Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Reese
C apri sent me to my room early yesterday after she found me doubled over in pain, cramps threatening to slice me in two.
Thankfully, I’m feeling a bit better today.
Oh, the joys of being a woman.
A knock sounds at my door, and I trudge to open it. It’s likely Piper, come to check up on me.
It’s not.
Griffin stands in the hallway, wearing a pair of jeans and a button-down shirt that hug every inch of him in the best possible way. His cowboy hat sits back on his head, with those unruly curls peeking out around the rim.
The man is perfection, sculpted from skin and bone instead of marble.
Am I gaping? I plead the fifth on that one.
He holds out a bag. “Piper said you weren’t feeling well yesterday. I found out only this afternoon, so I brought you a care package.”
I peek into the bag and flush. A heating pad, bubble bath, soft blanket, chocolate, and an enormous bottle of ibuprofen. “God, what exactly is Piper telling you about me?”
Griffin shoots me an easy grin. “Everything. Because I want to know everything.”
My heart stumbles. “How did you know to get these things? I’m impressed. Most men avoid this aisle of the store.”
“I asked the pharmacist. Told her my girl had terrible cramps, and I wanted to make her feel better.”
The words knock the air right out of me. Vander never wanted to hear about cramps, let alone ease them. But Griffin? He says it as if it’s the most obvious truth in the world.
“You are going to make the greatest husband.”
“Is that a proposal?”
I laugh, my cheeks hot under his teasing stare. “I’m pretty sure you get a lot of those.”
“Not from you.” He leans against the doorframe and clears his throat. “How are you?”
“Better today. It’s only four days, but pure torture.”
“I’d take the pain from you if I could.”
And the scary part? I believe him. No man has ever awakened feelings like this in me.
Figures it happens with one I can’t have.
“You brought me chocolate and a heating pad, which is even better. I’ll save the heating pad for next month, but this bad boy is getting eaten tonight.” I grab the chocolate bar from the bag and glance up at him. “What are you up to?”
“Nothing.”
“Want to watch a movie with me? Hear me whine about the woes of being a woman?”
I swear, those dimples could melt glaciers. “I’d love to.”
Griffin is an excellent pillow.
He’s also exceedingly patient with my grumpy ass, even letting me keep the remote. To thank him, I queue up an action flick, earning a raised brow from the handsome cowboy.
“Car chases and gun fights? Doesn’t seem like your speed.”
I shrug and pop a piece of chocolate into my mouth. “I have a feeling you never get to choose the movie, so I picked something you might like.”
His head tips, his cheek resting on his fist as he watches me. Warmth flickers in his gaze, the kind that makes my stomach dip. “You are going to make the greatest wife.”
I smile, but have to look away before his heady gaze undoes me. “Is that a proposal?”
“Would you say yes?”
“Not if you’re expecting four kids.”
“I thought we agreed on three.”
And just like that, we fall back into the ridiculous game about a future we’ll never have, with a family we’ll never create. But sitting here, cocooned by his warmth, it feels dangerously easy to pretend.
“We’d better get busy then,” I tease, breaking off another square of chocolate and holding it to his lips.
He opens his mouth, teeth grazing my fingers as he takes it. A slow smile follows. “Right now?” He cracks his knuckles like he’s gearing up. “Okay.”
“Hold on, cowboy, I’m out of commission, remember?”
But my treacherous brain whispers: what if I wasn’t? What if this were real, and I let him have me right now?
You can’t, Reese. He fucks women for money. It doesn’t matter how sweet or gorgeous or infuriatingly good he is—he’s a no-go in every sense.
“We don’t want to waste time,” he replies, eyes glinting with mischief. Bastard knows exactly what he’s doing to me.
“What I meant is that I’m old.”
He narrows his eyes, flexing his hand against his thigh. “You’re not old.”
“I am, actually.”
As if I needed one more reason why Griffin and I can’t work.
“I’m—”
“Thirty-seven. Thirty-eight in a couple of months.” He states it as a fact, not a problem. “We’ll celebrate. Make an event of it.”
I blink. “Wait, how?—”
“And I’m twenty-seven. Just turned a month ago. I think that covers the age difference.”
“Doesn’t it bother you?”
“Not a damn bit. Why would it?” His voice is firm, without hesitation.
“How did you know how old I was?”
He drags his tongue over his lower lip, and suddenly it’s impossible to think. “I asked Piper about a million questions. She’s tired of my hounding her.”
So that explains my sister’s sudden campaign for Team Griffin .
God, I hate how giddy that knowledge makes me feel. “What did you want to know about me?”
“Everything.” His eyes lock on mine, steady and intent.
My breath catches. “Why?”
