by Mia Carson
“We did it,” Tom told Greyson. “I’m glad to have been your partner in all of this.”
Greyson grinned. “Of course… partners,” he replied then leaned back. Tom let go of his hand, and Greyson stepped up to the podium. “Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for coming out to the newest game launch for Greystone Games!”
Cheers erupted again, and cameras flashed. The second he made the announcement, the game would be released and thousands of people would be logging in to play, but Greyson had so much more exciting news to deliver first. He held up his hands, and the crowd quieted down.
“Before we release our latest game,” he said, “I have someone I have to thank for making this all possible. Our partner, Bigsby Inc. and their CEO, Tom Bigsby.” Greyson clapped along with everyone else as Tom waved and smiled brightly at the crowd. “Now, Tom here, he’s a great guy,” Greyson continued. “He truly is. He helped us get this game off the ground, gave us the swift kick we needed, but he’s not the only one who helped me. My fiancée, Belle Hall—now there’s a woman to give a man some inspiration.”
He took her hand and dragged her over, kissing her to the whistles and hollers from the crowd. She laughed and wrapped her arm around him as he turned back to the podium.
“But back to Tom for a moment. This man is a piece of work,” Greyson announced loudly, and the tone of his voice changed. “This man promised to be a working partner, but what did he do? He tried to steal my fiancée away from my company, and in the process, lets slip that he no longer wants to be a partner. He wants to buy my company out from under me!”
The crowd muttered and whispered before several people booed and called Tom out for it. He smiled nervously and leaned in towards Greyson. “What the hell are you doing, Grey?”
“What you were going to do to me if this game is successful,” Greyson muttered. “I had some friends at your company do a little digging. Did you really think I would let you just waltz in and take over?”
“It’s the smart move,” Tom argued.
“No, the smart move is what I did this morning when I met with your board.”
Tom’s face fell. “What are you talking about?”
Greyson reached into his back pocket and pulled out a slip of paper, holding it up for the crowd to see. “I’m pleased to announce not only a permanent partnership with Bigsby Inc.,” he said loudly, “but they now work exclusively for me as a daughter company under the Greystone Games umbrella.”
More cameras flashed, and reporters shouted questions as Tom yanked the paper from Greyson’s hand to read it. “No,” he muttered. “No, you can’t do this to me!”
“Why? Because you were going to do it to me first?” Greyson growled. “This is my company—my family—and I’m not going to let some weasel like you take it all away from me. Oh, and say hello to your new boss, Belle.”
Tom’s face screwed up in rage, and he crumbled up the paper, threw it at Greyson, and yelled as he darted off the small stage, shoving his way through the doors. Several reporters followed him, but most kept their eyes on Greyson as he held up his hands again.
“Now, for our other news… Belle?” he asked worriedly.
Her face had scrunched in confusion, and suddenly, she reached out a hand for his arm. “Sorry for the bad timing, but I think… I think I'm going into labor.”
She glanced down, and his eyes followed. “Brent!” he yelled over the crowd. “Get your car!”
“Contraction,” Belle winced and fell into his arms. “Oh God, oh shit!”
Greyson picked her up in his arms and yelled at the crowd to move as he carried her towards the door. “Hold on, Belle, we’ll get you there, just hold on.”
“He’s coming,” she whispered. “Greyson, we’re having a baby.”
He kissed her forehead and couldn’t stop the excited and nervous smile spreading across his lips. “I know, pet. It’s definitely a great day for the game launch.”
“No,” she yelped and glanced over his shoulder. “You have to go back!”
“You’re joking, right?” he grunted and laid her in the backseat of Brent’s car. “Belle, I’m not leaving you for a damn game.” He closed the door and slid into the front seat. “Drive.”
“Greyson, really, I’ll probably be in labor for hours—” A sharp cry cut through her words, and both Brent and Greyson winced. The first hunched over the wheel and muttered under his breath while the latter turned to the backseat and held Belle’s hand. “Maybe… maybe not,” she joked through her heavy breathing.
Greyson laughed. “You’re crazy, you know that?”
“You love me for it,” she replied. “Is Ben… is he following us?”
“Right behind us,” he told her after a quick look to check. “We’ll be there in five minutes, I promise.”
Greyson pulled out his cell and texted Sally. She knew the plan to let everyone else know what was happening. He tucked it away when another contraction hit and Belle screamed, gripping the backseat of the car until her knuckles turned white, her other hand gripping so hard on his he thought it’d break.
“Drive faster,” he grunted to Brent through the pain.
“Here!” Brent announced, and Greyson sighed in relief. He hopped out of the car as Greyson told Belle they’d made it.
“Are you ready for this?” she asked him.
Greyson stared at her—her beauty, the sweat breaking out on her forehead, the fire burning in her ice-blue eyes. “With you, I’ll always be ready for anything.”
***
The pain tore at her middle, and Belle sat up off the bed, gripping Greyson’s hand tightly as she cried out, riding the contraction. There’d been no time for an epidural, according to Higgins. The baby was coming, and he wasn’t waiting around.
