Page 112 of Love Me Boldly

“Swear to God, Holly, you don’t take a night to enjoy the good news you just got, I’m chucking your phone out the window.”

“You wouldn’t.” She hugged it to her chest.

“I absolutely would.”

“I’ve been so worried for so long, and there are always risks with surgeries.”

I reached out and plucked the phone from her fingers and dropped it into my door.

“Graham!” she shrieked.

I pulled into the parking lot and shoved my truck into park in the first parking spot I could find.

“I can’t believe you did that!”

I grabbed her cheeks and kissed her. I slipped my tongue into her mouth until the fight went out of her, and she responded, leaning in. Only when she whimpered did I pull back. “You got good news today. Tomorrow is going to be even better. I’ll be here to help with your surgery stuff, and then you’ll befine.Jonah is happy. Someday, I’m going to move here and find a job, and then after that, you’ll still be fine. You’ll be better than that. You’ll be happy.”

“You…what…you?”

At least she wasn’t worried even if her voice and words didn’t work right. “Spitfire,” I drawled and brushed my lips over hers. “Did you really think you’d ever be able to get rid of me again?”

“But…it’s been a week.”

“No.” I opened my door and hopped out. “It’s been six years, and I’m tired of waiting. Get used to it, because you’re not ever going to be alone again.”

I shut my door, waited for a second, and then hurried around the truck to get her door. “You coming in to tell Caroline the good news or not?”

“I suppose you’re not giving me a chance, are you?”

“Not a chance.” I lifted her out of the truck and carried her into the restaurant. Folks gave us strange looks, and Jonah ran right up to us.

“You don’t look like you have a stomachache,” he declared, before I could set her on her feet.

“That’s because she’s all better, little man.” I looked down at Holly. Her hair was a frazzled mess, her lips full and pink, but there was a glimmer in her eyes that was new.

One I wanted to start seeing much more frequently.

“That’s right, Jonah. Graham’s made me all better.”

* * *

“I like him,”Trina said. “He’s sassy but sweet, and I love the way he looks at you.”

“I think he’s sexy,” Ashley cooed. “His butt looks fantastic in those jeans.”

I laughed around the rim of my water bottle. “Keep your eyes on your own man’s butt.”

“But…”

“Not buts or butts,” Trina declared. “You look good. Happy. It’s kind of weird.”

“Thanks. You look like you’re going to puke,” I told her.

She laughed. “You’re not wrong. I’ve been throwing up every morning. Thank God the girls are at their mom’s this week now. It’d be impossible not to tell them yet.”

“I’m happy for both of you,” Ashley said. “Both of you, and Trina’s right, Holly. You’re happy with Jonah, but this is a new look on your face. It suits you. And the guys like him, too.”

“How can you tell?”