Page 36 of The Fear
All he’d asked for was that they handled things fairly and that she put the kids’ needs in proper perspective. He’d tried to split chores evenly—especially for the kids—and made sure he did his part. And gave her time for herself every single time she asked.
Until Logan Curtis had shown up. As soon as her ex from high school had shown up, she’d dumped Brenton fast. Then Curtis had dumped her after some bullshit about her hitting on local guys every chance she had.
He’d been battling with her ever since. For hiskids.
There was nothing Brenton wouldn’t do for his kids. Nothing at all.
“Listen, Marie, you and Garth come over tonight. I am only on half a shift. We’ll get hamburger patties and those cheesy hotdogs the kids like. A guy at work gave me a bike for Wynnie today—I just need new training wheels to put on it. And I still have her old one that will fit her brother. We’ll teach them how to ride them together. Maybe see if Jackson and Janie want to come over. We’ll have a fun night for the kids. For the family.”
The tension around her eyes eased. Jessica always used access to the kids as a weapon against her mother. Because she knew it was effective. Brenton would never do that to his kids, or their grandparents.
When would that woman’s games ever end?
29
It had been a beautiful evening.There were various Hillers around—Gene and Chantal had come back in time for dinner, so Calvin was there, too. He and Ryan played until they were exhausted.
Hala spent most of the evening watching out forhim.Grady was all broody. And staring at her when no one else was looking. She seriously thought he would try to lure her away at some point. She was definitely disappointed when he didn’t.
She helped tuck the boys into bed—Gia was still sore from what had happened to her, but the other woman had taken off. To Hudson’s—she had said quite bluntly that he was using incomplete case law or something. And was going to get his ass handed to him if she didn’t reeducate Hudson very soon.
Hala was disappointed it wasworkrelated. Rumors had been flying around lately—amongst the Hiller clan—that Gia and Hudson were getting a lot closer. At least…Greer and Genny had speculated. Something about what Genny had seen between them at the hospital after Gia had been attacked…
Hala had so many questions.
But…at least Gia was going to be at Hudson’salone.Things could happen, right?
She finished tucking Mr. Ryan Hanan in and told him that his daddy would get him tomorrow. That Daddy and Miss Gia were working. Ryan had questions—mostly about if Miss Gia liked really big shiny rings too, like Miss Genny and Miss Ayla and Doctor Aubrey.
Hala suspected her nephew was about ready to propose. He was utterly adorable, that kid.
She needed to find Greer and do some discussing. See what they had to do to get Gia and Hudson together for real. Those two were just taking too long to figure things out. For two such brilliant people…sigh.
Her work was never done.
Hala rounded the corner that led out of the hallway on the second floor—and smacked right into a hard, muscly,perfectGrady Hiller man-chest. “Ohh. Do you ever watch where you are going, Cowboy Hiller?”
“Hi, honey. Kids both asleep?” He just looked down at her, from those wicked, wicked eyes of his. “Want to sneak off with me for a little bit? I can show you the magic pony in my barn—or we can go count the puppies again?”
He held out a hand to her. Just like that.
Tempting her to play with fire.
Hala wrapped her fingers around his and let him pull her to the side door and to the second floor balcony. It led down a flight of stairs—to the garden below.
Then she found herself walking through the garden.
With the man who had changed everything.
“Just…what are you planning, Grady Treyton? Are you scheming like your mother?”
“Maybe. Maybe I just want to be with you.”
Oh, dear gravy. Her stomach had just dropped here. “Why? What are you really after?”
“Maybe just a moment. When everything isright.” Then they were in the middle of the garden. Gayle had planted it years and years ago. Some of Hala’s best memories were of playing in the back garden of the Hiller ranch while Greer’s mother tended her flowers. “When I can look at you and know that everything will be good again.”
And then he had her off her feet. And in his arms.
