Page 83 of Paths
My words make her body go tense again and she pushes from my chest to look at me with big eyes. “How many times have you been shot at?”
I try and give her a reassuring smile and pull her back to me. “That’s a conversation for another day. I will say, I hope it’s the last time anyone fires a gun at me. Slid a ring on your finger last night, bonded with your dad over muffins this morning, and might’ve made a baby with you. I’m ready to move on to other things than being shot at.”
She sinks into me. “You bonded with my dad?”
“Yeah, he wants to see more of you. I told him I’d bring you back whenever you wanted, but after what just happened, there’s no way you’re leaving the vineyard until something happens with the MacLachlans.”
She nods against my chest and we lay like this for a long while.
Maya eventually breaks the silence. “This ruined your in-flight sex plans.”
I sigh, finally relaxing. I put my lips to her soft hair. “I’ll charter a plane just to fly around in circles to make that happen. You give me the word and it’s a date.”
“Okay.” She burrows in farther. “I’ll bring the condoms.”
Chapter 22 – One, Two, Three, and Four
Grady –
Once the plane lands, I hurry her to my Escalade while making sure no one follows us. I don’t think they’ll try to make another move so soon, but you never know.
I checked her eyes two more times on the plane for signs of a concussion. She’s got swelling on her cheek that’s sure to bruise and the scratches are starting to scab. Her pupils aren’t dilated, she hasn’t fallen asleep or been sick—but I’m not taking any chances, so I tell her I’m taking her straight to a doctor to get checked out.
This is when we have our first argument. It isn’t ridiculous banter about food or Christmas trees, either. It’s a hands-down, lay-your-shit-out disagreement.
She insists she’s fine.
I tell her she’s going to the doctor—end of discussion. She’s not the one looking at her face with a constant reminder of what just happened. She even admits to having a slight headache.
She retorts that anyone who skidded across a tarmac on their face would have a headache, and again, repeats that she’s fine.
I tell her she doesn’t have a choice—we’re going.
She says I’ll have to wrestle her out of the car and that would just be embarrassing, because she isn’t going and—fucking again—says she’s fine.
I ignore her, insisting she go.
Then she explains in a high-pitched tone that she’s the only health care professional in this vehicle and if she gets sick, she’ll go. She even goes so far as to add in a sarcastic tone that she’ll be sure to throw up all over me so I don’t miss it.
I start my car, and as we leave the parking lot, put my foot down. She’s going to see a doctor.
As I pull onto the highway to find the nearest emergency clinic, her voice fills the car, but this time it’s small and shaky.
“Please, Grady,” she starts, and when I look over, her eyes are filled with tears. Damn it. That, mixed with seeing her beautiful face marred, is enough to gut me all over again. “I just want to go home after all that’s happened. I promise I’ll tell you if I don’t feel good. Please.”
I sigh and turn back to focus on the highway. Reaching over, I take her hand and, fuck me, I agree. Seeing tears in her eyes nearly does me in.
This doesn’t bode well for me.
But I try to save face and tell her I’ll only take her home if she takes a couple more days off work to make sure she’s okay.
Surprisingly, she doesn’t argue. I’m out of pawns to negotiate with, so I’m relieved she gives in. Plus, there’s no way I was going to let her go to work anyway, so it saves me another argument.
The rest of the car ride is quiet, but when my phone rings and I see that it’s Crew, my stomach tightens, wondering what it could be now.
I don’t put it on speaker, just in case. “Yeah?”
“Hey, I know you’ve had a busy day already, and trust me, I wouldn’t bother you for anything else, but if I were you I’d want a warning.” I’ve known Crew for more than ten years. I probably know him better than anyone, so I can tell by his tone of voice, this isn’t an emergency. If anything, he sounds amused.
