Page 26 of Cowboy of Convenience
Evelyn's forehead dropped to his chest, her words muffled by the fabric of his shirt. "She's usually worse. She's on good behavior because she's still not sure exactly what's going on."
"Good. Let's keep it that way." Grady glanced around the room, letting out a deep breath. This situation had changed a whole hell of a lot more than he thought in the past minute and a half. "So it seems like Gram-Gram doesn't feel too bad about barging in here."
Evelyn's forehead remained against his chest. "It does seem like that, doesn't it?"
Grady glanced at the king-sized bed dressed with layers of blanket and sheet. "I was going to offer to sleep on the floor but…"
It certainly wouldn't help their cause if Evelyn’s grandmother walked in to find him sprawled across the area rug instead of curled up next to his fiancée.
Evelyn sighed, tipping her head back, lips parting as she started to offer him yet another out.
Grady shook his head. "Don’t even say it. I’m not leaving you to deal with this on your own."
Evelyn clamped her lips together, tipping her head to one side. "You can't honestly tell me you don't have better things to do than deal with this." She squeezed her temples. "This will literally turn your whole life upside down."
It would, and that was exactly why he wasn't going anywhere. For the past few years every day was the same. He worked. Held his breath to see if his mother would be good or bad. Went home, slept, and then did it all again. He was caught in a repeating cycle, one with no end in sight.
At this point, he didn't care how it changed, just that it did. Something to distract him from the reality that his mother was getting worse and there would come a point when she might need more care than Charlene could give. When that happened, the money would run out quickly, and he'd be faced with a choice he didn't want to make.
Even if all this situation did was distract him from that impending choice, it would be worth it.
Evelyn rolled her eyes like she thought he was being ridiculous. "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you."
Grady grinned. "I’ve been warned."
Evelyn went to the closet, pulling the silky robe she had on that morning from the hook on the door before going to pull open the top drawer of her dresser. "I should probably also warn you about something else."
Grady waited, interested to see what other complications she thought would make him change his mind. "What's that?"
Evelyn turned to face him, lips hinting at a smile. "I'm a pretty violent sleeper."
CHAPTER NINE
EVELYN
SHE'D BEEN IN plenty of odd situations in her life, most of them involving men, and every single one of them her own fault.
This one was no different. It was no one’s fault but her own, and it was definitely odd, but it was nowhere near as uncomfortable as it should have been.
Maybe it was because she'd known Grady significantly longer than the majority of the men who’d found their way into her bedroom. It could also be because this particular situation did not involve imminent sex.
Whatever it was, by all accounts it should still feel weird as hell considering her grandmother was parked right on the other side of the door and had no problem barging in at any time. But Grady didn't seem bothered by it, so she decided not to be bothered either.
“I’m not scared.” Grady kicked off his boots, flashing her a heart-stopping grin. “I’ve wrestled calves bigger than you. No way you can do more damage than they can.”
Evelyn grinned back. “I dunno. My elbows are pretty bony.”
Grady’s eyes lit up, like he was thrilled with their banter. “Not half as bony as the ones digging into your couch tonight.”
Evelyn cackled, laughing louder than she intended at the thought of her rich as fuck grandmother sleeping on a freaking sofa. Never in her life would she have imagined Griselda Warwick stooping to a level like that and it was hilarious to think about.
Unfortunately, it would probably be the last amusing thing that happened in her life. When all this was over, she would be forced to go back to New York. Married off to some asshole like Sasha and forced to parade herself and the family they created around New York City for the betterment of her family's name.
No more teaching yoga classes. No more hanging out with Muriel and Gertrude. And no more secretly hoping they acted out in a way that would offer her a glimpse of Officer Grady Haynes.
Because, regardless of her best attempts to find another option, she only had two roads to pick from. All or nothing.
She sobered, laugh dying off as the hopelessness she’d been trying to outrun caught up with her yet again.
