Perfect Partners(13)
Author: Carly Phillips

FOUR

“Sorry to have kept you waiting.”

Chelsie turned, startled at the sound of Griff’s deep voice. Having retreated to the living room, she’d gotten lost in a file she’d retrieved from the car. No sense in wasting valuable free time, and what better way to tamp down unwanted emotions than by burying herself in work?

She closed the paperwork and placed it on the cushion beside her. “Not a problem. How could I begrudge a dirty man a shower?”

“Feeding Alix is an experience,” he said, laughing.

Laughing? In the time since the hearing, Chelsie couldn’t recall Griff treating her to a simple smile.

He ran his fingers through still damp hair as he entered the room, coming up beside her. She’d always thought him good looking, despite his brooding intensity. Now a relaxed grin transformed him into a different man. A small scar near his left eye crinkled when he smiled. Deep grooves surrounded dimples she’d never realized he possessed. She assumed that the last month or so of grief and sleepless nights had taken its toll, but instead of aging him, the lines gave his face character. The effect was devastating.

She sucked in a deep breath and prayed for the strength to survive the coming months. “Yes, well, mealtime might be easier if you asserted some authority instead of allowing Alix to manipulate you.” She tempered the lecture with a smile and a laugh of her own. After all, she’d done her own share of allowing the little girl to have her way. Looking at that lopsided grin and mop of curls, Chelsie could almost see her sister. She lost her heart every time.

“Manipulate? I don’t”—he shook his head—“yes, I do. But I pay for it, believe me. My clothes were covered with food.”

She chuckled. “Might be easier, not to mention cleaner, to feed her with nothing on.” A flush heated her cheeks and she rolled her eyes in embarrassment. “I can’t believe I said that.”

“Neither can I, but I’ll take it under advisement.”

Having already let her mind wander in that direction, visions of him naked came much faster this time. She was certain he’d be magnificent nude, and just as certain she had no intention of finding out.

These wayward thoughts didn’t bode well for her handling of their time together. She needed to gain some control herself. “Sorry. I tend to speak my mind.” She shrugged, determined to forge ahead, regardless of her big mouth.

“I noticed.” He smiled again. “Mind if I join you?” He gestured to the beige couch and nodded, sliding her folder onto the stone cocktail table before her.

“What made you change your mind?” His penetrating gaze assessed her, and she struggled not to fidget under his scrutiny. After all, she’d set herself up for this and had to see it through.

“You didn’t just drop in for the hell of it,” he said, suddenly wary.

“No, but we do have to work out the details and you’ve just pinpointed one major flaw.”

“What?”

“Your blatant and undisguised distrust of everything I do or say.” She sighed and leaned on an armrest. “Look, I’m not asking for your complete faith. After that hearing, I understand your position. But this is your idea, so you must think I have some positive qualities or you wouldn’t want me around Alix. Am I right so far?”

“So far you’re on your way to one hell of an opening argument, counselor. Go on.”

“All I’m asking is that you reserve judgment. Let my actions speak for themselves without your coloring them with preconceived notions that may or may not be correct.” Chelsie grinned. “And for the record, they probably aren’t.”

“We’ll see.” His lips twitched as he tried to suppress a laugh, letting her know she’d made progress.

“Good. So for the duration, no more jumping to negative conclusions and unwarranted assumptions. Agreed?” she asked.

“Agreed. What else?”

“Watch it, counselor. I might begin to think you’re easy.”

His eyes focused on her lips. “As I said, we’ll see.”

Flustered by his double meaning and wanting what she could not let herself have, she rushed on. “I’ll give you all my free time.”

Pleased he’d made progress, Griff smiled. “And we appreciate it.”

“Unfortunately, when you look at my days, that isn’t saying much. There are a lot of times I won’t be available.”

Her words brought forth a well of disappointment so strong Griff was blindsided. “Those are the obligations you spoke of earlier?” She hadn’t outright denied they were social in nature and she guessed that Griff couldn’t help wondering about the extent of her involvement with other men.

“Yes.”

“Whatever you can arrange with your schedule, I’d… we’d appreciate it. You’ve already seen what a difference you make.”

“In the end, you might find that it’s just coincidence.”

He studied her intently. “I don’t think so.”

“I think you overestimate my capabilities, Griff. Alix reacted to an aunt she knows, but not as well as she knows you. I pay attention to her and she performs for me. Give her a chance and she’ll be testing me just as much as she tests you.”

“You seem very knowledgeable about children. Sure you haven’t got one or two stashed away that no one knows about?”

Heavy silence descended upon him like fog. The flash of pain that crossed her features could only be described as grief. He should know. The first week after his brother’s death, he steadfastly avoided the bathroom mirror. He hadn’t bothered to shave until Ryan made a poor joke about his appearance frightening Alix.

Griff glanced again at Chelsie. With her arms wrapped around her body, she reminded him of a lost child. He was struck by the urge to enfold her in his arms and chase away her unknown demons. Based on their previous encounters, his abrupt ending to their kiss included, he doubted she’d let him near. And, he reminded himself, he shouldn’t want to try.

She sucked in a shaky breath and plastered a fake smile on her face. Her valiant effort to compose herself pierced his heart. His intended joke had obviously hit a very tender nerve.

“No children in the closet,” she joked. “Just some family skeletons.”

“Glad to hear it. Now, what type of schedule did you have in mind?”

She jumped at the new topic, animation sparking her voice. But he didn’t have to dig deep to notice pain still lurked in the depths of her eyes. “I could come by for supper sometime. That is, if the offer’s still open.”