated to them from the kitchen.
“Here I come.” Alyssa winked at him and left, returning with a tray laden down with their sweet treats, Caroline practically dancing around her.
“Sundaes! See, I brought sprinkles, nuts and chocolate syrup, too. My favorite.”
Grant grinned at her excitement. “You know, it’s my favorite, too.” He stood and held his hand out for the scoop. “Why don’t I scoop everyone’s ice cream into bowls?”
He got busy with the chore, glancing every once in a while at Caroline who by all appearances, was having the time of her life.
Later, after they’d reviewed Caroline’s homework, he and Alyssa sat on the couch together. She took a glance at her wristwatch, and then at him. “It’s time for Caroline’s bath.”
Wonder if this is my cue to leave. On the other hand, he’d love to get to know Caroline’s bedtime routine, and he would need to know this stuff if he were to ever convince Alyssa to let him babysit his daughter. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. “You go ahead. I’ll wait.”
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