“Only when it’s good for my girls.” He headed for the door with Isa tucked securely in one arm. “Coffee’s already on. Don’t make me come back and carry you.”
I laughed softly and did exactly what I was told, trying to convince myself it was only because I could use the jolt of caffeine to clear my head. But I knew it was more than that.
The next weeksettled into a rhythm that felt almost too perfect.
Griffin’s house was now filled with all things Isa. Bright toys were scattered across the living room, the swing was parked in the kitchen for when we cooked meals, and duplicates of her favorite play mat were in the living room and Griffin’s home office. Diapers and wipes were stocked in several places, and her closet was full of outfits she’d probably grow out of before she got the chance to wear them all.
We’d fallen into easy routines—me catching up on sleep while Griffin got up in the middle of the night, morning bottles while he made coffee, and dinners where Isa tried fruits for the first time. And our nights had only gotten hotter.
We couldn’t keep our hands off each other. Quick kisses in the kitchen somehow turned into me bent over the counter while Isa napped. There was even one memorable bout of sex against the hallway wall because neither of us could wait after she went down for the night.
One lazy afternoon, I sat cross-legged on the couch finishing my final CPS report on my laptop. Griffin walked by, paused, and dropped a kiss on the top of my head.
“Almost done?”
“Yeah. I recommended she stay with you permanently. Used all my vacation time so I don’t have to go back to the office yet,which didn’t make my boss very happy.” I glanced up at him. “That okay?”
His eyes softened. “More than okay, sweetheart. This is where you both belong.”
He kept saying stuff like that, and it only felt more right each time. I wasn’t used to being treated like I mattered to someone, but I was starting to believe Griffin truly wanted me in his life. As he continued to prove himself in ways big and small, I found myself relaxing in a way I never had before.
As the days passed, I showed Griffin a few parenting tricks. Like how to burp Isa without getting spit-up on his shirt, and the exact angle she liked her bottle. He caught on fast, sometimes anticipating what she needed before I said anything.
The walls I’d built to keep from getting hurt again were crumbling, and for the first time, I didn’t want to rebuild them. Isa and Griffin were breaking through every defense I had, and I was letting them.
Things were moving fast between us, but instead of fighting it, I started giving myself permission to just go with it. To enjoy the way he looked at me like I was already his. And savor how Isa reached for both of us with the same trusting hands.
By the end of the week, we took Isa to the diner in town for an early dinner. She sat in a high chair between us, happily banging a spoon while Griffin opened a container of pureed bananas.
“Open up, princess,” he coaxed, offering her a tiny spoonful. Her lips parted wide, and most of the fruit made it into her mouth, while the rest smeared on her chin. He chuckled and wiped her face with the burp cloth. “Good girl. You’re getting better at this.”
“Bananas are definitely her favorite so far.” I finished my last bite of burger and smiled when she made a happy humming sound on the next bite. “But she’s still going to be covered in it by the end.”
“Worth it.” He gave her another spoonful, then glanced at me. “You want dessert? They’ve got that chocolate pie.”
I shook my head, laughing when Isa reached for the spoon again. “I’m stuffed. Watching you two is sweet enough.”
Griffin’s smirk turned heated. “Careful, baby. Keep looking at me like that, and we’ll be heading straight home so I can remind you how much I like my favorite dessert.”
“Griffin,” I scolded lightly, but I was grinning as my cheeks heated.
He leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to my lips, then gave Isa another bite. “My girls get whatever they want.”
We lingered a little longer, Griffin and I talking while Isa made happy noises and tried to grab at his shirt. Being here together like a normal family felt so right.
When we finally gathered our things and headed out to the parking lot, something caught Griffin’s attention.
I felt the shift instantly. His big body went alert beside me, his blue eyes narrowing as he scanned the lot. The easy, affectionate man from dinner disappeared, replaced by someone more dangerous.
“What’s wrong?” I asked quietly, instinctively shifting closer to Isa’s carrier.
“Nothing, sweetheart.” His voice was calm, but the tone was off. It was just a shade too smooth.
He guided me to the SUV with his hand on the small of my back, opening my door before he got Isa buckled into her car seat base. Once she was secure, he slid into the driver’s seat, pulled out his phone, and sent a quick text.
His jaw was still tight, but when he glanced over at me, the corner of his mouth lifted in a small, reassuring smile. Then he started the engine and drove off like nothing had happened.
I watched him from the passenger seat, my heart beating a little faster as I wondered what he wasn’t telling me. And howmuch longer I could pretend I didn’t want to know every single part of his world.
