Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
GRANT
“Why don’t we move Beckett to hit third and move Smith to hit sixth? We need to work on his swing before we move him up in the batting order. Beckett’s worked hard to prove himself.”
“Got it,” Gavney says. “I know he’ll be happy.”
“As long as he keeps it up.” I tuck the phone against my shoulder and pull the boiling pot of water off the stove. “I want to make sure Smith doesn’t get too down. He’s a good player, but we need to work with him if he wants to improve his game.”
“I’ll work with him at practice tomorrow. Anything else?”
“No. Sorry to bother you while you’re at home, but I was working through it in my mind and didn’t want to forget.”
“You’ve got a lot on your plate, Grant. Anything I can do to help.”
“Appreciate it. Now, go enjoy the rest of your night.”
“Thanks. See you tomorrow.”
It seems like all I do is make gnocchi for Georgia and Luke. It’s their favorite, so I’ll make it as much as I have to. I don’t know how hungry she’ll be after spending the day with her friends, but I figure it’s better to be safe than sorry.
“Anyone home?”
Her voice echoes around the kitchen, and looking to the front door, all I see is a pile of presents.
“Why didn’t you call me to help?” I ask, rushing over to take the boxes from her arms.
“I thought I could manage,” I say. “Besides, the bump helps steady them.”
I shake my head at her, setting them on the coffee table. “Did they leave anything at the store?”
“No.” She smiles, pressing up onto her toes to kiss me.
Before she can get away, I pull her back in. This time, I linger. It’s only the two of us tonight and I want to feel her pressed against me. To savor her sweet taste.
I’m falling for this woman, and falling hard. I only hope she feels the same way.
“Miss me?”
“Always.”
“I hope you want gnocchi tonight.”
“You are the perfect man,” she says. “Is Luke home tonight?”
“He’s not, actually.”
“Where is he?” she asks, settling onto a barstool.
“There’s a football game tonight, so he went with some friends from school.”
“Wow. Good for him.”
I turn the stove off, letting the sauce simmer. “I know, right?”
“Did you play it cool?” Georgia leans forward. “Or did you totally nerd out about it?”
“I resent the implication I am anything but a cool dad.”
She laughs, but the lines on her face confirm how tired she is. “The coolest.”
Dropping the lid back on the pan, I grab her by the hand. “Come on.”
“Where are you taking me?” Georgia asks, casting a curious eye to me.
“Well, I thought since I had you here I might—”
“Murder me? Is this when you finally do it?”
Grabbing both of her hands, I pull her toward me. “I’ve had plenty of opportunities to do that if I wanted to. Besides, I’d miss you too much.”
She gives me her real smile. The one that she reserves for people she cares about. Not that fake one I got on the first night. It does something funny to my insides that I’m getting this.
“You’d miss me, huh?”
I hold up my thumb and forefinger together. “Maybe a little.”
“Only a little?”
“Fine, maybe more.”
She presses up onto her toes, giving me the briefest of kisses. She doesn’t linger, but I trail after her. Wanting more.
“That’s all you’re going to give me?”
Georgia nods. “Until you tell me what we’re doing.”
“Fine.”
I lead her down the hallway to my bedroom and straight through to the bathroom. I turn the tap on and clog the drain, drawing her a bath.
“Are you telling me something?” she says, crossing her arms over her floral print dress. She’s still wearing her boots.
“Yes. You look tired. It’s been a busy few weeks and you are not one to slow down, so why don’t you take a bath while I get dinner ready for you.”
“I—”
I cover her mouth with my hand, not letting her finish. “Nope. You make it a point to stay busy, so I’m making you slow down. If not for you, for our kid.”
The fight slips out of her.
“I’ve never had anyone take care of me before.”
“You haven’t?”
I sit on the edge of the tub, rolling my sleeves up to test the water. She threads her fingers through my hair, staring down at me. Emotions fill her eyes.
“My girls take care of me, but not like this.”
I shake the water off my hand, and stand to pull her in for a hug. “I like taking care of you, Cowgirl.”
I go to leave, but she pulls me back.
“Are you going to get in with me?”
“You want me to?”
She hooks a finger into the v of my shirt and pulls me close. “Of course I do.”
Grabbing the hem of her dress, she pulls it up and over her head before toeing out of her boots and dropping her bra and underwear into the pile.
She steps into the tub with a sigh. “This feels really good, Grant.”
I disrobe before getting in behind her. When the water fills the tub, I shut it off and let the steam overwhelm us.
“Want a back rub?” I ask.
“Wow. This is a full service spa.” She laughs.
I dig my fingers into her shoulders, feeling how tight her muscles are. “You should know by now, Georgia. Whatever you need, I’ll give it to you.”
She peeks over her shoulder, eyes closed off.
“I don’t like having to rely on people,” she says.
“Why not?”
“They always leave.”
I sweep the hair off of her shoulder and press a kiss against her soft skin. “Who left you, Georgia?”
“My parents.”
“Your parents?”
“They didn’t care about being a mom and dad. My dad cut out when I was little, and my mom blamed me. When I was thirteen, she left too and I had no one else.”
My hand settles on top of her belly. I rub soothing circles over the tender skin. I let her keep talking without interruption because I sense she needs to get this out.
“I bounced around foster homes until I was sixteen and an older woman took me in. She was nice, but I think it was just a way for her to get extra money. But at least I was safe, which is more than a lot of kids can say. When I left for college, I finally felt free. I did everything I could to never rely on anyone.”
“I’m sorry, Georgia.” It’s all I can say. How can I be irrationally angry at people I’ve never met? I don’t know who could ever give up this woman.
She’s the most kind, caring, genuine person I’ve ever met. I would do anything for her. That’s when it dawns on me.
“This is why you never wanted kids,” I say.
“I was scared that if I did have kids, there might be a part of my parents in me. I know that logically it isn’t true and running out on your kid isn’t genetic, but when Presley first told us she was pregnant, my first thought was I never wanted that to happen to me.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you found out.” I press a kiss to her shoulder.
“It’s not like we planned this.” She settles her hand on top of mine, linking our fingers together. “But I’m glad we’re together now.”
“You know I’m not going anywhere, right?” I tell her.
“I know.”
I spin her in my arms, looking her dead in the eyes. There’s an anxiousness there. I can’t blame her, now that I know what happened to her.
“Georgia. I need you to listen to me. Really listen. I’m here.
You and I are in this together. I know we didn’t plan on having a baby together and you never planned on having one, but we’ll always be there for him.
” I rub a hand over her belly as her eyes well up. “I promise. I’m not going anywhere.”
She closes the distance between the two of us, her mouth sealing over mine. It’s not heated, but with this kiss, she’s telling me everything she can’t say.
How much she needs me and relies on me, even if she might not want to. How she’s learning to do this whole parenting thing with me.
I never expected Georgia, but somehow, we’re inextricably linked. And there’s no other person I’d rather be tied to than her.
“Thank you, Grant,” she whispers against my lips.
“You never have to thank me for showing up for you, Georgia. I’m not going anywhere.”
Holding her in my arms, the water warm around us, this is exactly where I want to be. With her.
Thank God for that damn blizzard.