“Breathe, Belle,” Greyson urged her, his voice strained. “Just breathe.”
“Stop telling me to breathe,” she snapped and winced as the pain intensified. “Son of a bitch!”
He smirked and kept rubbing her back. Higgins stood at the foot of the bed, peering between her legs. “Looking good, Belle. You’ll be able to push really soon. Just hang on.”
“She is, trust me,” Greyson muttered, and when Belle loosened her grip on his hand, he winced. “Remind me to never piss you off again. Ever.”
“I’ll apologize later,” she said and sagged to the bed.
Dr. Higgins sat down on a stool, and Belle watched her head disappear under the blue sheet. “Alright, Belle, we’re there. I need you to push when I tell you to, okay?”
Belle nodded and braced herself on her elbows. Greyson steadied her, kissing her head and whispering how much he loved her. Tears of joy and pain flowed from her eyes, but the pain dominated and she yelled as Dr. Higgins told her to push.
“Harder, Belle,” she called.
Belle sucked in a breath, pushing with everything she had before the pain faded and she fell back against Greyson. “I can’t,” she cried. “I can’t.”
“Yes, you can,” Greyson said sternly. “You’ve never let anything stop you before. You’re not going to let the pain stop you now.”
“I gave up,” she whispered, and he stared at her confused. “I did, I gave up on finding my family.”
“I need you to push again,” Dr. Higgins said, holding her ankles. “Come on, Belle, push for me, hon!”
She gritted her teeth and pushed, holding onto Greyson as she pushed until a scream tore from her mouth. Every muscle in her body shrieked, and she went limp again. “I gave up… I never would’ve found them.”
“But you did,” he assured her. “Belle, your family is in this room and just outside that door. They’re here for you, because of you.”
“No, because of you,” she argued, sucking in air. “What if I’m a terrible mother?”
“Look at me,” Greyson said, and she turned her gaze to find his brown eyes overflowing with love for her and their baby. “You will not be a terrible mother. Your mother loved you with everything s
he had, and that same passion… I see it in you every day. You saved me, Belle; you saved me from a life of loneliness, of bitterness. You really think you won’t do the same for our son?”
She shook her head. “I don’t… I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do. Stop doubting yourself,” he said and kissed her fiercely. “If nothing else, feel our love, Belle. You did that – you created it with me. That, if nothing else, should tell you there’s nothing to worry about.”
Belle nodded once as the pain rose again. Dr. Higgins stared between them, smiling softly. “You three are going to be just fine, now look at me, Belle, and push—last time, honey.”
Belle felt the pain building, and she sat up, pushing with everything she had, drawing on Greyson by her side, using his strength and their love. She pushed hard, wanting to see their son, to start their life as a family together. She screamed, and a louder, high-pitched scream joined hers. Dr. Higgins grinned, and Belle’s body relaxed as their baby came into the world. She fell back one final time and Greyson kissed her, holding her close as Dr. Higgins held the baby, cut the umbilical cord, and handed him over to a nurse.
“You did wonderfully,” she told Belle. “Just wonderfully.”
She smiled, exhausted, and listened to their little boy’s cries. “Greyson,” she whispered. “We never picked out a name.”
“I think I came up with one,” he said as the nurse walked their baby over to them.
“Here he is,” Dr. Higgins said. “All eight pounds, four ounces of him. Perfectly healthy.”
Belle held out her arms, and the nurse laid him gently on her chest so she could hold him. His crying stilled almost instantly as his dark brown eyes looked up at her. Tears spilled over as she watched him squirm in her arms, their little baby boy.
“We made this,” she whispered.
Greyson nodded, his mouth open in awe as he reached out a hand. Their son held his fingertip, and all Greyson could do was stare.
“What should we name him?” she asked.
“How about James Richard?” he suggested.
Belle smiled. “James Richard… big names to live up to.”
“I think he’ll be just fine.” Greyson leaned down and kissed his forehead then wrapped his arm around Belle’s shoulders. “Ready for the next adventure?”
“With you, always,” she said and held her boys close.
***
While Belle was moved to another room to rest and recover, Greyson was told he could take little James Richard out to meet the rest of the family. He carried the bundle and walked slowly, so scared and thrilled at the tiny human in his arms.
“You look just like me,” he mused. James yawned in his arms, and his lips curled up at the side. “But damn, if you don’t have your mom’s smile.”
Swelling with pride, he walked into the waiting room to find that Sally, the twins, and Carrie had joined Brent and Ben. They jumped up at the sight of him and moved in closer.
“I’d like you all to meet James Richard,” Greyson said. “And Belle is resting comfortably.”
Sally hugged him close. “Congratulations, son, truly. He’s beautiful.”
Greyson shifted James so everyone could see when a man towards the other end of the waiting room, walking with a weathered, wooden cane, moved forward, a hesitant look in his eyes.
“Did someone say… his name was James?” the man asked.
Everyone turned to look at the man. Ben was the first to move, wrapping the man up in a bear hug. “James, where the hell have you been, brother?” James hugged him back, but his eyes never left the baby cradled in Greyson’s arms. “You got the message from Belle?”
