Page 99 of Falling Together

“I was scared that if I did have kids, there might be a part of my parents in me. I know that logically it isn’t true and running out on your kid isn’t genetic, but when Presley first told us she was pregnant, my first thought was I never wanted that to happen to me.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you found out.” I press a kiss to her shoulder.

“It’s not like we planned this.” She settles her hand on top of mine, linking our fingers together. “But I’m glad we’re together now.”

“You know I’m not going anywhere, right?” I tell her.

“I know.”

I spin her in my arms, looking her dead in the eyes. There’s an anxiousness there. I can’t blame her, now that I know what happened to her.

“Georgia. I need you to listen to me. Really listen. I’m here. You and I are in this together. I know we didn’t plan on having a baby together and you never planned on having one, but we’ll always be there for him.” I rub a hand over her belly as her eyes well up. “I promise. I’m not going anywhere.”

She closes the distance between the two of us, her mouth sealing over mine. It’s not heated, but with this kiss, she’s telling me everything she can’t say.

How much she needs me and relies on me, even if she might not want to. How she’s learning to do this whole parenting thing with me.

I never expected Georgia, but somehow, we’re inextricably linked. And there’s no other person I’d rather be tied to than her.

“Thank you, Grant,” she whispers against my lips.

“You never have to thank me for showing up for you, Georgia. I’m not going anywhere.”

Holding her in my arms, the water warm around us, this is exactly where I want to be. With her.

Thank God for that damn blizzard.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

GRANT

“Are you sure you want to do this with me?” Georgia asks, not for the first time.

“Relax, Cowgirl.” I kiss her, because I know it’s the fastest way to get her to stop talking. “I wouldn’t be here if I was worried.”

“Is there a reason I had to come?” Luke asks from the couch.

“Because you want to hang out with us?” It comes out as more of a question than anything.

“Try again, Dad,” he says.

Georgia drops down behind her couch, batting her lashes at him. “Because little boys think teenagers are cool, and if Max gets bored, you can help entertain him.”

Luke tries to play it cool, but he’s smiling at her. “Fine. But only because Dad promised to make gnocchi.”

“Only because you ate all the leftovers last week. And you know that I can make something else besides gnocchi, right?”

“Yeah, but I love your gnocchi,” Luke says.

“Me too,” Georgia agrees.

After Georgia’s confession the other night about her past, it all makes sense to me. Why she is so closed off to others. About why she didn’t want kids.

It made me fall for her even harder. How could I not? The soft smile she’s casting my direction makes my insides swirl.

Fuck.

I’m damn near in love with this woman, but I don’t want to scare her off. For now, I’ll show up for her in every way. Prove to her I’m not like the family who left her behind.