Page 42 of Two Hearts' Accidental Heroes

“How would you feel if I kissed you? Nothing more,” he said.

“I’d like that,” she agreed.

Bending over, his mouth met hers. Sweet and tender as it was, the kiss filled her heart with desire.

“It’s kind of like magic with us, isn’t it?” he asked, smiling wryly.

Tears filled her eyes once again as she nodded her agreement.

He smiled. “I’m going to leave you here with Johnny and go get some sleep. I have a feeling that you really don’t want to leave him alone tonight.”

“You’re right.”

“Let me go get you a couple blankets and pillows. Luckily, that leather sectional is made for sleeping.”

A few minutes later, Shanna finally fell asleep holding Johnny in her arms.

Chapter Twenty-Two

The following day, it was like everyone had known each other their entire life. Grace met them for breakfast at the restaurant. She had a friend who was living with her at the old Inn, so she wouldn’t have to worry about closing the house during mid-winter since someone would be there taking care of things for her.

It was strange to think that Wes was the one who’d brought them all together, Rick thought as they loaded on the plane a few hours later. Pretending he didn’t notice, Johnny accepted the quick kisses that Shanna gave him every now and then, while Grace just smiled as she looked on.

How had Wes become so twisted when he had a mother like her, Rick wondered? He was a pretty good judge of character, so he doubted that there was anything about Grace that he wasn’t seeing. But maybe it really was a sickness, like Wes said. From what Grace had told them when Johnny wasn’t around to hear, her husband had spent a lot of time taking out his grievances on Wes while being abusive with her. That could have been enough to turn Wes if his father was as twisted as Wes had claimed, eventually normalizing the sickness within. Rick suddenly realized something that he hadn’t seen before. There was a strong possibility that Wes had been sexually abused by his father.

They arrived in Crystal Rock within a few hours, and Jake was waiting at the airport with a limo, ready to take them to see Wes in style.

“We’re all heading over to the Dragonfly Pointe Inn,” Jake said.

Rick couldn’t believe it. “He’s not at the hospital anymore?”

Jake smiled. “We brought him over here to stay at a suite in the Inn as a temporary hospice, and I’ve hired a nurse to take care of him. Shanna deserves some dignity here, and then I was thinking that it would be better for the boy as well as Wes’ mother since he doesn’t have much time.”

“I gather you got a hold of those notebooks?”

“I did. There are some names in there that I didn’t expect to see,” Jake said grimly.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Rick replied, frowning.

“There are rooms in the suite for all of you, but I’m thinking you might want to stay at the larger cabin on the lake that belonged to Wes’ family so you and Shanna aren’t recognized.”

“Alright,” Rick agreed. “Shanna better put her wig back on before we arrive at the Inn.”

Another thirty minutes later, all of them were filtering into the room to see Wes, who seemed surprisingly cheerful.

Which was odd, Rick realized, because he’d never seen him that way.

“This is your father, Johnny. Do you remember him?” Grace asked. She’d pulled a chair near Wes’ bed and had rested a hand over his.

“A little,” Johnny said, studying Wes intently. “You’ve been sending me letters with Mommy’s paintings.”

“I have. I wanted you to see how good of an artist your mother is,” Wes said gruffly. “I might not be here too much longer, so I need you to make sure that she keeps on painting.”

“I will,” Johnny said, sitting on the edge of the bed. “What’s wrong with you, Daddy?”

“I have something called cancer, which can make you really sick when you have it for a while. I’ve become very sick now, so that’s why I wanted to see you again.”

“How come I didn’t live with you and Mommy?” Johnny asked.

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