by Sarina Wilde
She cupped Greer’s face in her palms. “I have seen such a change in you—such a wonderful change. If those two men out there are the reason for it, I will love them just as I do you.”
Greer leaned forward and kissed her mother. “Thank you.”
Greer’s worried glance strayed back outside, her heart skipping a beat then pounding as she watched her father extend his hand first to Liam then to Chas. She wanted to jump for joy as her dad smiled at both of them.
A moment later, Liam headed toward the house. Chas and her father turned away, walking deeper into the garden. When Liam entered the kitchen, Greer asked, “Is everything all right?”
Liam smiled and wrapped her in his arms. “Yes, baby.”
“Why are Daddy and Chas still out there?”
“Your father’s giving him a little legal advice. I think his words were, ‘no son-in-law of mine’s going to get raked over the coals for something he didn’t do’.”
Greer blinked, but before she could say anything else, her mother was pulling Liam away from her so she could give him a hug. “Welcome to our family, Liam.”
He smiled. “You’re a lot easier to win over than your husband.”
She winked. “I can see just how happy you two make my daughter. That’s enough for me.”
And it was that easy. By the time they sat down to dinner, all three men were engaged in a conversation about, of all things, gardening. Greer watched them, just absorbing the sheer joy of the men she loved getting along.
“So have you set a date?” Her mother’s words brought her back to earth. “For the wedding?”
She looked at Chas and Liam, who looked at each other. “I would rather it was sooner than later,” Chas murmured. “We’d like to add to our family.”
Her mother beamed. “That’s right! We’ll get a built-in grandson out of this, won’t we? You won’t mind if we spoil him rotten, will you?” she asked, looking at Liam.
He blinked several times, opened his mouth then mumbled, “Excuse me,” and left the table.
Her mother looked upset. “Did I say something wrong?”
Chas patted her hand. “Just the opposite. I think you said something so right, he’s having a little difficulty handling it. His own parents never got the chance to see Wyatt, and Julie’s parents seem to regard him as an inconvenience. So your willingness to view Wyatt as your grandson is a bit overwhelming.”
Greer started to go after him, but her mother stopped her. “I’ll go.”
She glanced at her father who was frowning at the food on his plate. “Daddy?”
He glanced up, his gray eyes dark. “A child is not an inconvenience. It’s a blessing.” He glanced between the two of them. “We’d like to meet him as soon as possible. When will he be with you again?”
“Not until the end of the month, I’m afraid,” Greer responded.
Chas snorted. “Or sooner if the mood suits Liam’s ex. Her parents aren’t the only ones who see Wyatt as an inconvenience.”
“Anytime, then. A boy should have a grandpa.” Her father looked at both of them. “Just how soon do you plan to start on the next addition?”
Greer felt her cheeks pinken and Chas cleared his throat. “Um…we…”
Her father laughed. “No need to finish that sentence. I get the message.”
Liam stood at the edge of the garden, marveling again at the care Greer’s father had put into the flowers he grew. It was the same care he and his wife had used to raise their daughter, the same care they would no doubt lavish on his son.
“Liam? Are you all right?”
Her mother. He wiped the moisture from beneath his eyes. When you were over six feet tall, no one wanted to see you cry. He cleared his throat.
“You know, most of the time it doesn’t bother me that even Julie’s parents don’t seem to care about Wyatt. But hearing how readily you accepted him? It just pointed out to me how much he’s missing.”
She stopped at his side, looking at the garden as though she realized he needed that illusion of privacy.
“He won’t be. We want him just as much as we want you and Chas. All of you have brought so much light into Greer’s life. She told us about the panic attack she had the night you interviewed her. She didn’t think she’d get the job. We didn’t either. But you must have seen something that made you take a chance on her.”
Liam felt himself flush. “We were both attracted to her from the moment we first met her. But it was more than just how beautiful she is. It’s everything about her. And the minute we saw her with Wyatt…” He paused, clearing his throat. “I can’t speak for Chas, but that’s when I fell in love.”
“You don’t mention her scars. How does that play into this?”
Liam narrowed his gaze. “First your husband, now you. You worry about that, don’t you?”
“She worried about it. With cause. Liam, none of her so-called group of friends came to visit her while she was undergoing all those painful surgeries to try to repair some of the burn damage. It was as though they believed that physical imperfection had changed her.”
Liam took her arm in his and started walking back toward the house. “I didn’t know her before her accident, but even if I had, it wouldn’t change the way either Chas or I feel about her. We don’t care about her scars. In fact, I don’t even notice them. Wyatt only wanted to know if her boo-boo hurt then he was past it too. We love her because she’s Greer, a talented, intelligent, beautiful and caring woman.”
She leaned her head against his shoulder. “Thank you. And I do mean it, Liam. We want to see our new grandson-to-be as soon as possible.”
“You will, just as soon as I can arrange it.”
All in all the meeting with her parents had gone remarkably well. As they drove home, Greer let out a little sigh of contentment.
“What’s that for?” Chas asked.
“Just relief everything went all right.” She smiled in the darkness. “Knock on wood, I’m beginning to feel like I’ve turned a corner.”