James wiped a tear from his eye as he stepped closer. “I did. I went to her place of work, and someone told me she left the launch to go have a baby.” His gaze shifted to Brent, and his eyes glazed over with even more tears. “Son?”
Brent nodded and rushed to hug his dad. Greyson’s eyes filled with tears, and he cleared his throat to stop himself from crying like a baby, but Sally nudged him with a knowing smile on her face. As Brent and James parted, Greyson stepped closer.
“I’d shake your hand, sir, but I’m afraid your new grandson is occupying them.”
James patted Greyson on the arm. “You must be the fiancé,” he said. “Fine looking man, if I say so myself, and this… this is your son. My… my Belle’s son.”
“You’re a grandfather now,” Greyson said happily. “Welcome to the family, Mr. Hall.”
“No… no Mr. Hall,” James corrected. “You call me Dad. You took care of my little girl, gave her so much that I never could… that I never…” Overwhelmed with emotions, he swallowed the rest of his words, and Brent gave his dad another hug. “You did all this for me, for us. I can’t ever thank you enough.”
“Yes, you can,” Greyson said gently. “You can go meet your daughter.”
James sucked in a breath, and Brent urged him on as Greyson moved towards the doors again. The walk together down the hall was quiet, but it was far from awkward. Just being near this man told Greyson he was Belle’s dad. The way he moved, the fire blazing in his eyes, the love for the child Greyson carried in his arms. Little James fell asleep on the way, and the two grown men stared down at the little bundle, full of awe and hope for his future.
“Here we are,” Greyson said, stopping outside Belle’s room. He walked in, and Belle sat up, grinning sleepily at the sight of them.
“There’s my two guys,” she mused sweetly.
“Actually,” Greyson said and stepped to the side, “three of us.”
Belle frowned until James stepped through the doorway, his cane tapping nervously on the floor as he waited. “Hello, Belle,” he said roughly, struggling to hold back his tears.
For a long minute, Belle just stared at him from across the room. Her face cracked, and she held out her hands for him. James hurried over to her and pulled her close as she latched her arms around his neck.
“Oh, my sweet girl,” James whispered. “I’m sorry. I’m so damn sorry.”
Belle could only cry on his shoulder, father and daughter reunited at last. Greyson watched, rocking little James in his arms, and whispered, “Looks like it’s going to be a great wedding after all. What do you think, little bear?”
Little James shifted in his blanket, but his eyes stayed shut as he slept on, content with the love surrounding him.
Chapter 7
One Month Later
The music changed, and Belle fiddled with her veil a final time. “If you keep touching it, you’ll mess it up,” a deep voice told her. Gentle hands pulled hers away from the veil and turned her around. “You look beautiful. Just like your mother.”
Belle smiled at her dad in his black tuxedo with a black and white cane to match. “You think she’s here with us?”
“She’s always here,” he told her. “She never really left any of us, and I… I’m still so sorry I did.”
She cupped his cheek in her hand. “You found us again, Dad. You’re here now. That’s what matters, and that’s all I care about. It’s all I ever wanted.”
“I’ll always be here,” James promised her. “Well, unless I’m in California with your brother.”
Belle laughed with him, and he hugged her close. She closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of being held by her dad. He told her the only time he had gotten to hold her was a month after she was born. Then he was gone again. Something wet hit her bare shoulder, and she knew he was crying tears of joy, just as she was.
“We can’t have that now, can we?” he said in his gruff voice. “You’ll smear your makeup.”
“I don’t care,” she assured him as the doors to the garden were pulled open by two men. She stared down the aisle at the man waiting at the other end, and as their eyes met, she saw Greyson’s shoulders tense as he struggled not to cry. “I’m going to blubber through this whole damn wedding anyway.”
James tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow and walked her
slowly down the aisle. Her ivory, strapless dress fit her body perfectly, even after being pregnant. The train spread out behind her, sparkling with crystals that trailed up the fabric in a pattern of vines and leaves. Her hair hung freely down her back in waves of red, catching the sun setting behind Greyson, the rest of the wedding party, and Ben, the man who would officiate their wedding.
When they reached the end of the aisle, they paused, and Greyson stepped forward to take Belle’s hand from James.
“You take care of my little girl,” James whispered with a wink.
Greyson smirked beneath his beard. “I always do, whether she wants me to or not.”
A happy baby’s cooing drew their attention. Sally laughed as James wriggled in her arms.
“Ready?” Greyson asked as they stepped up to Ben.
She couldn’t resist and stood on her toes to kiss him. His arms wound around her waist, pressing her against his hard body until someone cleared his throat. Belle and Greyson chuckled as they broke apart, the rest of the guests laughing as well at Ben’s stern look.
“Might we actually get through the ceremony first?” he asked with a raised brow.
Greyson and Belle stepped apart, their hands clasped together. “Sorry, Ben,” she said. “Please continue.”
He shook his head, laughing, and held up his hands to begin the ceremony that would bind them together for the rest of their days. A family… a family Belle had only dreamed of.
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