Marissa smiled. “Thanks.”
She turned her back to him, opened the robe and slipped the towel around her. Marissa smiled to herself as she thought about her actions. Griffin had seen the very essence of her, so it was ironic that she would behave so modestly now.
When she lay facedown on the bed, he began the massage by pouring a small amount of oil into his hands. He rubbed his hands together to warm the oil.
He used slow, firm strokes on her shoulders, using gentle pulling and kneading motions. He gently kissed Marissa’s neck and shoulders as he massaged them.
He continued up her neck, using the pads of his thumbs to massage her skin in a circular motion. He smiled when a soft moan escaped her lips.
He leaned down to kiss her back.
Marissa opened her mouth to say something, but he stopped her by saying, “Shhh. No talking. Just relax.”
Griffin massaged her arms, fingers and palms in the same manner, relieving her body of any knotted muscles. He could actually feel the tension melting away.
He was yearning to make love to Marissa, but it was too soon. He was determined to wait until they were at a place of shared love and commitment. He had to earn Marissa’s trust once more. Her mother’s betrayal had destroyed everything she believed in. Griffin knew that it would take time, and he loved Marissa enough to wait.
Chapter 15
Marissa was so relaxed that she thought she would just dissolve into a puddle of water.
Griffin’s touch was gentle, yet firm as he made circular motions on her thighs and legs and down to her feet.
He took one foot in his hand and massaged the sole with his thumbs in a circular and upward-sweeping motion. He did the same with the other foot.
Although they had not made love, Marissa felt an intimacy with Griffin that she had never experienced with anyone before. The way he touched her body was sensual and erotic, igniting a flame of desire that burned within her.
When Griffin lay down beside her, Marissa snuggled up against him. It was hard to put into words, but she felt a closeness that had not existed between them before.
He wrapped his arms around her. “Marissa, I hope by now that you’ve realized that I’m crazy about you.”
She saw the heartrending tenderness of his gaze and smiled in response. “So this is not just because I’m having your baby?”
Moving closer, he shook his head and smiled. “I care for you deeply, Marissa.”
Griffin kissed her, his lips more persuasive than she cared to admit.
Burying her face in his neck, Marissa felt safe—she felt as if she had come home.
She stretched. “You give great massages.”
Griffin smiled. “I love seeing you like this…without the stress.”
He kissed her again.
“I missed you,” Griffin confessed. “I did not realize how much until recently.”
“I missed you, too, but I was so angry at you, Griff.”
“I deserved it.”
Marissa yawned. “I felt like we had really made a connection that night, but then you announced that you just wanted us to have a professional relationship.”
“I was trying to do the right thing, Marissa. I did not want to mess up our working relationship if things didn’t work out between us.”
Marissa kept yawning and her eyelids grew heavy. Finally she surrendered and closed her eyes.
She fell asleep with his arms holding her close to his body.
His body hungered for her, making it a challenge to lie so close beside her. It wasn’t hard for him to imagine what she looked like without the towel. Griffin had memorized every inch of her body the night they made love.
“You are such an incredible woman,” he whispered softly. “I can’t imagine sharing my life with anyone else, Marissa. If only I could convince you of this.”
She moaned softly in her sleep but did not awaken.
Griffin closed his eyes, savoring the feel of her body pressed against his own.
When she woke, a couple of hours had passed and it was well after midnight. She sat up in bed.
Beside her Griffin asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she responded, “I just need to go home.”
He met her gaze. “You don’t have to leave, Marissa. I have another bedroom. I can sleep in there.”
She smiled at him. “Griff, I’m not going to kick you out of your bedroom. Thank you for everything. I really enjoyed the massage.”
He grinned. “Don’t forget to leave a tip.”
Laughing, Marissa hit him with a pillow.
She climbed out of bed and walked into the bathroom to get dressed.
“You’re sure you don’t want to just stay here?” Griffin questioned when she walked out a few minutes later.
“I should go home.”
Later he walked Marissa out to her car. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yes, you will,” she said.
He pulled her into his arms, kissing her.
Marissa stepped away from him. “If you keep that up, I won’t be going anywhere.”
Griffin broke into a grin. “You promise?”
“I have to go.”
“This feels right,” he told her. “You and me.”
“I always thought so,” Marissa said. “But you couldn’t see it. Griff, I can’t help wondering if this is just about the baby.”
“It’s not,” he told her. “Marissa, if it’s the last thing I do—I am going to show you just how much you mean to me.”
* * *
When she climbed into her car and drove away, Marissa whispered, “Little one, your father is an incredible man. Mommy just doesn’t know what to do. I love your father, but…let’s just say that things are really confusing right now, but don’t you worry. Mommy is going to figure everything out.”
