Page 54 of Broken Boss Daddy

It wasn’t long before the door swung open, and an exhausted-looking Grant greeted us.

“Abby,” he practically jumped out of his skin in happiness.

“Grant!” Abby pulled out of my grasp and ran toward him, jumping into his arms like she hadn’t seen him for eternity.

For a split second, I stood back and admired the sweet reunion.

Grant had his head buried in the crook of her neck, his eyes closed, and clung to her. Whatever was happening between us, that moment right there was worth its weight in gold.

Then his eyes snapped open and caught mine. My chest felt constricted, like I couldn’t breathe. Time suspended between us, and I wanted to close the gap with a simple touch.

But I didn’t move.

The moment passed, and Grant went back to smiling at his daughter.

“Look at you. You look like you feel a lot better,” Grant said to her.

“Yeah. Mommy took good care of me.”

“I bet she did.” He glanced at me. “Do you guys want to come in?”

Hesitating, I eventually said, “Sure.”

Grant opened the door further for me to step through. Abby was still in his arms, and didn’t look like she was going to let go soon.

His place looked the same as it did the last time I was there. However, I noticed that there were some small picture frames up in his small living room. Those were definitely not there the last time I checked.

While Abby and Grant spoke about her time being sick, I discreetly checked out the pictures. There were a few with him and his mother, even one with his father and the other side of his family. But what caught my eye was that the majority of them were Abby and me.

Gasping, I looked up at Grant who was already staring at me. Something passed between us, something greater than either of us could’ve imagined.

Then I remembered he might leave us and promptly took a step farther away from the photographs.

We spent the afternoon watching movies and eating as much junk food as our stomachs could handle. Abby was quite surprised I allowed it, but given what we’d all been through, I thought we deserved some slacking off time. They fed off of each other’s energies, and I was convinced I would lose my mind with the two of them.

It was easy for me to get wrapped up in that life with him again. But as soon as I started feeling comfortable, or my heart filled with love, I came back to him leaving all over again.

By the time Abby fell asleep on his lap, the thought of losing times like that was hurting me.

Theylookedlike father and daughter. I could see the love in Grant’s eyes for her—but was it enough to make him stay?

“I haven’t made my decision yet,” Grant whispered, eyes still on Abby.

“Okay.” That was all I could say.

“I’m torn, Jess, between following my heart or listening to my head.”

I didn’t particularly want to talk about that, but I saw Grant needed to bounce his thoughts off of someone. Putting my selfish feelings aside, I leaned back and said, “I can’t tell you what to do.”

“I know, but I wish you could.”

“Do you want my opinion?”

“Always.”

I exhaled. “The only factor that should influence your decision is that little girl fast asleep in your arms.”

“But I don’t want her to grow up in a household like I did, where her parents are always wondering about the what ifs.”

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