Chapter 17
Cricket
“Right there,” I say, holding my palms up.
“Perfect.” The desks are angled toward the window to maximize the view.
I slide my chair under but stand to admire the new office.
With Griffin coming around to stand next to me, I slip my arm around him.
I do it partly because I can. And the rest because I want to.
I’m already struggling to keep my hands off him.
Maybe I’m more of a romantic than I could admit before.
He doesn’t flinch or step out of my reach, doesn’t seem to mind at all, as if this is normal, everyday behavior for us, rather than something new and shiny.
He slips his arm around me and leans against the desk, getting us closer to eye level, though I’d still need to gain another few inches for that to happen.
Holding me by the hips, he pulls me between his legs, then cups my face. “Your cousin,” he whispers with his eyes fixated on my lips, “went to get drinks for us.”
“That gives us a good ten minutes alone,” I say, insinuating so much as I drag my hand up his neck and dive my fingers into the hair on the back of his head.
“Best make the most of it.” He lifts my glasses to the top of my head and kisses me, caressing my face and holding me to him.
Our lips part, and his tongue finds mine in a swift and sweeping motion before they tangle together.
His breathing picks up, and when I lean against him, my stomach to his middle, I can feel how quickly things have escalated.
My body becomes a traitor to the impulses of being with him again, the memory long faded and needing a new one to replace it.
Lifting myself on my tiptoes, I brazenly rub my body against him and kiss him deeper while holding him tighter.
I moan into his mouth. He swallows it down, as his hands lay claim to the small of my back.
I want to lose track of time, but it’s hard to forget where I am. I pull back. Through heavy breaths, I ask, “Will I get to see you tonight?”
“I like this side of you.”
“What side is that?”
“Your spontaneous side.” His grin gives me the answer I want, but then he asks, “What time should I pick you up?” I feel more beautiful under his gaze as his eyes graze over my features like he’s going to be quizzed on them later.
He even lingers over each part of me like he’s right-clicking and saving them to memory.
Licking his lips, he leans back just enough to get a better view of me.
“Or we could take off when we’re done here? ”
Running my hand over his cheek, I stop to admire his tanned face.
As a baseball player, he practically lived outdoors.
That’s been a while, though this week was mostly sunny.
I met him in Costa Rica, but I wonder if he was always traveling to warm-weather destinations.
Tapping the tips of my fingers across his chin, I move to just barely touch his bottom lip before kissing him again.
“I can meet you out tonight and save you the trouble.”
“You’re no trouble.”
“It’s okay.” I calculated the math to see how much time I’ll need before leaving again.
I need a shower, though I won’t have to wash my hair.
I want to spend time with Jacob, catching up on his day and making his dinner.
It might be best to go later once he’s in bed.
He won’t be upset, and I won’t need to worry about the two of them crossing paths just yet.
He says, “How about you text me later. Tell me when and where, and I’ll be there.”
“That sounds like a good plan.”
Stroking my hair back on one side, he’s still smiling like it’s become a permanent installation. “How did I never hear about you before? No way news of someone this pretty wouldn’t have crossed county lines.” Still standing taller in front of him, he kisses me.
I rub my hand around the back of his neck to bring him closer and go deeper, my body urging me to rock against him again. I resist, needing to control myself just a little since I’m still at work.
“Honey, you didn’t greet us like you—”
I push off Griffin; my glasses fall to the bridge of my nose, and my eyes dart toward the door to see my mother and brother standing there staring.
I push the frames in place and swipe the back of my hand over my lips.
The shock of seeing them, of them catching us, makes my heart thunder in my chest. I’m lost for words, and don’t dare look at the man I step in front of as if my body can hide the evidence, mainly him.
Their gazes establish the disapproval I knew they’d feel when they glare at him over the top of my head. Yeah, pretty sure they see him. Throwing my arms wide, I cross the room. “I wasn’t expecting you today.” I hug my mom tight, but her arms are too languid to make me feel any love in return.
“You were on the itinerary,” she says. I step back, looking her in the eyes with a nervous smile on my face. “I expected you to be waiting out front.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m your mother. Or have you already forgotten . . .” The way her words trail off gives me no reprieve. I know she’s distracted by the man behind me who I’m still pretending is invisible, while my mind rolls through fifty scenarios of how to explain what they just walked in on.
I go to my brother and hug him, only to get a strong pat on the back from him with a loud chuckle. “It’s been so long, Will. How was the flight?” When I shift to the side, he flips his finger out, pointing in Griffin’s direction. “You do know we can see him, right, Buggy?”
My lips tighten when I hear that nickname again. It’s something I did not miss with him being gone. But he’s right when it comes to Griffin. I need to own the situation. Never let them see you sweat.
Glancing back, I can’t stop the smile when I see him standing there, looking rugged in his jeans and tee, sweaty from moving our furniture for the past hour, and so handsome as his confidence remains intact after getting busted kissing me.
Or was it me kissing him? Either way, this will make news among the Dover family if I don’t take control of the situation and fast.
“Yes.” I return to his side this time and say, “Griffin Gr—” Oh crap. What mess have I gotten myself into?
“Griffin Gr?” my mom asks, genuinely curious as her expression tightens. “That’s unique. What’s the origin of such a unique last name?”
