“You better stop me now before I puke.”
“Too fast?” he asked, grabbing the ropes to stop her.
“If I wasn’t pregnant, it wouldn’t have been fast enough. Junior’s getting jumpy.”
Griffin helped her off the tire and swung her into his arms. “God, I love your laugh. It’s been too long since I’ve heard it.”
She stiffened in his arms. He couldn’t let the moment slip by. Whatever he’d said wrong, he’d make her forget. “Junior, huh? Is that the best name you’ve got?”
The smile eased back onto her face. Her sinful mouth drove him insane. To add to the torture, her tongue darted out and licked her lips. “I haven’t thought about names yet at all.”
“Why not?” With his arm still around her, he guided her back to the house.
Her arm slid around his waist and paused as she caught herself. He pulled her closer and she held the band of his pants. More progress.
“What if I pick out a name that doesn’t fit the baby? I don’t want to fall in love with a name, take one look at my baby, and discover it’s wrong.”
He enjoyed the feel of her holding on to him, but they both couldn’t squeeze through the door at the same time, so he stepped aside to let her go first. “You have nothing picked out at all?”
“No. When I see my baby, then I’ll think about it.”
Back inside she gathered her bags from the floor where he’d tossed them. He reached to take them from her. “I thought you were still supposed to be taking it easy.”
“I needed to get supplies for my last class project. Then I stopped at the baby store and bought a few things.” She tugged the bags away from him. “I can carry my own stuff.”
“Can I see?”
“The baby clothes?”
“Sure, why not?”
She shook her head but went into the living room and swung a bag onto the table. “Since Quinn knows she’s having a boy, I bought a couple of boy things for her shower.” Pulling them from the bag, she laid them across the arm of the couch. “For me, I bought clothes in green because they’ll work for a boy or a girl.”
The items she produced appeared incredibly small. He tried to imagine the little person who could wear them and he couldn’t. He could, however, imagine Indy snuggling a small bundle wrapped in the light green she held.
“See? Nothing too exciting.”
“If you think it’s exciting, I can at least pretend.” He touched an outfit and found the fabric so soft, he might want to find something in her size. No wonder women enjoyed cuddling babies if this is what they wore.
“You don’t fake anything, remember?”
He moved her hair off her shoulder and nuzzled her neck. “For you, I’d try.”
“You’ve already failed. The clothes are in front of me, not wrapped around my neck.” She skirted away and shoved her purchases back into the bag.
“When’s your shower?”
She shrugged. “I don’t think I’ll have one.”
“Why not? Isn’t it a typical girl thing?”
“Quinn is due before me, so hers is first. I don’t want to take anything from her. Besides, her pregnancy is more traditional and easier to throw a party for. It’s more awkward for me. Like ‘Hey, I screwed up, but give me a party anyway.’ I don’t want to listen to the questions about who the father is and why I’m not married yet. It’ll be bad enough when Quinn is the center of attention.”
Tension balled in his stomach when she referred to the baby as a screwup. But it was, wasn’t it? Neither of them planned on becoming parents. “I’ll throw you a party.”
“No, thanks. I don’t need a party. I’m not that desperate for gifts.” She picked up her bags. “I have homework to finish. Are you going back to work?”
“No. I’m done for the day. I’ll figure out dinner.” In fact, he hadn’t put in any long days in more than a week. He wanted to be at home with Indy. She swooshed out of the room with the bags crinkling at her side.
She’d get a baby shower. He’d make sure of it. He’d grown tired of her feeling like she deserved less. He’d call Kate and have her make the arrangements. She would know who to invite. It would be the best damn celebration Indy had ever seen. Their baby was no mistake.
Their baby.
When had it gone from being her baby to theirs? His heart thumped against his ribs. He sat heavily on the edge of the coffee table. Once he regained the ability to breathe normally, he had his answer.
The moment he realized he loved Indy, the baby became theirs. Indy would fight him. She kept insisting the baby wasn’t his, regardless of what the doctor said.
The baby was his regardless of where he got his genes. The baby responded to his voice, his touch, not Burke’s.
He knew what he needed to do to convince Indy and it wouldn’t be easy.
Indy sat on her bed surrounded by fabric: swatches for school and cute, little baby pajamas. The clothes made it hard to focus on schoolwork. Four weeks left of school, six until she had the baby, maybe less if her calculations held true. Luckily both classes met only once a week and had no finals, only projects.
A knock at the door brought her head up and stilled her fingers fondling material.
Griffin opened the door without waiting for her to respond. She wanted to admonish him for the act, but she felt she had no place doing so. It was his house. But he’s trying to make it mine, she thought, remembering her cows in the kitchen, the pinball down the hall, and the tire swing in the yard.
He stood in the doorway. “I’m disappointed. I thought I’d catch you changing.”
“You’re not missing much, trust me. Or I should say, you’re missing a whole lot.” She rubbed her belly for emphasis. “What’d you need?”
“I forgot I had dinner plans.”
She shrugged. “Okay.”
“I want you to come with me. It’s dinner with Eileen O’Leary.”