Liam kept his eyes on the road, but Chas put an arm around her shoulders and hugged her. “You have, sweetie.”
“What did you and Daddy talk about for so long?” Greer hoped she would finally have her curiosity satisfied.
“Your dad’s going to represent me. The first thing he’s planning to do is hire a private detective to find out a little more about Dr. Samantha Marlowe. He’s in agreement with me the whole situation seems to have come out of the blue.”
“He’s an excellent attorney, Chas. I know he might seem laid back, but if you ever see him cross-examine someone, you’ll see how sharp he is.”
Liam and Chas both laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Greer demanded.
“Sweetie,” Chas drawled. “We already got a good taste of that when we first arrived. You don’t think he was going to let just anyone walk off with his baby girl, do you? Especially two of us?”
Chapter Fifteen
“So, what do you think?” Greer pirouetted in front of Chas early in the afternoon before the unveiling at the Children’s Museum gala. “I won’t embarrass you two, will I?”
“Greer, you’ll be the most beautiful woman there.”
She gave him a look that said yeah, sure, and plunked down next to him where he was still sprawled on the bed. He’d worked an overnight shift at the hospital the night before and had just awakened. Finding himself all alone with Greer was certainly no hardship.
Liam was already long gone to the museum, getting everything just the way he wanted it. He’d waited until the last possible moment to ship the statue, hoping early the morning of the unveiling would lessen traffic downtown. After all, transporting a nearly full-sized horse sculpted from stone was no easy task.
“You know, I met with your dad,” Chas said.
“How’s that going?”
“Really well. He’s given me hope we can beat this thing without having to pay her a dime. It appears this isn’t the first tim
e something like this has happened involving Samantha Marlowe.”
“Ooh…that does sound promising.”
Chas traced a finger down her cheek. “Why don’t you hang the dress so it doesn’t get wrinkled?”
Greer raised her dark brows. “Why would it get wrinkled?”
“Because I’m planning on making love to you.”
“Just the two of us, like you two sometimes sneak off to the stables?”
Chas laughed. “Saw us, huh.”
Greer stood, turned her back to him and slowly lowered the zipper. Chas watched as it revealed the sweet line of her back to the lacy thong she had on underneath it. He marveled at how much she’d changed. Never would she have willingly revealed the injuries to her back when she first arrived.
She let the dress fall, stepped out and back, bending over so her ass was near his face, and scooped up the dress. After she’d returned it to the closet, she moved back to the bed, her breasts bare and nipples erect, and just a scrap of lace covering her pussy.
“Damn, you’re sweet.” Chas sat, holding out his arms and spreading his thighs so she could step between them. Wrapping her in his embrace, he tilted his head to nuzzle her neck. “I woke up with a hard-on that got even harder when I saw you in that dress. I can’t wait to watch the men drooling over you tonight.”
“Oh, Chas,” Greer whispered. “I’m so nervous. Going out to the club dancing was easy because it was almost like we were private, but this is so public.” She leaned back a bit, her gray eyes serious. “I know Liam plans on announcing our engagement tonight. I wish…”
He put his fingers over her lips. “We know. Your parents know, and Wyatt will know. That’s all that matters.”
Greer leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. “I love you.”
His chest tightened, just as it had when he’d first opened the door to see her standing there, her eyes wide and wary. Just as it did every time he watched her walk into a room. “Come here. Show me,” he murmured.
Chas pulled her onto his lap, so her legs wrapped around his hips and began kissing her, his tongue diving into her mouth, his hands cupping her butt. The way she curled into him, the almost purring noises she made, left his hands trembling and his skin flushed with the heat of his need. She pushed against his chest and he fell back on the bed.
Greer’s lips and teeth teased his nipples, making his heart pound, and when she licked her way to the waistband of his boxers, Chas groaned. He could already imagine her lips on him.
“Oh sweetie, suck me. Please.”
She slid his boxers off inch by inch, stopping to stroke and lick. When she’d bared his nuts, she rolled them in her hand then moved her fingers to press the sensitive area between his sac and his ass.
“Easy,” he said on a groan. “I want to come in you, not on you.”
She paused in what she was doing long enough he picked his head up to look at her. Greer’s eyes were shining, until he felt he could drown in their depths and be content. “I want you to come in me. Do you and Liam really want a baby?”
He stroked her hair and her cheek. Lifting her chin so she looked right at him, he said, “We do. I do, but only if it’s what you want as well.”
She caressed his stomach, his chest. “Silly. It would be a little late now if I didn’t. So let’s do this.”
His hand stilled in the petting of her hair. “Is it the right time?”
“Yes.”
He rolled her onto her back and hooked his index fingers in the lace of her thong, tugging her panties to reveal the closely shaven tuft of dark hair and her glistening sex. “Have I told you of all the pretty things about you, Greer, your puffy, pink pussy turns me on the most?”
“Show me,” she whispered in a tone so husky he thought he was going to come right then. “Show me, Chas.”
He tucked a pillow beneath her slender hips, tilting her for his entry. With her legs hooked over his arms, he pushed deep inside her, groaning with pleasure at the tight gloving of his cock. As he rocked his hips, he slipped his fingers between them, rubbing her clit. Greer arched into him, her pussy walls pulsing around him.
