Chapter Ten
Brody
The steak knife in my right hand feels too small, almost like a toy designed for someone half my size. And I’m entirely underdressed, but I can’t worry about that right now.
I sit at the long mahogany table inside the Renwick’s penthouse. Across the expanse of silver cutlery, crystal stemware, and a huge floral centerpiece, Charles Renwick studies me over the rim of his tumbler like I’m a puzzle he can’t figure out.
To his left is Molly Renwick, Ellis’s mother, dressed in an elegant cream sweater, looking every bit the posed matriarch who likely runs Manhattan’s social circles. Next to her is Bryan, swirling two ice cubes in his glass of scotch, looking like he’s waiting for the entertainment to begin.
Ellis sits next to me, her hair falling over her shoulders. She’s wearing the same clothes she wore at the office, neither of us having time to change before dinner. Every time my eyes catch her, the thought of that little kick against my palm makes me smile.
“So, Brody,” Molly begins, setting her wine glass down on the table. Her sharp blue eyes sweep over me. “A terrible loss on Sunday, a quick sprint to Manhattan this afternoon, and an unexpected pregnancy announcement before dinner. It’s true what they say about you. You move fast.”
“Mother,” Ellis warns, her cheeks flushing pink.
“What? I’m just trying to piece everything together.
I thought you were being seen around town with the hockey boy, so I had to do some quick research before you arrived,” Molly replies smoothly, an amused tilt touching the corners of her lips.
She leans forward, resting her chin in her hands as she looks across the table at me.
“But I must say, though this came out of nowhere, we can be grateful for the genetics. Lord knows this boy is going to be handsome.”
Bryan snorts, coughing slightly. “Mom, please.”
“What? It’s a factual statement,” Molly says, completely unfazed. She turns her gaze back to me. “I assume he’ll inherit his father’s athletic frame. And wouldn’t it be fun to have some talent in the family outside a boardroom?”
Charles clears his throat, setting his glass on the table. “Molly, love, let’s not skip ahead.”
“Darling, the baby kicked today,” Molly counters, waving a dismissive manicured hand. “We’re past the initial steps here. We’re firmly in nursery-planning territory.”
“Not to drag down this celebration, but we need to discuss how we’re going to handle this publicly. Do you plan to be discreet or make an announcement? You’re both in the public eye. Page Six will run with a story if we don’t get ahead of them.” Bryan says.
Molly hums, leaning back in her seat, eyes twinkling. “Well, discreet or not, it proves a timeless point. Just the tip can get you in a whole lot of trouble. Like the Titanic.”
Bryan spits out a sip of his scotch back into his glass, choking as he grabs his napkin to wipe his face.
Charles’s eyes widened in shock. “Molly! For God’s sake.”
Ellis covers her face with both hands, letting out a horrified groan. “Oh my God, Mother! That’s not even…you know what, never mind.”
“I’m just pointing out that actions have consequences. And whatever method you used clearly didn’t work. Not that I’m complaining because I got my first grandbaby out of it.” Molly picks up her glass, smiling at the rim as she sips some wine.
I bite down on the inside of my cheek, trying with every ounce of willpower not to burst out laughing. A low, muffled rumble escapes as I take a drink of water to cover my amusement.
Once Charles recovers, he clears his throat, fixing his gaze back on me.
“Listen, I know this comes as a bit of a shock to you both,” I say, my voice steady.
“And I know this might be slightly complicated because I partner with your company. But I care about Ellis, and I’m completely committed to her.
I’ll be there to support her through all of this.
There’s nothing more important to me than taking care of my family. ”
Silence stretches over the room.
The word family hangs in the air, but I’m not one to mince words. I didn’t say ‘the baby’ or ‘this situation.’ I said, my family.
Next to me, I hear Ellis take a deep breath. Her hands tighten around her glass, her eyes fixed on mine with an intensity that sends a surge straight to my gut.
Charles looks at me for a long moment, the lines in his forehead finally relaxing. He raises his tumbler, taking a sip. “Well spoken, Brody.”
“Yes, I think we can all feel reassured that Ellis and our grandson are in good hands,” Molly chimes in smoothly, a smile spreading across her face. “So Ellis, I’d like for both of you to spend the weekend with us at the house so we can start planning the nursery design.”
“Mom, let’s just finish our dinner first before we make plans for decorating,” Ellis laughs, her voice more relaxed now.
