idea of criminals having access to a precious baby girl. But if Phillip won’t sign the papers, maybe we can apply a little pressure to make sure he does.”
Lydia snorted. “Pressure won’t faze him. You’d have to pay him to sign them…if he refuses. He may be completely disinterested in having a daughter and sign away his rights without a moment’s hesitation.”
“But you’re expecting trouble.”
“Knowing Phillip?” She sighed. “Yeah, I am. The key is to get him to sign before he can discuss it with his family. If he gets them involved, then it’s going to become a huge mess. Because even if you offered to pay them off, one payment would never be enough. They would keep asking for more, or change the terms before Phillip signed.”
“Remind me when she’s dating age that all her dates have to go through me
before taking her out somewhere.”
Lydia wasn’t sure he was even aware that he kept talking as if he’d already
claimed her and the baby. It was a little frightening because of how fast things were moving, but she knew he was an honorable man and she could do, and had done, much worse. If Gryf decided to claim her as his mate, then she would count herself lucky.
Getting to wake up in his arms every day would be a gift.
It didn’t take the lawyer long to get the form ready for her. He wished her luck as Gryf walked her out into the sunshine. At the SUV, he paused.
“We should take the form to him now,” he suggested. “Do you know where to
find him?”
“Probably on the grassy knoll in the quad at the college. He seldom goes to class, assuming he hasn’t been kicked out yet.”
“Then that’s where we’ll go. But first, I’m stopping by the bank. Better to be armed in case he needs a little persuading. If he’s into drugs as you said, the cash will be a temptation he might not be able to resist. Or it could backfire and he could ask for more.”
“Gryf, you shouldn’t have to pay off my mistake.”
He drew her closer and pressed his lips to hers. “I want to take care of you, Lydia. I know I didn’t get much of a chance to talk to you this morning, but I was hoping that when we packed your apartment, perhaps I could convince you to move those boxes into my home instead of the cottage. I liked waking up with you in my arms this morning.”
“It’s a big step, Gryf. We barely know one another.”
“After last night, I think we know each other pretty well.” He grinned. “Or do you need a reminder? We might scandalize a few people, but I’d be happy to give you a demonstration right here and now.”
She felt her cheeks warm and she playfully slapped him on the chest. “Behave.”
“So, will you? Move in with me?”
“You really want me to move in? Knowing I have all this excess baggage in my
life? I mean, it was one thing when I was pregnant with another man’s child, but now we know that child belongs to a well-known criminal family. No matter how much of a nurturing home I give her, what if those traits are inherited?”
Gryf gazed at her softly. “Lydia, that baby girl is going to be just fine. She’s going to have a loving home, be given the best education, and her friends and boyfriends will be screened. We’ll remove any bad influences as soon as we spot them.”
“We?”
His lips tipped up on one corner. “Of course. I’m hoping you’ll consent to more than just moving in with me, eventually. Until then, I figure I’m the closest thing that little girl has to a father, which makes my brothers her honorary uncles. Any boy who doesn’t toe the line will be dealt with severely.”
“You’re going to scare everyone off and she’ll never have a boyfriend.” Lydia snuggled closer to him. “It’s too soon to promise you anything more than that I’ll move in, but if you want to be a father to this baby, I won’t stand in your way. You would be a good influence on her, and as much as you’ve already spoiled me, I can tell that she’ll be
Lydia snorted. “Pressure won’t faze him. You’d have to pay him to sign them…if he refuses. He may be completely disinterested in having a daughter and sign away his rights without a moment’s hesitation.”
“But you’re expecting trouble.”
“Knowing Phillip?” She sighed. “Yeah, I am. The key is to get him to sign before he can discuss it with his family. If he gets them involved, then it’s going to become a huge mess. Because even if you offered to pay them off, one payment would never be enough. They would keep asking for more, or change the terms before Phillip signed.”
“Remind me when she’s dating age that all her dates have to go through me
before taking her out somewhere.”
Lydia wasn’t sure he was even aware that he kept talking as if he’d already
claimed her and the baby. It was a little frightening because of how fast things were moving, but she knew he was an honorable man and she could do, and had done, much worse. If Gryf decided to claim her as his mate, then she would count herself lucky.
Getting to wake up in his arms every day would be a gift.
It didn’t take the lawyer long to get the form ready for her. He wished her luck as Gryf walked her out into the sunshine. At the SUV, he paused.
“We should take the form to him now,” he suggested. “Do you know where to
find him?”
“Probably on the grassy knoll in the quad at the college. He seldom goes to class, assuming he hasn’t been kicked out yet.”
“Then that’s where we’ll go. But first, I’m stopping by the bank. Better to be armed in case he needs a little persuading. If he’s into drugs as you said, the cash will be a temptation he might not be able to resist. Or it could backfire and he could ask for more.”
“Gryf, you shouldn’t have to pay off my mistake.”
He drew her closer and pressed his lips to hers. “I want to take care of you, Lydia. I know I didn’t get much of a chance to talk to you this morning, but I was hoping that when we packed your apartment, perhaps I could convince you to move those boxes into my home instead of the cottage. I liked waking up with you in my arms this morning.”
“It’s a big step, Gryf. We barely know one another.”
“After last night, I think we know each other pretty well.” He grinned. “Or do you need a reminder? We might scandalize a few people, but I’d be happy to give you a demonstration right here and now.”
She felt her cheeks warm and she playfully slapped him on the chest. “Behave.”
“So, will you? Move in with me?”
“You really want me to move in? Knowing I have all this excess baggage in my
life? I mean, it was one thing when I was pregnant with another man’s child, but now we know that child belongs to a well-known criminal family. No matter how much of a nurturing home I give her, what if those traits are inherited?”
Gryf gazed at her softly. “Lydia, that baby girl is going to be just fine. She’s going to have a loving home, be given the best education, and her friends and boyfriends will be screened. We’ll remove any bad influences as soon as we spot them.”
“We?”
His lips tipped up on one corner. “Of course. I’m hoping you’ll consent to more than just moving in with me, eventually. Until then, I figure I’m the closest thing that little girl has to a father, which makes my brothers her honorary uncles. Any boy who doesn’t toe the line will be dealt with severely.”
“You’re going to scare everyone off and she’ll never have a boyfriend.” Lydia snuggled closer to him. “It’s too soon to promise you anything more than that I’ll move in, but if you want to be a father to this baby, I won’t stand in your way. You would be a good influence on her, and as much as you’ve already spoiled me, I can tell that she’ll be
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