Grant’s Heat: Shark’s Edge: Book Four by ANGEL PAYNE && & VICTORIA BLUE

Author:ANGEL PAYNE && & VICTORIA BLUE
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781642632125
Publisher: Waterhouse Press

Chapter Eight

Grant

Being on the sun-drenched, bohemian-meets-trendy-chic streets of Seal Beach in April was like stepping into a tourism board advertisement. Within one weekend, there was an antique car show, a professional sand volleyball tournament, and a street fair for local artists to show and sell their work.

Then there was the celebration to end all celebrations. Baby Shark’s “welcome to the world” shower. Even though I wasn’t convinced she was up to the task, Rio insisted on going through with the hostess duties of holding the soiree at the home she’d once shared with Abbigail’s brother.

The guest of honor was on scene earlier than expected, using the excuses of unpredictable traffic and wanting to lend a hand with last-minute party preparations. I watched Rio’s spine stiffen as soon as the woman entered. One look at her face told me what she was thinking. Abbi’s arrival was an unspoken suggestion that she didn’t have things under control herself.

My protectiveness over Rio was getting more intense by the day. I rarely made it through one cycle of sunrise to sunset without wanting to cause bodily harm in her honor. All right, I’d make an exception for Abbigail today, but only because the woman looked hot and tired in her very pregnant state—and because Rio was now dragging me across the living room, explaining the how-tos of helping her construct a diaper cake.

“A diaper…what?” I blurted, once my brain actually linked the two words.

“No, no. C’mon, think outside the box.” Rio gestured as she spoke, explaining the final goal regarding the diaper stack in the nearby laundry basket. “It’s supposed to look like a wedding cake when it’s done. You know, with several tiers?”

“Okaaay.” I glanced back down at the basket, which was filled with the smallest diapers I’d ever seen. “So how many tiers do you think all of these will make? So I know how big to make the base.”

“Huh?”

“I’m serious. I have to calculate all this all out if you want it to look right.”

“Oh my God. You’re being such a guy right now.”

“And you’re being fucking adorable.”

“What?”

Time for a topic redirect. Now. “All right, a wedding cake,” I stated, bracing hands to my hips. “But I thought this was a baby thing, not a wedding thing?”

She scrunched up her nose and wiggled it back and forth, reminding me at once of a little bunny. It had to be one of the cutest faces I’d ever seen her make, and I couldn’t help but grin. Then wider.

Which led to the next action I couldn’t control myself from making. I pulled her body tight and close to mine. I held her there while she wrapped her arms around my waist, hugging me back freely. The moment was…nice. Over the last couple of months, we’d gotten very comfortable holding one another like this, in friendship and comfort. “Yep. Adorable,” I said and dipped in to give her an affectionate peck on the forehead. “It’s nice to see the brightness back in your eyes.”

For another long moment, Rio didn’t answer.

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