Maurie sat in the dark in her car for a couple of minutes before climbing out and knocking on Grant’s door. Had she bulldozed her way into coming over? Had Grant wanted to call it an evening? Even though Trent was a part of everything, she felt that Grant had been trying to cut the date short.
Not that they’d planned to go to a movie or anything, and it was a bit late for a four-year-old. Still, Maurie had noticed Grant’s mood change when he’d come back into the restaurant after talking to Joy outside. Maurie still didn’t know what they’d talked about, but Grant’s face had been pale when he’d returned.
Maurie hated that his ex-wife could still affect him emotionally. She was at a loss of how to help him, but she supposed divorces were complicated enough without trying to work out sharing custody of children.
She hoped that Grant trusted her enough to talk to her about whatever he was going through.
The car was getting cold, so she opened the door and climbed out. The lights were on in Grant’s apartment, and Maurie smiled as she thought of how excited Trent was about the simple things in life. Like a new toothbrush. She tried not to compare Trent’s life to her own childhood. It was a never-ending, dark tunnel whenever she started the comparison game.
She needed to consider herself blessed to have a man like Grant to date, and Trent was just an added bonus.
After she knocked, she heard Trent yell something, then the lower tone of Grant’s voice. By the time the two of them opened the door, Maurie was smiling. They were adorable together.
“Hi.” She was relieved to see that some of the shadows beneath Grant’s eyes had faded. He’d also taken off his blazer and rolled up the sleeves of his button-down shirt. Maurie couldn’t decide which look she liked best. All of his looks were great.
Trent was wearing Incredibles pajamas with giant Cars slippers.
“Come in,” Grant said, and she stepped past him.
“See my toothbrush?” Trent held it up, as if he’d been waiting for her knock on the door.
Grant shut the door, and Maurie bent to examine the toothbrush. It was one of those automatic ones.
“Watch.” Trent flicked the small on-off button, and the toothbrush whirred to life. “Stone says that it will keep the cavity bugs away.”
“Definitely,” Maurie said.
“Do you want to see me brush my teeth?” Trent asked.
Maurie shouldn’t have been surprised. The question was so Trent-like.
“Uh, you don’t have to,” Grant told her.
She glanced up at him from her crouched position. “It’s okay. I can watch.”
So the three of them crowded into the bathroom while Trent demonstrated brushing his teeth. Maurie kept in her laughter. And Grant did a pretty good job at distracting her when he rested his hand on the back of her neck and slowly ran his thumb over her skin.
His touch gave her goose bumps. And she could smell his clean, spicy scent. Maybe she should have danced with him at the restaurant. No ... not with everyone watching. She was proud of herself for walking in her stilettos. Dancing would have been another matter.
When Trent finished, he wiped his mouth on a towel, then said, “See how clean my teeth are? No cavity bugs.”
“I don’t see any, do you, Grant?” Maurie said.
“I don’t either.” Grant’s tone was amused, and the three of them in the bathroom was feeling a bit too cozy.
“Can you read me a story?” Trent asked, looking up at Maurie with those pleading blue eyes.
Her heart felt like it would burst. How could she say no?
“Trent, I don’t think—” Grant started to say.
“It’s okay,” Maurie said. “I’d love to.”
Trent grinned, then bounded out of the bathroom. “I’ll get the book.”
Grant grasped her hand before she could leave the bathroom. “Are you sure, Maurie?”
She gazed into his equally blue eyes. “I’m sure, but are you sure?”
His brows lifted. “What do you mean?”
“Well, it’s all very...” She hesitated. “Family-like. And we’re sort of newly dating. If it’s too much, then I can tell him I need to leave.”
“Don’t leave.” Grant moved his hands to her waist. “And I’m more than happy that Trent likes you.” He leaned close and lowered his voice. “I’m really happy about it.”
Maurie placed her hands on his chest. Was he going to kiss her with his kid so close by? Trent could see them at any moment. “Okay, then let’s go read a story.”
Grant smiled and lowered his face to hers. His lips had barely brushed hers when Trent called out, “Found it!”
Maurie tugged Grant closer anyway, and although their kiss was way too brief, her skin buzzed with the contact. They walked hand in hand into Trent’s bedroom, and Maurie was presented with a book on trains. She settled on the bed next to Trent, and Grant perched on the edge of the bed. With the smaller twin size, there wasn’t room for the three of them.
Maurie cleared her throat and began to read the story. Grant was watching her with amusement but she forged ahead. She wouldn’t consider herself a great storyteller, but Trent was easy to read to. And even though it was apparent he had the book memorized, he was so enthusiastic about the story that it made Maurie’s heart swell.