“A real home-cooked meal? Sounds good. When do I need to be ready?” The thought of something, anything, homemade had her mouth watering. She’d missed that part of living with Quinn. Eileen visited a lot and always brought dinner.
“An hour?”
“Cool. I’ll be ready.”
Getting ready entailed napping for thirty minutes. Even without working at the bar, she was exhausted. The baby liked to kick and punch as soon as she settled in for the night.
When Griffin knocked again, she was ready. At least she’d freshened up in the bathroom. The fabric remained piled at the foot of the bed. Given the baby’s propensity for keeping her awake, she’d have plenty of time to work.
On the ride to Eileen’s, Griffin was unusually chatty. First he told her about some extravaganza Kendra planned for the foundation because she wanted a big reveal.
Griffin didn’t seem too keen on it.
“I’ve been thinking about hiring a cook,” he said, switching the subject.
Indy offered a noncommittal hum.
“What do you think?”
“About you getting a cook?”
“Yeah. I figured we’re both home a lot more, and I’m getting tired of takeout.”
“We could take turns cooking.”
The look he shot her was one of pure amusement. “You cook?” “I can make some simple stuff. Kind of.” In truth, Quinn had always been the one to want to learn from their mother. “I make a mean salad.”
“Well, I don’t. Do you think we should go with someone who’s just a cook or someone who’d cook and help with the baby?” He stared straight ahead through the windshield. No smile tugged at his lips. His knuckles were white on the steering wheel.
He’s serious. He’s thinking long term.
He must’ve felt her stare. He glanced out of the corner of his eyes to see her mouth open and close like a fish.
He filled the empty air. “I thought if we had someone who was part nanny, part cook, you’d have help as your business takes off. But if you think we should get a full-time nanny and
part-time cook, like for dinner, we’ll do that.”
He’d been thinking, planning. This wasn’t something off the cuff for him. She couldn’t quite wrap her head around it. This man, whose life’s motto was “no expectations,” expected her to continue to live with him after she had the baby. As roommates? Partners? Lovers?
“Are you okay? It’s not like you to be so quiet.”
“I’m . . . I’m fine. Just thinking.”
“Let me know what you come up with. We should have someone hired before the baby comes.” He parked on a quiet, residential street.
A few kids ran down the block screaming. Their jackets flapped open, and their cheeks were pink as they celebrated the beginning of spring. Griffin stood beside her door and helped her out.
They walked up the concrete front steps in silence, Indy’s head still reeling with information. Griffin opened the door the way she imagined Ryan did, like family. When they entered the living room, Eileen emerged from the back of the house.
“Hi.” Griffin bent and kissed Eileen’s cheek. He straightened and turned to face Indy. “This is Indy.”
Indy smacked his arm. “We’ve met. Her son, my sister, big wedding, remember?” She laughed quietly and gave Eileen a soft hug. “How have you been?”
“Good, good. Dinner will be on the table in a minute.” She stepped away from Indy and her gaze darted between Indy and Griffin. As she scooted back toward the kitchen, the realization hit Indy.
Dinner at Eileen’s. Griffin’s nervous introduction. Her skin warmed, and she grasped Griffin’s forearm. “My God. This is your version of meet the parents, isn’t it?”
“What?” He tried to shrug it off, but she saw the truth in his eyes.
“Are you kidding? She’s going to think, to assume . . .” Indy pointed to her stomach with her free hand.
“She already knows.”
“Oh, shit.” Her grip on his arm tightened. “Then she thinks I’m a total slut. And we’re living together. Isn’t that a sin or something?”
Panic rose where it shouldn’t have. She shouldn’t care about Eileen O’Leary’s opinion. It mattered to Griffin, though, so it mattered to her.
He peeled her fingers from his arm. “Relax. Eileen’s not that bad. She’ll love you.”
“You should’ve told me.” Told her what? What did this mean?
“You look pale. Are you sure you’re okay?” He rubbed a hand across her shoulders and then pulled her into a warm embrace.
She inhaled his scent and felt his heartbeat, steady and sure. His expectations were growing exponentially and she wasn’t prepared.
“It’s dinner. Like you said, you’ve met Eileen before. Let’s enjoy a good, home-cooked meal.”
He moved to pull away, but she held tight. She wasn’t quite ready to leave the safe comfort of his arms. After one last deep breath she released him. “Payback, Walker, you have payback coming.”
He chuckled. “I already sat through your uncomfortable family dinner. I had to meet your dad before I even got to sleep with you.”
“You were there for Ryan, not me.” She took a seat at the table.
“I still suffered through it.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’ll be right back.”
He returned minutes later carrying a platter of turkey breast with Eileen trailing behind. The smells wafted across the room, and her stomach danced hopefully. Indy pushed back from the table. “Can I help?”
“No. We’ve got it,” Griffin answered.
After a completely painless and delicious meal, Griffin stood and picked up Indy’s plate.
“I can take care of my own plate.”
“I have dish duty.”
“I’ll help.”
He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Give your swollen ankles a rest. I’ve got it.”
