I considered it for a moment but knew I would never go through with it. He would always be Willa’s dad, though hopefully from a distance from now on. “No, it’s okay. Though I’ll reassess my answer if he keeps coming back.”
Jameson hung around the café, not wanting to leave without Willa. He came sauntering up to us, holding his hand out to Grayson. “I wish I had been there when you punched the bastard. You’re the man.”
Grayson untangled us and shook his hand, grinning. “I won’t lie. It was a good feeling.”
He’d always hated Garret and didn’t hide his feelings. But back then, I had still been trying everything I could to keep the peace. Which meant appeasing Garret so he’d stay away from Willa.
I patted Jameson’s arm on my way past to the tables to clean up. “Take Willa home. I’ll finish up here.”
The bakery was open for another hour, but we rarely got many people through. I’d be more than okay on my own.
Grayson followed, looking at the messy café with his hands on his hips. “Where do you want to start?”
I pushed away the urge to jump on him and instead pointed to the dirty dishes. “Put whatever you can fit in the dishwasher, the rest on the counter next to it.”
He trailed his hand along my back on his way past, and my body responded with a warm glow at the simple touch.
He was it for me.
Willa emerged from where she’d been hiding out in the kitchen. “You sure you don’t need me? I’m okay. Really. I can stay.”
Jameson responded for me, lifting her and flinging her over his shoulder. “We’re going home.”
I grinned at the back of her head. “I’m fine. You go ahead. Call me if you want to talk.”
“I’m thinking there won’t be much talking going on for her tonight,” Grayson remarked, watching Jameson swat Willa’s butt when she pinched his.
“No, I guess not.”
We finished cleaning up and serving the last few customers before locking the doors. Making our way up the back stairs to my apartment, I couldn’t help but smile despite what had happened earlier.
Grayson unlocked the door before ushering me inside. “What’s that smile for?”
“Just happy.”
He pulled me in to him once we were inside. “Good.”
There was no more talking going on for us either, and I fell asleep with Grayson wrapped around me, holding me safely in his arms.
Epilogue
Three months later
“Get your perky butt to the hospital. D-day is here.”
Willa’s yelling penetrated the half-asleep fog still clinging to my brain, and I shot up in bed. “Maisie is having her baby? Now?”
“Yes. Now.”
Grayson sat up next to me, the sheet pooling in his lap, showing his naked torso. I unconsciously licked my lips at the sight, and he shot me a mischievous grin.
“Rayna, you listening to me?” Willa’s voice brought me back from my fantasies, where I’d been busy licking my way across Grayson’s body.
“I’ll be there soon.”
We hung up, and I leaned over and kissed Grayson’s cheek. “I need to go to the hospital. Maisie is having her baby.”
He glanced past me to the digital clock on my nightstand. “I’ll come with you.”
