Truly Madly Deeply Boxed Set(3)

After a while, Chelsie had stayed away, remaining connected to her sister only by phone. Death had made the rift permanent.

“Want Mommy,” Alix said, holding her hands out towards Chelsie.

“No, sweety, I’m not Mommy.” She ignored the memories the statement brought and forcefully pushed aside the unwelcome reminders of what would never be.

“Hold me.” The little girl threw her body forward. Griffin had no choice but to release her, Chelsie no choice but to take the child into her arms and hold her close.

Ignoring his grim expression, Chelsie planted a kiss on Alix’s forehead. The sweet aroma of baby shampoo tickled Chelsie’s nose, reminding her of why she’d always tried to keep a safe distance from this adorable child. In Alix, Chelsie saw too clearly the baby she’d lost and the children she’d never have. She closed her eyes and inhaled, savoring the unfamiliar yet comforting smell.

“Mommy,” the child said, looking around.

Chelsie swallowed, forcing back the pain that lurked behind the unwelcome tears. “No, honey,” she said again in a husky voice.

Griffin exhaled a sigh and reached for Alix.

Reluctantly, Chelsie handed the little girl back to her uncle. As she returned Alix to Griffin, the empty feeling in the pit of her stomach proved she’d been right. Any connection to this little girl would come at great emotional cost. Thanks to the jarring shift in family dynamics and the painful loss of her sister, Chelsie had no choice.

Obviously, Alix needed a connection to her mother. That was the least Chelsie could offer her sister’s child. The little girl needed her, and she would reach out to Alix regardless of the emotional risk.

She met Griffin’s gaze and was startled to find his eyes trained on her face.

“I guess you look more like Shannon than I realized,” he said finally, shifting Alix in his arms. “She asks for Mommy and Daddy constantly.” As he spoke, he took two steps back. He obviously begrudged her even a simple explanation.

Chelsie bit back a sigh. As a lawyer, she should be used to uphill battles, but he seemed determined to hold more than a grudge. Despite her reservations, she’d like more time with her niece in the future. The judge’s ruling had assured her of that, but she realized now wasn’t the time to ask.

“It’ll get easier.” She cringed as the platitude escaped her lips.

He remained silent. The other man stood to one side and watched them with obvious interest. Chelsie felt the heat of his gaze and looked over. He smiled and pulled his hand from the pocket of his jeans. “Ryan Jackson.”

She grasped his hand, grateful for a friendly face in the enemy camp. “Chelsie Russell. Nice to meet you.”

At the exchange of pleasantries, Griffin’s gaze settled on their intertwined fingers and his expression darkened.

She picked up her briefcase. “As I said, I’m sorry. If there’s anything I can do...”

“There’s not.” He didn’t bother to couch his anger with niceties.

She sympathized with his pain, but did not have to take his abuse. “Right.” She reached out to Alix, fingering her soft curls between her fingers.

Without another word, she turned and walked out of the building, away from the man and the child.

Griff scowled at Chelsie’s retreating back, his gaze unwillingly fixed on the gentle sway of her hips as she walked. He grunted in disgust. There was nothing gentle about Chelsie Russell. He placed Alix beside him on the floor.

That he’d almost allowed himself to be distracted by Chelsie’s dark eyes and huskily spoken words disgusted him. He couldn’t let himself forget her attempt to separate him from his niece, a little girl she’d never given a second thought to until now.

Chelsie had never been one for family visits, and though he’d have liked to get to know her better, he hadn’t been given the chance. He’d always admired her looks, and as an attorney, he’d respected her dedication and zeal, but he’d never expected her to turn those killer instincts on him.

Thanks to her misplaced family loyalty, he’d almost lost his niece, his last link to his brother. For that, he’d never forgive her.

“Cool off, buddy. You won. Alix is safe and she’s yours.”

“Yeah. Thanks for the surveillance tape, by the way.” Proof that Chelsie’s parents had attempted to bribe Griff into relinquishing custody had undermined every seemingly credible witness on their behalf and undoubtedly swayed the judge.

“What’s a good P.I. for?”

Griff turned to watch Alix run in circles around the marble pillar. She looked so much like Jared that a lump formed in his throat. Once it lodged there, the accompanying emotional pain and memories would take time to subside.