Two Can Play (Celeste and Dominic) novel Chapter 558

"Come on, Granny." Sparrow almost smiled. "You should know me by now. You should understand my personality. Why would I want children? They are bothersome. I do not want them, and Scarlett agrees with me. Children are not in the works for us. I am sorry if that hurts your feelings."

"No. No, Sparrow, you cannot say that." She shook her head hard. "You have such good genes. Look at you. So strong. So handsome. And this Scarlett, she is a beautiful woman. The two of you would make beautiful babies."

"I know. I know." He kept his voice patient. "But we do not want that, and I hope you will understand, and not try to meddle in our family. All right?"

She took a step back from him, and for a moment there was real sadness in her eyes. Then she turned, and her eyes found me. "Dominic."

I raised my eyebrows.

"You are my only hope." She crossed the floor and took my hand in both of hers, and her grip was stronger than it had any business being. "Tell me you will not be like Sparrow. Tell me you will give me great-grandchildren. Right?"

I looked down at her, this impossible old woman, this last brittle piece of my blood, and I had to fight to keep my face straight.

"Well," I said slowly, "if Celeste would have my kids, then we might consider having..."

"Tell me." She pushed my hand away without letting me finish and held Celeste's. "Tell me you two will give me great-grandchildren, dear. You will, right? You are my only hope."

Celeste flashed her a smile. "It is in our plans, Granny. If everything goes the way we intend, we will have a few children of our own."

Granny's whole face changed. She patted Celeste's hand over and over, like she was sealing a bargain.

"Thank you. Thank you, Celeste. I will be waiting eagerly for my great-grandchildren." Then she turned, burgundy silk swishing, and walked away through the crowd, and the guests parted for her the way water parts for the prow of a ship. Sparrow let out a long breath and turned to me.

"Your grandmother likes me now," she murmured. "I intend to keep it that way."

"You have to give her great-grandchildren," I said. "Apparently that is the price of admission."

She smiled and I kissed the top of her head and turned back to Sparrow.

"I am going to take Celeste and go change. We are due at the yacht." I tipped my chin toward the water, where the estate's beach curved down to a dock strung with lights, and beyond it the dark shape of the yacht waited. "You are coming, right?"

"I will get Scarlett first," Sparrow said. He was already looking at her, across the terrace, and something in his face had gone soft in a way that still startled me to see. "We will be right behind you."