A Good Time

by Shannyn Schroeder

  Griffin sneered. “I thought that being the father you had a right to know. That maybe you’d man up and help her.”

  He snickered. “I’m not the father.”

  The silence in the room weighed heavily. Air locked in Griffin’s chest. He didn’t know what to say.

  Another snicker and Griffin flinched, wanting to launch himself at the man. Instead every muscle in his body tightened and froze.

  “She showed me the ultrasound with a date of conception after she left me. The baby belongs to whomever she moved on to. Judging from the look on your face, that would be you.”

  Griffin turned stiffly and left the room. He rushed outside to get air into his lungs. The baby was his? She’d said she hadn’t slept with anyone else besides Burke.

  Why wouldn’t she have told me?

  He went back to the hospital, determined to confront her. Anger boiled in his chest and betrayal hung on his back. He’d never trusted a woman as much as he’d trusted her, and she’d lied. The nasty little voice in his head nagged, “Just like Selena.”

  Back at the hospital, he caught the doctor at the nurse’s station. “Excuse me, Doctor, do you have an update on Indy Adams?”

  The woman turned to him. “And you are?”

  “The baby’s father.” The words bubbled like acid through his throat.

  “She’ll be released tomorrow. Don’t upset her. She needs to stay calm and rest.”

  “Thank you.” Don’t upset her? Upset was the least of her worries. He pushed open the door to the room. Indy sat in bed, eyes closed.

  She was pale and hooked up to monitors. He remembered seeing his mom in the same spot. Anger began to fade.

  Her eyes fluttered open, and she smiled.

  It was a punch to his chest. “Hi,” he croaked.

  “Hi yourself. You didn’t have to come back.”

  When would she stop pushing him away? “Yeah, I did. What did the doctor say?”

  “I’m fine. The baby’s fine. I have to be on bed rest for a while. Take it easy.”

  He unclenched his jaw. “Isn’t that what I’ve been saying for weeks?”

  “Yeah, yeah. And I’ll start listening to you when you have MD after your name.”

  No, she’d start listening to him now. His muscles tensed and he fought to relax them. She needed to stay calm. For his baby. “I want you to move into my house.”

  “What?” She bolted up in bed.

  He gently pushed her back. “Take it easy, remember? You don’t have anywhere else to go. What are you going to do, stay with Quinn? She just got back on her feet. You’re not going to want to stress her out. You can’t move right now. I have a huge house. You’ll have time to recuperate.”

  She hitched her chin up. “I don’t need your charity.”

  “Where are you going to go?”

  “Back to Hooperville. Lydia can help me.”

  “You’ll let Lydia help you but not me? She has her hands full with your dad. And no matter how smoothly your last visit with him went, I don’t see staying with your dad being stress-free. This isn’t charity.” He paused, wanting to tell her that he’d do anything for his baby, but that conversation would surely upset her. “Let me help.”

  Tears streamed down her face. Christ, so much for not upsetting her.

  “Don’t cry. It’s not that bad.”

  “Yes, it is. For months now, I’ve been working, trying to be responsible, make it on my own, and here I am, having to lean on someone else.” She swiped her palm against her cheek.

  “You don’t have to do it alone.”

  “Yes, I do. I’d rather die than let Richard into this baby’s life.” The mention of the lie curdled in his stomach. It took all of his restraint to stop himself from lashing out. “Don’t you think the father has a right to know what’s happening with his baby?”

  “In theory, sure. But I don’t want him in this baby’s life. Or in mine. He manipulated the situation to try to keep me. I can’t prove it, but I’m pretty sure he’s the reason I lost my job at the real estate agency. He’ll try to control everything until he tires of us. My baby deserves better.”

  Is that what she thought of him? That he’d try to control everything? That he’d manipulate things?

  He had. Consistently. She had no reason to think he was any better than Burke. Only he would never tire of her and their child, and he’d prove it. “I care about you. I want to help.”

