Page 170 of Grand Love

Nina

The momentwe enter the penthouse, I’m floored by the sheer effort Mason has gone to for the evening.

“Where is your daddy, baby?” I whisper to Ellis, placing a kiss on his head.

Stepping into the room, I take in the dinner table that’s set for the three of us. A large bouquet of red roses adorns the centre of the table and candles sit on either side. The lights are dipped low, and everything feels warm, special. Reaching out I pinch a petal between my thumb and forefinger.

“Hello,” his deep voice purrs from behind me.

I turn. “Hi.”

“Dadee,” Ellis sings.

Mason’s gaze holds mine for a moment with an intensity that makes me blush. All I can do is stare back, completely lost in his eyes. Stepping forward he takes Ellis from me, sitting him on his arm and then reaches out to push my hair behind my ear. Leaning in, he kisses my cheek. “You okay?”

I nod, knowing he’s talking about Joey. “I didn’t think to dress up.” I look down at my leggings and baggy tee, then back up at his navy shirt and trousers. His hair is a tousled mess, but with obvious effort. He looks delicious.

“You’re perfect,” he tells me.

I smile, rocking back on my heels as I try to control my breathing. “Something smells good.”

“I ordered in. Has Ellis ate?”

“Yeah. He ate with Maggie.”

“Perfect.” He smiles, and it’s full of mischief. “Come with me.”

He starts towards the stairs with Ellis in his arms.

“Where are you going?” I ask.

I follow him when he doesn’t answer me, only muttering something to Ellis that I can’t hear. It’s surprising how normal it feels being here. It’s been so long since I’ve felt at home. I get the same grounding feeling when we sleep at the estate, but my apartment feels like four walls. There’s no comfort in it.

Mason walks into his bedroom and through to Ellis’s. “Mummy, can you get the changing mat? It’s in the bottom of the walk-in wardrobe.”

My brows rise in surprise as I walk to the door on the other side of the room. I try to contain my gasp when I open it, but it’s no use. What almost one-year-old needs this many clothes? He will never wear it all. I spot the changing mat on top of the dresser and quickly grab it for Mason.

“Here.” I place it on the floor next to where he’s stripping Ellis of his clothes. “Does he wear all that stuff?” I ask, nodding over my shoulder.

“Some of it,” he says without looking up.

I nod, not passing comment on what a waste of money it is. If this is ever going to work between us, I need to get over the fact that Mason has money. He knows not to buy me expensive things and I know to get the hell on with it when he does it anyway.

Mason dresses Ellis into his pyjamas then spends well over five minutes raining kisses all over his small torso, making Ellis wriggle and giggle until he gets the hiccups.

“Oh man! Not the hiccups!” Mason says, looking down at Ellis with a wide smile on his face. Ellis continues to giggle while I watch on.

“Well done, Daddy,” I tut, kneeing Mason in the ribs. He grunts and falls to the side—I barely touched him. “Come here, baby.” I kneel to lift Ellis from the changing mat.

Just as I slide my hands under his armpits, Mason grabs me around the waist and pulls me to the ground, tickling my ribs.

“Mason! No!”

Ellis seems to find it hilarious, crawling over and bouncing on his knees beside my head.

I laugh uncontrollably in Mason’s arms, trying to catch my breath so I can tell him to stop. “Mase!” I cry out. “Please!”

He finally lets up, leaving both of us breathless. His body is spread behind me, and his hand brushes my hip as he leans across to tap Ellis’s nose. “See. It worked.”

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