Substitute Daddy (10 page)

“And that would be?” There was a hint of a smile at his lips.

“A kiss?” Grace asked. “I promise not to go bat shit crazy.”

“That I can do. Let me put her back in her car seat—”

“It may be best to bring her along.” Grace gave a soft laugh. “She’s learning that her body can move, and knowing little miss, she’d take this time to learn to roll and then plop out of the car seat. She scoots herself down to the bottom when the harness isn’t clipped.”

“Okay, then you come with me,” Matthew said to the baby.

He had Lilah over his shoulder when he stood. Grace could smell his scent, and for a moment she closed her eyes and let it envelope her. She’d had a gnawing ache of missing him for the past couple of months, and now to have him so close was a heady experience.

“I thought maybe you came here and found some amazing model with an amazing body and then you thought I was just a mistake,” she whispered. “It would have served me right, too, because I was such a big jerk.”

“Grace Reid, you captured my interest from the day I met you,” Matthew said huskily. “With me, that doesn’t happen too often, so when it does I pay attention. I want what my parents had. My mom was a down to earth woman who would have loved you. My dad would’ve spoiled Lilah rotten until it grated on our nerves. She’d have had a pony before she could even walk. Together, they would have loved her and us, and I’m sorry we don’t get to experience that. But I do know if we can gain just a fraction of the love they shared then we’ll be blessed.”

“It’s going to be more than a fraction. We get the whole kit and caboodle of love.” Grace put her hand on his chest and felt his heart beating beneath his sweater.

This time it was she who initiated the kiss, showing him with her lips how much she missed him. It was a sweet kiss that promised passion and forever in one sensuous combination. A kiss that sealed the deal on something perfect and would surpass their wildest dreams. She had worried and fretted each time she asked him to come back to Ryder Ranch and he hadn’t. Now she understood that what he said was true. She needed that time to heal and find her own path. He’d cared so much that he would have let her go if necessary, while Lance coveted to own her. Matthew wanted her to spread her wings and fly. When the kiss finally ended, she saw desire in his eyes, the same feeling that caused her core to turn to molten heat in anticipation.

“Later,” he promised.

“I’m betting on it, cowboy,” Grace answered. “Just to let you know, I got my all clear. Birth control is in place, and there has been no one but Lance, and that ended the day he found out I was pregnant.”

“I trust you, Grace, and to let you know, there’s been no one in my life for a long time,” Matthew answered. “I’m not into casual sexual encounters and definitely not without protection. I’m healthy, and I would never do anything to put your health in harm’s way.”

Grace smiled. “I trust you too.”

“It’s only around one. How about we go to lunch and show this little girl the city?” Matthew suggested.

“There’s a baby boutique I want to go to. Plus we’ll need a stroller that has a cover to keep out the chill,” Grace said.

“Already got that covered,” Matthew said.

She put her hand to her mouth. “How could you possibly have that covered?”

“I bought one.” He grinned. “Eventually, you’d have come around, and I fully intended for you to see the city. I also have the battleship game here, for a rematch.”

“Game on.” Grace poked him in the chest. “We’re good, right, Matthew?”

He kissed her nose. “We’re prefect. Now let’s feed her and then go take a tour.”

Grace nodded. She was so filled with happiness that tears clogged her throat, and she was unable to speak. Who knew her life would take such an awful turn only to lead to a collision course with Matthew Ryder? She’d known attraction and been fed lines of bullshit by one man, and now she knew a good man whose promises were gold, and their happiness depended on each other. Matthew gave Lilah her bottle while she went to freshen up. He pointed out the master bedroom, and she noticed a bunch of books on baby care on a large built-in bookshelf in the corner.

Grace grinned because even when he walked away that night, Lilah was still in his thoughts and had been all along. It was good to know that even if they hadn’t worked out, he would have still been in her life. By the time she came back out, he had Lilah burped and in her new car seat-stroller combo all warm and snug. He even had a plastic cover which it seemed New Yorkers used for the cold weather in the city when they had children. He was better than the boy scouts and more than prepared.

Many women would say no man as perfect as Matthew existed, but she would give a written affidavit to the fact that good guys were still out there and he was one of them. He showed her Manhattan. They even went to Times Square, and he found the baby boutique she had asked to visit.

