More Than Need You (More Than Words 2)

I’m not sure how she’ll take this, but I can’t be less than honest. “You’ve met Keeley?”

Beside me, Britta stiffens and sets the case down. “I have.”

“We’re just friends.”

She sniffles into a tissue and rolls her eyes. “It’s none of my business.”

I want it to be her business. “What would you say to me if it was?”

“That you’ve never been ‘just friends’ with a woman in your life.”

“Until Keeley, no. But I swear I’ve never touched her. It would be like touching Harlow to me.” I recoil at the thought. “Seriously. I’m just friends with her the way Maxon is just friends with you.”

She considers that with a frown. But given my history, it sounds farfetched. I know.

“If you were feeling better, angel, I’d take you with me to the airport this afternoon to pick her up so you could see for yourself.”

Now Britta looks alarmed. “She’s coming back?”

I fill her in. “I’m hoping that she’ll give Maxon a chance to make her happy. They’re really in love.”

Britta ponders such a long time I’m not sure she’s going to answer. “He’s been different since he met her. If what you’re saying is true, I hope everything works out for them.”

But she still sounds a little suspicious. And glum. It’s going to work out for us, too. No matter what I have to do.

The doctor confirms that she’s got an upper respiratory infection and gives her a prescription. After settling her at home, I pick up her Z-Pak, get her some lunch, tuck her in bed. She thanks me…and doesn’t balk when I kiss her on the forehead.

It’s progress.

Then I head to the airport.

When Keeley hustles into baggage claim, she looks exhausted from traveling all day, but she’s also got a little glow that tells me she’s happy to be home. She sees me, then immediately starts looking around, her smile slowly falling.

“Maxon isn’t here,” I say softly as I hug her. “I didn’t tell him in case you changed your mind.”

In fact, I’ve been dodging his calls all morning.

“Oh.” She frowns, but I hear the relief in her voice that my brother didn’t suddenly stop caring about her. As if.

“He has something he wants to say when the moment is right. You’ll see.” I grin smugly.

I take her to an early dinner so we can talk more, then get her settled back at my condo. She gave up her apartment when she moved in with Maxon a month ago, so she’s got no place to go. Keeley protests, but I tell her it’s cool. I’m hoping not to be there for a few days—at least.

I must be watching the time a lot because she laughs at me. “You’re anxious to get back to Britta, aren’t you?”

“Yeah.” I feel my face getting hot. “Sorry.”

“I need the rest,” she assures. “Go away.”

With a chuckle, I leave her at my place. On the drive out to Britta’s, I call Maxon. The relief in my brother’s voice when I let him know Keeley is back in Maui would be comical if I didn’t understand how much it hurts when you have nothing but hope that your woman will come back to you.

Finally, I arrive at Britta’s house. I’m ready to talk to her about allowing me to pick Jamie up from daycare. I’ve got arguments prepared. But when she answers the door, I see she’s already driven the nearly hour there and back and brought our son home.

“I was going to get him for you. You’re supposed to be resting,” I admonish when she answers the door and I walk in to find Jamie on the family room floor, playing with some Lincoln Logs.

“I’m feeling better,” she promises, but still sounds raspy as hell. “What are you doing here?”

I scowl. What does she think I’m doing? “Taking care of you two.”

“We’re good for tonight.”

“The antibiotics will take twenty-four hours to kick in. It’s been what, eight? Jamie can be a handful and he doesn’t need exposure to your germs. You two still need dinner. So…here I am.”

“You’re offering to cook?” At my nod, she frowns at me. “That’s awfully…domestic of you. When we were together, you never wanted anything to do with cooking or cleaning or—”

“Or anything helpful. I know. I’ve honestly changed. A couple years ago, I realized how bad it is for you to eat out every night, like I did before I met you. So, out of self-preservation, I learned to throw together a few decent meals. I’ll cook tonight, angel. I’m not promising that dinner will be spectacular, but it will be edible.”

She shuts the door and heads back to the sofa, plopping down like she’s exhausted. “You don’t have to do that.”

“Yeah, I do.” Frankly, it’s what Makaio should be doing, but I’m not going to diss the bastard to her face. She’ll only feel compelled to defend him. And I want to avoid comparisons. Right now, this is about her and me, period. “We’ll see how you feel tomorrow. If you’re really well then, I’ll leave if you want me to.”

Britta looks like she wants to accept my offer but knows she shouldn’t. “Really, you don’t have to. I already fed Jamie a cup of soup and a grilled cheese. I can whip up something for myself—”

“You need rest and at least one more stretch of uninterrupted sleep. I’m going to take care of you two. Jamie and I were buds after his nightmare last night. I rocked him back to sleep.”

“He let you?” She sounds stunned.

“Yeah. Took a minute or two to coax him, but…” I shrug. “Look, just promise me we don’t have to talk about the papers now, okay? Let me show you I can be a good father.” And a good husband. But I don’t add that aloud. She’s not ready to hear it.

“You win. I should say no but I don’t have the strength.” Britta drops her head back against the sofa, eyes closed. “Where’s Keeley?”

“I stashed her at my place tonight. She’ll be with Maxon soon, I’m sure.”

“And you’d rather be here?”

I have to hold in a smile of triumph. The answer clearly matters to her.

“Absolutely. Keeley helped me through a lot. She’s my friend, and I wish her all the best. But I love you. I intend to stay here as long as you’ll let me.”

She lifts her head and stares like she’s shocked I confessed my feelings to her again. “Griff…”

“You don’t have to say anything. For as often as you used to tell me and I stayed silent, I’ve earned it. But that’s not going to stop me from saying the words and trying to convince you I mean them. In case you’re wondering, I love Jamie, too. It was instantaneous. I never expected that.”

After gnawing on her lip, she finally nods. “Isn’t that the craziest thing? I loved him before he was born, but when I first saw him…”

“It was unstoppable. In that moment, he became my son. You thanked me for making him possible, but I’m the one who should be thanking you. You carried him, birthed him, nurtured him—all without my help. I’m never going to let you down again.”

Britta presses her lips together and stares. I don’t know what’s running through her head. For once, I can’t read her expression or body language. I suspect she’s at least thinking about what I’ve said.

“What can you cook?” she finally asks on a sigh.

I’m disappointed at the change of subject, but I get it. Nothing with Britta is going to happen overnight. “What do you want?”

“Something with chicken sounds good.”

“That leaves my choices wide open.”