Page 48 of The Fear
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“So…Isaw you cuddling with Hiller. Are you two involved? Unless…that’s too personal and you don’t have to answer,” a warm male voice said behind her, as Hala loaded up another round of cookie boxes to take to the library table, where Dr. Alvaro was arranging them. That woman was scary efficient—and her Wonkus McBubbles cookies were a big hit with the kids. They were selling out of cookies faster than brownies. They were going to hit their goal quickly.
That was good.
The proceeds were going to help a local family pay expenses after a law enforcement officer was shot during a nasty hostage situation in Hughes Heights. The woman was a relative of Dr. Alvaro’s husband, Hala thought. Her family had been all over the local Texas news, and the Hope Life Church in Value wanted to help. The other people involved in that horrible night were her brother Hudson’s buddy Mac’s family.
Hala adored Mac Barratt and always would.
Hala would definitely help however she could—Mac was one ofherheroes, too. She would never forget seeinghimkicking through her apartment door that day to rescue her. Hudson hadbeen right behind him. Mac had been the one to break her ex’s nose, to throw the first punch after yanking that piece of man scum off of her and flinging him right into the wall so hard the drywall had been damaged.
She loved that man and always would. If she could help him by selling homemade cookies, then so be it. The Hope Life Church was determined to help as much as they could, too.
Gunn and Ayla were the face of that church now. Ayla was feeling a bit overwhelmed with the number of people who were seeking the two of them out lately, though. Since the attack on church grounds. Ayla would probably have nightmares the rest of her life from that day. And Gunn…Gunn would have the scars from the bullet.
Scars weren’t just skin deep though.
Sometimes, thefearetched itself on someone’s soul far, far deeper.
That was a reality she had lived for far too long. She and Ayla had discussed that very thing when they’d talked last night. Fear. And how it had kept them fromlivingfor a little too long. Gia and Genny, too. Until they’d all four been crying right there in the upstairs family room at the ranch. Grady and Gunn had walked in, taken one look at them all, and started panicking.
They’d been so darned cute, those two.
Ayla would make a wonderful preacher’s wife; she had that sweet, wholesome, genuine love of helping people. But Ayla was not used to being at the center of everything that being a pastor’s wife would mean. She and her sister had made a point of deliberately being on the fringes.
Hala understood—they were afraid. They’d always had to be.
Well, not any longer. The Fishers were being absorbed right into the Hillers. The Hillers would be their family now, forever. Guthrie and Gunn adored Aubrey and Ayla. It was so beautifulto see. Hala wanted a man who loved her like that when the time was right.
More…she wanted someone tolovelike that in return. To belong with.
To build a family together with, toknowthat that one person in the world was the one who you were meant to be with forever.
“Grady and I—” Well, what was she supposed to say? ToLuis? That she and Grady had a problem: Every time they got close to one another they just ended upkissingeach other? Superhot, scorching kisses that she blushed, even thinking about days later?
Probably not something Luis would want to hear. Considering.
“I get it. Notjustfriends with Grady now? When did that happen?”
Hala just shook her head. And decided to just go with total honesty. “Like in an instant, really. Just…Pow! I’m not sure what we are, honestly. It’s all…it all just got really complicated, really quickly. And I’m not good at this relationship stuff. I’m good at…kindergarten. There is abigdifference, Luis. A really big difference. And to be honest, I am a bit terrified here.”
Well. The words just came tumbling out today, didn’t they?
“But there is a relationship? My hopes are dashed forever. Seriously, though…of all the men in Value to beat me out…Grady Hiller’s one of the very best ones. Something to keep in mind. I’d trust him to date one of my sisters in a heartbeat. And they have all made comments they wouldn’t mind catching his attention, too.” Luis shot her a wickedly handsome smile. “But…that doesn’t mean I’m not going to enjoy giving him a hard time. I think he deserves it. He’s glaring at me right now.”
Hala couldn’t help herself. She turned. And right there he was.
Glowering at them from halfway across the library parking lot now.
Oh, that man. Not exactly subtle now, was he?
A rush of emotion she couldn’t really explain hit her as she looked at him.
There probably wasn’t another man like him in the entire world who could make her feel likethis.
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She hadn’t beenthe same. Something had been on her mind. Since the bake sale that morning. Grady had been trying to get her alone, since. But the bake sale ended at two and she had the school carnival at seven. Luis had been discussing details about it with her before Grady—and his own mother—had successfully run Luis off.
