Lost without You: A Single Dad Small Town Romance (Annapolis Harbor Book 2)

by Lea Coll

  I focused on Griffin’s case, organizing his paperwork, setting up a schedule of things that needed to be done so nothing would be missed.

  Hadley’s suggestion that I mention investigating Declan’s mother flipped around in my head. It was a good suggestion. I wasn’t ready to talk to him yet. I needed distance from our conversation this morning when I’d revealed too much.

  I shivered at the memory of him asking if I was bullied. Sharing with Hadley was different than Griffin. Even though I represented him, I couldn’t shake this feeling that he was in a position of power over me and the firm.

  Wes, the man I’d dated in law school, was my professor. When someone reported our relationship as inappropriate, he denied any involvement with me. He said I came onto him, that it was essentially harassment. I understood he had to protect himself and his job, but it hurt.

  He eventually backed off the harassment allegation, but the damage was done, my reputation shot. The tentative trust I’d placed in him was undeserved. I vowed never to be in the same position again.

  On Friday night, we had our usual end-of-the week celebratory drink in the conference room. The office was closed for the day, the phones sent to voicemail.

  Dylan was practically vibrating with energy, a smile playing on her lips. “I have an idea for the fundraiser. I hope it’s not too late, but it could be the key to getting professional athletes on board.”

  I clenched my jaw. I’d hoped this week would consist of verifying times and deliveries, not planning yet another large project for the fundraiser. Dylan often came up with big ideas that were difficult to manage.

  “What’s your idea?” Hadley raised her brow.

  “What do you think about a silent auction for items provided by athletes, signed jerseys, footballs, baseballs, pictures? Maybe tickets to a game?” Dylan’s eyes shined with excitement.

  “It’s a great idea, but we only have a week until the fundraiser.”

  “We don’t have the connections or reputation for that yet.” Hadley looked at me for a reaction.

  Dylan nodded as if she’d considered this. “I started calling marketing companies for the local teams to see if they’re interested in donating. Researching online, it looks like it’s common for them to send out a set amount of paraphernalia for promotional purposes.”

  “When would we hear back?” I mentally ran through the list of logistics to add a silent auction.

  Dylan bit her lip. “Hopefully this week.”

  “We’ll have to see what happens. If it’s not feasible, we could do it another time,” I said.

  “Is anyone bringing a date?” Dylan asked.

  Hadley nodded. “I’m bringing Cade. I invited Nolan too.”

  “I hadn’t planned on it because I wasn’t planning on going originally.”

  “We should invite someone else so it’s even.” Dylan tilted her head as if trying to think of a possibility.

  “We should invite Griffin. He only recently moved here, right?” At my nod, she added, “Maybe he’d like to meet new people.”

  “Oh, great idea,” Hadley agreed.

  “I don’t like it.”

  Hadley nodded. “We’re going out with Cade and Nolan. It’s uneven. It makes sense to invite another guy.”

  This felt like Hadley and Dylan were setting me up. “He just acquired an eight-year-old. I don’t think he wants to go out.”

  “You won’t know if you don’t ask. Plus, he might have connections to football teams or their front offices. There was a picture of him with several athletes online,” Dylan said.

  Hadley snapped her fingers. “That would give you an excuse to call him. You can ask if he has any connections to get the items you need for the auction.”

  I wanted to groan in frustration. “You are impossible.”

  Dylan smiled as if she’d won.

  I sighed. “I’ll ask but I’m telling him it’s to introduce him to Cade and Nolan, to meet new people, not as a date.”

  Dylan rolled her eyes. “Like that matters.”

  We went over a few more things before calling it a night. It was the second time I’d called Griffin after our Friday wine night. It wasn’t lost on me that I needed alcohol in my system to talk to him on the phone now. This time, I walked to my apartment above the old firehouse. It was cute, quaint, and all mine. I put on comfy pajamas, dialing his number before I lost my nerve.

