Page 49 of The Fear
Hala had mentioned having two dozen boxes of sticker prize packs at her apartment.Luishad offered to come by and grab them from her. Grady had growled at him—making it clear that Grady would be delivering them, and Luis’s new kindergarten teacher, to the school at six p.m. to help set up.
He hadn’t exactly been asked to volunteer.
But Luis was just going to have to get used to seeing him around and everything.
Since Grady had made a decision—he was going to stop being afraid he’d screw everything up. And just…love the woman. In every single moment he could.
His father had captured him, when they’d been lugging things for the church-ladies-of-terror. His father had heard his conversation with his mother.
His dad had told him to stop being afraid.
That everymomentwith the woman a man loved mattered more than words could say. And if he always tried his best, the fear went away after a while. And that woman became a man’s heart and soul. Never had Grady heard his father say so many eloquent words as he did that morning. His dad was the silent type. When he spoke, it was because he meant it.
Grady was going to do his best to get his woman all to himself. It was time they figured some things out. She wasn’t escaping him now. He was about ready to scoop his woman up after this school thing ended and carry her off. There was a cabin not that far from the main house. It was in the total opposite direction of the one where Gene and Chantal could have been killed. It had always been his mother’s little retreat, more than anything. It had a small bedroom—and a pull-out sofa in the living area.
They could spend the day up there, enjoying one of the most beautiful corners of the ranch. And they couldtalk.Figure out where they wanted to go next. Because Grady wasn’t ready to ever let her go.
He lifted her into his truck after his mother told him they werefree to go.“I’m going to drive you back to the ranch tonight.”
“Oh? What if I want to go to my apartment?” She shot him a pure Hala look. “Then what?”
“Then I will drive you back to your apartment.” Even though she’d spent more time at the ranch lately than she had at her little apartment. “I want to…talk.”
“Is that what we are calling it now?”
“Something like that. I…do you want to go up to mom’s cabin with me? Tomorrow? We can stay the night. Talk.” Grady leveled a look at her. “There are two beds. I’m not ever going to do anything you aren’t ready for. But…it would be one way we couldfinally be alone. Decide what happens next. I’m not going to let fear of screwing up dictate my actions now.”
Grady just drove. And waited.
For the woman he wanted more than he’d ever wanted another to make her decision. Everything wouldchangenow.
Hala knewwhat the man beside her was asking. She was also going to be honest with herself. She had been to that cabin before. It was like a romantic little cottage in the more wooded area of the Hiller Ranch. There was a beautiful little creek that ran through it—that creek connected to the larger one behind Gunn’s church. She and Greer had ‘camped’ there when they were fouteen, alone. They’d felt so grown up. It was one of her favorite places on the ranch.
And she knew—if she went up there with him, things would change between them physically. Forever.
Her entire body caught in anticipation. In excitement.
In knowledge thatthatwas exactly what she wanted. “It’s Spring Break next week. I don’t have to be back at school until a week from Monday. How long…do you want to stay?”
“Forever. If I’m with you. But…I can’t be away from the ranch that long right now, damn it. It’s…busy season.”
“A couple of days? We can leave tomorrow afternoon, then come back Tuesday? I have some…unpacking still to do. I could…use the help.” He wouldn’t be able to stay the night at her apartment. She wouldn’t want people to gossip about them—she knew he was a bit sensitive about that kind of thing. After Greer had been hurt fifteen years ago, some people in town had implied Gene and Grady had caused the wreck that had killedKevin Chase. That gossip had really hurt Grady—especially since it was people he’d consideredfriendswho had started it.
She did feel a bit soft and squishy and overprotective when it came toherHiller brother. No denying that. “I can grab a bag. You can drop me off at my apartment now and pick me up for the carnival in two hours? I still have to get everything to the school. I could use…the help?”
“I need to go home and change clothes. Then…I’ll be right back.”
They both knew what was being left unsaid.
They had just changed everything between them again.
42
Today was probablythe best day of his life, outside of the two days his children had been born.
Brenton was still in shock over what had happened yesterday. A social worker had called him at the sheriff’s office, requesting he be in Courtroom B by two p.m.
The judge had signed anemergencyorder. Right there in front of him andJessica.
