Page 20 of The Fear
No missing the challenge in her words there. For either of them.
“Don’t tease me with that. I may just take you up on it. Keep you forever. It would be you dumping me, honey, and I would never let that happen. If you were mine, I’d never let you go…”
Oh, dear gravy. Her stomach had just dropped like on a roller coaster with that. Hiller men should so come with warning labels. They shouldn’t be allowed to talk to women like that. It just wasn’t fair.
“Okay, so now you are proposing. Did something change your mind since last week when you told me not to get my hopes up or anything?”
“Yeah, you might say that. About…five hours ago, actually.”
Five hours. Her cheeks burned. “You jerk. We are going to have to talk about that kiss, aren’t we?”
He led the way into the barn. “Of course we will. Our old pony is in the first stall. She’s a sucker for babies.”
Hala recognized the pony in question. She was most certainly magical. “She has to be at least thirty now?”
“More than that. We got her when mom was pregnant with Gia, I think. I was around three or so. First pony Gunn and I rode. All the girls, too.”
“Me, too.” A good deal of her childhood had been spent right here on the Hiller Ranch. It felt like…home. No denying that. So many of hergoodmemories had happened right here.
Even withhim.
They spent a good ten minutes ‘showing’ the babies the pony. Each one just…blinked and cooed. And blinked and cooed some more. Then, Chantal and Gene showed up out of nowhere to get them so their mother could feed them. Hala offered to carryCharis back to Rory, but one look at Chantal and Gene had her backing off.
They were going to take the long way back to the porch, apparently. They were so cute together. Chantal had always been so feisty, and Gene just looked besotted every time he looked at her. Rather like George did with Ronnie, actually.
But then…she was completely alone in the barn, with Grady Treyton Hiller.
The man who had kissed her senseless. Yikes. Now what?
“I should…get back up there. See if Greer needs help?—"
“There are plenty of people here to help my sister. We need to talk about this morning.”
He trapped her against the stall. His arms were on either side of her now. She could feel the heat of him against her. Her heart pounded so loud—it was a wonder his precious pony didn’t hear.
“Unless you’re afraid of me now?”
Her breath caught.
Not from fear.
No. She actually felt…excitement? Anticipation?
Did she want him to kiss her again?
This was insane. This…this wasGrady.
But yes, yes she did. Shedidwant him to kiss her again. So she could see…if what she’d felt had beenrealthis morning.
“Unless you are looking for that boyfriend of yours? I saw him and two of his sisters earlier.”
“Who?” It took her far too long to put it together. Her cheeks burned when he smirked.
“Good old Luie. Did you forget?”
His hand came up, and he cupped her cheek. Holy bananas, she could smell him, even over the scent of the barn. He smelled perfect. She wanted to stretch right up and just…kiss him. See if it had been a fluke that morning or not. Kissing Grady Hiller was beyond insane.
“He’s a good man. You should probably…You know. Date him and stuff.”
