Chapter 55
Chapter Fifty-Five
Cordelia
When the first movie’s over and the plates have been cleared, Gordie convinces Renthrow to share out ice cream and watch the sequel to Frozen.
But, after fighting so hard to stay up late, the little girl sinks into my side almost immediately. I see her eyelashes fluttering.
Charmed, I run my hand down her ponytail. “Are you tired?”
“It’s past her bedtime,” Renthrow says grudgingly. I guess I’d be that grumpy too if I was continuously being steamrolled by a six-year-old who weighs less than sixty pounds.
“You don’t have to take her out of her routine because of me,” I tell him as the movie starts. “Besides, she’s falling asleep anyway.”
“I’m awake!” Gordie insists. She sits up straight as an arrow, her eyes glued to the television screen.
Renthrow meets my eyes and shakes his head at me.
I stifle my laughter.
After the first song, Gordie snuggles into my side again. I hear her breathing evenly.
“She’s asleep,” I whisper to Renthrow.
He observes her with a frown. “Of course, she is. And she didn’t brush her teeth.”
He scoots forward, his arms outstretched as if he’ll take Gordie from me. Without thinking it through, I raise a hand to block him.
Renthrow stops abruptly.
“J-just a few more minutes,” I say, feeling stupid for keeping the man from his own daughter.
His lips twitch.
“You don’t mind, right?” My voice cracks a bit as I realize how presumptuous I’m being. I hope I’m not crossing any boundaries. I don’t want to offend him or…
A smile tilts his lips. “Of course, I don’t mind.”
I start to drop my arm when he reaches out and links our fingers together.
Heart fluttering, I try to tug away. “What if Gordie sees?”
“She’s fast asleep,” he whispers back.
I resist anyway.
He brings my hand to his lips and gives me a look that makes my stomach flip. I stop fighting immediately.
“Want to watch the cooking show we never got to finish?” he offers.
I go mute. His hand feels amazing around mine, but I can’t stop overthinking. Is my palm sweating? Can he see the oil stains on my fingernails? Will he think I’m not clean because of them?
Forcing myself to breathe, I nod.
Renthrow turns on the closed captions and drops the volume to the lowest.
“Just let me know when you’re tired. She might be little, but her head weighs as much as mine.”
I laugh softly.
As the show plays, my mind quiets down. Renthrow has never made me feel insecure about being a mechanic, so there’s no reason for me to stress about how I look. Plus, after that kiss in the kitchen, mutual attraction is not something I have to worry about.
Settling down, I trace the lines of Gordie’s precious face with my finger. She has the longest eyelashes and such pretty little eyebrows. And her nose is the absolute cutest.
I haven’t seen any pictures of her mother, so I can’t tell what features of hers belong to her mom and which belong to Renthrow. But honestly, it doesn’t matter. Whoever she looks like, she’s just Gordie to me. The little girl who made my heart beat again.
Renthrow gets up to get a glass of water. With my free hand, I stroke Gordie’s hair. The little girl nuzzles me like a cat, letting me know that she appreciates the movement even in her sleep.
I keep rubbing as my eyelids get heavier and heavier. My stomach’s full from the food, and Gordie’s so sweet and small against me. I feel like I’m floating in a warm bubble.
Sleep tugs at me, but I don’t want to conk out in Renthrow’s house again. And especially not on our first date. What if I drool?
Stay up, Delia. Stay up.
Unfortunately, it’s a pointless fight.
I don’t realize I dozed off until I feel an emptiness by my side, and I sit up with a start.
“Sh, sh,” Renthrow cautions. He’s hunched over me, lifting Gordie in his arms. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I’ve got her.”
My brain is too fuzzy to pick up that he called me something other than Cordelia. “Did I fall asleep?”
He nods. “I’ll put Gordie to bed and be right back.”
“I’ll stay up,” I promise him.
I do not keep that promise because, when I hear Renthrow’s footsteps coming down the stairs, I jolt to an upright position.
He sits right next to me, his arm kissing mine.
“Did Gordie brush her teeth?” I mumble.
He shakes his head. “We’ll have to keep tonight a secret from her dentist.”
“Your secret’s safe with me.” I yawn.
Renthrow sees me fighting to keep my eyes open and smiles. “This is starting to become a habit.”
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” I answer groggily. “I’ve had trouble sleeping for a long time, but whenever I come to your place, I knock out instantly.”
“That means you feel comfortable here.” He smiles, pleased. “And that you trust me.”
“Maybe,” I say, yawning again.
Renthrow stretches one arm over the back of the sofa and knocks a fist against his shoulder, indicating I should rest on him.
I pull away. “I should head home.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to get on that bike when you’re this knocked out.”
He has a point.
“Okay. I’ll nap for an hour. Then I have to go.”
“Sure.”
I nestle against him and listen to the cadence of his strong heartbeat. Are all heartbeats so steady, or is it because he’s an athlete?
Gordie doesn’t have to worry about her dad’s health. Renthrow’s going to be around for a long time.
Wanting to be even closer, I inch toward him until our thighs are pressing together.
It’s still not enough.
I wrap an arm around his stomach, trying to find a comfortable place on his hard, chiseled body. Why is he entirely made of muscle? I’m starting to think I should have stuck with my dadbod preferences.
Renthrow’s entire chest rumbles with quiet laughter. “If you want to get any closer, Cordelia, you might have to sit in my lap.”
“You think I wouldn’t?” I murmur.
He presses a kiss against my forehead. “Don’t. I won’t be able to control myself if you do that right now, and you’re too tired for more necking.”
“Necking?”
He sounds embarrassed. “Do people not say that anymore?”
“I’ve never heard it before. What is it?”
“Apparently, an outdated way to say kissing.”
I fight to keep up with the conversation. “Is it…kissing the neck specifically?”
“Among other places.”
I smile sleepily. “I like the sound of that.”
“Do you?”
“You have very scrumptious lips.”
I hear his quick intake of breath. “You’re half-conscious and flirting with me. Where’d you learn how to do that?”
“I’m not flirting. We’re having a conversation about the English language.”
He laughs again, and I burrow in close, so I can absorb every one of those vibrations coming from his chest.
“Where else do you want to kiss me?” I wonder.
Renthrow pinches my cheek. “Ease up, sweetheart. You’re not even in your right mind right now, so don’t push me.”
I pull his hand off my cheek and hold it against my mouth. Pressing a little kiss there, I murmur, “Let’s do the necking thing next time.”
Renthrow groans and wraps me in his arms, smothering me against his body. It’s the last thing I register before I fall completely asleep.