Page 9 of Make Us Yours
Due to situations out of his control, he gained custody of the beautiful Gracie and hired Emma to watch over her whenever he had other obligations, even though they claimed not to like each other very much. Which is exactly when Aubrey and Imoved in together and I came into the picture. From there things escalated between them, and now Emma is, in every sense of the word, Gracie’s mother.
“Yes, well, that’s in the past,” he answers while glaring at his sister just as Sam reappears at the bottom of the stairs holding a miniature version of Aubrey.Literally, a copy and paste.“Ah! Much better.” He takes Gracie in his arms and kisses her chubby cheeks. “Hey, Buttercup. Daddy missed you so much.”
He comes deeper into the kitchen, heading for the fridge, but stops when he spies the bottle on the counter. Frowning, he picks it up, then sets it back down and looks at me with wide, angry eyes. If I didn’t know Greyson, I’d probably be intimidated by that look.
“Veronica…” he growls through gritted teeth. “Do you realize how expensive what you’re drinking is?” His voice is low and predatory.
I pick up my glass, taking a sip while maintaining eye contact over the rim. “Yup, thirty thousand dollars’ worth of good wine. If you have a problem with that, you can talk to your girlfriend. She’ll explain to you why I have every right to be drinking it right now.” I smile brightly.
I can see the irritation flicking off him as his nostrils flare. I’m pretty sure I even saw his eye twitch. A small giggle escapes Cecilia’s lips, and she quickly covers her mouth when he turns his angered gaze at her.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers in a tiny guilty voice. She clears her throat, and her face suddenly changes to compassion. “How’s Maddison…?”
His whole demeanor changes at the question, a gloomy cloud settling above his head. “Not good. They aren’t sure she’ll make it through the month…” He bites the inside of his cheeks as he sniffs and looks down at his daughter, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he tries to hold his emotions in.
Maddison is a little girl they met during Charity Day that the team hosted, who suffers from some kind of terminal cancer. Emma and Greyson immediately fell in love with the little angel and have been doing everything possible to help her father during these hard times. It’s crazy how quickly someone can become important in your life.
“Oh God… poor thing…” Cecilia’s eyes water as she places her fingertips to her lips. “If there’s anything we can do, anything at all, let us know.”
“Yes, please do. Any of us. We’re all here for you and her family,” Morgan adds tenderly.
Sam rejoins our group with Dante, who tries to pass a small plastic puck between his legs. “I already offered Emma to work more hours if it can help. So don’t feel bad if you two want to spend more time at the hospital, I’ll be happy to take care of thelittle princess longer.”
“There isn’t really much more we can do but be there for her and her father. But I appreciate all the help. Thank you,” Greyson says before taking a deep breath and continuing his path to the fridge.
“So, what’s the big reason behind you raiding my wine collection?” he asks as he takes a water bottle out and uncaps it while still holding his daughter against his hip.
“Oh, you know, just the fact that Cecilia got me a new job. Except she failed to mention that it was for Noah and Gabe.”
He snorts, almost spitting out his sip of water. “Oh, you’re so fu…dged,” he finishes while looking at his daughter, holding back what he really wanted to say.
Yup, he’s right again.
I’m so fucked.
Chapter three
Noah
Trial period.
I push the door open to Ford’s house, noticing all the cars already in the driveway. Clearly, I’m the last one here.Great, more questions on my whereabouts.I don’t get why they can’t just leave it alone and understand that I don’t need to share everything about my life with them.
I make my way inside and find the girls in the kitchen, while the guys sit in the living room with the kids, playing an NHL game on the Xbox. “Ladies.” I turn on the charm as I approach them, kissing all their cheeks. First Aubrey, who blushes intensely, then Cecilia, Morgan, and Emma.
I don’t miss the glare thrown my way when Grey spots me kissing his girlfriend’s cheek. He’s a pretty jealous guy. And I’m guessing the fact that Gabe and I have already had our fun with her still pisses him off, even if they were friendly encounters and it happened years ago.
I stop in front of the girl I’ve been fantasizing about for so many months now. “Veronica.” Her name tastes like the sweetest honey on my tongue. “How is it that you keep getting more and more beautiful every time I lay eyes on you?”
She leans back against the counter, hands holding on to either side. A sliver of lust twinkles in her eyes only for a split second before disappearing as a smirk forms on her bow-shaped lips, the lower one being a little heavier than the top.
“Always the charmer, Casanova.”Ah, the famous nickname she gave me the very first day we met.Not exactly the name I’d want to carry, but since it comes from her, I’ll take it.
I slide my hand along her hip, gently resting it there. I give her a second to recognize my touch before leaning in and grazing her cheek with my lips. I never know how Ronnie will react when I get too close, because even though she acts tough, I see the way her body tenses when people come close. The way her shoulders straighten, how the pulse in her neck picks up speed, even the slight tremble in her hands and that faraway look she gets from time to time.
Then there was that time I kissed her at Gracie’s birthday party while Gabe and I were having a little fun teasing her with her slim body stuck between ours. When she turned her head my way, I took my shot, which resulted in me getting slapped and being told to never do that again.
I was stunned after the blow, but what really shocked me was the look she held in her eyes. Not anger, but fear. I’m not sure what her story is, but I know there’s one. I don’t buy the front she puts up for everyone.
