“I’ve watched you all year, staying strong while dealing with your demons, trying not to burden me with any of them. I’ve given you space to do all of that, but I’m done giving you space.” He pauses before adding gruffly, “I need you close now.”
This man.
I will love him into my next life and beyond.
I reach for his face and pull his mouth down to mine. I kiss him so thoroughly that we lose ourselves and time until Griff drags himself away and rasps, “If we don’t stop now, I won’t be stopping.”
I grip his face. “I want your afternoon.”
He doesn’t even take a beat to think about that. “It’s yours.”
Griff’s POV
8:30 a.m.
I grabmy ringing phone from my pocket and put it to my ear after checking caller ID. “Magan. What’s up?”
“I’m really sorry to bug you so early on a Saturday morning, but are you doing anything right now? I’m having a slight issue here and Henry’s been called into work, and well, I don’t think I’m equipped to handle this on my own, Griff.”
When Sophia’s sister says she’s not equipped to handle something, she’s not. Magan is one of the most practical women I know. She’s logical, calm, and almost never exaggerates any situation she finds herself in.
“I’ll be there in five minutes.”
“Oh, thank God.” The relief is clear in her voice.
I end the call and grab my shit before heading out to my bike. Magan and her husband don’t ask for help often, but when a call comes in like this one, I’m fucking glad that Magan convinced Henry to buy a home a few streets away. The last time they needed us was after a bad storm a month ago. Their roof needed tarping and I was able to get there fast and help Henry stop more damage to their home. And Sofia was able to look after Harper while Magan ran around taking care of other problems.
When I arrive at Magan’s, I find her in the kitchen crying. Harper is in her arms crying too.
I frown as I take in the state of the kitchen.
The dishwasher is open and with a quick glance, I can tell it’s overloaded. A packet of dishwasher tablets sits on the counter.Tablets are strewn everywhere. As are dirty plates, cutlery, and glasses.
Another kitchen counter has piles of folded baby clothes cluttering it while the other counter has piles of unfolded baby clothes filling it.
I eye the kitchen table where Magan is sitting. Her laptop is open in front of her. The rest of the table is covered with notebooks and what look to be planning notes for her work. Magan’s a teacher and I’m well-versed in her planning notes. Over the years, I’ve watched her get her teaching degree and dedicate hours to class planning. She teaches grade one and is dedicated as fuck to her children. However, she’s currently on maternity leave so I’m unsure why she’s sitting here with all this work in front of her.
When she meets my gaze and begins crying harder, I move into action. Taking Harper from her, I say, “Tell me what you need.” As the words leave my mouth, and as I pull her daughter into my arms, I figure out the first thing she needs. “I’ll change Harper’s nappy and come back to you for that list.”
She doesn’t move, just nods as her tears keep falling.
I leave her and head upstairs to Harper’s bedroom, holding Harper close and talking softly with her in an effort to ease her cries. By the time we get there, I’ve managed to soothe her.
Settling her onto her changing table, I smile down at her and place my hand on her belly. “We’re gonna change your nappy, baby girl, and then go downstairs and see what Mummy needs me to do for her.”
Her little legs and arms come up off the table as she returns my smile.
“Yeah,” I say as I change her, “Mummy needs sleep, doesn’t she? We’re gonna get her some today. And you, too. Are you tired, darlin’?”
I continue talking to her as I get her into a new nappy and clean clothes. She continues waving her arms in the air and making those sweet sounds I could listen to for hours. By the time we head back down to Magan, Harper is happy and cooing.
“Thank you,” Magan says from the kitchen table where she’s still sitting. Her tears have stopped but she looks just as overwhelmed as she did when I got here.
I rub Harper’s back gently as I look at her mother. “You got a list for me?”
“It’s the washing machine. It’s flooded the laundry.”
“And what else?”