When the sales lady asked him how he liked the stroller, Grace gave him a pinch because she knew that meant he’d been there before. She was in love with all the little girl styles for spring, and even though they lived on a ranch, it didn’t mean Lilah couldn’t be cute. By the time they came back to the penthouse, the sun was setting. She looked forward to seeing Central Park and the Met and other museums with Matthew and Lilah when she could understand and appreciate the city.

Later, while Lilah slept in the portable crib they picked up, she and Matthew sat with their backs against the sofa and watched the lights of the city come on as darkness descended. Matthew made hot chocolate to help warm her up, and being snuggled in his arms on the soft carpet wasn’t bad either.

“So when are we going home?” Grace asked.

“Tired of the city already?” Matthew teased.

“It’s fun, but it’s not home.” Grace laced her fingers with his. “I miss the dry air and the smell of hay. You made it home for me and Lilah, and I miss it.”

He kissed her gently. “I miss it too. I’ll finish out some things here and we can go home.”

She molded her body closer. “I’m glad to hear it. So…you made a promise of later?”

“I was going to romance you.” He nibbled her lips.

“How about right here, right now?” Grace suggested in a sultry voice. “With the lights of New York as a backdrop. What can be more romantic than that?”

“Oh, honey, I think your romance works for me.” Matthew swooped in for a kiss that left her breathless.

After all the upheaval, all Grace wanted to do was feel. Matthew pulled her closer and she kissed him softly, then with growing ardor. She felt his hand delve into her hair at the back of her neck as their tongues danced. When they got home, he’d showered and changed into a blue button down shirt and had the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Grace’s fingers nimbly unbuttoned his shirt, and she ran her fingers over his muscular, smooth chest.

The feel of his hard, toned body was addictive, and soon his chest wasn’t enough. Their lips clung together passionately, and her hands trailed slowly down his sides to the waist of his pants. Matthew moaned and pulled her leg over his hard thighs so she was closer to him. He cupped her breasts over the material of her peach cashmere sweater, making her arch in delight and press herself more firmly into his strong fingers. Grace moaned softly against his lips and only stopped the kiss so she could pull her sweater over her head. Matthew’s hands worked at the back of her bra, and as soon as her breasts spilled free, he cupped them and kissed the soft mounds.

“Matthew.”

Grace whispered his name as desire flowed along her veins, and with every heartbeat it fueled her passion. She stood and finished undressing while Matthew watched her every movement. His eyes traveled along her body as if he was committing every curve to memory. She laughed huskily as he moved with speed, trying to get as naked as she was, and when he held out his hand to her, Grace moved willingly into his arms. Matthew moved from kissing her lips with intensity that took her breath away to her breasts and took a nipple into his mouth. The sensation made her tremble, and she held his head to her as he caused slivers of need to pierce her core.

“More, please, Matthew, I’ve never felt like this before,” Grace whispered.

He pulled her nearer and spread her legs wider, leaving her open and exposed to his whims.

“Watch how I touch you,” he demanded huskily.

She met his gaze and nodded and watched as his hand slid down between her breasts to the flat plane of her stomach to settle between her thighs.

“I like that you trim and not shave,” he murmured. His first touch caused her to jerk against his hand. She was already dripping wet. “Do you like how that feels?”

“Yes.” Grace bit her lip as her hips moved involuntarily.

She watched as he slowly rubbed her clit then did so with a little more pressure. Grace whimpered from a mouth swollen from his kisses and writhed in pleasure from his touch. She felt the pleasure build, and when he invaded her core with his finger, her hips ground against his hand in the rhythm he created.

“God, yes, I’m coming,” Grace cried out softly and pressed her face against his neck.

“Let it happen. I want to see you come,” he said.

“Oh, yes, yes,” she moaned.

He plunged two more fingers inside her, and his thumb still pressed against her bud. She rode his fingers, and she shuddered against him as she fell over the sensual cliff. It was like her body was infused with heat, and using his fingers he brought her to climax again. She wanted more. She wanted to feel him inside her, to have their bodies connected intimately and finally consummate their relationship.

