Page 147 of Nobody's Girl

“How could I stay here?” she asked. “I have school and work, Griff.”

“You can change schools. We have lots of colleges here where you can continue with your animal biology degree. And as far as work goes, we could give you an internship with Montana Matrix which will give you tons of experience working with animals. You’d get a better education here, anyway.” He ran his hand over her cheek that was pink where his beard had rubbed it. “So say you’ll stay with me, baby.”

“What would your family think, Griff?” she asked as she looked into the hazel of his eyes and saw pure happiness in them.

“This place is monstrous. Mom, Dad, and my younger brother are the only ones who live here. And I know they’ll all love you. And you want to know the best part?”

She laughed at how enthusiastic he was. “What’s the best part?”

“The best part,” he said as he pulled her close to him, “is that I get to have you in my bed each night and work with you each day too. It’s been forever since I was interested enough to put actual work into the company. But with you by my side, I think I’ve found interest in it again.”

“I’ll have to talk to Dad,” Jess said. “Those student loans are …”

He kissed her to shut her up, making her quiver as she felt his cock thump against her. When he ended the kiss, he said, “As part of the internship, we’ll pay off those loans, and we’ll pay for the rest of your college, Jess. There’s absolutely nothing to lose by accepting both of my offers. The first, being my girl and moving in here with me. The second, taking the job. We pay our interns. We aren’t like other companies who pay little to nothing.”

“Money, a good man, and an education?” she asked. “Did I die and go to heaven?”

“Nope, just Montana,” he answered with a chuckle. “So can I take that as a yes, baby?”

“I’d be an idiot to turn all this down, wouldn’t I?” she asked him as she moved her body as close to his as she could get it.

“You would,” he answered as he eased her onto her back, covering her with his body.

“I’m no idiot,” she whispered. “Internship or not, I’d be a fool to turn down the offer of being your girl, Griff.”

With a smile, he kissed her, sealing their deal. She’d be staying; he’d have his first real relationship. He’d thought he’d be more afraid to make such a commitment. But with Jess, it was as easy as riding a bike.

His only worry was how her family would take the news that he’d taken the baby girl of the family away with him.

Chapter 40

Ethan and Kel pulled up in front of her family’s home right at dinner time. A cab was dropping Phoenix and Cait off and behind that was a town car that was about to drop off Jess and Griffin. All were back home as promised when they left. All had big news to tell.

It was Kel who spotted the rings on Phoenix and Cait’s fingers. She grabbed her sister’s hand as they met at the front door. “What’s this mean?” Kel asked.

Phoenix smiled as he said, “I think you know what it means, Kel. We’ve just come back from Vegas.”

“No!” Kel shouted, and then the front door opened.

Their father stood at it, wearing nothing but a pair of gray-striped underwear and a white T-shirt. “Home so soon?” he asked as he backed up so they all could go inside.

Kel walked in first and kissed her father’s cheek. “Are we interrupting something, Dad?”

“No, why do you ask that?” he asked as he made his way to his recliner.

All his daughters and all their men had made it inside and found their mother coming down the dark hallway. “I have a pot roast and potatoes almost ready. How were your weekend dates?” She stopped short as she looked at Cait. “What’ve ya done?”

Cait smiled and held up her left hand. “Phoenix and I got married last night.”

Mrs. Flannigan felt faint with her daughter’s news and landed on her bottom on the staircase. “You’ve what?”

Mr. Flannigan turned down the television and asked, “What’d you do to your mother?”

“Tell your father, Cait!” her mother shouted.

“Dad,” Cait said as she and Phoenix walked up to him.