My brother doesn’t fall for it. I don’t know if he knows where I was going with it, but he’s shrewdly aware of my detour by how he shoves his hands in his pockets, rocking back on his heels, and trying to keep himself from laughing.
Griffin replies, “Can’t tell you. I think it got lost in translation many generations back.”
“Delancy,” I say, holding my hand in the direction of my mom. “This is my mother, Delancy Dover.”
Griffin cuts across the room to shake her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Dover. I’ve only heard wonderful things about you.”
“That’s such a lovely thing for you to say.” I didn’t take my mom for the blushing kind, but guess she’d never met Griffin Greene before either. “Cricket hasn’t told me anything about you, but I look forward to hearing more. Hopefully soon, considering what we walked in on—”
“During business hours as well,” my brother adds. “Tsk. Tsk.” Jerk.
Aggravated by him, I mumble, “This is my brother, William Dover.”
“Will,” my brother says, reaching out to shake his hand. “Good to meet you.”
I should be nervous, even on edge with the two of them walking in on us like they did, but I’m not. What started as anxiety at first has turned quite calm since the introductions.
“Your mom and Will are,” Savvy shouts, running down the hall. Her feet stop so fast at the sight of us that she almost tips forward.
My mom asks, “Are what, dear?”
She grins, and I’ve never seen someone swallow a canary, but she seems to have the whole damn bird stuck in her throat. She coughs, glancing at me before replying, “Are here, Aunt Delancy.” Leaning forward, she gives her an air kiss. “How was your flight?”
Savvy is somehow the best and absolute worst actress ever. It’s either over-the-top dramatic or not bothering to even try. Although it’s usually entertaining and I love her dearly, she can’t seem to decide which she wants to be.
“Long. I’m going to take a short shower, have something small for dinner, and go to bed early tonight.
” My mom likes to do things in littles—short, small, early.
She claims it’s how she stays slim, ageless, and sharp.
Despite her best efforts to convince me and Savvy to follow her path to success, we like to mix in some fun, drink on occasion, and stay up way past our bedtimes.
Basically, the opposite of her advice. But it works well for her.
My mom looks around, then sets her eyes on me. “Before I retire for the evening, I was hoping to see my grandson.” Her eyes are set on mine, but all signs of life have left my body. From my lungs functioning to my heart beating, I’m frozen to the spot.
Will grins, entertained by my downfall. Savvy’s expression wreaks of the horror I feel inside.
I don’t turn to look at Griffin. I can’t.
What will he say? Seems like having a kid should have been a high priority to tell someone you’re sneaking off property to sleep with later.
Yet it didn’t seem so obvious just a few minutes prior to this intrusion.
Like Griffin said, we happened so fast. There was no time for logic or reason.
Prudence was tossed out the window. I was running off lust and instincts for this man. Ugh. Look where that got me.
Will says, “Jacob, your son. My nephew. Where is he, Cricket?”
My gaze pivots to him and the asshole grin on his face. We’d been getting along so well, too, lately. Of course, he’s been in Europe for months. Distance always helps our relationship, but still . . .
When Savvy covers her face and turns away from witnessing this trainwreck, I face the collision head-on. Glancing up at Griffin, I say, “My son should be back soon from preschool.” I turn back to my mom. “Judy can bring him by to see you if you’d like.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m tired, so I’m going to stop in to see your father and then go home to rest.” She comes to me and gives me a hug. “Next time I return from a long trip, I’d like to see you and Jacob waiting to greet us.” She likes us all in a row—her staff, her kids, and now her grandchild.
My gut twists, not from her request, which is a little annoying, but from the music I’m about to have to face with Griffin. “Sure. Next time.”
William escorts my mom into the hallway, but calls back over his shoulder, pleased as punch, “See you around, sister dear.”
I stand where I was left, unable to bring myself to make any moves and steer well clear of any fast reactions. I let this new information simmer between us for a few seconds, thinking he might need the time to process the news.
So many questions populate my brain that I don’t know where to lend my focus. What does he think about me having a child? Does he want to date someone with a kid? He doesn’t come off like the type who wants a family, but would he want to be in his own child’s life?
I feel sick. Wrapping my arms over my stomach, I watch Savvy slip farther into the hallway. She says, “I’ll give you two some time to talk.”
Talking feels like the last thing I want to do, yet I know this is going to be the beginning of one of the most important conversations I’ll have in my life. As soon as she shuts the door, I say, “I’m sorry for not telling you sooner.”
“I’m sorry you felt you couldn’t.”
My heart sinks a bit. “Please don’t say that. You don’t owe me an apology, Griffin.”
“You don’t owe me one either.” He leans against the desk again, stretching his long legs in front of him. Taking me by the hand, he slowly brings me into the fold of his side. Kissing the side of my head, he asks, “So you’re a mom?”
I purse my lips, hoping to keep this damn smile from appearing, but I lose. “Why do you make it sound like that?”
“Like what? Sexy? Because you are.”
Rolling my eyes, I’m tempted to poke him until he sees the situation for what it is. I don’t, though, because I realize he’s seeing it how he always would have. Having a child doesn’t make me a detriment to him.
Unlike to my father . . .
Unlike to my family . . .
Unlike to our business . . .
As I stand in front of him, he reaches up and rubs my shoulders. His smile is sweet and his eyes full of understanding, and then he says, “Tell me about your son.”