Chapter Seven
Honor paced the floor. All of this down time was driving her crazy.
Chetan had stopped by and asked to see her laptop.
She should have known better, but she’d given it to him.
The bastard had taken it, tucked it under his arm, then told her to enjoy her free time.
Worse, he’d had the gall to grin at Griff before leaving. Men could be such jerks.
Griff had done his best to keep her entertained.
He’d ordered Chinese and made a picnic on the floor.
They’d watched two action movies. He’d held her against his chest and kissed her but not pushed for sex.
Maybe, that was half the problem. She expected him to bring her back to his apartment and take her straight back to bed.
“Do you want to have sex?”
Griff looked startled at her blunt question, but she wasn’t good at beating around the bush. It was a side effect of having only a father while growing up.
“I thought you didn’t want to have sex again right now.”
“Oh.” A stupid response but it was all she could think of. She had said that and meant it at the time. This was why she stayed holed up with a computer.
“Come with me.” He held out his hand and grabbed his keys with the other one.
She almost jumped toward him. She needed to go, to do, anything. Otherwise, she might attack him and have her wicked way.
“Where are we going?”
He nudged her out the door and downstairs before pulling her out the side door and into the lot where she’d parked her car.
Before she could go check on her baby, he led her toward another car.
He beeped to unlocked it then opened the passenger door for her.
He really was a gentleman. It made her heart stutter when he did things like that.
“Where are we going?” she asked again when he slid behind the wheel and started the car.
“For a ride. I’ll show you some of the town. Maybe, go for a walk or something.”
“I thought I was supposed to lie low.”
“We will.” He shrugged, focusing on the road as he pulled out of the lot. “My windows are tinted. No one will see you in here. We’ll take in the city and talk.”
“What do you want to talk about?”
He glanced her way, a grin on his lips. It sent a slow tug through her stomach and down between her thighs. What was it about Griff Daniels that had her dreaming of things, things she’d never really thought about other than in the abstract?
“Tell me about you,” he prompted when she just watched him quietly from the passenger seat. Good grief, she must look like a lovesick fool. Why didn’t the mere thought of love, associated in any way with Griff, make her uneasy?
She didn’t believe in love. Lust? A resounding yes. Commitment, if both people worked at it. But love? She wasn’t sure of that. She’d never seen it, other than the love she and her father had. Love for family. Never romantic love.
“Honor?”
She glanced up and flushed as if he’d been party to her thoughts.
“You pretty much know about me. I grew up with my dad. He was gone a lot. I learned early on that the boogie man exists and he comes in all shapes and sizes.” She smiled. “Dad taught me how to fight. Hand-to-hand combat, guns, knives. You name it. I can fight if I have to.”
“What about your mom?”
“She left when I was a baby.” She crossed her arms over her chest and looked out the window.
Griff’s hand trailed down her arm, and he linked his fingers with hers, tugging her hand to rest on his thigh. She had no choice but to turn with the movement.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”
She softened. “It’s okay. I tell myself it doesn’t matter.” She shrugged. “But I guess it does. Still, my dad was amazing. I didn’t want for anything.”
* * * * *
Griff did his best to bite his tongue. She didn’t want for anything?
Did she really believe the bullshit she spouted?
Yet, here she was because she was trying to protect her dad.
Griff wondered how long until she figured out Jack had called the other man.
He’d known it as soon as Jack had left the conference room.
It’s what Griff would have done, as well.
“Tell me about your family.”
He glanced toward her at her question. Her palm was soft against his, and the heat of their hands bled into his thigh.
He wanted her. It was taking all he had to keep from ripping off her clothes and taking her again and again and again.
He was afraid of what he might have done if they’d spent another minute inside his apartment.
Especially with her asking if he wanted to have sex.
“Well, there’s my older brother, Gil.”
“My dad spoke of him. Gil married Jack’s daughter, Moira, right? They have a daughter?”
He grinned. His brother would have a coronary if he knew someone had put together a file on him and his girls.
He nodded. “Yeah. Abigail Rose. We all call her Abby. She’s beautiful, like her mother.
I think you’ll like Moira. She’s fantastic.