He groaned as she took his cock in her hand and stroked him before she positioned him at the entrance of her pussy and slid down his hard length. Grace took every inch of his length, and for a moment neither of them moved. Her muscles contracted around him, holding him in, taking him deeper into her wet core. His hands tightened into the soft skin of her thighs as she slowly undulated on his cock. Every movement was a sweet ache building to something magnificent. Soon, their pace increased, both striving for completion in the midst of the firestorm of passion they created.

“Ride me hard, Grace. Take all you want from me,” he moaned harshly.

“Matthew, you feel so good,” she whispered. “I’ve been waiting for you like this for too long.”

Grace felt her body release a gush of fluid that ran down his cock. The last tenuous strand of control snapped, and she gave into the wanton desire that flooded her. She moaned low in her throat and began a new rhythm that would take them over the edge. She ground her hips, taking him even deeper, and the intensity grew as she rode him. Her fingers were tangled in his hair, and his hands that gripped her hips were now lifting and pulling her down on him harder.

She threw her head back in ecstasy. “I’m going to come, Matthew, please!”

“Yes, baby, God, yes!” Matthew answered.

Once again, she exploded in a burst of fire and heat like a new star being born in the sky. Matthew followed her off that precipice into a swirling abyss of passion, and they rode out the storm together. Grace collapsed against him, and together they fell against the carpet waiting for their hearts to find a normal beat.

“Well, gosh.” She gave a huge sigh.

“I second that.” Matthew groaned and rolled over to his side to kiss her. “Well, damn, girl, you were so worth waiting for.”

Grace giggled. “Well, thank you, and I think the same of you.”

“I could sleep right here,” he murmured.

“I’m tired too, but a shower and a warm bed are warranted before Lilah wakes up for her milk.” Grace yawned.

“I think I tasted your milk when we were making love,” Matthew said.

“Oh, sorry, I’m still breastfeeding,” she replied apologetically. “It will be like that until I wean her off the breast. You don’t have to touch them or, um, anything if it’s gross to you.”

“First, don’t apologize for feeding Lilah naturally, and, trust me, it’s hot,” Matthew answered. “Care to shower with me?”

“Yes, I’d like that.” Grace grinned.

Matthew got to his feet and lifted her into his arms to walk to the master bedroom. They showered quietly, not wanting to wake Lilah. In the marble tiled shower stall, they talked in low voices and learned each other’s body all over again. By the time they got into bed, Grace was pleasantly relaxed and ready to sleep. She’d barely been in bed for an hour when Lilah cried for her feeding, but this time Matthew got up and would feed her with a bottle. Grace let him and listened while she dozed as Matthew cared for the baby. He was a natural father, and she knew that Lilah would have him wrapped around her little finger forever, just like she felt him wrapped around her heart.

* * * *

By that weekend, they were back at Ryder Ranch, and Grace couldn’t be happier. Matthew had cleared out the rest of his meetings quickly in New York so they could be back on the charter flight to Nevada. She was eternally happy to be home. She had only been in New York for a few days, but the hustle and bustle on the streets made her tired. She enjoyed waking up in the middle of the night to hearing sounds of crickets and the animals on the ranch instead of sirens and blaring horns.

Before they were able to go back, she noticed that the doorman was still on the job, and he almost bent backward to help her in and out of the building. He even offered to help her upstairs even though she had only a few items. Grace kindly refused the offer and told him it was okay. This time, instead of a haughty look, he smiled, and they formed a kind of pleasant friendship. Maybe he was accustomed to people treating him badly. Well, she wasn’t that kind of person.

Even though Savannah was a tourist area, it was still a small town compared to New York, and things moved slower. When they toured New York, even though it was fun, it was like playing football, dodging and bumping into people at every step. When they boarded the flight, she was more than ready for home.

Matthew went out with Josef and the ranch hands to the pastures to check the pregnant cows and mares. Spring meant they would soon be ready to foal, and he would spend many nights in the stables. He liked to make sure that each new life was brought into the world safely and the mothers were okay. He wanted her to move into the main house, but she wasn’t quite ready, so he was staying every night at her house. She didn’t complain. It felt great to be held by him every night and wake up to him every morning.