Ryan chuckled and, as usual, brushed past Griff into the house. “I take it you won’t be needing my baby-sitting services any longer?”
“Quit fishing for information. I haven’t needed your services in months. Consider yourself greatly appreciated but now unemployed.”
“Right. Miss Russell is filling in.” Ryan paused to plant a kiss on Alix’s cheek. She reciprocated with a wet one on his lips, causing him to chuckle. “Speaking of Chelsie...”
“I wasn’t,” Griff said. Thinking of her, definitely, but not sharing his personal thoughts, even with Ryan.
“I was. I did you a favor.” Ryan held out a manila envelope.
Griff glanced at the distinctive packet. He’d seen the results of Ryan’s investigations one too many times to be mistaken. “I thought I told you to leave her alone.”
“Friends help friends.” Ryan tossed the envelope onto the cocktail table. “Your decision,” he said and turned to play with Alix.
Knowing he had to get rid of the information before Chelsie returned, Griff scowled at Ryan before swiping the offending envelope from the table. He walked straight upstairs and into his office, placing the file in the top drawer of his desk. He saw no reason to upset Chelsie by telling her that a private investigator, Ryan of all people, had looked into her past. He’d dump the file later, when he could eliminate it permanently.
Griff had no intention of reading any information Chelsie didn’t disclose on her own. She’d indicated earlier that they had to talk, and he felt sure she would confide in him over time.
A lifetime, he realized with sudden clarity.
He’d known for a while that they couldn’t continue an affair with a two-year-old child in the house. In his heart, he knew he wanted Chelsie forever. He just wished his mind, so cluttered with images of the past, would leave him alone. But Chelsie had helped him begin to heal.
She cared about him, not what he could give her, buy her, or do for her. No woman had given him that gift before. For that reason alone, he trusted her enough to attempt to build a future.
He glanced at his watch. What the hell was taking her so long?
“Hey, Ryan.” Griff bounded back downstairs and imposed on his long-time friend one more time.
* * *
“So you went home for your son’s favorite stuffed animal.” Chelsie sat with Amanda in one of the few empty rooms of the shelter.
Posters cluttered the beige walls in an attempt to brighten what should have been a morose and depressing atmosphere. Anyone who made this place a pit stop had left severe problems outside these walls, but many brought children along with them. And where there were children, there was hope.
“Stupid, huh? It’s just that he hasn’t slept since we got here over a week ago.”
Chelsie clasped her hands together while attempting to formulate a reasonable response, one that didn’t take emotion into account. “You’re a good mother, Amanda. But some risks are just too great You gambled with this one.”
The other woman bent her head, causing her dark hair to fall forward and obscure her face from view.
“Jeff was home. Did he hurt you?”
“No. Just begged me to come back.”
“And?”
“I said I’d think about it. Just to bide time,” she quickly added. “After we talked, I grabbed the animal and left fast.”
Chelsie wasn’t reassured. “He let you walk out of there?”
Amanda nodded. Chelsie remained silent. From past experience with other clients, and from her married days, Chelsie knew Jeffrey’s lack of pressure meant he had an alternate plan.
“Amanda, if you’re still serious about divorcing him, then we’ve got to get moving. I have statements from your friends and relatives. I’ve got pictures of the bruises the last time he hit you. Now it’s time for legal action. I want a restraining order taken out as soon as possible. And I want you to seriously consider pressing charges. Okay?”
“He’ll be furious.”
“Yes. But he doesn’t know where you are, so you’re safe. Unless...”
“I didn’t say a word. I swear.”
Chelsie breathed a sigh of relief. “All right. I’ll handle things. Just don’t do anything like that again. Don’t go home. Don’t go near his office. Don’t get in touch with him at all.”
“You’re sure about all this?” Amanda lifted her head. Sad, dark eyes looked to Chelsie for reassurance.
“You’re the one who has to be certain.” Chelsie grasped the other woman’s shoulders. “But if you’re asking my opinion, then yes, press charges. Stand up for yourself and your child. I didn’t. As a result, you’re in this position now, and I’ll never have the future I want. I’d hate to see the pattern repeat itself.”