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“Okay, I will.” She flashed a smile and wrapped her bony little arms around me, squeezing tight. “Thank you, Brenna.”
“That’s what friends do, we talk each other down when we’re acting crazy and emotional and because we’re girls, that happens a lot.” I finished mopping the floor, letting Mariana sit with her feelings and process them until I was ready to take her home.
I sent a quick text to let Grant know she was with me, and prepared myself to see him again after that strange meal we shared the other night. Well, the meal itself was delicious and not at all strange, but Grant showing up to cook for me and just spend time with me without getting naked, well that was strange as hell. I still didn’t get what he was trying to do, but like Shannon had suggested, I was going with it.
I decided to give him a chance to prove to me who he was, instead of deciding for myself. There was no doubt that my feelings for him hadn’t just returned, they’d grown over the past weeks as I watched him step up for Mariana, and dedicate himself to being a better father and friend, a better man.
“Ready to head home, kiddo?”
Mariana nodded and followed me to my car, remaining silent the whole ride to the lake house. “Thank you Brenna, for being a good friend.”
“It’s my pleasure, Mari.”
She wrapped her arms around my waist and squeezed. “I love you, Brenna.”
“Love you too, Mariana. I promise.”
Grant opened the door and found us hugging and emotional, the way women tended to be on occasion, a worried frown crinkling his eyebrows. “Everything all right?”
I stood and shook my head, nodding towards the emotional little girl. “Mari’s just missin’ her mama today, that’s all.”
He squatted down and looked her in the eyes. “Is that all, Mariana?”
She looked up at me and gave an encouraging nod. “No. There’s a mommy-daughter fundraiser at school and it just made me miss Mama.” Grant pulled her in his arms and hugged her tight, the way a daddy should.
“You want to talk about her?”
She shook her head in his arms and pulled back with a smile. “Not right now. Will you do the fundraiser with me, Dad?”
He blinked, stunned at the request. “Really? You want me to fill in for your mama?”
She nodded. “Mm-hmm.”
“Then I’ll be there, helping you sell…what exactly will you be selling?”
“Cookies and cupcakes and stuff. It’s a bake sale.”
Grant looked up at me with worry in his eyes. “Do I have to make the baked goods?”
“Duh, Dad.”
“I’ll help,” I offered because he looked like a deer caught up in headlights and because I wanted a reason to spend more time with him.
Grant flashed a grateful smile. “Thanks. You’re staying for dinner,” he said, his words a command rather than a question. “I made meatballs.”
“Tempting.”
“And mashed potatoes. With garlic.”
Garlic meant no kissing. “Sold.”
He smiled as if he knew what was going through my head and took a step back, so me and Mariana could enter the lake house. “Wash your hands, girls, dinner is almost ready.”
Mariana took off upstairs, leaving me to use the guest bathroom that held such wicked memories from my last visit. “Smells amazing,” I moaned when I stepped into the kitchen.
“The food smells pretty good too,” he growled as he stalked to me and wrapped his arms around me before planting a kiss on me that vibrated through my whole body. “Hey.” His smile was bright and genuine, affection sparkled in his green eyes.
“Hey yourself.”
Grant buried his face in the crook of my neck and inhaled deeply. “Coconut and pineapples, my new favorite scent combination.”
I shuddered at his words, at the way his warm breath sent shivers throughout my body.
Thankfully Mariana’s feet sounded on the stairs, pulling us apart just in time before I leapt in his arms and devoured his mouth, which I fantasized about doing all through dinner. A gorgeous man who cooked and did it so well, was dangerous enough. Throw in his ability to set my body on fire while turning my legs to mush, and I was in a lot of trouble where Grant Lopez was concerned.
“I’m done, Dad. Can I go to my room?”
“You sure you’re all right?” She nodded and then Grant did the same. “All right. I’ll check on you in a little while.”
She nodded and ran from the kitchen, tears in her eyes as she fled and I knew she was still missin’ her mama.
“She’ll be all right,” I told him.
“I know, but it won’t be easy. Sometimes the grief over my lost brothers just sneaks up on me out of nowhere, it’ll knock me on my ass and it takes days before I can get back to some semblance of normal. I don’t want that for her.”
