20. Griffin

Chapter Twenty

Griffin

I discovered when I got back to Tish's house that being responsible for a baby also meant I didn't check my phone very much. I had multiple texts from Tish. It was clear she was sending them via talk-to-text because there were some amusing errors. She sent me tips on feeding and more.

We got through dinner, which was messier than I expected, and he still hadn't fussed very much. I changed his diaper and was startled when there was a knock at the door. Confused, I scooped him back up and he started mouthing his fist. I opened the door to find Graham there.

"Griffin?" His eyes widened.

"Graham, what are you doing here?"

"Well Tish rents this place from us and I saw an unfamiliar vehicle here so I stopped by to make sure everything was okay."

"Who is it?" a voice came from behind him.

Madison appeared, along with a young woman. "Who are you?" she demanded.

Graham gestured to her. "This is my daughter, Allie. She babysits for Tish a lot. We were coming home from picking her up at the airport in Anchorage."

Teddy recognized Allie and began to babble excitedly. I handed him over because I thought Allie might be upset if I didn't.

"You know Tish?" Madison asked.

"She works for my family's company," I explained.

"Oh, right." Madison nodded.

Allie was still looking a little suspicious about the whole thing. I held my hands up. "You can call Tish right now. She texted me because she had to stay late at work to deal with something."

Graham chuckled. "I should've recognized your truck."

Allie bounced Teddy in her arms as he giggled. "I can take him if you want," she offered.

"I promised Tish I'd stay with him, so I probably should."

Graham smiled at her. "Griffin can handle Teddy."

Allie reluctantly handed the baby back to me, adding, "If he has trouble falling asleep, text me."

"Thanks for checking on Tish," I said.

Madison smiled up at Graham. "The first time I met Graham, he thought I was breaking and entering in the house where we live now."

His gaze arced toward the trees. "We're right through there. I take care of my neighbors."

"I appreciate it. Good neighbors are good to have," I replied.

After they left, Teddy settled quickly when I sat down on the couch with him. It was only minutes after Graham, Madison, and Allie had left that Tish arrived home.

"Hey!" she called when she came through the door.

I scooped Teddy into my arms and walked into the entry area to greet her. Teddy began kicking his feet against my thighs and bouncing, overjoyed to see his mom.

"Somebody's happy to see you," I teased lightly.

Tish dropped her purse on the floor and immediately took him from me, kissing him on both cheeks and smoothing his hair.

I picked up her purse and set it on a nearby table.

"Thank you so much," she said.

My heart gave a tricky beat in my chest as I smiled over at her. "Anytime."

She kicked off her shoes, still holding Teddy in her arms, and followed me into the kitchen.

She grinned over at me. "You got food."

"I picked up takeout on the way over. Before you think I'm amazing, Maisie recommended this gallery café. I'm not sure if you've eaten there yet."

Teddy was tiring quickly. His head had fallen onto her shoulder. While I wasn't a baby expert, I spent enough time with my nieces and nephews to know that it was downright remarkable how a baby could go from wide awake to sound asleep in a matter of minutes.

"I've eaten there once or twice. Good call. What did they have tonight?" Tish asked.

"Tonight was American southern food specialties. To be honest, it sounds amazing and I've had to be patient for you to get here."

Tish giggled, and my heart flipped in my chest. The effect she had on me was shockingly powerful. She glanced down at her shoulder. "Let me go put him in his crib."

"The woman at the daycare said he was good today. Some naps and playtime. She said he's an easy baby," I offered.

"Honestly, that's what everyone tells me. He's my only baby, but he seems pretty easygoing."

Tish walked out of the kitchen with Teddy. "I'll get some plates out for us if you don't mind me rummaging in your cabinets," I added.

"Rummage away. I'll be right back."

I could hear the soft murmur of her voice talking to him as she walked down the hallway. A few minutes later, she reappeared. "You changed Teddy's diaper."

"Uh, yeah. He needed a diaper change. Did you think I would leave him in a dirty diaper?"

She shrugged, looking a little sheepish. "I didn't know if you'd changed a diaper before."

"You know Rhys has little Jake, and maybe you're not up to speed on the rest of the family, but I have other babies in my life. I wouldn't claim to be a diaper expert, but I can do the task."

Tish stopped by the edge of the island, her eyes lingering on me for a moment. She looked down, her gaze arcing over the platter of food I'd set out along with two plates. A second later, she rounded the counter and stopped immediately in front of me before leaning up and pressing a soft kiss on the underside of my jaw. Her touch was hot and electrifying.

"Thank you," she said. "I feel like I say that to you a lot."

She stepped back, and I experienced a moment where it felt as if my entire body was leaning toward her.

"The first time you met me, I fainted," she continued. "You kept me from falling on my face, fetched me out of the harbor, and now you're babysitting on short notice."

As I held her gaze, the air around us came to life, shimmering with electricity. It wasn't simply a physical draw to her. There was something emotional threading through it.

I cleared my throat. "You don't need to thank me. It's my pleasure. I actually kind of like babies. They're cute and uncomplicated."

Tish burst out laughing. By the time she stopped, there were tears in her eyes.

"I wasn't trying to be funny," I pointed out.

She shrugged. "Maybe not, but I get your point. Babies are uncomplicated in some ways. I was laughing because the last year or so has been the most complicated time of my life. I feel like I kind of finally settled into something resembling sanity within the last month or so. Even though I'm glad to be back at work, I feel a little guilty."

The sound of her stomach growling interrupted us. I smiled at her. "Sit down and eat."