20. Grayson
CHAPTER 20
Grayson
I’m pacing back and forth, my phone on the kitchen counter on speaker. “Mom, please, just bring Evelyn home.”
“First you complain that I’m not babysitting your daughter enough, and now you’re demanding I bring her home?”
Sighing, I rub my forehead and strive for patience. My mother and I get along, for the most part. The problem is, we’re basically the same person. She is reacting exactly the way I would to an unreasonable demand, and I get it. I really do. It’s also really fucking annoying.
“I didn’t know I was going to get the DNA results today. I want Evie with me when I read them.”
The package had arrived via FedEx this morning. For some reason, I had thought it would be something more innocuous, less weighty, like an email.
But no, it was an overnight express envelope that I had to sign for, which felt ominous and downright terrifying. What if this is actually a letter from a judge telling me I have to relinquish custody of Evelyn right this second because she’s not mine?
I’ll throw up if that happens. I can’t let this innocent, intelligent baby get yanked away from me and sent God knows where to live with God knows who.
Being afraid is a new emotion for me and I fucking hate it.
“Evelyn can’t read,” my mother says. “And we’re at the zoo in Charleston. She’s having fun. The monkeys are making her laugh. They’re making your father laugh too. He’s been very bored since he retired.”
She’s redirecting me. It’s a great tool that I’ve utilized many times in business.
I refuse to fall for it. “What time are you coming home?” I’ve already lost the war. Might as well attempt to win the battle. “She needs to be in bed by seven or she’s impossible to put down.”
I open my refrigerator, suddenly wanting a drink. I don’t have anything at all. I know food delivery has come to Honeysuckle Harbor but has alcohol delivery reached here? It has to. There are tourists from April to October who may or may not have cars and who might want a cocktail in their beach rental. If there isn’t alcohol delivery here, I should invest in that.
Now I’m just distracting myself, which apparently I need. I’m a bundle of fucking nerves and that damn envelope is mocking me on the counter.
“We’ll be there by seven, I promise, Grayson. Your daughter is a delight, I have to say.”
“ If she’s my daughter,” I say glumly. “What if she’s not?”
“She’s your daughter. She looks just like you.”
She does. “But we don’t know for sure,” I insist.
“For heaven’s sake, just open the results. Call me back on FaceTime if you want to see Evelyn.”
I slam the refrigerator closed again.
I had impulsively texted Caroline that I’ve gotten the results. I don’t know why, not exactly.
Okay, that’s a lie.
I know why.
Because she cares about Evelyn.
And I care about Caroline.
I’m also jealous of the fact that she’s having what is clearly hot sex with James and Cas next door. I know that because I heard them last night. The bed was hitting the wall, rattling the toys on the bookshelf in my living room that rests against what must be their bedroom. I’m ashamed to admit I put my ear to the wall and heard male grunting and a very clear, “Yes, James, yes!” from Caroline.
Aside from a positive DNA test, I wanted nothing more last night than to be hearing her yell, “Yes, Grayson, yes!” while I was buried to the hilt in her wet pussy.
Instead, I spent another Friday night with a bottle of lotion, my hand, and dirty thoughts of Caroline.
What made it even worse was Kyle, the night nanny, caught me with my ear to the wall and asked if I was okay.
I wasn’t okay.
I’m not okay.
I may never be okay again until I can fuck Caroline Bell.
Which I can’t do because I can’t risk an unplanned pregnancy and I fucked it up anyway by kissing her and then basically shoving her away.
Then sending her flowers as an apology, followed immediately by a cryptic text that I got the DNA results back.
Who the fuck does that?
Me.
The world’s biggest idiot.
But it was torture last night thinking about Caroline coming hard at the hands—or cocks or tongues—of James and Cas. Not because she doesn’t deserve the pleasure, because she does, but because it could have been me.
I also know she spent the night because I heard the three of them talking and laughing as they walked down the hallway this morning. When I glanced out my peephole, James had his arm around her and she was smiling ear to ear, the smile of a woman who has been well fucked. Cas was walking backward toward the elevator, like he couldn’t resist looking at both of them, an easy grin on his face.
They were probably going to breakfast. After sex and sleeping draped all over each other and waking up to morning cuddles and kisses and…
“Grayson! Are you even listening?”
I have completely forgotten my mom is still on the phone.
“Mom—
I’m saved from having to defend myself by a knock on my door. Frowning, I glance toward it. It’s noon and no one can access this floor unless they’re buzzed in.
Or it’s James or Cas.
Or Caroline, because I sent her a text that I had the DNA results. I should have texted again, but I called my mom right away, immediately wanting to have Evelyn back in my arms before I opened the envelope.
“I’ll call you back, Mom, thanks. Bye.”
I hit the end button on my screen and head to my door. A glance through the peephole shows that it is James and Cas. And Caroline.
She’s in front, looking worried. Her brow is furrowed and her fist is raised to knock again. “Coming,” I say, then regret that choice of words.
I open the door. “Hi.”
“Grayson, are you okay? What did the results say?” Caroline rushes forward, forcing me to step back and let them all enter the apartment.
“I haven’t opened them yet.”
She stops and shoots me a look of censure. “What? Oh my God, you had me so worried! We bolted out of brunch when you didn’t respond to me.”
“Did you text me back? Sorry, I was on the phone with my mother.”
