Read Online Falling for Love by Marie Force - Free Book Online Page B

She took a deep breath. “It’s nothing.”
    He glanced at Stephanie, who seemed equally alarmed.
    “You can’t stress yourself out,” Grant said. “That’s how you ended up on bed rest in the first place.”
    “When Mac finds out there’s no doctor on the island…” She swallowed hard. “I can’t even think about it. He’s been a total wreck all day.”
    “The best thing you can do is relax and try not to worry.”
    She nodded. “Yes, you’re right. But still… Maybe I should’ve listened to Mac and gone to the mainland for the rest of the pregnancy. If something happens to the baby…”
    Grant squatted to put himself at her eye level. “Nothing’s going to happen. Take a deep breath and calm down.” He waited while she did as he asked. “Now take another one. Calm. That is the word of the day.”
    Maddie released the second deep breath and gripped the hand he’d offered. “Thank you.”
    “Any time.” He leaned in to kiss her forehead. “That’s my niece or nephew in there. We won’t let anything happen to either of you. I promise.”
    She nodded, seeming reassured even if her eyes were still glassier than he preferred.
    “Can I get you something to eat or drink?” he asked.
    “Some water would be good.”
    “Coming right up.”
    Stephanie followed him into the kitchen and helped herself to a soda from the cooler while he got the water for Maddie. “You were good with her. Really good.”
    Surprised by the unexpected compliment, Grant turned to look at her. “So maybe I’m not a complete dolt with women?”
    “Oh, no, you are. But apparently you’re good with sisters-in-law.”
    “A guy can’t catch a break with you,” he said, amused by her even when he didn’t want to be.
    She shrugged. “Just calling it like I see it.”
    Abby came into the room and stopped short when she saw them. “Oh. Hi.”
    Stephanie took the water from him. “I’ll get this to Maddie for you.”
    “Oh, um, thanks.” Even though the gathering was still visible from the kitchen, he and Abby had the room to themselves. “So I assume Cal made it to the mainland?”
    “Yes,” she said, pouring a glass of white wine. Chardonnay, he recalled. Her favorite. She was petite and curvy with long dark hair. Her big brown eyes used to soften with love every time she looked his way. Realizing she no longer looked at him adoringly was yet another loss he was forced to absorb where she was concerned. “I guess it was quite a trip, though.”
    “I imagine it would be on a day like this.”
    “He rented a car and was in Pennsylvania the last I talked to him. He was hoping to catch a flight from there since the airports are closed from here to New York.”
    Grant tried to focus on what she was saying, but his head was spinning. There was so much he wanted and needed to say to her. Where to begin? He cleared his throat. “Do me a favor and don’t let on to Mac that Cal is off-island. He’s been a mess over Maddie’s pregnancy with Cal here. It’d be better for all of us—especially Maddie—if he didn’t know Cal is gone.”
    “Mum’s the word.” She took a sip from her glass of wine. “So you and Stephanie, huh?”
    Grant felt like she’d sucker-punched him. “What? We’re friends.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “It’s not what you think.”
    “It’s certainly none of my business.”
    “Of course it is!”
    Her brows knitted in confusion. “How is it my business?”
    “You and me… We’re—”
    “Over, Grant.” She said it so softly, as if it pained her to have to say it out loud. Again. “I’m really happy to see you moving on. That’s what we both needed to do. In hindsight, I can see we should’ve done it a long time ago.”
    “No.” He shook his head. “That’s not true.”
    She stepped toward him and rested a hand on his arm. “It is true. I figured it out a little sooner than you did, but you’ll get there, too.”
    A sense of desperation unlike anything he’d ever known came over