Every moment spent around Griffin reminded Marissa of why they got together in the first place—the sexual attraction between them was powerful. However, it was not enough to build a marriage on, she constantly reminded herself.
Apparently, love was not enough either, she decided. Her father adored her mother, but it was not enough to keep her faithful. Marissa could not bear the thought of living a lie.
I’m already living one lie.
One is more than enough.
She was relieved when Griffin stopped mentioning marriage. Marissa did not want him to pressure her into making a decision. She was grateful that he had decided to just take the relationship one day at a time, although she knew that Griffin still worried that her father might retaliate by firing him. Marissa vowed that she would not let that happen.
If Griffin had to leave the firm, then she would leave with him.
The telephone rang, cutting into her thoughts. She picked it up after the third ring; apparently her assistant wasn’t at her desk.
It was Griffin.
“Why aren’t you working?” she asked with a chuckle.
“Trust me, I have been working,” he said. “Do you have plans for tonight?”
“No,” Marissa answered.
“Come to my place. I’ll even cook dinner for us.”
She smiled. “Really?”
“Yes. I’ll even make your favorite meal.”
She broke into a grin. “Garlic shrimp?” From the first time Griffin made some for her last birthday, it had become a favorite of hers. “With the bow-tie pasta?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be there,” Marissa told him. “I’ll even bring dessert.”
Smiling, she returned her attention back to the task at hand. Marissa was looking forward to spending the evening with Griffin.
She left work promptly at five and went home to shower and prepar
e for her evening. Griffin was expecting her at seven-thirty.
They sat in Griffin’s apartment having dinner shortly after eight. “Marissa, I still think we should get married,” he blurted afterward.
“No, we should not,” she responded. “Griff, I know that we care about each other, but I do not want to be a part of a loveless marriage. My child deserves more than that.”
Marissa loved Griffin with her entire being, but because he did not feel the same way, she refused to confess just how much she cared for him.
Griffin wiped his mouth on a napkin. “Our child deserves to be raised in a two-parent household.”
“If those two people love each other,” she interjected. “Griff, do you realize that we have never even been on a real date?”
“Okay, then, let’s do it,” Griff said. “Let’s go on a date.”
Marissa chuckled as she sliced into a shrimp.
“I’m serious.”
“Really? You actually want to go on a date with me?” Marissa stuck a forkful of food into her mouth. “But what about all that stuff you said about focusing on your career. I know how much you want to make partner.”
“The baby that you are carrying comes first,” he said. “Besides, once your dad finds out, I may not have to worry about making partner, at least not at Hamilton, Hamilton and Clark.”
“Griff, I don’t want you to feel trapped.”
He met her gaze. “That’s not how I feel. You didn’t get pregnant by yourself and I won’t leave you to raise my child as a single mother.”
“You really are an amazing man, Griffin Jackson.”
“Not amazing enough to marry, though,” he said.
“Griff…”
“I’m not going to pressure you into marriage, Marissa, but I am also not going to completely give up on the idea. I know in my heart that getting married is the right thing to do.”
* * *
Jillian and Marissa decided to take a break from their work and have a sisters’ lunch together.
“I’m so glad we did this,” Marissa told Jillian. “Things have been crazy at the firm. Even though we work and live together, I feel like I’ve hardly seen you all week.”
“How have you been feeling?”
“Much better,” Marissa answered. “The morning sickness is over, finally. I’m still tired a lot, but it’s not as bad as it was.”
Jillian smiled. “When are you going to tell Mom and Dad? Pretty soon everyone is going to figure it out.”
Marissa scanned her menu, trying to decide what she wanted to eat. “Griff and I are working on that.”
The waiter came to take their order.
“Has he convinced you to marry him?” Jillian asked after he left.
Marissa shook her head. “I can’t rush into something like that. But we are spending time together.”
“I thought so. I heard you when you came in late the other night. Mom asked me if you were seeing someone.”
Marissa did not respond at the mention of Jeanette.
“What’s going on between you and Mom?”
“Nothing,” she said.
Jillian shook her head. “I’m not buying it. You’re upset about something.”
“It’s not something I’m ready to talk about, Jillian.”
“She wants to make things right but doesn’t know what to do.”
“There is nothing she can do.” Marissa took a sip of her water. “I love Mom. She and I…we are going through something and hopefully, it will all work itself out.”
“I hope so,” Jillian admitted.
Marissa was grateful when the food arrived. Her sister said grace, and the conversation turned from their mother to work.
After lunch, when they returned to work, Jillian walked her to her office.
“Looks like someone is definitely trying to get you to change your mind,” Jillian murmured.
Marissa followed her gaze. There was a huge bouquet of flowers on her desk.
“They arrived not too long ago,” Roberta told her, coming up behind them. “They are gorgeous.”