” Anyone who could put up with and even love his demanding older brother was a saint in Griff’s opinion.
“Then there’s my brother, Doug.” He paused. How did he explain the relationship between Doug, Damon and Cass? His brother didn’t have a conventional life.
“Is he married?”
“I’m surprised you didn’t put together a file on him.” It sure would have made this conversation easier. He laughed when she blushed. Did she have any idea how beautiful she was? “Doug has an unconventional relationship.”
“Unconventional? So, not a relationship that’s approved by conventional society? Good for him. Let me guess. Gay?”
Griff couldn’t help the laugh that rolled out of him. If he had a nickel for every time someone had thought that. He knew Doug and Damon were used to people speculating. At least, until they saw both men with their wife.
“No. He’s in a committed ménage relationship.”
“Ménage?”
His cock pulsed at the interest in her eyes, but the response was quickly followed by a fuck no . He wasn’t sharing. Ever. And didn’t that throw him! He wasn’t really the possessive type. Honor did things to him, made him feel things.
“Yeah. He’s legally married to Moira’s best friend, Cass. But they had a separate ceremony where she pledged marriage to Doug’s best friend, Damon, also,” he shared. “It seems to work for them. Damon even had his last name legally changed to Daniels.”
“So, do your brother and Damon? You know?”
Griff shrugged. “No. Not that I’m aware of, but it wouldn’t bother me if they did. I love my brothers, and that includes Damon. I’ve never asked about the bond they share. I accept it without question. I choose to be respectful of their privacy.”
She smiled and shook her head, rubbing her hand along his thigh where he held it. A few inches higher and she’d find his perpetual boner. At least, when he was around her.
“You’re such a guy. I bet if Doug was married to two women, you’d be all questions.”
He grinned. He might. But chances were, he’d be just as respectful in that scenario. He hoped so. If it made his brother happy, he was happy. That was what really mattered.
“Any kids?”
“Cass had twin boys a month before Moira had Abby.”
“Twins! Wow, I bet that took some getting used to.”
“Yeah, the boys are a handful.”
“Do they know who the dad is?”
He knew what she meant. Hell, everyone in town, who was aware of the threesome, wondered. “It doesn’t matter. They both are.”
He was surprised when she nodded, easily accepting it. “Makes sense.”
With those words, he felt a tiny squeeze in his heart. The more he learned about her, the more he liked her.
“You have a sister, too, right?” She formed it as a question, but she’d put a file together on him, so she already knew.
“Katie. She married Ben Marcum. They have a son, Michael Thomas, but they call him Mikey.”
Mikey had been named in part for Mick Daniels. Sometimes, Griff’s heart ached just thinking about his dad. Mick had been so full of life, and he’d loved kids. He had four grandkids now. Those kids were missing out by not having their grandfather around to hold them and spoil them.
“And your mom is remarried.”
“Yes.” His voice was clipped, and he blew out a breath. He wasn’t angry. It wasn’t anger. It was something deeper.
“Why does it make you mad?”
“I’m not mad.”
She snorted, and he glanced over to see her giving him a look that screamed liar .
“Yeah, you are. But I don’t get it. Why wouldn’t you want to see your mom married and happy?”
“It’s not that. Of course, I want my mom happy.”
“But you don’t get why can’t she be happy just being your mom? Why does she need someone else outside of what she had with your father?”
Bingo. Someone finally got it.
“You can’t be that selfish.”
Maybe, she didn’t get it. He wasn’t selfish. He shook his head, but she nodded.
“Yes, you are. Why should your mom’s life end with your dad’s? Why can’t she have a second chance? Doesn’t she deserve to feel loved? Cherished? Needed?”
“She had all those things. With my dad.”
“And? Tell me you don’t think she was supposed to bury her heart with your father? That’s not fair, Griff. Not to her and not to your dad.”
“What do you mean?”
“Think about it. Did your dad love your mom?”
“That’s a stupid question. She was his entire world. He was completely devoted to her and us. They were perfect.”
“They never fought or argued?”