  “Griffin Locke.”

  “Hey, it’s me.” When he was quiet for a second, I realized he might not have put my number in his contacts. “Avery Arrington.”

  “I know who you are. You’re programmed into my phone.”

  I folded my legs under me, his voice low and rumbly. It shouldn’t have warmed my heart that he’d programmed my name. It was natural he’d do that when I was his attorney.

  “Avery?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Were you calling for a particular reason?”

  I pinched my arm lightly as a reminder to focus. “Oh yeah. Sorry. The firm had a meeting tonight.”

  “On a Friday night?”

  “Yeah, we go over the week. One of the things we discussed was our nonprofit fundraiser.”

  “How does that involve me?” His voice was hesitant.

  “Well, it doesn’t. Not really.” I was going to kill Dylan for putting me in this awkward position the next time I saw her. Awkward silence filled the air between us. Should I mention the silent auction or let it go? I promised Dylan I would ask.

  “Dylan had this crazy idea to do a silent auction offering local athlete’s paraphernalia, signed balls, that kind of thing.”

  “I don’t do that sort of thing anymore.”

  “Maybe I should explain this better. You see, Kids Speak was an organization that Hadley created because her brother, Colin, had a stutter when he was a child. Her father pulled him from school, got him a tutor, until the stutter was eradicated.” My tone filled with disgust. “You know her father backed her in the beginning so she was able to quickly get the programs up and running in the school districts. I can send you the data. It’s an amazing program. But when her father withdrew his support, she had to come up with another way to raise money. Colin is a college baseball player. It was his idea to involve athletes. They could provide coaching advice or just be there for the child to read to. Kind of like a mentor relationship.”

  “That’s sounds great. I’m just not sure how I can help.”

  Maybe it was a bad idea to call him. I was rambling. I probably sounded unprofessional. “I’m not sure you can and to be clear, this is all Dylan’s idea. She’s our public relations person.”

  “I’m listening.” It was a good sign he hadn’t hung up yet.

  “In New Orleans, we’re working with college athletes because of Colin. Plus we’re already known, so others have offered to connect us with professional athletes. Here, we don’t have that same connection.”

  “And you think I do?”

  I couldn’t tell from his tone whether he was intrigued or annoyed. “Dylan thought you might, but if not, just forget I asked.”

  “I do have some. I’ve met players and a few teams who wanted to protect their information.”

  “Do you think the professional teams in Baltimore would be willing to donate anything?”

  “I could reach out.”

  My shoulders relaxed. “That would be amazing. I don’t want you to think that I’m using you for your connections.”

  He laughed. “You kind of are.”

  I smiled. The moment was soft and intimate, relaxing on my couch in my pajamas. “You should come to the fundraiser.”

  “I should?”

  “Hadley’s inviting her boyfriend, Cade, and his brother Nolan. There’s three of us, so it’s uneven. Plus, you’re helping us out. You should be there.”

  “Are you asking me to go as your date?”

  My first inclination was to say no. I rarely pursued guys. We were going essentially as a group. I was inviti
ng him to be polite, but Dylan would tell me to say yes. I used that as my excuse to do what I usually wouldn’t. “Sure.”

  “Which night is it?”

  “Next Saturday.” My mind was reeling with the fact I’d admitted to asking him out on a date. My palms were sweaty, my heart was racing. Was this a good idea?

  “Let me see if Declan can stay at his friend’s house that night.”

  He was giving me an out I should take. “I completely forgot that you have Declan to care for. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I can still have a social life. I’ve barely gone anywhere since I moved back. I’m not friends with the people I went to high school with, so I don’t know many people.”

  “These events aren’t my scene.” I could have ended the conversation, but I didn’t. I wanted to prolong the intimacy of this conversation, with none of our usual animosity.

  I wanted to know more about him.

  “What is your scene?”