She’d never felt so ... fulfilled. She didn’t know how else to describe it. Sitting in this bedroom with Trent and Grant while they read about a “family” of trains made her realize that the simple things in life could be the best things.
When she came to the last page, Trent wouldn’t let her close the book. “Read it again,” he begged.
“Not tonight,” Grant said, his voice firm. “We have a fun day planned tomorrow, and I don’t want you tired.”
Trent’s eyes lit up. “Can Maurie come too?”
“I’ll ask her,” Grant said. “But you need to go to sleep now.” He rose and took the book from Trent’s grasp.
“Okay,” Trent said, his tone dejected.
“Good night, Trent,” Maurie said, rising as well. She didn’t want to be the cause of Trent not listening to his father.
She left the room while Grant tucked him in and gave him a few more instructions. In the living room, Maurie stayed standing. She felt like she was too formally dressed to lounge on the couch, and she hoped that she could find out from Grant why he’d been so upset over the phone call with his ex.
A few minutes later, Grant came out of Trent’s bedroom and shut the door with a quiet click.
Maurie turned to face him as he walked into the living room. He didn’t say anything, but grasped her hand and drew her into the kitchen. “Trent’s kind of demanding,” Grant said in a soft voice, pulling her toward him and setting his hands on her hips.
“He’s a kid,” Maurie said, moving her hands on his shoulders. “And he’s sweet.”
Grant held her gaze. “I’m glad you think so.” He slid his hands behind her back, drawing her even closer. “I think you’re sweet too.”
Maurie tilted her head. “Thanks for dinner.”
“You’re welcome,” he said with a slow smile. “Thanks for coming, and for being patient with a four-year old. Not the ideal Valentine’s date, I know.”
Maurie lifted a shoulder. “I didn’t mind.”
Grant lowered his head and kissed the edge of her jaw. “Hopefully Trent will go right to sleep, because I’ve been waiting all night to do this.” He kissed her on the lips then.
His mouth was warm, and the scruff of his chin tickled hers. Maurie felt all melty inside as his hands moved up her back. She breathed him in and sighed. She so wanted to get lost, but she’d also seen his distress earlier.
“Grant,” she said, pulling away.
He opened his eyes, and slowly his gaze focused.
“What was the phone call about at the restaurant?” she asked, before she could be tempted to kiss him again.
Grant lifted a hand and moved his fingers along her shoulder. “I don’t really want to talk about it.”
“Because it was about me?” she asked.
Grant’s hand stilled. “Yes, but it doesn’t matter.”
“I think it does matter,” Maurie said. “You were pretty upset.”
Grant released a sigh. “Joy was being ... Joy.”
Maurie waited.
“Okay.” Grant moved his hands to her waist, holding her loosely in his arms. “She did some googling on you and found out about your mom.”
This Maurie hadn’t expected, but maybe she shouldn’t be surprised. It would have come up eventually—if she and Grant continued in their relationship.
“Joy is a paranoid person, and very controlling, as you know,” he continued. “She panicked and said some unfair things.”
“About my mom?”
“What she said about your mom was true, but she extended them to you.”
“Oh.” Maurie drew away from Grant, but he grasped her hand before she could step away completely.
“Maurie, I don’t want you to worry about Joy,” Grant said. “She has an acid tongue. And she doesn’t like it when she thinks other people might have things better than she does.”
Maurie frowned and looked down at Grant’s hand holding hers. “Like what? She seems pretty well settled. She has Stone, and Trent too.”
“Joy will never be truly happy,” Grant said. “I’ve had to accept that. She’ll criticize any woman I choose to date.” He squeezed her hand. “But I’m not going to let her criticize you, Maurie. You’re too important to me.”
She swallowed against the tightness in her throat. He’d defended her against his ex-wife. That had to be significant, right?
“I wish Joy were a better person,” he continued. “But the fact is that I’ll always have to deal with her because of Trent. And I don’t want you to have to worry about her.”
Maurie took a deep breath, then met Grant’s gaze head-on. “Don’t shut me out, Grant. Even if it has to do with Joy. Because if we’re going to be in a relationship ... or whatever is going on between us ... I need to be a part of all of it. The good, the bad, and the ugly.”
Grant gazed at her for a long moment. “Is that what you want? To be in a relationship with me?”
Maurie’s face heated. “Only if you want it too.”
One edge of his mouth lifted. “I’ll make you a deal.”
She stared at him, not sure where he was going with this.
“Dance with me, and it will be the official start of our relationship,” he said in a low voice. “I think it will help me forget about that phone call with Joy.”