  She sighed and wiped at fresh tears. “I’ll move in and pay you rent. We’re roommates, nothing more.”

  “No rent. I don’t want your money.”

  “You said I’m not a charity case.”

  “We’ll talk about it later. When you’re back to normal. I’ll have your stuff moved in within a day. Get some rest.” The need to touch her consumed him, even though anger pulsed through his body. “Roommates, huh?”

  Her tongue flicked out and wet her lips. “It’s better that way. We’ve been getting along pretty well as friends, right?”

  Friends? He’d thought he’d been romancing her, taking his time, being patient, and she thought they were friends? “Yeah. You’re making the right move.”

  “Let’s hope we both don’t end up regretting it.”

  He left the room before he could do something he’d regret. When she was back on her feet, she’d have plenty of explaining to do. In the meantime, he’d have the chance to get to know his child.

  Chapter 16

  Indy sat on the bed, watching as Kate hung clothes in the closet. Kate said, “This is kind of a sudden move.”

  Indy stared at her friend. “I needed to. I have a month of bed rest and I can’t expect Quinn to worry about trying to take care of me. I needed somewhere to go, and Griffin offered. It’s temporary, like everything else in my life.”

  “What do you mean?” Kate pulled a pile of T-shirts from the suitcase and placed them in a drawer.

  “My whole life, I’ve never expected anything to last. Richard was a fling, someone to have fun with, and he went and proposed. Griffin was my rebound guy. I moved home temporarily to figure out my life, I stayed with Quinn to help her, now I’m here until I’m back on my feet. Sometimes I feel like I’m floating.” She spread her hand across the fluffy blanket on the new bed Griffin had insisted on buying. She’d planned on moving her bed in, but since this would be a guest room, he thought a king-size bed would be better.

  “Are you sure this is temporary?”

  “What else can it be? Griffin and I are not forever kind of people. He said so himself. He’s not looking for a family. Certainly not one he didn’t plan on.”

  “I’ve seen him look at you. You’re not a practice run for playing house. He loves you.”

  She rolled her eyes. No matter what her heart wanted, she couldn’t believe it. “Those words have never been spoken. It’s a moot point anyway. This is Griffin’s home. I need to build one for the baby and me. A real home, not something temporary.”

  “Where does this one go?”

  Indy turned to see Griffin standing in the doorway. She could read nothing on his face to let her know if he’d been listening. She gave herself a mental shake and read the side of the box. “Put it in the corner. I’ll deal with it later.”

  “That’s the last of the boxes you wanted from storage. Are you sure you don’t need anything else? There are still a lot of boxes left there.” He moved to the corner and set the box down.

  “I brought what I’ll need for the next month. Most of what’s left is probably junk. I’ll sort through it later and decide what to keep.”

  Kate touched her arm. Indy had forgotten she was in the room. She looked at Indy and said, “I’m going to go make some coffee. Holler if you need anything.”

  Griffin continued after Kate left, “You can move that stuff in here. Then you can go through it whenever you have time.”

  Time always stood still when they were alone. “No, it’s fine where it is. I don’t need to take up any more space here
.”

  She moved to the dresser and closed the drawer Kate had been working in. Moving in a slow circle, she surveyed the room. “I think I’m done unpacking. Or I should say Kate’s done unpacking my stuff. Do you need any help?”

  “You should be in bed. You look tired. Why don’t you take a nap?”

  “I’m fine.” If the man started telling her to eat her vegetables, she’d scream. “I have a midterm project to work on for a while. I have to talk to my teacher and see what I can do about class. If I’m out for a full month, there’s no way I can pass.”

  He walked toward her, forcing her back to the bed. “Don’t worry about that now. Get some rest.”

  She swallowed hard, afraid he would kiss her. The air around them remained thick with tension, sexual and emotional. It swelled with words unspoken.

  “I’ll be down the hall if you need anything.”

