Page 95 of Hiding for the Holidays
“Can… Would you all be able to stay with me tonight?”
His face softens and he nods. “Of course. I think we all need hot showers after what happened, so give us all time but we won’t leave you alone, not for a second.”
“Thank you, Grant.”
“Of course, sweetheart.”
Realizing I’m too tired to stand, I ask him, “Will you help me shower?”
“My pleasure,” he says, kissing the side of my head.
I’m not really sure how he’s going to clean me by himself, but when Leo joins us, the job becomes much easier. They take turns holding me while the other washes, then they tackle me together.
It’s not as passionate as one might hope a shower with these two hot hunks might be, but with my headache and fatigue, I know there’s no chance of any hanky panky tonight, anyway.
I find myself alone in the bathroom with Grant as he sets me on the counter with a towel wrapped around me. He dries himself off then wraps a towel around his waist before stepping up between my legs, his hands gripping my waist as he storm-gray eyes trail all over my face.
“When I realized you were missing, my heart froze with fear.” His fingers bend and flex on my hips as he continues. “When I saw the small trail of blood, I was ready to tear the world apart to find you and kill whoever hurt you.” He slides one hand up to my neck, his thumb rubbing over my pulse point. “And when I saw you in that water, my heart nearly stopped.”
“Grant, I?—”
“I love you, Rosie.” I suck in a sharp breath of surprise as my hands reach for his neck to pull him close. “I don’t know what I'd do without you.” He rests his forehead against mine for a moment before tilting his head and giving me the softest gentlest kiss of my life.
“Now, let's get you nice and cozy in bed,” he says, his tone instantly becoming relaxed as he scoops me up and carries me into my bedroom.
He pulls one of his own t-shirts on me and dresses himselfin only his boxers. Leo comes in, in the same attire and holds up an extra pair of boxers.
“Thought you might like to sleep in these tonight?” he asks and I nod eagerly. I knew nothing could happen between us and after being in that cold pond I was happy to be fully clothed in warm, dry clothes. Especially ones that reminded me of them.
Once dressed, Grant lifts me again, climbing on his knees until he’s in the center of the bed, then he lies on his back and adjusts me so I’m sprawled across him, and we’re chest to chest, my head tucked just below his chin and my knees spread on either side of him.
I snuggle in as Leo climbs in on one side, his hand holding mine as we lay there quietly.
A few minutes later I watch as Asher walks in, also only wearing boxers. He climbs in the empty space to my left as he watches me watching him.
“You okay, baby?”
“Mmm hmm,” I mumble, reaching a hand out for him. He takes it, kissing my fingers before holding it tightly against his heart.
I think about how he told me he loved me a couple days ago. Even if he hadn’t said it, I feel it. The way he looks at me, takes care of me, protects me. Hekilledfor me tonight. Maybe I should be appalled but I’m not. It makes me love him that much more.
How can I possibly leave him? Leave any of them? I close my eyes tightly shut, hoping that I can prevent any tears from escaping. Gentle hands stroke my body as I tell myself to relax and go to sleep.
This might be my last chance to be with any of them. Because now Scott is finally out of the picture, they’re going to make me choose.
Chapter 29
Rosalie
Iblow dry my hair as nerves fill my belly. It’s the morning of Christmas Eve, and I’m dreading everything about today.
Not only is being this close to Christmas filling me with memories of my mom, but I have to tell the guys that I can’t choose.
Nobody said anything about it yesterday, and I think they were giving me time to recover, but as of last night, I’m officially past my twenty-four-hour watch period.
I didn’t ask, but they all slept with me again last night, although we didn’t do anything other than cuddle. It was nice, having that last night with them, but it makes today even harder.
I don’t expect them to want me to stay when I tell them how I’m feeling. Where was I going to go when I left here? What if I couldn't find a decent job or a good place to live? Even though I’d saved some decent money lately, it wouldn’t last long.
