EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE (26 page)
Read EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE Online
Authors: DEBBY CONRAD
He brushed a snowflake from his nose and shivered in the cold as he made his way toward his truck. Through the foggy glass he saw Buster wagging his tail, excited that his master was returning.
And then it hit him. He still hadn’t told Hollin how he felt. Turning around so swiftly he almost fell in the slippery snow, he marched back onto the porch and stabbed the doorbell.
When no one answered, he stabbed it a few more times. He’d be damned if he was going to let her throw him out, when he’d had nothing but good intentions. Okay, so he was stupid. And dense. But he could change. If she’d give him another chance.
He was about to start pounding on the door and calling her name, when it finally opened. Hollin’s eyes were rimmed in red and her nose was running.
“Aw, baby,” he said, reaching for her. He hated seeing her cry.
She took a step back. “Don’t baby me, and don’t touch me. Go away, please,” she said.
Griffin pushed past her and into the foyer, shutting the door. “I’m not going anywhere. I love you, damnit. And unless you were lying that night, you love me too. We’re going to have a child together, and that child needs me in his life, her life--whatever.” He threw his hands up helplessly. “Whether you like it or not.”
He raised a finger and pointed it at her. “I know I don’t know the first thing about being a father, but I can learn. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, and if you give me the chance I know I can make you happy. We can be a family. You, me, Chelsea, Buster and this baby,” he said, nodding to her swollen stomach. “Are you sure that doesn’t hurt?”
Her mouth flew open, and before she could yell at him, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. And to his relief, she kissed him back.
He wanted to get closer, but with her stomach in the way, he couldn’t seem to. And then, while he was expressing his love for her, something poked at his thigh. At first he’d thought it was Hollin, but then he realized her arms were twined around his neck. And then it happened again.
Griffin broke the kiss and stared down at her. “Was that . . .?”
She nodded, and fresh tears sprang from her eyes. “Yes.” She took his hand and placed it low on her belly, and the baby awarded him with another kick. “That’s your son, or daughter.”
He couldn’t describe the feelings rushing through him. The idea that his child was alive and growing inside her like that--well, the whole thing was incredible. Massaging her belly, he dipped his head to kiss her on the forehead, then he stepped back and looked her in the eye. “Hollin, I want to marry you. Please tell me you’ll at least think about it.”
She nodded and swallowed. “Okay.”
Okay, she’d think about it?
Well, at least it was something. He reached for the doorknob and was about to open the door when she spoke again.
“Griffin?”
He angled his body so he could face her.
“I thought about it.”
Already?
he wondered in a panic.
“Yes.”
“Yes?”
She smiled. “Yes, I want to marry you.”
He was so damn happy he could cry, but instead all he could do was stare at her, mesmerized. This beautiful creature wanted to marry him. Loved him, and trusted him to be a father to their child. What more could any man ask for?
He tried to find the right words to say, but the only word that came out was, “Hollin.”
She raised a finger to her lips. “Wait, there’s one condition.”
“Anything. Whatever you want.”
“I want us to live here, in this house.”
“With your mother? And housekeeper?”
That was the condition?
“Yes. I know it’ll be stressful at times, but--”
“I’ll do it.”
“You don’t know how difficult my mother can be at times.”
“I’ll do it,” he repeated. “You don’t know how difficult it’s been for me, without you. Thinking that I’d never again be able to hold you in my arms, to kiss you or make love to you.” He released a shaky breath. “You’ve made me so happy.”
She smiled and stepped forward and into his arms. Pressing her face against his chest, she said, “No, you’ve made me, us, happy.”
Griffin held her, and realized nothing had ever felt this good. But after a few moments, he broke the contact. “I should let you get back to your family. It’s Christmas eve.” He shrugged, feeling suddenly awkward standing in her foyer. “Maybe I can call you tomorrow?”
She tilted her head and stared up at him. “Do you have plans this evening?”
“No, why?”
“Then, I think you should stay.” She reached out and took his hand.
“I can’t. Buster’s outside. In the truck.”