  “I’m good.” And she’d continue to be good as long as he wasn’t in her bedroom. When she’d packed her suitcases and brought them to the house, she thought she’d have a few days before he moved in. When he made the offer, he still hadn’t bought any furniture. Yet today, he moved in. It eerily felt like a happy couple moving into their first home together.

  It’s not our house. This is Griffin’s house.

  She moved back to the bay window and peered out. Another delivery truck from a furniture store arrived. Griffin had hustled to get deliveries and probably paid extra to make this happen. She lay back on the bed and opened her notebook of design ideas. Her eyes fluttered closed and she forced them open. She had a lot of work to do, but the softness of the pillow called her.

  Indy rolled over and realized she had fallen asleep. When the doctor said bed rest, Indy hadn’t actually planned on staying in bed. She stretched and admitted the nap had been necessary. Leaving her room, she peered up and down the hall and then snuck down the back stairs leading into the kitchen. This room was empty of people, and she looked for a coffee cup.

  She found one in the cabinet and stared at the coffeemaker that had more buttons than a TV remote. Glad Kate had already brewed a pot, she poured her one and only cup for the day and walked out the back door. Spring had broken through: birds chirped in the trees and the sun warmed her skin. A slight chill in the air warned that winter might fight back, but she wanted this small reprieve. A chance to bask in warmth.

  Voices carried from the front veranda, and footsteps followed. Indy glanced back at the door and wondered if she could run in without being seen, but Dr. Rollins’s words pounded her brain. Take it easy. Don’t push anything.

  Griffin turned the corner of the wraparound porch and caught sight of her. The woman next to him continued to talk, but his smile sucked Indy in like a black hole. His gaze assessed her as if he’d been expecting to see her here.

  “Indy, this is Kendra, my publicist. Kendra, Indy.”

  The short blonde extended a hand. “You’re the real estate agent-slash-decorator.”

  It wasn’t a question, so Indy knew Griffin had told this woman about her. Kendra’s eyes scanned the length of Indy and stopped on her belly.

  Indy set her coffee cup on the ledge of the rail. “Hi. It’s nice to meet you.”

  “Yes.” Kendra brought her gaze back to Indy’s face. They shook politely, but Kendra’s eyes were far from friendly. She looked like she’d just uncovered an ugly secret.

  Indy nodded and backed away. She retrieved her cup and headed inside. “Excuse me. I’m going back in. It’s a little chilly out here.”

  Kendra obviously wanted to be alone with Griffin.

  Before Indy even made it to the stairs, she heard Kendra’s angry whisper. She couldn’t make out the words, but the tone was unmistakable. Slipping quietly back to the open door, Indy leaned forward to eavesdrop.

  “I’ve spent months cultivating your image. This matters.”

  Griffin’s low voice rumbled, but Indy couldn’t hear and she couldn’t get closer without giving herself away.

  “I don’t care what the reality is, it’s all about perception.”

  Indy turned and tiptoed away. She climbed the stairs feeling like she’d managed to screw up again.

  In her room she napped again for a short time, but it didn’t break her out of her funk. A brief look out the window told her everyone had left. She opened her door to a quiet house. No moving, scraping, banging, yelling. It was too quiet now.

  She turned back to her desk, tucked her earphones into her ears, and blasted her iPod. Music filled her head and soothed her heart. She began to sing along with Melissa Etheridge, letting the rhythm of the music take her away. Ideas began to rush into her brain. She knew how to complete her project for school.

  Sitting on the bed, she pulled out her colored pencils, rulers, and her notebook. Music always helped her productivity.

  When he hadn’t seen Indy for hours, Griffin became worried she’d heard Kendra. Kendra’s bottom-line concern was always how he appeared to the public. He’d hired her for that reason, but sometimes she neglected to remember that he was a person, not a company.

  He went to search for Indy. Her voice floated from her room. He knocked on the door before pushing it open. Her back faced him. She sang while pinning pieces of cloth to a board, her voice smooth and full of emotion. The songs she chose always said more about how she felt than her words did. She was hurting, but he had no idea why or how to fix it. He’d give anything to see her smile and laugh uncontrollably. She carried a weight on her. She wasn’t the same Indy he’d left in front of the hospital months ago.

