Truly Madly Deeply Boxed Set (16 page)

Chelsie turned towards Amanda. “If you need anything, someone to talk to or whatever, don’t hesitate to call.” After rummaging through her purse, Chelsie withdrew an old business card. Though Amanda probably already had the number, Chelsie jotted down Griff s office phone just in case. “You can reach me here, or leave a message. I check in periodically.” Chelsie paused. “Call anytime.”

Fingering the card in her hand, Amanda gave Chelsie a grateful smile. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. One more question before we go in.”

“What?”

“Why me? Why look me up? Why ask me to represent you?”

The other woman stared out the window. “The night before I left, I confronted Jeff with the fact that he’d been married. We argued about his lie, and I asked him why you divorced.” She paused, obviously uncomfortable with the rest.

Chelsie could handle whatever came next. As far as she was concerned, the worst had already befallen her.

“He said his—I mean, he said your work came first.”

A grim smile touched Chelsie’s lips. “Please don’t sugarcoat this for my sake.” She’d heard Jeffrey at his most vulgar, maybe not in the beginning of their marriage, but certainly at the bitter end. “Be honest, please.”

Amanda sucked in a breath of air. “He said his frigid wife saved her passion for her work. She couldn’t manage to satisfy him in bed.” Slowly, Amanda turned away from the window. “If Jeffrey bothered to belittle your career, I figured you must be good.” Regret for her admission etched her delicate features. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

Chelsie shrugged. There might have been a time she believed those words. Jeff had told her the same thing many times in the course of their short marriage. But one night with Griff taught her how very wrong her ex-husband had been.

Chelsie now knew she hadn’t saved her passion for her work. She had saved it for someone deserving. Someone named Griff.

* * *

Early Saturday morning, Griff buzzed her apartment from downstairs. Chelsie had barely enough time to shower and change after her night at the woman’s shelter downtown before he’d arrived. She let him and Alix, who swung monkey-style from his left arm, into her apartment.

“You know, you’re becoming a master at avoidance techniques.”

“Good morning to you, too,” she said, but she nodded. “I can see how you’d think that, but take a look at my schedule for the last week and tell me where we could have fit in time for a long, personal,
important
conversation.”

“We couldn’t, which brings me back to my original point. Did you arrange the week on purpose?”

“To avoid you? No. To make sure Amanda got settled at the shelter? Yes.” She had spent three of the last four nights there, helping the other woman out and even getting to know her little boy. In between, she’d fit in quick dinners with Alix, not to mention her already scheduled appointments. She’d seen Griff constantly, but not once had they been alone.

“I respect your work. I just think we have unfinished business.”

Again, she nodded. She couldn’t avoid him much longer. In truth, she didn’t want to. She respected him too much to continue as they’d been. “We just need to find some quiet time—”

As if on cue, Alix squealed loudly, released Griff, and scrambled into Chelsie’s arms. The little girl wouldn’t be ignored. Chelsie laughed. “See?”

With an exasperated groan, Griff gave in and grinned before glancing at his watch. “I’ve got to go. Are you sure you can handle this? I can call Ryan. He’d understand.”

“I think I’ve had enough practice.”

“What if she needs a nap? She’s still in a crib.”

“I’ll put her in my bed, surround her with pillows, and I won’t leave her alone.” She held up her hands. “Promise.”

Restless and bored with the adult conversation, Alix bolted for the living room. Chelsie let her go.

“What about all that crystal?” His gaze swept the expanse of her apartment. His reluctance to leave Alix in this crystal palace was a tangible thing. The little girl rushed from place to place, lifting each animal and replacing it with a heavy thud.

“Alix!” he shouted.

Chelsie jabbed her elbow into his side. “Leave her alone. She isn’t doing anything wrong. Maybe I should have taken the things down, for safety’s sake, but as long as I’m here, she’s fine. Just go.”

“Are you sure you’re feeling better?”

Though she tried, Chelsie couldn’t suppress a smirk. “I had a slight cold and worked straight through. You, on the other hand, took to bed. Obviously, I have more stamina.”

He groaned at the words she’d been teasing him with all week.

