Truly Madly Deeply Boxed Set(2)

Lying, cheating, and attempted bribery. They’d gone overboard this time. She shivered in disgust. Given the choice between the carefree bachelor and her materialistic parents, she’d gambled on hope and her parents... and lost.

She shifted her attention to the man to whom she owed more than an apology. “You have every right to be angry, but I’m glad you won.” Chelsie placed a hand on his arm. Searing heat and an unexpected jolt of awareness penetrated her fingertips. Warmth suffused her, awakening long dormant feelings. She shook her head, amazed a mere touch could ignite a flame so strong it threatened to consume her.

Though she forced her hand to remain on his muscled forearm, his heated strength settled inside her and shattered what little composure remained. “I’m sure you’ll make a great father,” she said, her words sounding hoarse to her ears.

“Uncle. She had a father.”

She knew that without his curt reminder. Though she and her sister had drifted apart over the years, Chelsie still felt the loss. Griffin and his brother had been each other’s only family. She couldn’t begin to imagine his pain.

The last few weeks had shown her that he and Alix were as close as parent and child. He’d obviously spent more time with the little girl than Chelsie ever had. At one time, she believed she’d had good reason to back away. She couldn’t be that selfish again.

Without warning, he jerked his arm back as if her touch repelled him. She curled her empty fingers into a fist.

Obviously, she’d been the only one to feel a powerful connection. She wouldn’t allow him to know he’d shaken her. “Look, I’m sure raising a child won’t be easy,” she began.

“I can handle it.” He folded his arms across his chest.

Her eyes followed the movement. He’d removed his suit jacket earlier. His paisley tie hung loose around his neck, and the first few buttons on his starched white shirt had been opened, revealing deeply bronzed skin.

He cleared his throat. She glanced up to find his intense eyes focused on hers. His gaze traveled the length of her body before finally settling once again on her now flushed face. But the effect of his heated gaze remained, evidenced by the tingling of her skin and the heaviness in her breasts. An appreciative glint sparkled in the depths of his dark eyes.

She had little time to ponder his reaction or her own surprising feelings. An instant later, the steely anger returned.

“Alix and I will be fine,” he said in an abrupt voice, reminding her of all that lay between them.

Chelsie swallowed hard. “I didn’t mean to imply otherwise. I just wanted to offer... I mean, if you should need help or anything...” She faltered.

“We won’t.” The chill in the air had nothing to do with the air conditioning. His cold stare told her in no uncertain terms that anything that passed between them had been one sided or existed only in her imagination.

Her overture had not been welcome. She sighed and thought of her niece. Though she had hoped to change his mind, she merely nodded her understanding.

“Look who Uncle Ryan has here.” A deep voice interrupted them.

Grateful for the temporary reprieve, she shifted her gaze. Alix bobbed up and down on the shoulders of a dark-haired man who had occasionally sat behind Griffin in the courtroom, a man who seemed as close to Griffin and Alix as any family member.

Griffin reached over, lifted his niece from Ryan’s arms, and held her close. Without warning, he tossed the two year old high, repeating the tickling episode Chelsie had seen many times that morning. The happy shrieks warmed her as nothing else could. At least her niece would have a happy life.

Seeing the smile on his face, Chelsie realized Griffin was a devastatingly handsome man. Coupled with his ability to put aside his grief for the sake of a child, Chelsie had learned much about him. She softened towards him once again.

Settled in her uncle’s arms, Alix reached out a hand and touched Chelsie’s hair. “Pretty.”

“So are you,” Chelsie said, ruffling the child’s dark curls with her fingers.

“Mommy.”

At the little girl’s heartfelt plea, pain seared Chelsie’s heart and she withdrew her hand. In truth, she had lost her sister long ago. Because Shannon’s family had represented the kind of life Chelsie wanted but would always be denied, she’d made the difficult decision to pull back from the closeness the sisters had always shared.

Chelsie had suffered through an abusive marriage for too long, a mistake that had robbed her of the ability to have children, a family. A future. Wanting her younger sister to have all she couldn’t, she had watched from the sidelines, assuring herself that Shannon’s marriage wouldn’t sour as her own had. That her sister remained happy and loved.