“Where’s Evelyn?” she demands.
“With my mother. At the zoo in Charleston.”
James and Cas have strolled in casually behind Caroline. James looks concerned and Cas looks…shrewd. Like he can read me like a book. It’s an uncomfortable feeling.
“I’m sorry I interrupted your brunch.”
“We were just about ready to leave anyway,” James says. “Why aren’t you opening the results? Is it an email?”
I pick up the offensive overnight express letter from hell and wave it. “It’s this. Doesn’t this look like it’s court documents? Like some judge is going to demand I surrender Evelyn to CPS?”
“How do you know it’s DNA results?” Caroline asks.
“Because Andrea called me and told me to expect them this morning.”
“Who is Andrea?” James asks, looking bewildered.
“His assistant,” Caroline says for me. “Poor woman,” she murmurs under her breath.
Well, that’s not sounding good for Team Grayson.
It’s also not inaccurate. Andrea has put up with a lot from me over the years.
“You know I’m a lawyer,” Cas says.
I actually had no idea he was a lawyer. I barely know who I am at this point, I certainly have not taken the time to get to know my neighbors as well as I could have. “Of course,” I lie. “So is this bad news?”
“No, I’m sure it’s just the DNA results, like your assistant said. If it was CPS, there would be a social worker and law enforcement at your doorstep.”
That makes my vision blur and the room momentarily goes black. I lean heavily against the nearest wall. “Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.”
Caroline walks over to me. “Hey. Look at me.” Her voice is soft as she puts her hands on my shoulders. “It’s going to be fine. Evelyn is yours. We all know that.”
“But…” I stare down at her, losing myself in her green eyes. The confidence there instantly makes me feel better.
“Let’s open it together,” James says, reaching out to tap my shoulder. “It’s all good, man. You’ll see.”
I nod, but it still takes everything in me to rip open the envelope. I pull a couple of pieces of paper out with a trembling hand. Scanning it, my heart in my throat, I see “biological father” and then my name. Ninety-nine point nine percent certainty.
“Holy shit, it’s me.” Then my throat closes and I can’t speak. I briefly close my eyes as Caroline gives me a loose hug. I wrap my arm around her back and pull her in tighter, breathing in her scent, appreciating her softness.
“That’s awesome!” James says.
“May I see?” Cas asks, holding out his hand.
I pass over the documents and he quickly reads, obviously wanting to confirm for himself that’s really what it says. “Congratulations,” he says with a grin. “You’re a father.”
Caroline has stepped back, but she smiles directly at me and says softly, “He was already a father. Evelyn is a lucky little girl.”
My throat has released, but now my heart squeezes.
Evelyn is my daughter. Officially. Forever.
I never knew I could feel this way about another human being.
I also never knew I could feel about a woman the way I do about Caroline.
But she’s leaving Honeysuckle Harbor, and she’s getting fucked by James and Cas.
“Thank you,” I manage to say. I turn my gaze to James and Cas. “To all of you. Seriously, I appreciate all the help and support you’ve given me.”
“What are neighbors for?” Cas says.
“We’re happy to help any way we can,” James adds.
“The flowers weren’t necessary.” Caroline takes the papers from Cas and reads them too.
It feels like she’s doing it to avoid looking at me.
“The flowers were necessary.” I go over to her and I take the papers away and set them down on the counter. “I was…am…fucking everything up.”
Brushing her hair back off of her shoulder, because I can’t resist the urge to touch her, I take in her delectable mouth. I want to kiss her so fucking bad. But I glance over at James and Cas. “Look, I know you guys have a thing going and I respect that.”
“But you want Caroline too,” James says when I don’t continue.
I nod. “I do.”
“She’s free to do whatever she wants,” Cas says. “We’re adults. Friends having fun together.”
“She clearly wants you, too,” James adds with a grin. “It’s pretty damn obvious.”
Caroline isn’t saying anything. She’s just watching me, like she’s waiting for me to do or say something.
I don’t know if there is a right or wrong thing to say here, but I decide the hell with it.
“I want to have sex with you,” I tell her.
She crosses her arms. Not a good sign. “I thought you can’t have sex because you’re worried about an unplanned pregnancy.”
I lean in and take her mouth in a passionate kiss.
Then I say, “I was actually thinking that all of us could be together. That way I can find other ways to be…satisfied. And you would have lots of ways to be satisfied.”
Her mouth falls open. Her eyes widen. Her breath hitches. “Oh.”
I caress her bottom lip, suddenly very fucking turned on by the idea of getting to see her come apart as three men are giving her attention. “Would you like that, Caroline? Getting fucked in various ways by three men at once?”
She nods rapidly. Her cheeks are pink. “Yes. I mean, yes, if it’s the three of you.”
My cock hardens painfully. “Good girl.” I turn back to James and Cas. “What do you think? Can I join you both in getting Caroline off?”
They exchange a glance between them before they both nod.
I’m caressing up her arms now, and I let my thumb brush over her tight nipple. She inhales sharply.
“If that’s what Caro wants, I’m in,” James says.
“It’s a fuck yes from me,” Cas says. He rubs his jaw and gives her a sinful smile. “Three holes, three guys. What do you think, sweet Caroline?”
“Can we do it now?” she asks.
I groan. “Fuck yes, baby.”
Today is the best day I’ve ever had, and it’s just getting started.