Page 4 of Finding You
“Zion Andrew Priestly,” he said, his shocked expression still in place as he gawked at her. “I can’t believe you’rehere,” he said, and her knees went weak.
He was as quick as lightning when he reached out and gently grabbed her elbow. It gave her just enough assistance to keep her from face planting on the gorgeous hardwood floor. Yeah, she needed some sleep. Or if nothing else, to lie down for a while.
“Oh you poor dear,” Mrs. Priestly said, hurrying to grab Raven’s other arm.
But the older woman released her when Zanaya started fussing. The bottle had come out of the baby’s mouth, and she scrunched up her face, but Mrs. Priestly didn’t miss a beat. She returned the bottle to Zanaya’s mouth as if nothing happened and all before the baby could get too wound up.
“Zion, carry Raven into the library,” she said. “She’s worn out after driving all the way from Houston. It doesn’t matter that she stopped for the night. That’s still a long drive for anyone, especially with two infants.”
“No,” Raven hurried to say, though Andrew… umm, Zion hadn’t made a move to lift her into his arms. “I can walk but thank you. I would like to sit down for a minute, though.” Her head hurt, her brain was tired, and her body felt as if she was being weighed down by a heavy anchor.
Yeah, it was time to call it a day, and the number of surprises thrown at her wasn’t helping.
“Well, at least show her to the library,” Virginia insisted. “We’re expecting some of the other guests to return soon, butrarely does anyone go in there this time of evening. She can rest in there for a while.”
Zion maintained a hold on Raven’s elbow as they moved slowly across the large living room on their way to the library. The brightly decorated space had butter-yellow walls, with elegant white crown molding, and super tall ceilings. The wood-burning fireplace currently heating up the space and two wing-back chairs, as well as a long, comfortable-looking sofa, made the space warm and inviting.
Or maybe it was Andrew that had her feeling warm and tempted to pull out of his hold. The intense heat crawling up her arm from his touch was almost too much to bear. It had been like that the day they’d met in Las Vegas. When he’d introduced himself, he had stuck out his hand to shake hers, and the moment their palms touched, an electric jolt of awareness shot through her.
Actually, that whole night with him had been much of the same after she’d gone to his hotel room. It had been so unlike her to do anything so brazen and reckless. Yet, it was a night she’d never forget. The man had touched, kissed, and licked her whole body into submission, and she’d been on fire for much of the night.
An involuntary shiver shook Raven, and Zion must’ve thought she was going to drop because he tightened his hold. She was glad because she honestly didn’t know if she could stay upright. The last couple of days had been a lot.
Thankfully, they finally reached the library, and he guided her over to an overstuffed sofa where Raven practically dropped onto. This room wasn’t as big as the living room, but it was just as cozy with its dark furnishings and hundreds of books on bookshelves that lined three walls.
Looking past Zion, Raven noted Virginia was standing in the opening, gently rocking Zanaya.
“I can take her, Mrs. Priestly. Thank you so much for helping me with the twins. I’m sure her brother will be awake shortly.”
As if on cue, Raven heard Gwendolyn, who’d helped with Andrew, cooing as her voice got closer.
“Ginny, look who woke up,” she was saying, apparently to Mrs. Priestly.
Raven still didn’t see her but knew she was almost to the room.
“Doesn’t this little sweetheart remind you of someone?” Gwendolyn was saying before she made it to the opening into the room. She was smiling down at Andrew who was cradled in her arms. “He’s a spitting image of…” Her words trailed off as she glanced up, apparently surprised to see Zion if her wide eyes were any indication.
Oh crap.That wasn’t the only reason she was surprised to see her nephew. She clearly saw the resemblance between him and the baby.
Since learning she was pregnant, Raven had played various scenarios through her mind of how she’d tell Andrew… no, Zion, about his kids. That was assuming she’d ever see him again, but this wasn’t one of them. She couldn’t have planned this reunion if she’d tried.
Now that she was sitting down and able to catch her breath, Raven’s gaze bounced between the two women. They were around her height or maybe just a little shorter, and watching them, anyone could tell they were sisters, though they had different styles.
Mrs. Priestly appeared more conservative with her straight hair pulled back into a bun and wearing minimum makeup. The pretty, sage green sweater and black pants complemented her shapely frame.
Her sister, whose shoulder length braids that were burgundy and curly at the ends, looked like a fashionista. The trendyglasses she wore didn’t hide the fact that her face appeared professionally made up and her lips, painted with red lipstick, looked perfect. She was a little curvier than Mrs. Priestly, but her red V-neck sweater and stylish jeans that hugged her full hips had her oozing sex appeal and confidence.
An eerie silence had fallen over the room, and Raven almost groaned as she watched the three adults stare at the babies, looking from one to the other. Then she saw the exact moment they all pieced it together.
“Oh. My. God. Ginny! I think your wish has come true…twice!” Gwendolyn whispered-shouted and then burst out laughing. “Oh. My. God! This is wild! We’re holding your grandbabies.”
Mrs. Priestly continued to stare at Andrew, and her mouth dropped open. Then she closed it, and a second later, she screeched. The ear-piercing sound was loud enough to crack glass, and both babies started crying.
“Shh… shh,” Mrs. Priestly and Gwendolyn both said as they cooed and gently rocked the babies, who settled down almost immediately.
Raven had been truly blessed. She’d been terrified when she learned she was having twins, afraid she wouldn’t be able to handle two babies. But they were, for the most part, good kids. They did their share of crying but usually only when they were hungry or wet.
She glanced up at Zion who stood frozen as he stared at Andrew. Raven’s heart squeezed. No doubt he saw the resemblance of the tiny version of him.
