Memphis put Drake on a blanket on the floor in the living room to kick and squeal. Then she sat at the island and watched me work, her attention fixed on my every move.
“Watching you cook is better than TV.”
I chuckled and put the quiche in the oven. Then I washed my hands and tossed the towel aside before I slid onto the stool beside hers, fitting her legs between my spread knees. I skimmed her thighs, looking forward to Drake’s first nap, when I could strip her out of these pajama bottoms. “Kiss me.”
She leaned in but stopped, a whisper away from my lips. “Say please.”
“What if I don’t?”
“Then I won’t kiss you.”
I grinned, dragging my mouth across hers. “Sure about that?”
“Say please.”
“Please.”
She launched herself at me, flying off her stool. Her arms wrapped around my shoulders and her tongue was in my mouth. Fuck breakfast, I didn’t need a damn thing more than this woman.
Drake gave a wail, causing Memphis and me to freeze. Then we both laughed when he kept on babbling, testing the acoustics of my house.
“I’m going to run to the loft and grab a few more diapers.” She glanced at the timer on the oven. “Maybe take a quick shower.”
“Go for it. I’ll watch Drake.”
“Are you sure? I can just take him with me.”
“Nah. He’s happy.” My hand glided over the curve of her ass. “Bring over anything you want for today. And tonight.”
Now that she’d slept in my bed, there was no way she’d be spending another night in the loft.
“Thanks.” She kissed my cheek, then hurried for the door, stepping into her shoes and pulling her cardigan tighter.
When she was at the staircase to the loft, I stretched out beside Drake on the floor, pinching his toes and tickling his tummy.
The pain of being near him, the ache I’d felt early on, had vanished. When I looked at him, I didn’t see Jadon. I just saw Drake. My tiny boss.
“We need more toys.” Every time I’d gone to Griff and Winn’s place, Hudson had at least three new toys. Their living room had a basket overflowing with stuffies and plastic baubles. “Maybe you and Hudson can play together one day too. Build forts. Chase dogs. Be buddies.” Cousins.
I rolled onto my back, staring at the white ceiling. My brain was getting way too far ahead of reality.
That had been my problem with Gianna too. I’d been so lost in planning the future, in the idea of my own family, rowdy and rambunctious, that I’d missed the signs that she’d been keeping a secret.
Not long after she’d found out she was pregnant, Gianna would stare at me and open her mouth, but nothing would come out. There’d been times when I’d found her staring at a wall, her arms wrapped around her belly and her knee bouncing wildly. Other times, when I’d talk about the future and maybe moving us all to Montana one day, her face would pale.
“What’s the deal with your father?” I rolled to my side and looked at Drake. He had his feet in his hands and a glob of drool on his bottom lip. I wiped his mouth dry, then sighed. “Want to tell me about it since your mom doesn’t seem like talking?”
Another trickle of drool escaped.
She’d tell me. Memphis would eventually explain, wouldn’t she?
“What else should we have for breakfast? Fruit?” I jackknifed off the floor and swept Drake up, ruffling his hair. Then we retreated to the kitchen, where I shut down my own mental bullshit and concentrated on the meal.
There was no point in worrying. Memphis was not Gianna. She hadn’t confided in me about her past or Drake’s father and I had to believe that was for a reason. That she’d tell me when she was ready. We just hadn’t gotten there yet.
Like I’d told Memphis this morning. We’d take a little time. Get used to each other.
I was raiding my fruit bowl, pulling out a couple of peaches, when the crunch of tires and the hum of an engine sounded outside.
“Of course they show on my day off,” I muttered, sure it was either a parent or a sibling. But as I peered through the window that overlooked the sink, an unfamiliar black SUV rolled to a stop in the driveway.
“Someone got lost, didn’t they?” I asked Drake, walking to swipe up his blanket and wrap him up.
I was just pulling on a pair of boots when a man about the same age as my father stepped out from behind the SUV’s wheel. He adjusted the tie at his neck and tugged at the sleeves of his suit jacket.
But he didn’t come toward my door. He had his gaze on the loft.
Memphis stood in the middle of the staircase, her hand wrapped so tight around the railing that even from this distance I could see her white knuckles.
“What the hell?” I hustled to get my boots on.
By the time I opened the door, Memphis had come down the stairs to stand in front of the man, her shoulders stiff. Her expression was blank and as cold as the November morning. Her eyes narrowed. Her lips pursed.
The SUV’s passenger door opened as I came down the sidewalk and a woman dressed in an ice-blue pantsuit stepped out. Her heels teetered on the gravel as she walked to stand at the man’s side.
It was only when she looked over her shoulder—not at me, but at Drake—and pulled the sunglasses off her face did I recognize the resemblance. The brown eyes. The blond hair. The pretty nose and lovely chin.
Her mother.
My free hand balled into a fist.
“You’re unwelcome here.” Memphis’s voice carried strong and clear.
Damn straight they were unwelcome.
“Unwelcome?” The man I assumed was her father scoffed. “Enough of this act for attention, Memphis. We are leaving. Today.”
“Safe travels.” Her voice was as flat as her gaze.
I walked past her parents, taking a stance behind Memphis. It wasn’t easy, but I kept my mouth shut as her father looked me up and down with a sneer. When the mother stared at Drake like she was about to snatch him, I spun him away.
“I’ve been calling,” her mother said, her eyes still locked on the baby.
“And I haven’t answered.” Memphis shifted, putting herself in front of Drake.
That was who’d been calling. For months and months. Persistent, wasn’t she?
“Get in the car,” her father barked.
“No.” Memphis’s lip curled. “You have no say in my life. Leave.”
“You call this a life?” He curled his lip and glared at the loft. “You’re living above a garage. You’re cleaning rooms. You’re living on minimum wage.”
“That’s—wait.” Her spine, already stiff, became a rod of steel. “How do you know where I’m living and where I’m working?”
“Do you really think I’d let you just leave?”
Memphis scoffed. “You had me followed.”
Her mother dropped her chin. Her father raised his.
Months ago, right after she’d moved here, I’d seen that flash of headlights on the road one night. I’d thought it was someone who’d been lost. But maybe it had been whoever they’d sent to follow Memphis.
“How long did you have me followed?” Memphis asked.
Her father didn’t so much as blink at her question. It was clear he didn’t deem her worthy of an explanation. “We’re leaving. Get in the car.”