Chapter 13
Griffin
I walk over the land at the distillery, enjoying the peace it brings. The new wind turbine sits tall and proud off to the side, its blades gently moving silently in the breeze. I’m amazed by how one tall thing like that can power this entire site. Yet it does.
“Happy with it?” Tanner steps toward me, the man who just spent millions upgrading his facilities, my team finishing off some key areas as Victoria’s team starts putting the finishing touches on it.
“I think it’s one of the best builds I’ve done.” I’m proud. I work hard, I have original ideas, and the success of my business is testament to that.
After a few days in Sundown Valley, finalizing plans and stepping out measurements, I immediately came back here, my jet landing at the local airport about an hour or so ago. Tanner is my first stop. The bakery next.
“I love it. I can’t believe we’ve built all this.” Tanner stands taller, looking over his land.
“We’ve come a long way.” I nod. Seeing the progress like this after years of work really is satisfying.
“We have… You give any more thought to spending more time here? I mean, this is almost finished, and you don’t have another job here in Whispers lined up. Planning on sticking around?”
I clear my throat. “Maybe.”
“She’s a nice woman.”
My eyebrow lifts, even as my heart beats a little faster. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I can’t look at him, my gaze remaining on the horizon in the direction of town, where I know the bakery to be.
I’ve done nothing but think of my baker since the day I met her.
The phone call we had a few days ago was over too soon.
I wanted to call her again just to hear her voice.
But I didn’t. With everything she’s got going on, that was the last thing she needs.
“Oh, Griff, I think you do.”
“I’m looking over the bakery project. That’s all.” I hate that he can see right through me. He’s the closest I have to family.
“Bullshit. You’re one of my closest friends, I know you’re talking rubbish.”
“She’s pregnant.” I’m starting to feel angry. At myself. For even having thoughts of a woman, but one who’s pregnant with another man's baby.
“Mm-hmm. I know.”
“I travel a lot.” I can’t get involved. I never get involved.
I have no idea why I’m even entertaining it.
Maybe I need a woman. A body. The hard-on I’ve had for the past week since she held my fucking hand in the truck is evidence of that.
It’s been a long time since a woman held my hand.
Fuck, I can’t even remember the last time I held something so soft.
“True.”
I sigh. “There are a million reasons why I shouldn’t even be here.”
“Yet here you are.”
I stand in the silence. Thinking.
“It’s opening day tomorrow,” I tell him, like he doesn’t already know.
“Hmmm, she’s been busy.”
My head moves swiftly in his direction. “You been in?”
“Victoria and the girls popped in to see if she needed anything. I thought since you were gone, it might be nice for them to go over.”
I nod. I’m glad there are others now watching out for her. “And?”
Tanner's eyebrows rise at my intensity. “And… she’s killing it. The bakery looks amazing, and she’s handing out free samples to everyone who drops by.”
I smile a little, huffing out a laugh. She’s so entrepreneurial. “She’ll have people lining up the street.” I told her that as we left the party last week, and I meant it. Her food is delicious. She’s going to be a success, I know it.
“She’s going to be great. Whispers is lucky to have her. And you.”
My throat thickens with emotion I try to bury deep, and luckily my cell vibrates in the next second.
It’s Savannah. Like a schmuck, I’ve been waiting for another text message, another call, so I grab it quickly. Too fucking eager.
“Savannah?”
Tanner watches me with a hint of amusement.
“Griffin!” She says my name in a way that has my feet moving.
“What’s wrong?” I’m already running to my truck, Tanner hot on my heels.
“I’m… I’m…” She’s crying, hiccupping, and I can’t make sense of anything she’s saying.
“I’m on my way. I'm five minutes away. Just take a breath…” My heart pumps harder at what could be happening.
“She alright?” Tanner asks.
“I’ll let you know,” I tell him as I jump in the truck, not waiting for him. I speed out of the distillery, the gravel in his driveway flicking out from beneath my tires as I race into town.
“Are you alright? Savannah!” I yell into the phone, driving one-handed. If the local sheriff was around, he’d pull me over for sure.
“I can’t… I’m trying to…” She sniffs and cries, and I still can’t make out a word.
“I’m here,” I bark into the phone as I pull sharply into a parking spot right at the front of the bakery. I barely turn off my truck before I’m out, pocketing my phone and pushing my way through the door.