  I smiled. He made it sound like I had one. “I like staying home, watching movies, reading, drinking wine. I’m a homebody.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Going out makes me uncomfortable. There’s all these expectations. How you should dress, what you should say, how you should stand. I always do something wrong or say something embarrassing.”

  He was quiet for a few seconds before he said, “Do you or do you think you do?”

  That was the crux of the issue. I worried people didn’t like me but maybe none of it was true.

  “We talk a few times and you think you know me?” I injected a teasing note into my voice so that he wouldn’t think I was being defensive, but his comment put me on edge.

  He laughed lightly. “I feel like I’m starting to.”

  “Well, I’m not that interesting. Dylan’s a natural at social events and I’m not. There’s no story there.”

  “I bet there is. I’d love to hear it.” His voice lowered even more. An image of him lounging in bed popped into my head.

  One arm folded behind his head, his eyes hooded with desire, the sheet low on his pelvis, his chest and stomach bare. I wanted to place light kisses on his skin, lower the sheet, inch by inch. Heat flooded my core.

  “I don’t think it’s a good idea.” To get any more personal than we already had. My cheeks burned at the thought of Griffin knowing everything there was to know about me. If he knew, he might think less of me.

  “You’re an intriguing mix, Avery. When we first met, you fought me at every turn, yet you want me to believe you’re uncomfortable in social events. You’re a strong woman, educated, you stand up for yourself.”

  “You’re different.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. I wanted to groan out loud in frustration. I’d admitted my attraction to him.

  He chuckled, low and deep. “How so?”

  My mind raced with ideas on how to backtrack, to erase that comment from our conversation, or even excuse it somehow.

  When I didn’t answer, he continued, “Avery, how am I different?”

  Remembering Lorelai on his arm in a designer dress at a charity function, I said, “I bet you’re used to women falling at your feet.”

  I wanted to remind myself he led a different life in California. He might seem different here, but that didn’t mean he was.

  “That’s definitely not the case. I dated one woman for years, thought she was my forever, proposed, and two weeks later found out she was sleeping with my friend and partner.” His tone was flat.

  I felt bad for bringing up his ex when it was clearly so painful for him, but it was nice to hear he was capable of commitment. It made him more attractive, not less. “I’m sorry.”

  “People said it was good I found out before I married her but—”

  “It still hurts.”

  “It doesn’t lessen the sting of betrayal.”

  “Were you more betrayed by her or your partner?” I moved from my small couch to my bedroom so I could lay back on the bed.

  “That’s a good question.” He was quiet for a few seconds as if he was thinking. “We met as roommates in college. We worked together to create the software, build the company. We had no plans of stopping or selling. After, I wanted nothing to do with either of them, so I got out. I’m sure you know all of that.”

  “I didn’t until Dylan mentioned it.” I wanted to say I wasn’t one to search online for dirt but I had looked him up.

  “I’m not a celebrity by any means, but the breakup felt public. I couldn’t get away from it, the publicity, the questions, my ex-fiancée and her new boyfriend’s relationship.”

  “So, you moved here.”

  “I did. I used a local realtor, Juliana Breslin, to purchase a few buildings in the area months before, thinking I’d eventually come back because Julian and Declan lived here. I didn’t think it would be so soon.” His tone was full of regret. “Now I’m wishing I’d come back sooner so that I’d had more time with Julian.”

  I wanted to ask if his fiancée hadn’t cheated on him would he have moved back to care for his nephew. I didn’t. It was too personal.

  “I don’t know why I’m telling you all of this.”

  “I’m easy to talk to,” I teased.

  “You are. I’m not sure why that is.”

  Was he saying he liked me? I was quiet, not sure what to say. I’d called for a professional reason, but it quickly turned personal. I liked it but the idea that he wanted more or was expecting me to say something sent panic rising through me. “I’d better go. It’s late.”

  He was quiet at my abrupt change in conversation.

  “I’ll talk to you later.”