“Because you’re stamped in my memory. Like that scent you catch once and can’t forget—the one that makes you stop and realize the world can still be extraordinary.”
Nothing like a man quoting poetry. “That’s beautiful. Who said that?”
“I did. About you.”
And with that, my heart seizes in my chest—exactly the kind of line women read in books and swear doesn’t happen in real life.
He pats the pillow beside him, lips twitching. “Come on. Let’s watch people shoot holes into each other.”
I sink down beside him, but a thought nags. Griffin says and does all the right things. It’s like he walked straight out of the pages of a romance novel.
But isn’t that what he’s supposed to do? Pretend? Perform?
Or maybe… maybe he’s just a really good man.
Yeah, I like that option way better.
I snuggle against his chest, chocolate melting on my tongue, and flick the channel to a romantic comedy. “How about this movie instead?”
His arm tightens around me, his lips brushing my hair in the softest kiss. “Perfect.”
And lying there with the steady thrum of his heart in my ear, I realize something terrifying—he’s right. With him by my side, the world does indeed feel extraordinary.
“Darlin’.” Griffin’s voice is soft in my ear. “I have to go.”
I moan and stretch, blinking my eyes open. The sheets twist around my legs as I push upright, my spine protesting the sudden movement. “What time is it?”
“Just after six.”
I rake a hand through my hair, still foggy. “I’m sorry. I fell asleep.”
He presses a warm kiss to my forehead. “That was the idea.”
I glance around, surprised to find myself in bed. My brow furrows as I point at the rumpled sheets. “Wait, how did I get here? I passed out on the couch.”
Griffin’s mouth quirks as he bends over to tug on his boots. “I carried you. The bed’s more comfortable.”
“You’re comfortable,” I murmur.
Griffin tugs his t-shirt over his head and fixes me with a look. “So are you. Can’t tell you the last time I slept that well.”
“Hey, if you ever feel needy and squishy like me, you know where to go.” I shrug, rolling my neck to work out the kinks taking up residence there.
Hell, after quality time with Griffin, I feel almost human.
He pauses, the early morning sun highlighting his baby blues. “Thank you.”
“I haven’t done anything.”
“You see me. You accept me. And that’s enough for you.”
It’s more than enough for me—but for a man like Griffin, it’s probably the rarest gift he’s ever been given.
No expectations, no performance. Just him. Just us.
Just… damn it, Reese, stop thinking about the kiss.
As if that’s a possibility.
We didn’t fool around last night. Then again, we couldn’t. But he didn’t try to kiss me, and my lips were ready and waiting. Maybe he’s decided that kiss at the bar was a step too far. Maybe friendship feels like the safe route for him.
And I need to be okay with that fact. Relegate that bowl-me-over kiss to a precious pedestal in my memory and focus on being buddies.
Buddies that boost each other up, obviously. Griffin, despite being drooled over on the regular, isn’t used to being appreciated. Time to ensure he knows I do.
I push up on my knees, cupping his stubbled cheeks. “You’re amazing. Never let anyone tell you differently. Now, I’m going to shower and brush my teeth because leftover chocolate breath is so not sexy.”
Griffin drops a kiss onto my hair. “You’re sexy all the time.”
“Obviously. Look at me.” I shake my ass as I stand, twirling in my wrinkled sweats. “I’m a prize.”
His gaze drags down my body, his hands flexing restlessly against his thighs. “Do that again,” he murmurs, “and I’ll show you what a prize you really are.”
I’m joking. He’s joking. I think.
But the look on his face isn’t one of humor, but hunger, as if daring me to give him the green light.
And if it weren’t that time of the month, I’d give him the all-clear.
Figure out the details later.
Mother Nature can be such a bitch.
His phone buzzes, breaking the spell. Griffin sighs, raking a hand down his face like he’d rather ignore it.
Back to reality.
That heavy sigh means one thing—a client. A woman who’s going to pay him for his time and then pay more for his body.
The same body that curled against me all night.
God, I hate reality.
“Be safe today.” I groan inwardly.
Be safe? Seriously, Reese?
“Always am.”
Oh, that’s a delightful visual. My brain instantly supplies a slideshow of leather straps and vibrating toys—images I shove into a mental closet and slam the door on.
“Thanks again for taking care of me.”
He grabs his hat and shoves it onto his head. “Get used to it. This is your new life, remember?”
“When do you get your new life?” The question slips out before I can stop it.
Griffin’s mouth curves faintly. “Well, considering that was my boss at the stables chewing me out for running late, I’d say right now.”
Stables? Is that code for some kinky roleplay, or are we discussing actual horses and hay bales here?
Thankfully, I keep that particular question firmly inside my head.
“The stables?” I ask carefully.