  He’d cared about her then; he loved her now.

  The realization stabbed his chest. He needed her in a way he’d never needed anyone, in a way he’d never wanted to need anyone. She turned and clutched her chest.

  Tugging the earbud, she yelled, “What the hell are you doing? You scared the shit out of me.”

  “Sorry. I knocked, but you didn’t answer.” He stood awkwardly for a moment, allowing his mind to catch up with his heart. “I ordered dinner. I thought you’d be hungry.”

  Her shoulders relaxed, and she tilted her head as if inspecting him. She shook her head once and smiled. “I’m starved.”

  He led the way down to the kitchen. The emotions rolling through his system battered his senses. Indy always pushed him into new territory. Speaking about his feelings had never been his strong suit.

  “Oooh. I love the way this turned out. Great choice for the living room.”

  She detoured into the living room, and he followed. “You should like it. You picked it all out.”

  She winked. “I guess I have really good taste then.”

  Her fingers trailed along the fabric of the couch, and her toes curled into the plush area rug. He envisioned her lying naked in front of the fireplace on that rug.

  Turning abruptly he said, “Let’s eat.”

  In the kitchen he flipped open the pizza box. “I have no idea where the dishes are. I came down earlier and Kate had already unpacked.”

  “She does that.” Indy walked over to the cabinets and opened doors. She found the dishes on her second try. She pulled two down and froze, staring at her collection of cows. “I didn’t mark this box to be brought here.”

  He joined her at the counter, took the plates from her, and set them down. “I know. I saw the box in storage and thought you’d like to have them.”

  She picked one up and turned to face him with tears in her eyes. Shit. He’d done it again. His hands moved to rest on her hips, and he kissed her forehead. “I thought they would make this feel more like home for you.”

  She put the cow down and pushed past him. “You’re making this more complicated than it’s supposed to be.”

  “Not complicated. This is your home too.” How could he tell her he’d envisioned her living in his house every time he walked through the door without scaring her? Just tell her.

  She shook her head. “No. It’s your home and I’m a long-term visitor. We agreed to be
roommates.”

  Telling her he loved her would make her run. Words didn’t mean much to her, so he offered the words he thought she’d accept. “I want this to be your home, Indy. No expectations.”

  “You always say no expectations, but you don’t mean it. You mean I shouldn’t have any expectations. You have them and you want me to conform to them.” She grabbed her plate and walked over to the pizza box.

  He had no argument. Right now, he had expectations: he expected her to admit the baby was his; he expected her to admit she loved him; he expected that by having her move in, they’d pick up where they’d left off; he expected they’d sleep together. Celibacy didn’t sit well with him.

  “What? No argument?”

  He shrugged. “Let me kiss you once and then tell me you still just want to be roommates.”

  “No.” A half smile rose to her lips. “We have chemistry. I don’t deny it. But you’re like chocolate cake for me—once I get started, I can’t refuse, then I spend three days cursing the scale for my stupidity.”

  Her admission was all he needed to hear. She wanted him. And he’d thought ahead and ordered dessert.

  He picked up her plate and tilted his head. “Come on. Let’s go relax in the living room in front of a fire.”

  She stood and smirked. “If you’re trying to seduce me, it won’t work.”

  “Trust me, when I’m seducing you, you’ll know it.”

  That’s what worried her. Not if, but when. “I have a steel resolve.”

  And knees of jelly.

  She was still being selfish, but she didn’t care. They were together, and if she could have another month with him, she’d take it. If he kissed her, though, she would melt and want to have sex with him. He was worse than chocolate cake. And the doctor said no sex for at least a month.

  They sat together on the couch in front of the fire, flames licking at the silence and warming the air. Indy devoured her pizza and wondered how long it would take to lose all the weight she’d put on during the pregnancy.

  She stretched her legs out until her ankles rested on the table next to her plate. “Aah.”