“Savannah?” I yell, feeling like I’m going to have a fucking heart attack. Looking around, I don’t see her in the shop and have no time to admire how good it looks as I stride out the back to the kitchen and pause in the doorway.
She’s on the floor, leaning against the wall. Tears coat her cheeks, her eyes red, and she looks even more beautiful than when I left her a week ago.
“Savannah?” I stride to her, sinking down on my knees, looking her over. She’s intact. Not visibly hurt. Not grabbing her belly like last time.
“What happened?” My anger increases, ready to kill the person responsible for these tears.
“I can’t tie my shoes!” she wails, and I still.
“What?” I frown, wondering if I heard her right.
“I can't tie my shoes… I wanted to walk to the diner… to drop off some new cupcakes… and I can’t tie my shoes…” Her tears continue through hiccups, and my pulse starts to slow.
Looking her over, I see that she’s highly emotional, her hormones probably all over the place.
She’s likely overtired from working so hard, too.
I guess growing a kid and having a belly the size of a watermelon would do that to you.
“Your shoes?” I look down at her feet, seeing some running shoes half-on, laces undone.
“I can’t even touch my toes… I used to be able to touch my toes. Now I’m so fat, I can’t even see them.” Her body is weary as she slumps against the wall.
“You’re pregnant…” I tell her firmly as I lean over to gently wipe her cheeks with my thumb. As I do, I lower my hand to her chin and tilt her face so she’s looking at me. “..and you’re beautiful.”
“You’re here?” Her pout is cute. Like she just realized I’m in front of her.
“I am. Are you alright?” Her breathing has calmed now. Her tears have stopped.
“Aren’t you still in Sundown Valley?”
I clench my jaw so I don’t grin like a fool. I didn’t tell her exactly when I’d be back, so her surprise is understandable. The relief is flooding me now knowing she’s okay.
“Great!” She throws a cloth onto the ground. “Now I’m hallucinating," she grumbles, and I roll my lips so I don’t laugh.
“I got back early. I wanted to be back for opening day.”
Her gaze snaps back to mine, in awe, her big, beautiful, now glassy eyes widening. The same ones I try not to focus on because they draw me in so deep I’m scared I’ll drown in them.
“You came for my opening day?” Blinking up at me, another tear trails down her cheek, and I wipe it away.
“I did. Are you okay?” I ask again, searching her face. She looks to be more settled now, but that tear has me concerned all over again.
“Yeah, sorry… I just… had a moment. I didn’t know who else to call.
My emotions are all over the place, and when you can’t do something as simple as put on some shoes, I think my stress just overflowed.
Sorry.” She shakes her head, a little embarrassed, but I nod in understanding.
I didn’t mind her call. I know there’s no one else here to help her.
I feel honored that she feels so comfortable with me.
As she wipes her face, with more tears having escaped, I glance around the space.
Everything looks amazing. She already has prepackaged jars of caramels ready to go.
There are batches of sourdough proofing over on the side.
She also has bowls and bowls of different-colored icing ready to apply to an assortment of baked delights tomorrow.
She’s been busy. No wonder she’s exhausted.
“You’ve been pushing yourself. I think you need to rest.” I lean over to scoop her up and lift her to me. I swear she’s heavier than she was last week, but I don’t falter as I stand, keeping her in my arms.
“I’ve got too much to do. I still need to ice the cupcakes…” She starts to wriggle, but it’s futile, because I’m not letting her down.
“You need to rest. When’s your new staff member starting?
” I clench my jaw, hating her doing all this on her own, wanting to help her, yet also not wanting to get too close.
Getting close to a woman like this is dangerous.
I can’t catch feelings. She's pregnant. She doesn't need a man like me walking into her life. A man who isn’t worthy. Not for her or her baby. My past has proven I can’t be.
I can’t be responsible for another person.
Besides, she needs to concentrate on the baby and the bakery.
“Melissa has already started. She’s great, but I have to do the cupcakes, Griff. Just the cupcakes…” She looks at me with pleading eyes.
“Fine. Show me how,” I tell her, dropping her feet slowly to the floor.
Head tilting, she looks at me, unsure. “You want to learn how to ice my cupcakes?”
“Someone better. Who’s going to ice them when you need to rest?” I ask, because as resilient as she is, I don’t know if she fully understands how having a baby works. She isn’t going to be able to be on her feet all day and night straight after birth.
“Okay…” she says tentatively, and she takes my hand, leading me to the counter.