His mother tutted. “How are you ever going to get married again if you refuse to even date?”
“I’m not refusing to do anything,” he replied and sipped more coffee, keeping one eye on his youngest daughter as she wandered around the kitchen table. “I simply don’t have time for dating. Nor do I want a wife at this point in time.”
Colleen tutted again. “Your girls need a mother.”
“They have a mother,” he said, sharper than he’d intended, then softened his tone a fraction. “Just leave it alone, Mom. I’m fine, okay?”
“You’re not and I can’t,” she replied. “I’m concerned about you and my grandchildren. And as your mother, that’s my right. So stop fobbing me off with excuses like not having the time. You have to make time.”
It was the same old song. The one he heard every week. For the past twelve months his mother had become unwavering in her belief that he needed to get married again. But he wasn’t about to jump into anything. Sure, he knew the girls would relish having another woman in their lives...but marriage was a huge step. And he wasn’t sure he had the heart to give part of himself to someone new...at least, not yet. He liked his life...most of the time. Sure, there were times when he got lonely, but who didn’t? And there were nights when he would have liked someone to talk to, someone to curl up to and someone to make love with. But that didn’t mean he was about to get into a relationship he simply wasn’t convinced he was ready for.
He cracked a smile and looked at his mother. “Can’t you point that Cupid’s arrow of yours in his direction for once?” Grady suggested and hooked a thumb toward his brother.
Colleen grinned. “Once you’re settled, he’s next.”
Brant groaned loudly. “Leave me out of this, will you?” he said in a despairing tone.
Grady looked at Brant, who was two years his junior, and smiled. But in his heart he worried about his younger brother, who had recently left the military after a third tour of the Middle East. Grady knew his brother had brought demons home with him. He wasn’t sure what, but he felt it. Brant didn’t say much. He didn’t have to. They had been close all their lives. But something haunted his younger brother, something big. Only, Brant wasn’t talking, and Grady worried that his brother never would.
“Not a chance,” he said and laughed. “Now that you’re back you get to take your medicine just like I have to.”
They both laughed then and it felt good. He loved Saturday mornings at his mom’s. The girls adored their grandmother and their uncle Brant, and having family so close by helped fill the void left when Liz had died. Despite Colleen’s repeated matchmaking efforts, Grady knew his mom understood his need to keep his daughters in a loving and steady routine, without stress. She’d done the same when his own dad had died, even though he’d been twenty and Brant eighteen. Colleen had left the ranch twelve months later and moved into town, and Grady had taken over the family property. That was twelve years ago. Since then he’d married, had three children and buried his wife.
But his mother was always there. She’d been unfailing in her support after Liz had passed away and he knew he and the girls wouldn’t have coped as well without Colleen in the background.
But it was getting harder to keep her at bay, despite her good intentions. His mother was relentless when she wanted something.
There was a knock on the door and he quickly got to his feet, happy for the reprieve.
Marissa...
It was eleven o’clock. One thing about Marissa, she was always punctual. He admired that about her more than he was prepared to admit. “I’ll get it,” he said and headed down the hall.
When he opened the door, his stomach did a sudden “Marissa is close” plunge. She looked incredible in blue jeans, a bright green sweater and knee-high boots. Her blond hair framed her face and her cheeks were flushed with color. Her caramel-brown eyes were unwavering as they met his gaze. One thing for sure, Marissa Ellis was beautiful. And Grady experienced a strong surge of something that felt a whole lot like desire sweep through his blood. He pushed it back quickly.
Not a chance...
He might not have made love with a woman since forever, but that didn’t mean he was going to start thinking about Marissa in that way. That would be just plain stupid. And he wasn’t a stupid man.
“Hi,” she said, a little breathlessly. “I’m here.”
“So I see,” he replied and held the door back for her to enter. “The girls are waiting patiently in the family room. And on their best behavior,” he added. “The promise of a day with you had them up and dressed at dawn. Now they’re sitting quiet as mice—they’ve been watching cartoons until it was time to go.”
She laughed and the lovely sound echoed down the hallway. He watched her walk, couldn’t help but notice the gentle sway of her hips and the sexy-as-all-get-out boots. She had a style that was an intriguing mix of big city and small town. There was nothing obvious about Marissa; everything was understated and elegant. She was beautiful enough to grace a billboard but always looked just as much at home in jeans and sweaters as she did in a fancy suit or an evening gown.
Grady dismissed his wandering thoughts and ushered her into the kitchen. His mother and Brant both raised their brows when she entered, even though they knew she was taking the girls out for a few hours. His mom came forward immediately and drew her into an embrace.
“It’s lovely to see you, Marissa. I was so pleased when Grady told us you’d come back for good. And Violet must be delighted.”
“I hope so,” Marissa said and hugged his mother in return. “She said you’ve been visiting her this week, so thank you.”
“My pleasure,” Colleen said and smiled.
“You remember Brant?” Grady asked.
She nodded. “Of course,” she replied and flicked her gaze to his brother. “Nice to see you again.”
“Likewise,” Brant said, flashing her a grin as he sipped his coffee.
Grady watched as she made a beeline for Tina, who was now bobbing up and down with her hands outstretched. Marissa enfolded his child in her arms as though she was the most precious thing in the world, and something hot pierced his chest. It always moved him to see how attached she was to his daughters. Of course, Liz had been her closest friend, which would explain some part of it. And the girls were delightful. But there was an earnest, deep kind of love between Marissa and his daughters that rattled him in a way he couldn’t quite figure. And she was one of the few people he trusted wholly and completely when it came to the care and well-being of his children.
As if on cue, Breanna and Milly raced into the room and shrieked delightfully when they saw her. She hugged them both while still holding the toddler, and he realized it had been an age since he’d seen the girls so happy. Marissa brought out the best in them, and from the loving expression on her face, it was clearly mutual.
Grady glanced toward his mother and saw how keenly she watched the interaction. He knew that look. Great. His mother liked Marissa...but the last thing he wanted was Colleen getting any ideas that included him and Marissa being any kind of anything.
He excused them to follow the kids and Marissa down the hall, then he grabbed the girls’ bags from beside the front door, hauled Tina into his arms and headed back outside.
“I installed the car seat you gave me last time I was here,” she said as they walked toward the car. “You know, the one for Milly,” she explained as she unlocked the vehicle.
Grady was touched that she’d remembered. “Thank you.”
Once they were all in her Volvo, she spoke.
“I’ll have them back by four, if that’s okay?”