She grinned. “Well, go get him.”
“But I--” He raised a brow. “Are you sure your mother won’t mind?”
“There’re a few things my mother’s just going to have to get used to.” And then she nudged him toward the door. “Go get Buster. No one should be alone on Christmas eve.”
“If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.”
Moments later, Griffin was back, Buster in tow. Hollin was so excited to see the dog, she started crying again. “He’s so big! I hardly recognized him.”
“Yeah, he’s probably thinking the same thing about you.”
Her mouth opened in surprise, and then she swatted him on the arm.
“Hey, I was only teasing you.” He pulled her into his arms again and kissed her soundly, imagining what it was going to be like with Hollin in his bed every night for the rest of his life. He’d never felt so alive before.
They were really getting into the kiss and hadn’t realized Buster had disappeared until Chelsea called out the dog’s name and a woman screamed in terror.
“Who let that horrible beast in my house?”
“Grandma, Buster’s not a beast. He’s a dog.”
Both he and Hollin pulled back to stare at each, and then they laughed.
“This is going to be interesting,” he said. “Are you sure this is going to work out?”
She stood on tip-toe and smacked her lips against his. “Don’t worry, I promise to make it up to you every night in bed.”
He waggled his brows. Ignoring all the commotion in the kitchen, Griffin kissed Hollin again. He couldn’t get enough of her and then realized he had the rest of his life to enjoy her. An eternity. He smiled at that and ended the kiss. “C’mon, let’s go rescue your mother.” They started down the hall, her small hand twined in his much larger one. “And just so you know, I’m going to hold you to that promise.”
“I’m counting it,” she murmured, leaning close to him as they walked.
They rounded the corner and Griffin watched as the housekeeper was training Buster to sit. Buster knew how to sit, roll over and play dead, but he’d do anything for food. And Mrs. Crandell was holding a cookie over the dog’s head.
Hollin’s mother sat gripping the edge of the kitchen table as if she couldn’t decide if Buster could be trusted. And Chelsea was grinning, her eyes on Buster the whole while.
“Mom, Josephine, Chelsea,” Hollin said. “Griffin has asked me to marry him, and I’ve said yes.”
Griffin waited for the onslaught of shocked faces and protests, but instead Chelsea jumped up and down. “Goody. Now Buster can live with us.”
The housekeeper smiled, a knowingly look in her eye. “Welcome to the family, Mr. Wells.”
“Griffin, please,” he said.
When Hollin’s mother didn’t say anything, Hollin looked at her pointedly. “Mother? Do you have anything to say?”
The woman scanned him from head to toe and just when Griffin thought she was going to forbid her daughter to marry him, she said, “Well, it certainly took you long enough.”
“Yes, ma’am, it did. But I’m a lot smarter than I was a few moments ago.” And then he looked down at Hollin’s smiling face. “Isn’t that right?”
Hollin nodded and hugged him. “When is the turkey going to be done. I’m starving.” She rubbed her belly. “I feel like I haven’t eaten in days. And I’m eating for three, you know.”
Three? Did she say three?
Griffin could only look at her, dumbfounded.
She took a cookie off a platter on the counter, bit into it and chewed. “Oh, didn’t I mention we’re having twins?”
OTHER BOOKS BY DEBBY CONRAD
A CHANCE AT LOVE SERIES:
Chances Are -
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Slim Chance -
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Fat Chance -
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Slight Chance -
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ROMANTIC COMEDY:
Love, Lies and High Heels
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Bailey's Irish Dream
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See Jane Love
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Fast Ride
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ROMANTIC SUSPENSE:
Every Breath You Take -
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Prying Eyes
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
D
EBBY CONRAD has been spinning tales since junior high school when she would force her younger sister and a few close friends to listen to her fantasies and dreams. Back then she had no idea her silly tales would end up in print, or that her later dream of becoming a novelist would come true.
Debby lives with her husband in NW Pennsylvania, has two grown daughters, three grandchildren, a Chihuahua and a miniature Dachshund who does not like being ignored while she writes.
