The Baby Next Door by Vannetta Chapman

Author:Vannetta Chapman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-01-11T17:17:00+00:00

* * *

Adrian wanted to kiss Grace.

And yet...he didn’t.

He was still thinking about George’s advice—don’t go too slow, don’t go too fast, listen.

Her parents had gone home while Grace was playing volleyball. He’d never seen her play any game. He’d never seen her so relaxed. He was holding Nicole on the sidelines, cheering on Grace’s team, when her parents walked up, looking for their doschder.

“I’m happy to give Grace and Nicole a ride home.”

Grace’s mamm thanked him, then sent a knowing look to her dat. Perhaps Adrian wasn’t being as subtle as he thought he was. He didn’t much care. It didn’t bother him one bit if people knew that he had feelings for Grace or that he adored Nicole.

When the game was over, Grace collapsed in the grass beside him.

“I should probably get more exercise.”

Her hair was sneaking out from the sides of her kapp, her face was flushed and sweat glistened on her forehead. In other words, she looked prettier than ever.

It was later, when he was taking her home, that he started thinking about kissing her. Nicole had fallen asleep in Grace’s lap. She was curled there, in the last of the day’s light, a look of complete relaxation on her face. Why was it that only children slept with such abandon? Adrian kept glancing at them, thinking how glad he was that he’d purchased the farm next to Grace’s parents.

Thinking of how good Grace would feel in his arms.

Thinking that he’d been lonely before, maybe for years, but he hadn’t realized it.

He wanted to kiss her, but he also realized this was probably one of those moments when he shouldn’t go too fast. Grace had spent the entire afternoon with him, and she’d done so in front of all of their church members. That was a big step for her. He was learning that she was a very private person, and also very careful.

So instead of kissing her when he pulled up in front of her house, he set the brake and turned to face her.

“I had a gut time today.”

“We did, too. Danki for, well, for everything.”

“I have a question for you, if that’s okay.”

“Of course.” Her eyes widened when he reached for her hand.

He laced his fingers with hers, satisfied at the sight of their hands intertwined. Pulling in a deep breath, he gathered his courage and looked into her beautiful brown eyes. “I care for you, Grace. For you and Nicole. I was wondering... That is, I’d like to ask if—”

She waited, but she didn’t look away and she wasn’t shaking her head no. He took those as good signs.

“I’d like to court you, if that’s okay. If you’d like me to.”

She didn’t speak for a moment, and then she reached out with her other hand and touched his face. “I’d like that.”

“You would?”

“Ya.” She pulled her hand away, a look of concern shadowing her smile. “But here’s the thing, Adrian.”

She glanced down at Nicole, kissed her on the head, then looked up and met his gaze.

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