Marissa walked over to them and removed the card.
She smiled as she read it.
Just something to brighten your day
From the one who loves to see that beautiful smile of yours.
Roberta looked disappointed when she did not read the card aloud.
“Well, I’m off to see if my secret admirer left anything special in my office,” Jillian said with a chuckle.
Marissa made a mental note to send her sister some flowers as a show of gratitude for her support and for keeping her secret.
She closed the door to her office and then navigated over to her desk. Marissa picked up the phone and called Griffin.
“Thank you,” she said in a low voice. “They’re beautiful.”
“You’re welcome,” he said. “I wanted to do something to keep that pretty smile on your face.”
“It worked.”
“I heard you had lunch with your sister.”
“I did,” she confirmed. “She asked me about Mom and why we’re so distant.”
“What did you tell her?”
“Just that we were going through a thing and that it would eventually work itself out.”
Marissa paused a moment before continuing. “I don’t think she believed me. This is hard for me, Griff. I always thought my parents had the perfect marriage.”
“Trust me, Marissa. No marriage is perfect. It is work, but worth it—at least that’s what my parents always say. They have been married for almost thirty-five years.”
“That’s wonderful, Griff.”
As casually as Marissa could manage, she asked, “How would you feel if you were in my shoes? If you found out that you had been lied to your whole life?”
“Honey, it would be hard,” Griffin admitted. “I would probably react in much the same way as you have.”
“I really do love my mother, and I am trying to get past this.”
“Marissa, you will not have closure until you and your mom sit down and talk this thing out. Hear her out.”
“I don’t think I’m ready for that, Griff.”
“Take your time, sweetheart,” he told her. “But understand that you will have to sit down and have a conversation soon. You can’t just let this fester inside you, Marissa. It’s not good for you or the baby.”
“I know you’re right.”
“Whatever you decide to do, Marissa, I’m here for you. Just remember that.”
“You have no idea how much this means to me. I’m so glad to be able to talk about this with someone.”
Chapter 16
Early Saturday morning, Griffin decided to visit his parents, who lived in a suburb outside Philadelphia. He loved his parents deeply and tried to visit them at least twice a month.
Olive and Gerard Jackson’s apartment was a stark contrast from the castlelike mansion Marissa called home. But it was full of love.
His mother greeted him with a warm embrace. “It’s so good to see my baby.”
Griffin laughed. “It’s good to see you, too.”
His father joined them in the living room.
“So, tell me,” Gerard began, “how’s that case progressing? The one with the Ponzi-scheme fella.”
His parents both worked for Human Services, but they were always interested in his cases. “It’s going okay,” Griffin said as his eyes traveled the room. His high-school sports trophies were still in a tall bookshelf in the corner. Photographs decorated the walls in front and behind him. “Why don’t you and Mom start looking for a house?” he suggested. “It’s my gift to you both.”
His mother smiled at him and said, “Son, I
can’t imagine living anywhere else. This apartment may be small, but we love it. This has been our home since you were in elementary school. We have lots of memories here. Good memories.”
His father agreed. “You just save your money, Griff. Someday you are going to want to settle down and raise a family. Put that money aside for your family.”
Griffin always came home whenever he felt the need for a reality check.
Olive surveyed his face. “What’s wrong, son?”
“Nothing. I’m just glad to be here with you and Dad. I hate that I haven’t been here much lately.”
“We know how busy you are,” his father said. “We understand.”
His mother prepared lunch while Griffin helped his father make some minor repairs around the apartment.
“Dad, I don’t know about this heater. Why don’t you let me get you a new one? I don’t want you and Mom getting sick or freezing in this apartment.”
Gerard opened his mouth to respond, but Griffin held up his hand and said, “I insist. I’ll have someone come out and replace this one next week.”
“Thank you, son. Your mother and I appreciate it.”
Later that evening, when his father went into his bedroom to do his nightly Bible reading, Olive sat down beside Griffin.
“I know my child,” she said. “What’s going on with you?”
Griffin could not bring himself to tell his mother that she was going to be a grandmother. It had to be done, but he just could not tell her at this moment. She would ask too many questions, and right now he really did not have any answers.
“Talk to me, Griffin.”
“I did something and now I am trying to make it right,” he confessed. “That’s about all that I can tell you. Except that things are not quite working out as I had hoped.”
“I know you, son,” Olive said. “You have never been one to just do anything foolish in your entire life. There must be a good reason why you did whatever it is that you did.” She paused a moment before adding, “Fight for her.”
* * *
The date was everything she’d hoped it would be.
It might have been months too late, but Marissa was thoroughly enjoying her time with Griffin. They’d gone to dinner and a movie—her choice—and now she didn’t want the night to end. She accepted his offer to go to his house for a while to talk.
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