She sent him a reassuring smile. “Good-bye,” she said in a lilting voice. Placing her hands on his back, she shoved him towards the door. A denim jacket separated her fingers from his skin, but heat radiated through her anyway. Just being near Griff was akin to lighting a quick-burning fire.

“I’ll be back around four.”

“We’ll be here.”

“In one piece?”

Chelsie rolled her eyes. He took the hint and left, closing the door behind him.

Chelsie glanced at Alix. “How about your first all-girl shopping trip?” she asked her niece. “I know this great place in Faneuil Hall. All teddy bears, soft and cuddly like you.” Chelsie tickled the child’s tummy until she shrieked in delight.

The ringing of the telephone cut off any further play and Chelsie grabbed for the receiver. “Hello?”

Silence greeted her. She wondered if Griff had called to check from his car phone already. “Hello?” she said again. “Griff?” No answer. “Bad connection,” she muttered. She had a hard time dialing out from her mobile phone around here too.

“Serves Uncle Griff right for not trusting us,” Chelsie said. She looked at Alix. “But we love him anyway, right?”

* * *

When Griff reached Chelsie’s apartment, he found the door ajar. “That woman needs a keeper,” he muttered to himself. A role he wouldn’t mind applying for himself. All afternoon, his mind had been on the two females he’d left behind. Though he trusted Chelsie with Alix, he didn’t trust his niece in Chelsie’s apartment. More than once, his own mother had nearly throttled Griff or Jared if they’d even looked at one of her
souvenirs.

The one time Jared had done real damage to a precious trinket, Griff had taken the blame for his kid brother. A mere three days later, his mother had walked out for good. Since then, Griff’s taste and eye had been honed by years of making money and dealing with women who respected little else. The items in Chelsie’s place appeared more valuable than those coveted by his mother.

As he stepped into the tiled entryway, hushed voices and soft giggles drifted towards him. Not wishing to interrupt, Griff entered the apartment quietly and came upon a sight that not only astounded him, but altered his perception of reality.

The glass cocktail tables that previously occupied the center of the living room had been haphazardly pushed aside. Every glass and crystal animal, numbering twenty or more, sat on the carpet surrounding his niece. Alix held two in her hands and proceeded to bang them together like cymbals. He winced each time they struck. The lead inside the crystal must have prevented them from shattering.

“Don’t, sweety. You’ll get hurt.” Chelsie gently pried the animals from the little girl’s grasp. Where he was worried about Chelsie’s things, she was worried about the little girl’s safety. The discrepancy should have surprised him, but didn’t.

“Okay. Teddy bear,” Chelsie said.

Alix lifted an animal off the floor.

“Fish. Try again.”

As he took a step towards them, something crunched under his feet. The noise drew their attention from the menagerie on the floor.

“Griff!” Chelsie jumped up to greet him. The joy in her voice was unmistakable and he was glad he’d entered in silence. She’d had no time to think, so her spontaneous gesture had been genuine. A warm yet alien feeling flooded his heart. For the first time, Griff felt like he’d come home.

Alix darted around Chelsie’s legs and ran into his arms. The child’s unconditional love never ceased to amaze him and enabled him to give in return.

“Hi, ladies. How was your day?”

“Eventful.”

He nodded. Alix pried herself from his grasp and headed straight for the animals. He stepped forward and again, his foot ground something against the floor. “What’s this?” he asked, looking down.

“Nothing important. I just haven’t had a chance to clean up yet.” Chelsie gnawed on her lower lip before rushing on. “But don’t worry. I was with Alix the whole time and she never got near the broken glass. I’ll get it now.”

He stopped her run for the closet by grabbing the tail of her shirt “Relax. It was a simple question, not an accusation. I know you’d never let Alix get hurt. But did she break this?”

“An accident.” Laughter twinkled in Chelsie’s eyes. “The animals wanted to play follow the leader. I’m afraid the rabbit was a bit uncooperative.”

The rabbit. Her favorite piece, yet she seemed not to care. “I’ll replace it.”

“No, you won’t. I don’t care about these things. Alix had fun. That’s all that matters.”

His eyes narrowed as he assessed her sincerity.

“Honest, Griff. Don’t make a big deal about this. I never thought a small accident would affect you like this.”

You affect me
. Who was this woman who never reacted in accordance with the standards set by the women in his past? “Okay. We’ll forget it for now.”