Eileen followed him into the kitchen and returned with a pot of coffee and a plate of cookies. Indy straightened in her seat and forced a smile. “Is this where you grill me and ask what my intentions are?”
Eileen laughed a delicate, ladylike, graceful laugh. “No, I won’t be doing any grilling.”
Indy relaxed a hair and helped herself to a cookie.
“Griffin is special, but I think you already know that.”
“I do. Can I ask a question?”
Eileen nodded.
“Why did he bring me here?”
“Because you’re important to him. He loves you, and he wanted you to meet his family.”
Love? Even after all this time, they still hadn’t spoken the word.
Eileen continued. “I told him you must’ve been important because he never spoke to me about any woman.” She paused to take a sip of coffee. “He’s never brought anyone to meet me.”
Indy’s heart beat double time. Was Eileen supposed to reveal all of this?
Eileen sank her teeth into a cookie and eyed Indy. “I think Colleen would’ve liked you.”
“Colleen?”
“His mother.”
“He never talks about her except in abstract terms of how hard her life was as a single mother.” Indy planned to soak up every bit of information Eileen offered.
“He still hurts. It’s only been a couple of years. She died not long after my Patrick. Griffin had been working so hard to give her a better life.”
Indy’s heart broke for the man who had tried to care for his mother. “Were you close to Colleen?”
Eileen gave a slight shake of her head. “Not very. I don’t think she wanted too many people close. One time she came here after her husband had gone again. She cried and said she wanted to thank us for being good to Griffin.”
Indy’s head swam. Too much information crowded her mind. Too many emotions pressed against her heart.
“Is it safe to come in?” Griffin asked from the doorway.
Indy spread her lips into a wide smile. “Sure. Eileen was sharing all of your embarrassing childhood moments.”
The look on his face was priceless. Her flip comment shot fear into his eyes before he covered it with a charming smile. “Not possible. I’ve never done anything embarrassing.”
“Of course.” Now she wanted to dig, but she stood instead, because Eileen did. Turning to Eileen she said, “Thank you for a fabulous dinner and interesting conversation.”
Eileen blushed. “I miss having the family to cook for. You come back any time.”
“I will.” Indy leaned forward and brushed a kiss on her soft, wrinkled cheek.
The older woman pulled her closer and whispered, “Let him take care of you. It’s what he needs.”
A lump stuck in Indy’s throat, so she nodded and pulled away. So that’s what the big parent talk boiled down to—learning what Griffin needed. After months of working to be responsible for herself, the nagging question for her became whether she could give Griffin what he needed without losing all she’d gained.
The days began to drag for Indy. Her nights involved walking through the dark, silent house. She blamed the baby’s restlessness, but she had plenty of her own.
For the last week, since their dinner with Eileen, Indy hadn’t been able to sleep much. Oh, her afternoon naps were restful and complete, but as soon as she settled beneath the blanket at night, the baby stomped, punched, and elbowed her.
Quinn told her it was nature’s way of preparing her for sleepless nights with a newborn who would require multiple feedings overnight.
Nature sucked.
Indy worried it wasn’t just the baby keeping her up. It hadn’t been her imagination that Griffin was home more. No late nights in the office. No business trips. Every night he came home for dinner. On her school nights he arrived early so they had time before class.
They were more than roommates, but not lovers. He hadn’t even attempted more than a kiss. Steamy, set-me-humming kisses, but still just kisses.
She couldn’t blame him. She was completely unsexy right now, but most men wouldn’t show such restraint. Unless he wasn’t.
Flipping the covers from her body, she stood to take her nightly stroll. The baby tap-danced on her bladder. After relieving herself, she walked down the hall.
Her stomach continued to flip without the aid of the baby. Why should it bother her if Griffin was having sex with someone else? She’d said no sex, and he’d respected that. He came home to her every night. He wanted to care for her and the baby.
She still felt like she was selling herself short.
As she shuffled past Griffin’s room, the door opened. Her heart leapt into her throat.
“What are you doing up?” he asked, his voice groggy with sleep. Wearing nothing but a pair of boxers and tousled hair, he looked yummy.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.” Her voice came out a husky whisper as if someone else was asleep.
“Something wrong?” He left the doorway and closed the distance between them.
“No. For the last week or so the baby’s decided to dance all night while I try to sleep. Walking calms him.”
Griffin scrubbed a hand over his face. “That’s why you’ve looked so tired. Why didn’t you say something?”
She chuckled, and the baby flipped. “There’s nothing you can do about it. I saw no reason for both of us to miss out on sleep.”
“Ah. You’ve forgotten my magic touch.”
Her heart fluttered and hormones surged at the memory of his magic touch.
His fingers closed over hers. “Come on.”
Oh, God. He wanted to have sex now? She scanned her memory for the last time she shaved her legs.
He led her to his bed. “Get in.”
She climbed on the cotton sheets, which were still warm from his body. The logistics of pregnant sex wasn’t something she’d thought about. She didn’t know what to do or what to expect.
Griffin crawled in beside her and pulled the blanket up around them. The hair on his chest bristled softly against her arm, and she lay stiffly on her back. The baby turned, doing his alien impression again.
A Good Time Page 28