Reality intruded, unbidden and unwelcome. Griff forced himself to recall why he’d never have such a loving family scene in his own home. The pleasant feelings she invoked disappeared, along with his good mood. How could he have allowed himself to feel anything for Chelsie Russell?
“Having fun?” Careful not to upset Alix, he kept his voice neutral.
Chelsie’s gaze met his. He couldn’t decipher the look in her eyes, though he’d like to think it was guilt.
“I was just reading Alix a story.”
“So I see.”
“Butterfly,” Alix said, tossing the book towards him.
Griff knelt down and caught Alix as she flew into his arms. He chuckled at her wide smile and grass-stained
knees. “Where’s Mrs. Baxter?” he asked, looking over the little girl’s head.
“When I got here, she had a headache. I offered to watch Alix for a while.” Chelsie stood and wiped dirt and grass off her jeans, her long fingers brushing against the faded denim. The material molded to her slender legs—legs he could envision wrapped around him in a much more intimate setting.
He muttered a curse and tore his gaze away from temptation, setting Alix down beside him. “Come with me, squirt. I think there’s milk and cookies in the kitchen.” Confrontation could wait until he sidetracked his niece.
The little girl let out a squeal of delight and took off across the lawn. “I’ll be back after I find Mrs. Baxter and get Alix settled.” Without waiting for an answer, Griff turned and caught up with Alix.
His gut instinct told him Chelsie would still be there when he got back. He and Chelsie obviously had things to settle between them. Why else would she have come?
TWO
Griff returned from the house to find Chelsie leaning against the tree, her legs crossed at the ankles. “I wanted to see how you and Alix were getting along,” she said without preamble.
“Did you satisfy your curiosity?”
“It was more than curiosity. More like genuine concern for my niece’s welfare.” Her clipped tone was at odds with the soothing manner she’d used with Alix.
He allowed himself one second to regret the change before reminding himself why distance between them was necessary. “There’s a first time for everything,” he muttered. “Last time you acted on your genuine concern, I almost lost my brother’s child.”
She ran her tongue along her full bottom lip and his eyes followed the movement. That he had the ability to make the hotshot attorney nervous gave him some small measure of satisfaction. Not that it dispelled the overwhelming sexual attraction, but at least it gave him something to focus on.
“I’d like to apologize again,” she said. “My parents are... let’s just say they’re my parents, not my role models.”
“Fine. Apology accepted.” He said nothing more. A bird chirped in the distance. Griff let the silence turn from casual to uncomfortable and Chelsie shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
“Mrs. Baxter seems nice.” She broke the silence first, but the tension remained.
“She is.”
“Alix seems to like her.”
“She does.”
Apparently, his curt answers weren’t a deterrent, because she didn’t take the hint and leave. Griff didn’t know how much longer he could fight both his anger and his hormones. As much as he disliked her, he found himself unwillingly attracted to Chelsie. He wasn’t surprised. Where women were concerned, his judgment was decidedly poor.
“I think she enjoyed the time we spent together. When I got here, Mrs. Baxter was busy cooking dinner and Alix was playing alone.”
“I see. So now she’s being neglected.”
“Are you always so defensive? I wasn’t criticizing, just making an observation.”
“In case you hadn’t caught on, I’ve had it with your interference.”
She paused, as if deliberating her next statement. Her tongue flicked over her lower lip again, and every ounce of willpower he possessed went into taking his eyes away from the sensual movement. Desire had no place in their relationship. Hell, they didn’t even have a relationship.