He laughed. “They’re Irish. Of course, they fought. It’s in the blood. Everything with passion, Dad used to say. Even fights. He never did more than raise his voice, and even then, he lowered it real quick when Mom gave him the look. God, they made it appear so easy to loved each other and us.”
“He sounds like an amazing man.”
“He was. The very best.”
“I’m sure it was hard on your mom when she lost him.”
“It devastated her. She was suddenly alone with four kids. She said focusing on us was what kept her going day after day.”
“She sounds like a strong woman.”
“Incredibly strong,” he agreed. “I don’t think she could be anything less if she tried.”
“She took care of all of you until you moved on and found lives of your own. What brought her to Legacy?”
“Gil was here, and Katie and I both followed. Mom ended up moving here to be closer.”
“Then she met Roman.” She squeezed his hand. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“You tense up at the mention of his name. Don’t you like him? Isn’t he a good person?”
“Roman’s okay.”
“Then what is it you don’t like? I’m not judging you, Griff. I’m trying to understand. My dad never dated. Or if he did, he never did it around me. Still doesn’t. I often wonder what it would be like if he did. Would she have accepted me? Taken some of the rough off me?”
“You’re perfect the way you are.”
She laughed and rubbed the back of her hand along his thigh again. “No, I’m not. If you get to know me better, you’ll see it.”
“I’d like that. To get to know you better.”
He didn’t miss the look in her eyes. He’d swear it was a mix of hope and fear.
“No changing the subject. Why don’t you like Roman with your mom?”
“I don’t know, and that’s the truth. I look at them, and it reinforces that my dad isn’t here. That all the things Roman does with my mom are stuff my dad should have been here doing.”
“Have you told your mom you feel that way?”
“I haven’t really spoken to her for a while. We say hello. I tell her I love her, and I go on. I know it hurts her. But I can’t seem to move past this.”
“If your dad was even half the man you say he was, I can’t imagine he’d want this for either of you.”
“My dad’s the one who made me promise to watch out for her. I didn’t even know she and Roman were together until she showed up at the hospital when Roman was hurt. There was an ugly scene. I left.”
“I want to ask you something. Hypothetical.”
“Okay.”
“Imagine you met and married the woman of your dreams. Your best friend. She and the children you two had were your entire world. Then one day, something happened, and you were taken from her. You could still see her, but you weren’t there anymore.”
“I see what you’re getting at.”
“Just go with me.”
He glanced over and saw the sincerity in her eyes.
“Would you want her to mourn you forever?” she continued. “Or would you pray she found someone else? Someone to put the light back in her eyes. To make her smile and laugh. To make her live.”
“That’s not fair.”
“You’re right. It’s not. It’s not fair to you, your mom, your dad, or Roman.”
“Fuck, Honor.”
She squeezed his thigh. “It sounds like you both lost an amazing man. I can’t imagine there would be any reason he’d want you to lose each other. Not when love and family seemed so important to him.”
Damn it, she was right. Gil, Doug, and Katie had all tried to tell him the same thing, and he’d ignored it, trenching into his anger instead. Maybe, it was because he’d wanted them to be upset, as well, and had been hurt by the fact they’d all accepted Roman so easily.
“You make valid points,” he told her.
“We haven’t known each other long, but I can see the rift between you and your mother bothers you. You’re a good guy, Griff.”
“What makes you think that?” he asked with genuine curiosity.
“Everything about the way you’ve been with me since we met. The way you talk about your family, especially your parents.”
“The file you put together on me?” he questioned.
She shook her head. “Facts on a page can’t show me who a person is. Only what they’ve done.”
“I like you, Honor Davison.”
“I like you, too, Griff Daniels.”
Did she like him enough to stick around after the man she’d run from was no longer an issue? Would she want to see if the chemistry brewing between them was more than lust? Greater than fantastic sex? He hoped so. He wanted to explore what was happening between them. To see where it might lead.
“Back already?” she asked, glancing out the window. “I don’t remember you pointing out any amazing sights in Legacy.”
He’d been driving aimlessly while they’d talked. Now, he wasn’t surprised to notice they were right back where they’d started.
“Next time,” he promised. He wanted to show her everything the city had to offer. Starting with him.