Sweet, merciful heaven. He would never last long like this, but she apparently didn’t want him to. Her cries urged him on, turned him mindless with the need to drive into her, to come.
His fingers pressed against her and she cried out. Yes. Chas pumped his hips over and over again. When he finally released, he was amazed at how long he came. He wanted to give her a baby, wanted to see her ripen with his child. He stilled, staring into her face. Fingers trembling, he cupped her cheeks and kissed her on the forehead, the nose and finally on her lips.
He started to pull out, but she protested. “Stay inside me, Chas, just a little longer.”
“I’m not too heavy?”
“Never.”
He was careful to keep his weight on his legs as he leaned over her, kissing her breasts and her throat then nuzzling behind her ear. Her fingers tangled in his hair, stroking him. He could stay that way… The ring of the phone interrupted them.
“Stay there, Greer,” Chas told her. “I’ll get it.”
“Chas.” There was a boatload of relief in Liam’s voice. “I’m so glad I caught you.”
Relief there might have been, but there was tension too. “What’s up, man?”
He heard the sigh through the phone and could picture Liam scraping his fingers back through his hair. “It’s Julie. That bitch. She just called, said she’s got to change plans and I have to take Wyatt.”
“You know she’s doing this on purpose to fuck with your head.”
“I know it, but Chas I just feel like if I don’t she’ll find some way to jerk around my being able to see him at all.”
“Do we need to pick him up?”
“No, she’s on her way over right now.”
Chas glanced over at where Greer was sprawled naked on the bed. “We’ll take care of it.”
“I know. Shit…” Another long pause. “I really wanted you both with me tonight. It was supposed to be special.”
Chas clenched his teeth. “It will be.”
He’d make damn sure of it. There was no way in hell they would get a sitter for Wyatt after his mother did this to him. The solution was easy enough as far as he was concerned. He’d stay home and Greer would go to support Liam.
Convincing her might be the problem.
“What’s up?” Greer asked as soon as Chas ended the call. She could see from his expression it wasn’t anything good.
“It’s Julie. She’s on her way over with Wyatt.” Chas shook his head. “Anything to screw with Liam’s head.”
She thought about the dress she’d bought, but put it away. “I’ll stay with him.”
“No. Liam needs you by his side tonight.”
“It’s too late to get a sitter.”
Chas pulled her to her feet. “I’ll stay. Liam needs you there, Greer.”
Her heart ached for Wyatt and Liam. Was his ex-wife truly so vindictive she would dump her son, knowing Liam could not be there? What damage was she doing to Wyatt? And what she had already done to Liam was beyond thinking about. He lived in fear one false move would cost him any rights he had to his child. Even now she threatened to take Wyatt and move out of town. And to do this tonight, of all nights, when Liam’s concentration needed to be on the unveiling of his new sculpture was beyond everything.
Greer leaned her forehead against Chas’ bare chest. “I’ll get cleaned up. I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to be there when she arrives, especially in light of our engagement.”
“Liam is on his way. He had planned to just stay there, but he’s wrapping things up so he can at least see Wyatt today, then he’ll take you back with him.” Chas kissed her, then scrounged around for a pair of jeans. “Don’t worry. Wyatt and I will be fine.”
After zipping, he donned a T-shirt and headed downstairs. She stared at the vacant doorway and shook her head. She was so torn between st
aying with Wyatt and being there for Liam, but tonight was Liam’s night. Greer ducked into the bathroom and hopped in the shower.
She heard their voices out in the bedroom when she turned off the water. Wrapping a towel around herself, she opened the door.
“I’ve never seen him this whiny,” Liam said, worry knitting his brow. “Maybe he’s coming down with whatever Julie’s maid has.”
“Don’t worry,” Chas calmed him and grinned lopsidedly. “I am a doctor, after all. I’ll keep an eye on him. Besides, do you really believe the maid had any problem at all? I think the whole thing’s just a mind game, Liam.”
“Well, he’s playing with his blocks right now, and seems happier now he’s here.” Liam finally saw her. He sighed and smiled. “I’m so sorry, baby.”
Greer tucked her arm into his. “No need. I suppose you want to shower. I’m going to throw some clothes on and go say hi to Wyatt before I get dressed for the gala.”
Liam smiled. “He would really enjoy that.”
She touched his arm, passing both men so she could grab a pair of boxers and a T-shirt from the chest of drawers in the room next door. From there it was a short walk into Wyatt’s room. She stood in the doorway unobserved for a moment. Liam was right. Wyatt didn’t seem like his normal self. His lower lip was poked out and his forehead knotted. That changed when he spotted her.
“Greer!” He jumped up and raced on chubby legs over to her, holding his arms to be picked up. She hefted him, smiling when his legs gripped her hip and his arms clung around her neck. “I missed you!”
She snuggled her nose into his neck, inhaling the faint whiff of baby still remaining. “Oh, Wyatt. I’m glad to see you too. I see you have your bear with you.”
He nodded. “He’s a superhero. Can we watch a movie tonight?”