I manage to get to my feet, swaying slightly. My pride is screaming at me to walk it off. But as soon as I take a step, the ground tilts, my knees buckle, and I fall straight into Grant’s arms.
Strong, steady, warm. His grip tightens around me instinctively. Our eyes lock, heat flashing between us, thick and sharp.
Too much. Way too much.
He’s so pretty.
“Let me call an ambulance. Take you to the ER, get you checked out or something?” he says, voice edged with concern.
I hear Marlow from behind. “That’s a good idea, Daddy.”
Fuck me.Daddy.
She had to call himDaddyright now?
While he’s cradling me in his arms, holding me like he’s felt every bit of this ache I’ve been carrying? Like he’s missed me just as much as I’ve missed him?
Perfect timing. Just perfect.
I jerk back, breath catching hard. I force my legs to move, steadying myself. “I’ve got it,” I say quickly, breathless.
Without another word or glance, I turn and head for my car.
My driver, Sammy, is already there, back door open. I nearly sprint the last few steps and drop into the seat.
The door shuts, and finally, I catch sight of myself in the rearview mirror.
Grass tangled in my hair. My cute, chic ponytail of locs now crooked, lopsided, with little sticks poking out at random angles.
Perfect. Just perfect.
Sammy glances back. “Are you okay?”
He clearly missed all the commotion and the goal that was scored on my head!
I groan, leaning my head against the seat. “I’m fine. Just… get me home. Fast.”
And if I’m lucky, maybe by the time we get there, I’ll have figured out how the hell to erase the feel of Grant’s arms from my skin.
Chapter fourteen
House Calls & Heartbreak
Grant
Ihated letting her walk away so quickly.
Every instinct in me was screaming to stop her. To scoop her up, carry her somewhere private, and not let her out of my sight until Iknewshe was okay.
But making a scene would’ve been a mistake. It would’ve drawn Marlow’s attention in an instant and the last thing I need is my daughter asking why I was so damn concerned. Why I felt this overwhelming need to look after Eslin so closely.
So I let her go.
But I’m still not convinced she’s okay.
The stubborn tilt of her chin told me she’d brush it off, play it cool and pretend nothing was wrong. But the way she stumbled into me—how light she felt in my arms—told a very different story.
And eventhough I have no right to do this, even though I’m already crossing a line I swore I wouldn’t, I pull out my phone and make the call.