Love Restored (Gallagher Brothers #1)(50)

He closed his eyes. “Blake…I care about you, and I want to be with you. Let’s just take it one step at a time.”

He cared about her. Well, wasn’t that just grand. She hated that she was upset at the idea that he merely cared for her while she was falling in love with him. While she’d fallen in love with him. And that was why she protected her heart, and in the end, would protect Rowan.

Graham had never stayed the night at her house, and she hadn’t stayed at his. They’d held hands in front of Rowan, and had kissed each other’s temples and cheeks, but they hadn’t proclaimed themselves. Rowan was curious, of course, but it wasn’t like she understood what was going on. Blake barely knew what was going on. So she’d be selfish and let Graham in just a little and let him care for her.

And when he left—because he would—when it got to be too much, she’d keep her daughter safe from a broken heart. Rowan might love talking to Graham and his brothers, but Blake would do all she could to ensure that Rowan didn’t become attached.

Blake had already lost that bet for herself, but in the end, the only thing that mattered was her daughter.

Aware that Graham was still looking at her, she pasted on a smile and leaned into him, pressing a kiss to his lips. “I want nachos. How does that sound to you?”

Graham smiled at her, but it didn’t reach his eyes. She couldn’t blame herself for that, though, she had to protect what was left of her heart and keep her daughter from the dangers of what lurked after her…and the hazards that came with Blake falling in love.

They ate nachos, drank a beer each, and finished off with soda and pool. She was on a sugar high and hadn’t eaten that much grease since the last time they’d come to the pub, but she felt a bit lighter nonetheless. She’d enjoy herself because she hadn’t been able to do anything like that in so long.

She’d continue working at Montgomery Ink. Graham would finish working on the estate before working on the next big project. She’d keep her daughter safe as she always had, and she’d use her new lawyer to make sure Chris’s parents didn’t have a chance to take Rowan from her.

Only, things never worked out as they should, and Blake was afraid if she didn’t keep trying, didn’t keep running, everything would fall apart around her once again.

Graham took her hand and squeezed as they made their way from the car to his house. “You’re thinking too hard again.”

She let out a shaky breath. “I’m scared.”

He let them inside before closing the door behind them and cupping her face. “What are you scared about?”

Him. The world. Her daughter.

Everything.

“What if they take Rowan away from me?” She blinked back tears, annoyed that yet again she’d let her emotions get away from her. “I don’t know what I’d do without her, but more importantly, Rowan doesn’t want to live with them. They’ve never even met her. They didn’t even try until they figured they could take her away from me to punish me. They don’t love her, they don’t even know her. They just blame me for their son’s death, and want to punish me. And this is the only way they can think to do it.”

Graham wiped away her tears and kissed her lips, one soft brush, then another. “Breathe, baby.”

She did, though it didn’t help.

“They have no leg to stand on. You’re a good mom. Your kid is doing phenomenal in school. You have a roof over your head, a job with benefits, and one that will allow you to take time off to care for your kid. You have a support system here, even if we’re new. We’re not going to let these people take Rowan. The courts will see that. Will see that you’re so f*cking strong, and a f*cking amazing mom. Now, kiss me, babe. Kiss me and let me kiss you. Just be for a bit. Just be with me tonight. Can you do that? Can you let me take care of you? Because seeing you like this kills me, and the only thing I can think of tonight is making sure you know, making sure you feel that you’re cared for, that you’re with me.”

She melted into his arms. “I think…I think that sounds wonderful.”

“Do you want it slow?” he asked, his hand trailing down her back to cup her ass. “Or fast? Maybe a little of both?”

Her head tilted back, and she sighed. “Yes, please.”

He smiled before he took her mouth. When she moaned into him, he gripped her ass with both hands and lifted her up into his arms as she wrapped her legs around his waist. His hands massaged her as they kissed, their tongues colliding, their breaths coming in pants.

Graham carried her to the couch and set her down on her feet so her heels were pressed to the back of the fabric and her butt rested right on top. When he tugged on her shirt, she lifted her arms, allowing him to slowly strip it from her body, their gazes never leaving each other. The coolness of the room sent shivers along her skin, goose bumps emerging.

“You’re so f*cking beautiful,” he said softly, his voice gruff.

With his eyes still on her, she reached around and undid the clasp of her bra. It fell into her hands in front of her, baring herself fully to him. He reached out and tugged on one nipple almost casually, though his gaze was still on her eyes.

“I love your nipples. I can see them when you get excited or cold through your shirt. No matter how thick your bra is, I always know when your nipples are hard.” He lowered his head and took one into his mouth, flicking his tongue back and forth over the turgid peak.