Page 44 of Shot Through the Heart

“Just a teenager?” I offer with an understanding smile.

“Yeah.” He huffs out a strained laugh.

“I think…” I start, hesitating and thinking over my words before trying again. “We need to find a way to move forward. Neither of us can change the damage that’s been done. Lingering on the pain is only going to prevent us from enjoying what we have now.”

I sigh, stepping back to lean against the archway. “We’ll never be the best versions of ourselves if we’re still letting our parents’ actions dictate everything. Harper deserves better than that.”

“So do you,” Greyson adds on and I forget to breathe for a second at the intensity I find when I look at him. “You’re a good mom, Stella. The way you put her interests and well-being first with every move you make…You were made to be her mother.”

Tears threaten to spill from the corners of my eyes, and I duck my head to look at my feet. Grey closes the distance between us and hooks his finger under my chin so he can force me to look at him.

“I want to help. I will probably fumble some things since I definitely don’t know anything about kids, but I want to be here for both of you.” His hand spreads out and he cups my cheek in his palm. “I’m all for not living in the past when it comes to the pain, but the one thing I don’t think I’ll ever be able to let go of is how deeply I care for you.”

I close my eyes and hang my head forward so my forehead rests on his chest.

“We’re still technically contractually bound.” It’s a lame response to his heartfelt emotions, but Greyson doesn’t point that out.

“I emailed Garrett while you and Harper went to the bathroom at one point to set up a meeting. I didn’t tell him why, but he deserves to know what’s going on.” He steps back, sliding both hands up my arms and neck until he’s carefully holding my face between his hands. “I also don’t want there to be any doubt in your mind as to why I am around. I’m not here because of a contract. I’m here for you. For our daughter. I will do whatever I need to do to prove that I’m here to stay because this is where I belong.”

He bends down and my eyes slide closed as his lips gently press against my forehead. The feeling of his kiss lingers long after he’s left and despite all the doubt that creeps in, I can’t stop myself from believing him.

ChapterFifteen

STELLA

“Stella.”Greyson sighs, his eyes never leaving me while he watches me pace the length of the waiting area at SweetHeart Assistance. “It’s going to be fine.”

“You don’t know that.” I stare down the hall toward Garrett’s office, willing him to magically appear so we can get this over with. “I should have told them before we signed the contract. Hell, I should have just walked out the second I saw you! You were the company’s first official client. Garrett’s gonna be mad that?—”

Greyson appears in front of me, blocking my path and forcing me to stop by gently holding me in place by my shoulders.

“Breathe,” he says softly, and I do as he says. “There you go. First things first, I wouldn’t have let you walk away. So get that thought out of your head now. Secondly, I’ve met Garrett a couple times now. He doesn’t seem like the type to get angry.”

“He’s not…” I grumble reluctantly.

“With a business like this, he had to have planned for things like this to happen.” Greyson pauses before shrugging his shoulders. “Okay, well, maybe not exactly this situation, but you know what I mean.”

I do, but it doesn’t lessen any of the guilt that’s taken up residence in the pit of my stomach for the past five days. Dropping my head forward, I let Greyson envelop me in his warm embrace and focus on keeping my breathing in tune with his while we wait.

This job was supposed to be a fresh start for me. I’d always gravitated to assistant roles. Most people hate being told what to do, what to organize, or needing to oversee someone else’s life. But I’m good at it. So jumping in to help with events or public appearances didn’t seem that far off. A client needed someone by their side to schmooze business partners or just make them look good, and I could easily do that.

Now I don’t even know if I’ll have a job. In my defense, what to do when the client is the father of your child, but he didn’t know because his mother kept it from him and tried to pay you off, wasn’t covered in orientation.

“Besides, you’re not alone in the awkwardness of all this. Garrett is technically my boss too, considering he also owns the team,” Greyson teases, but it only makes me panic more.

“Shit, I forgot that he?—”

“Miss Owens…” a deep voice calls out and I stiffen. Crossing my fingers that it is anyone else but my boss, I peek out from around Grey’s torso and silently curse.

Garrett Walker stands in the entryway with his arms crossed. Except it’s not suspicion or anger that’s lining his features. No, my boss looksamused.

Clearing my throat, I back away from Greyson, straightening my shirt and avoiding both men’s gazes.

“Hi, thank you for making time to meet with us.”

“Of course,” Garrett muses and motions down the hall. “Why don’t we step into my office. Paige is just grabbing a coffee refill, but we don’t have to wait for her.”

We follow after him, and while it’s barely a minute walk to his office, it feels like an eternity has passed by the time we’re sitting. Greyson sits beside me on the surprisingly cozy leather couch, while Garrett takes one of the matching chairs.

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