A brief flash of relief crossed her face. “Good. You hungry? We could order in pizza before you go home.”

He glanced across the room. Alix still played contentedly in the center of the carpet. “Pizza sounds good.”

Chelsie picked up the phone and placed the order.

“Want to sit?” She flopped down on the couch and waited until he joined her. He groaned, his exhaustion evident in the slouch of his shoulders and the weary expression on his face.

Alix ran to Griff, dumping two animals in his lap. She continued to charge back and forth between her uncle and the pile of crystals she thought of as toys. When Chelsie glanced at the heap in the center of the floor, she decided this activity might take a while. It might take even longer for the memory of Griff and Alix in her apartment to fade, she thought with chagrin.

“What’s our game plan for Amanda Sutton’s case, partner?” he asked.

“Let’s discuss business later.” She nodded towards Alix. She couldn’t talk about the details of their newest client without revealing all the details of her past, something she wouldn’t do without a guarantee of privacy. Now wasn’t the time. The coward in her heart, a shadow of her former self, welcomed the delay.

“Okay, the squirt comes first,” he said, settling himself on the carpet beside Alix.

Chelsie’s heart swelled at the sight of the two people she had come to love frolicking on her living-room floor. Griff and Alix in her apartment created the illusion of a real home, something this place would never be.

Griff glanced up, his gaze locking with hers. “Come join us. We need you.”

His words sent a tingle along her spine. She liked that he’d linked them together in something other than a professional capacity. In fact, she enjoyed the notion too much. Maybe the sound pleased her because he’d said “us” without conscious thought.

She sat between them. After a while, Alix laid her head in Chelsie’s lap. “I love this squirt,” Chelsie whispered. She fingered the dark curls, watching as the little girl’s eyes grew heavy and finally closed.

“Peaceful,” Griff said.

Chelsie smiled. With Alix around, a moment of silence was rare. “This is nice,” she agreed. Too nice. Maybe it was just as well the end had come. At this point, occasional visits might benefit everyone. Alix shouldn’t come to rely on her any more than she already did, especially since she’d probably be making herself scarce once Griff understood everything about Chelsie Russell.

As if he read her somber mood, he spoke. “Hey.” He tipped her chin upward so her eyes met his. “You are the world’s best baby-sitter. And how many women get this kind of practice before they’re officially called Mommy?” His lips touched hers before he turned his attention back to the sleeping child.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

He turned toward her. “For what?”

For reminding me of my place
. “For being so understanding,” she said.

He smiled. “I’m an understanding guy.”

Hold that thought
. Chelsie wished she felt nearly as confident that his words would hold true.

* * *

Griff lifted the sleeping child out of her car seat and stifled a yawn. Chelsie followed him into the house. While he got Alix settled in bed, Chelsie waited downstairs. He found her in the den. Her feet were propped on an ottoman and she lounged comfortably on the couch.

“You didn’t need to come all the way back with us, but I appreciate the company.” He stretched his arms above his head, feeling every muscle that had worked loading boxes that afternoon. “Mrs. Baxter will be back in the morning and I’m hoping this household will resettle itself into a routine.”

Her eyes followed his every movement, stirring his body to life. Wanting Chelsie had become as much a part of him as breathing. Fantasy had been easier. Now he knew the feel of her silken skin gliding beneath him.

She smiled. “Routines are easy to fall into.” She paused. “Now that Alix is asleep, we need to talk.”

“Personally, I can think of other things to do while Alix sleeps.” Too much time had passed and he couldn’t forget the feel of Chelsie in his arms, couldn’t stop the need to have her again.

Her eyes glazed over at his words and he knew she was remembering. The memories of that one night seared his mind, heated his body, and made treating her in a casual, non-lover-like manner damned difficult. Daydreams as potent as his seemed awfully real sometimes, especially those involving Chelsie Russell.

He stepped closer and placed an arm on either side of her shoulders. Her tongue darted over her lips, moistening them until they glistened.

“Talk, Griff. This shouldn’t wait.”

He kissed her mid-sentence, capturing her mouth with his and slipping his tongue through her already parted lips. She raised her hands to his chest in a half-hearted effort to push him away. Her hands lingered, but didn’t move. Her scent surrounded him.