  “’Night, Avery.” Was the last thing he said before I hung up.

  I stared at the phone for a few seconds wondering what just happened. I was drawn to him too. Despite my initial impression of him, I liked him. I wanted to get to know him, but I wasn’t ready for anything that would disrupt my life.

  I rarely went out or tried new things. I dated occasionally but nothing serious since law school. I wanted the comfort of the sameness, the predictability of a routine.

  Ever since I started the firm, I’d been thrown out of my comfort zone. I had to meet new clients, work closely on Kids Speak. I didn’t mind if I could stay behind the scenes, but Dylan kept pushing me to do more.

  Then there was Griffin. He challenged me. He pushed every one of my buttons. He wasn’t routine. He wasn’t comfortable. He was new and exciting. Everything I avoided. So, why did his words settle deep into my conscience, making me want more, things I shouldn’t want?

  From the beginning, my emotions were intensified around him. If I allowed myself to give into this attraction, it would be a slippery slope of feelings I didn’t need in my life.

  Chapter Six

  Griffin

  All week, the memory of that Friday night call with Avery played on repeat in my head. She was unlike anyone I’d ever met. Women usually threw themselves at me when they found out I’d started my own successful company. It was one of the reasons I think I’d held on so tightly to Lorelai when I found her. She hadn’t seemed to care about my success.

  After the public breakup and the media reporting the sale of the business for millions, it was worse. Suddenly, I was a bachelor.

  Avery didn’t need to know it was no big deal for me to call in a favor and get signed sports memorabilia. Advocating for the organization didn’t come naturally to her but her rambling explanation about the fundraiser was endearing. It prompted me to ask if she was asking me on a date. I liked her flustered.

  I hadn’t expected her to agree. Maybe she thought of the date as a thank you for helping with the silent auction. For me, it was more.

  I wanted to go to get to know Avery. I had no business starting a relationship after my last one failed so miserably, but I wanted to be around her.

  I wanted to know why Avery claimed she was so reserved and awkward when sh
e was the opposite with me. Maybe she was right. I brought it out in her. That intrigued me even more.

  I tugged on my bow tie, taking a deep breath before entering. Charity functions were a regular occurrence in my old life, but this was the first time I’d gone to one since I’d moved. Entering the large room with panoramic windows showcasing the Annapolis Harbor, I scanned the room for Avery. Music came from a string quartet in the corner adding to the ambiance.

  She had to be at the fundraiser early to set up, so I said I’d meet her. Not seeing her, I stepped to the side, when a hand curled around my elbow.

  “Hey.” Avery’s voice was soft.

  I looked down at her, my body flooded with warmth. Her face was tilted up at me, her hair half up and the rest curled around her bare shoulders. My gaze leisurely traveled down, taking in her sparkling black dress and heels. “You look beautiful.”

  Compared to the suits she usually wore, her current look was soft, seductive, her blue eyes somehow more prominent. It would have been easy to let my eyes drift down again, but I kept them on her face.

  Her eyes widened as if surprised by my compliment. “Thank you. You look handsome yourself.”

  I wore the tux I’d bought years ago for an occasion like this. I was accustomed to these kinds of events even though I hadn’t been to one without my ex. As beautiful as Lorelai was, she had a glossy almost perfect look, whereas, Avery was real. Emotion simmered in her eyes, whether it was anger, uncertainty, or defiance. There was nothing fake or contrived about her.

  Avery’s eyes darted around the room as if she couldn’t settle on one single thing.

  I wondered if she was anxious. She’d mentioned not liking events like this. I resolved to make her feel more comfortable.

  She drew in a sharp breath before finally looking up at me. “Do you want to walk around, see the items up for the silent auction?”

  “Sure. I’d love to see how everything came together.” We’d talked on the phone a few times over the past week to get the items for the auction. I normally would pawn something like that off to an assistant, but I didn’t have one here. Instead, I used it as an excuse to maintain contact with her.