Perfect Partners by Carly Phillips Page A

in a while. That included the all-nighters he’d put in with Alix. With Chelsie gone, he’d putter around the house, forcing himself to concentrate on work or searching for something interesting to occupy his time. Not a good sign for a man determined to remain detached, he thought wryly.
    A loud crash of thunder followed by a streak of lightning shattered the night. Raindrops pelted his windshield. Though he had to squint, he made out a yellow sign ahead. A detour alerted him to change his usual route home. Heeding the sign, he switched directions, accepting that he’d be home even later than planned.
    Why didn’t he heed the warning signs that Chelsie gave out? No matter what chores they shared, no matter how much time they spent alone or together with Alix, she kept a careful distance between them, withholding a part of herself. Probably the most important part.
    But he’d begun to care for her more than he should. And that made the wall she’d erected especially frustrating. Though Ryan’s offer had been tempting, Griff’s cynicism didn’t entitle him to delve into a past Chelsie wasn’t ready to reveal.
    If he allowed himself to get involved, he’d leave himself open to heartache that surpassed any inflicted by his ex-fiancée. Deidre had wounded his pride. Chelsie had the ability to destroy his soul.
    *     *     *
    Griff knelt down beside Chelsie. In sleep, she appeared as innocent as his niece. Looks could be deceiving, and yet a deep desire brewed inside him. He wanted so badly to believe.
    Hadn’t Ryan offered him a way towards acceptance? With the cases Ryan took and the bad marriages he’d seen, he had as much reason to be cynical as Griff, yet he held out hope. He not only liked women, he trusted. Griff only needed to give Chelsie a chance.
    He glanced at the woman curled into his oversized chair. Dark shadows circled her eyes, shadows he could only attribute to his own selfish need to have her near. She provided invaluable assistance, but after the past two weeks, Mrs. Baxter could probably handle things. The thought lay like lead in his stomach, and not just because of Alix.
    He could never explain to his niece why her aunt no longer spent each evening with them. Nor did he want to try. The child’s face lit up each time the doorbell rang. He’d be a fool to take that sense of security from her now.
    He needed to assure himself Chelsie wouldn’t walk out of their lives. When she woke, they had important matters to discuss. He wasn’t sure he was ready, but he had no other choice. Not if he didn’t want to lose… what? A possible future? He shrugged. He had no idea.
    “Chelsie.” He whispered, hoping not to startle her. He’d already seen how she reacted when frightened, and he had no wish to put her through that again.
    She didn’t stir. Exhaustion had finally caught up with her. He brushed his hand gently beneath her closed lids, tracing the slight shadows with the pad of his thumb. Her eyelids fluttered open and long lashes tickled his skin.
    His gaze locked with hers. Seconds passed, with no sound but their own breathing. Griff had no desire to break the silken silence that surrounded them or the fragile trust they’d begun to share. The slightest noise would have shattered the peace, so he did the only thing he could.
    He levered himself up to face her, his elbows resting on the arms of the chair. Their faces remained only inches apart. Her scent drifted around him. Slowly, so she would know exactly what he wanted and have ample time to resist, he lowered his lips to hers.
    In his gut he knew they’d been building towards this moment. He only hoped she felt the same. He began with a gentle exploration of her soft mouth. When she didn’t pull back, he cupped the back of her head with his hand, threading his fingers through the dark mass and pulling her closer. Not only didn’t she resist, she fully participated. For Griff, distrust, grief, even the pain of the past, faded