I like seeing her here with her family. And even though her mom may have embarrassed her tonight, I think Molly Renwick is hysterical.
I want to marry this girl.
The thought smacks me in the chest like a shock, but also like an absolute truth settling in my bones. Is this crazy to feel this way? Maybe. Probably. But it just feels right.
An hour later, after endless rounds of laughter, we’re back in my truck.
The first stop is Ellis’s place to pick up Oshie. The second we walk in, the pup comes bounding down the hall, her tail whipping like a helicopter blade, and she makes a beeline for me.
“Traitor,” Ellis mutters affectionately, watching Oshie try to jump into my arms. “I feed you expensive food, and you throw yourself at the first guy you see.”
“Aww, don’t be mad. She has good taste,” I chuckle as I rub Oshie behind her long floppy ears. “In reality, she probably just smells Buck on me.”
“Yeah, yeah. Let me grab a few things, then we can go,” she says, walking down the hallway to what I assume is her bedroom.
“I’ll be here waiting.”
The drive to my house is quiet but comfortable. The night air is freezing outside, but inside the cab, we’re warm. Even Oshie’s so comfortable she fell asleep in the back.
Ellis rests her head against the leather headrest, her hand lying flat in the middle console between us. I slide my right hand over hers, lacing our fingers together, my thumb gently tracing the smooth skin of her wrist.
When we pull into my driveway, Oshie pops up from the backseat.
“Come on, Osh,” I call, opening the back door. When I open the door to the house, Buck is waiting. The two dogs immediately start to play and forget we’re even here.
I carry both Ellis and Oshie’s belongings into the house and toss her fleece bed in the corner with Buck’s, even though I know they’ll likely just end up sleeping on the couch.
Ellis kicks her shoes off and walks into the family room.
“I’ll be right back. I just need to grab my duffel bag from the truck, but make yourself at home.”
“Okay, thanks.” She smiles at me before sitting down on the couch. “Can we start a fire when you come back inside?”
“You got it. Be right back.” I wink at her before turning and walking back outside.
When I come back in, I make my way over to the fireplace and set my bag on the ground by the couch where Ellis is sitting.
“So what does clean out your locker day entail? You just shove all your uniforms and gear into your bag and bring it home?”
“I usually toss most of my gear depending on if it’s in good enough shape to frame.
Or if I have a lucky pair of gloves or cleats, I’ll try to keep things that have some kind of value to me.
We get so much clothing throughout the season, so I like to keep some of it for working out, but I usually donate most of my stuff to Presley’s foundation.
The Grants are generous with us, so we do get to keep jerseys without paying for them, and we can keep one helmet.
I take a few jerseys to give to my mom and sister. The rest I sign and donate.”
“So other than like deodorant and stuff like that, everything pretty much gets recycled or used in some way?”
“Yep.” I finish building the fire and light it up.
She stands and walks over to me and wraps her arms around my waist from behind, pulling me into her body, which is cute considering our size difference, and rests her cheek against my back.
I turn in her arms, and we stand there for a second, wrapped in each other. Leaning down, I nuzzle her neck and place a few kisses on her soft skin.
“I need a shower,” I say quietly against her ear, my voice heavy with suggestion. “A long one. And I think you should join me.”
Ellis tilts her head and looks up at me, her eyes heating, matching the desire pulsing through me. “Okay.”
I take her hand and lead her up to my bedroom and then to my en suite. The motion sensor lights I had installed light up when we walk into the room. I turn on the shower, letting it heat up.
We quietly undress each other, slowly, tenderly. And when our clothes are pooled at our feet, my breath catches in my throat.
She stands inches away from me, bathed in the soft lighting of the steamed room. Her body is breathtaking. My hands find her hips, and I pull her closer, my thumbs brushing gently on the sides of her bump.
“You’re so beautiful, Ellis,” I rasp. “You literally take my breath away. I think I might die if I don’t have you.”
Her neck flushes pink, and she reaches up, wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me down to her. “Show me how much you want me.”
I lead her into the shower, beneath the falling water. The hot rain soaks us instantly, matting her hair against her back and shoulders as water runs down her skin like tiny diamonds.
We wash each other quietly, reverently, taking our time as we learn one another’s bodies.
I watch her face as I wash her breasts, noticing the slight hitch when I brush over her nipples, then slide my hand down between her legs, cupping her pussy.
I slip a finger into her crease, and she’s wet and warm, and there’s no doubt how turned on she is.