Page 33 of The Fear
Nor did her brother lift her out.Especially when there were two little boys who needed help out far more. Grady just told her to stay right where she was, lifted the boys out and carried them both to the porch at the same time, like adorable giggling sacks of potatoes, then came around and reached for her.
Hala wasn’t exactly certain what to do about that man—so she just stayed where she was…to see what happened. She was very curious…
There had been something in his eyes when she’d first seen him today…
The boys headed inside.
It didn’t look like anyone else was around right now. Just her luck, she was going to be alone with him—with only a pair of four-year-olds to chaperone. The last thing Hala wanted to do was be left alone with Grady Hiller right now. Things…could happen. Four-year-old boys took naps…
She hadn’t figured out what she was going to do about him yet. Whatever happened between them, it would really change things. For both of them. She wasn’t certain she was ready for that at all.
Then again, another part of her was saying ‘grab that Hiller boy and hold on tight forever’. Usually when he got close to her and everything.
Something was making her lose all grips on her sanity here…
Paste fumes. That was what it was—she’d lost all of her senses because of toxic paste fumes or something. Hazard to kindergarten teachers everywhere.
He unlocked the door, and the boys carried their backpacks and lunch bags inside to the kitchen. Hala held her own bag like a shield.
Calvin and Ryan took off toward Calvin’s room, her nephew stomping in his cast on the hardwood.
Then…Hala was alone in the Hiller kitchen.
With Grady.
“When do you think everyone will be here?” she asked. Like…some sort of bodyguard? Greer would make a good one. Or…Gunn. Seeing Preacher Man Gunn would really remind her she was supposed to be good, right?
He just shrugged, then his hand was on the strap of her bag. “Let me take that.”
“I’m hardly helpless.” It was heavy, but…it made a decent shield. Hala let him take it, though.
Hala seriously needed to think here. She was going to stay with her nephew until her brother came to get them. She was going to make sure Hudson and Gia were okay. Then she was going to get far, far away from this man. Fast.
“Do me a favor, Hala…” Grady said, almost in a whisper. His hands slipped around her waist, and she was off her feet. Just like that.
Only to be plopped onto his kitchen island, with his hands on either side of her hips, his scent surrounding her. “What are youdoing? What do you want? You will behave yourself, Grady Treyton. There are children running loose around here.”
Well, Hala kind of had an inkling of exactly what the dratted man was after, considering. Maybe a part of herwantedhim to be after that, too.
“I just…would really like to see you smile right now. I lost two of my best calves this morning, then all of this with my sister being hurt…it’s been a hard day all around. I just…really need to see you smile right now. Your smile always warms a guy’s soul, did you know that? It always has. Even when you were a tiny little brat and I was having a sucky day, I’d see you smile and would feel better. I really need that right now more than anything.”
Her heart turned to mush at the look in those Hiller hazel eyes of his. He meant it. He was hurting. There was such a sensitive soul beneath his crusty exterior. She just melted.
She didn’t smile. It just didn’t seem right in that moment. She did something completely crazy instead. She did the exact thing she’djusttold herself she wasn’t going to do.
Hala leaned forward, and pressed her lips to his.
24
Grady’s daddyhadn’t raised a fool, that was for sure. The beautiful woman he’d been thinking about for days kissed him, well, he was going to kiss her back. He buried his fingers in those curls of hers again, and held her still.
He wanted a real kiss from Schoolmarm-Hala. He bet that sweet kindergarten teacher exterior hid the soul of a witch. It was the only explanation for how she made him burn all of a sudden like she had.
Maybe his mom had put it in his head—to make him think about her like this. He pretty much hadn’tstoppedthinking about her since around that night. The kisses they’d shared had just made him burn all the hotter.
He deepened the kiss, but he wasn’t stupid. They had two little boys that could run in at any moment. And his brothers and sisters could be here at any time. Although he didn’t really care if they caught them at all. He could kiss this woman forever and be just fine with it. No matter who else knew what he was thinking.
He’d never felt this way about a woman before. She’d done something to him, with that first simple kiss.
