Page 59 of The Fear
Gia was there. She kissed Grady on the forehead. “Hey, Mister Hero, thank you. For getting to her on time.”
Hudson echoed that. He was hugging his little sister now. There was a look in his eyes—Grady understood. Hudson had taken care of Grady’s own sister, too.
He just nodded. “All of you get out now. I want my woman. Alone.”
“Behave yourselves,” Genny said, fussed over his blankets, and then shooed Gia and Hudson out.
Leaving him with the woman he wanted forever. Grady just looked at Hala after Genny pulled the door shut behind her. “You should…always wear purple.”
“Why?”
“Because I remember thinking that in the barn. When I first realized…that you meant everything to me.”
Her cheeks turned red. “I bought special lingerie. For…the cottage.”
“Purple…?”
“Some of it.”
“I can’t wait.”
“It might be a few weeks. Until you are better.”
“Don’t really want to wait. I think I’ve waited for you long enough.” Grady held out his hand to her. “Come here. I want to hold you.”
It took her a moment, but she was able to climb the foot of the bed. He scooted as much as he was able. The bed was narrow. But she was small. She fit.
“I am not staying up here long. I don’t want to get in trouble. The doctor who fixed you up is kind of scary. Her mom is the new judge that Gia really likes. The judge…came by to see you while you were sleeping. She apologized. For Jessica. Even though it wasn’t her fault.”
“It was Jessica’s. Has…anyone…said why yet?”
“The judge took her kids. Gave them to their father. Jessica was angry over that. She went to Deputy Ryce’s house. And stabbed him in the back. He almost died. I heard it hit his spine. They don’t know how much damage it will cause long-term. They are waiting to see. Then she drove to her parents, andattacked her mom. She took the kids. Jessica’s new boyfriend was going to help her get them to Mexico.”
“How did they end up in your apartment?”
“Wynnie and little BJ ran away from Jessica when she was packing them a bag, I think. Wynnie came to me for help. They were at my door. And I let them in.”
“She knew you’d help her. She trusted you.”
“Like…I knewyouwere coming. I knew…I trusted…” Her breath hitched, and there were tears in those big brown eyes. His mom had been right—this woman had one of the softest hearts of anyone he’d ever met. Just one of the things Grady loved about her. He held her closer. “I knew if I just held on long enough you would be there. I just…neverget yourself hurt again. I just can’t stand it. I can’t lose you, Grady Treyton Hiller. You are my darling future husband. We established that weeks ago, remember?”
“My mom picked you for me. I’m glad she did.” Grady kissed her gently. The moment just called forgentle.And…he really couldn’t move all that well. “I’m keeping you forever. So…did you just propose?”
“What?”
“I’m your future darling husband. You said so. So you proposed to me first.”
“Works for me. We’ll work out the details later.” She grinned up at him, never looking more beautiful. There were tears in her eyes. “I love it when you hold me, Grady Hiller. And don’t you forget it.”
“I’m going to hold you forever.”
“I’ll take you up on that.”
They were still holding each other when his mother and the rest of the family decided to butt in. Grady just stayed right where he was—not like he could really escape at the moment—and knew he had finally foundwherehe was meant to be. Next to her.
His mother leaned over and kissed him on the forehead, and did the same to the woman dozing in his good arm. The other arm was going to have to stay put for a while to keep pressure off his chest. “I knew she was perfect for you, years ago. I was just waiting for her to heal in her heart before I started doing what a mother needed to do.”
“Picked her out for me, didn’t you?”
“Absolutely. Andyou…for her. Youbothdeserve someone to love as deeply as your father and I have always loved each other. Take care of her, Grady Treyton. And love her. I know she’ll do the same in return.”
He was going to do exactly that.
