Page 7 of The Fear
One that still made her stomach clench when she thought about it.
"Don't stop," he said quietly when she paused. "I think it's working. Ry is almost out."
Hala glanced down at Ryan. Her little mini-me—no denying who he looked the most like in their tiny family—was sound asleep, drooling on her shoulder. She glanced at the clock. Wow. Far later than she’d thought—or, for Grady,early.
Time to play Cowboy Grady, apparently.
"Poor little guy. Hudson said he's been having nightmares."
"Since the accident. They're getting better, but..."
"But four-year-olds don't understand why bad things happen. I’m not sure thirty-three-year-old men do, either. Not considering what’s happened around here lately. Guess none of us have been sleeping too well.” He rubbed a hand over his face. He wasn’t grumpy now. He just looked…tired.
Well, Hala definitely understood that.
"I should get him back to bed," she whispered finally. “Try to get some sleep myself. I sat up with Greer for a while. I haven’t been to sleep yet, either.”
"I'll carry him." Grady moved forward, reaching out. Hala passed him her nephew and watched as he shifted the precious little boy closer. She followed them down the hallway, trying not to notice that the pajama pants really made his rear end look perfect.
Gorgeous Hiller brothers were a real thing around this town. No denying that.
Then they were putting Ryan in the bottom bunk in Calvin’s room and sneaking out into the hallway. He reached around her, and pulled the door closed.
He was so close she could smell him. He smelled…really good. Like woods and cinnamon andman.
Likehot, attractive man.Yikes.
Crazy, utterly crazy. She had been just as close to Luis not even ten hours ago—and hadn’t noticed howhehad smelled at all. Hadn’t felt how warm and…strong…Luis had felt around her. Not at all. This feltdifferent.Yikes.
"Thank you," she said quietly. "For helping with him."
"You looked beautiful.”
The words were quiet, almost reluctant. Like he was being forced by an inner demon to even say them.
"What?"
His hand rose, and he touched her hair. He played with her hair, for real. He’d never done that before.
"Earlier. In…that dress. I just…wish I would have told you that you looked beautiful earlier instead of being an ass. You looked beautiful tonight. You’d…better go back to your room and get some sleep. I got…things to do outside, better get dressed and out there.”
Then he turned and walked away, as confusing as that man had always been.
She scurried away to her room next to Greer’s. This was weird. Completely and utterlyweird.
She was going to get through the day here, and then…go home. Where Grady Treyton Hillers justweren’t.It was far safer that way. What exactly was that bonehead up to?
5
Grady had run.That was exactly what he had done. He had run from that beautiful woman like his pants were on fire. Before he had done something crazy like leaned down and…kissed her…or something.
The instant she’d turned and darted down the hall, he had run. It had felt too damned intimate between them there in that hallway. He’d run. Like the coward he was.
Grady needed to get away fromHala,and from all the otherwomenthat were invading his house lately.
The girls were there all the time now. He was glad—he wanted his sisters where he could keep them safe. And their friends. Like…Hala.
Damn it.
