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Authors: Carly Phillips
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necessitated a leap of faith in Chelsie he wasn’t sure he was prepared to make. He’d just lost an internal struggle and accepted the notion that he needed her help, accepted her presence in their lives, if not his strong desire to know her better.
She claimed to want a say in when and how they parted. An innocuous idea, in and of itself. But what if he wanted to end their arrangement before she felt it was time? Worse, what if he and Alix weren’t ready when Chelsie decided to call it quits? His mother had walked out. So had Deidre.
He looked at the woman sitting across from him, her angular jaw set, her fists clenched, and her dark eyes full of emotion. She already affected him on too many levels. Could he give her the power to hurt him as well?
Alix cried out in her sleep. Griff jumped to his feet, but she’d quieted again. He’d need to check on her in a minute.
“Well?” Chelsie asked.
Leaning against the mantel for support, he focused on the ever-present picture of Jared.
Help me out here, little brother.
No response came.
Griff thought of his niece. Did Chelsie’s ability to hurt him really matter in the scheme of things? Hell, yes. Did he have a choice? Absolutely not.
He looked at Chelsie. “There’s no need for you to contemplate walking out of Alix’s life. You’ll always be important to her, her one link to her mother. You’ll get a vote in how things go,” he said with more certainty than he felt.
He’d given her more than she asked for. Once the decision had been made, he couldn’t seem to help himself. Her emotions, which always seemed to bubble at the surface and which she did little to hide, affected him in myriad ways, none of which he understood.
“Thank you.” Her eyes misted, sparkling with unshed tears.
“You’re welcome.” Griff sensed her reaction went beyond gratitude. He’d missed an important clue, a key to understanding Chelsie better. But he wasn’t about to push. Alix needed him and they’d covered enough ground for one night. There would be plenty more.
“I knew you’d see how important it is for Alix that we end this family-like scenario correctly when the time comes. We’ll work it out. After all, we’re doing this for her, remember?”
* * *
Mrs. Baxter finished the last of her dinner and placed her napkin on the table. “This is the first night Mr. Stuart hasn’t made it home for dinner since I started working here.”
Chelsie smiled. “That’s because his practice is picking up. There’s not a lawyer alive who doesn’t understand the meaning of long hours. Don’t throw your food, sweety.” She bent to retrieve the vegetables Alix had not so subtly dropped on the floor.
“Well, I’m sure he feels more comfortable staying out knowing you’re here.”
“I’m sure he does.”
Griff probably welcomed the reprieve from the polite formality of the last few evenings.
Please pass the salt. Thanks. Silence. Please pass the potatoes. Thank you.
More silence.
Dessert? None for me, thanks
. Chelsie nearly cringed at the memory. Only Alix had rescued them from freezing around each other completely.
“Since you’ve agreed to come by, he’s much more relaxed. Even Alix senses the change.”
Chelsie arched an eyebrow. Had the older woman slept through the last few evenings? “Relaxed is hardly the word I’d use.” Chelsie redirected Alix’s spoon away from her hair.
“I’m not talking about the Cold War you two have set up.” Mrs. Baxter chuckled. “Tension’s been so thick you could cut it with a butter knife.” She patted Chelsie’s hand. “You’ll get used to each other. This arrangement’s a blessing.”
“You mean you don’t mind? I was concerned you’d feel slighted.”
“By you? You’re her aunt, for goodness sake. Besides, before I took this job, I suggested to Mr. Stuart that he might want to hire someone younger for this position. Cooking, cleaning, keeping up with a two year old. Whew,” she said, wiping a hand
She claimed to want a say in when and how they parted. An innocuous idea, in and of itself. But what if he wanted to end their arrangement before she felt it was time? Worse, what if he and Alix weren’t ready when Chelsie decided to call it quits? His mother had walked out. So had Deidre.
He looked at the woman sitting across from him, her angular jaw set, her fists clenched, and her dark eyes full of emotion. She already affected him on too many levels. Could he give her the power to hurt him as well?
Alix cried out in her sleep. Griff jumped to his feet, but she’d quieted again. He’d need to check on her in a minute.
“Well?” Chelsie asked.
Leaning against the mantel for support, he focused on the ever-present picture of Jared.
Help me out here, little brother.
No response came.
Griff thought of his niece. Did Chelsie’s ability to hurt him really matter in the scheme of things? Hell, yes. Did he have a choice? Absolutely not.
He looked at Chelsie. “There’s no need for you to contemplate walking out of Alix’s life. You’ll always be important to her, her one link to her mother. You’ll get a vote in how things go,” he said with more certainty than he felt.
He’d given her more than she asked for. Once the decision had been made, he couldn’t seem to help himself. Her emotions, which always seemed to bubble at the surface and which she did little to hide, affected him in myriad ways, none of which he understood.
“Thank you.” Her eyes misted, sparkling with unshed tears.
“You’re welcome.” Griff sensed her reaction went beyond gratitude. He’d missed an important clue, a key to understanding Chelsie better. But he wasn’t about to push. Alix needed him and they’d covered enough ground for one night. There would be plenty more.
“I knew you’d see how important it is for Alix that we end this family-like scenario correctly when the time comes. We’ll work it out. After all, we’re doing this for her, remember?”
* * *
Mrs. Baxter finished the last of her dinner and placed her napkin on the table. “This is the first night Mr. Stuart hasn’t made it home for dinner since I started working here.”
Chelsie smiled. “That’s because his practice is picking up. There’s not a lawyer alive who doesn’t understand the meaning of long hours. Don’t throw your food, sweety.” She bent to retrieve the vegetables Alix had not so subtly dropped on the floor.
“Well, I’m sure he feels more comfortable staying out knowing you’re here.”
“I’m sure he does.”
Griff probably welcomed the reprieve from the polite formality of the last few evenings.
Please pass the salt. Thanks. Silence. Please pass the potatoes. Thank you.
More silence.
Dessert? None for me, thanks
. Chelsie nearly cringed at the memory. Only Alix had rescued them from freezing around each other completely.
“Since you’ve agreed to come by, he’s much more relaxed. Even Alix senses the change.”
Chelsie arched an eyebrow. Had the older woman slept through the last few evenings? “Relaxed is hardly the word I’d use.” Chelsie redirected Alix’s spoon away from her hair.
“I’m not talking about the Cold War you two have set up.” Mrs. Baxter chuckled. “Tension’s been so thick you could cut it with a butter knife.” She patted Chelsie’s hand. “You’ll get used to each other. This arrangement’s a blessing.”
“You mean you don’t mind? I was concerned you’d feel slighted.”
“By you? You’re her aunt, for goodness sake. Besides, before I took this job, I suggested to Mr. Stuart that he might want to hire someone younger for this position. Cooking, cleaning, keeping up with a two year old. Whew,” she said, wiping a hand
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