Page 52 of Cowboy of Convenience
"That's why I've been taking Evelyn's classes. Baling hay and roping cattle might build strength, but they sure don't help with flexibility. And I don't get up after I hit the ground nearly as fast as I used to."
Gram-Gram snorted. "Talk to me about that in fifty years." She tipped her head to one side. “Bernard? How long has it been?"
Bernard came into the kitchen holding his cell phone, watching as the timer counted down. "You've got thirty more seconds."
"Perfect." Gram-Gram went to work piling more food onto her plate, passing it off to Bernard before striding past him. "I'm ready to get out of this ridiculous bikini."
Bernard followed her from the room, carrying the plate she most definitely was not going to finish, leaving Grady and Evelyn alone again.
He shook his head. "She's something else, isn't she?"
Gram-Gram reappeared in the doorway. "I’ve been thinking. I would like a tour of the area." Her eyes landed on him. "I assume you're familiar with it since you've lived here your whole life."
Damn. It sounded like Gram-Gram might've been checking into him. "I'd be happy to show you around my little town, Gram-Gram."
"Of course you would." Gram-Gram squared her shoulders. "We can do it tomorrow after Evelyn's morning yoga class. I'd like to go to my lunch with those women at least somewhat educated about this part of the country."
"Can't do it tomorrow." Grady shrugged, trying to look like he wasn't enjoying the opportunity to tell Gram-Gram no. "I've gotta work, but I'll check my schedule and let you know when I'm available."
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
EVELYN
"EIGHT IN THE morning. Got it. I'll be there." Grady disconnected his call but continued pacing around the bedroom.
Evelyn watched for a few seconds, uncertainty keeping her lips sealed. She still struggled to know what to say to him. What questions to ask. What questions not to ask. How to let Grady know she was there for him. Hopefully she wasn't failing miserably because life in the real world wasn't the only thing her upbringing left her ill-equipped to handle.
She also wasn't too great at dealing with the emotional aspects of human interaction.
Her mother had never been particularly warm or emotionally available, and her father was about as absent as it got. The deepest relationship she'd ever had was with Amelie. That's probably why she chose Moss Creek of all the places in the world she could have escaped to.
And watching Grady rake one hand through his hair as he continued pacing made her glad for it. Happy she could be here for him at a time like this.
Evelyn slipped off the bed, padding across the floor to stand directly in his path. When he paused, she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against the center of his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
Grady seemed to relax, his arms encircling her, one hand cradling her head as he let out a long breath. "Charlene said she's resting. They gave her some pain medication that seemed to help."
Evelyn slowly stroked up and down the warm skin of his bare back, trying to soothe Grady the only way she could think to. She couldn't tell him everything would be fine. It would never be fine. Not in any capacity. All she could do was let him know he wasn't alone. Just like he'd done for her so many times before.
"They're going to do the surgery in the morning. She’ll be in the hospital for a couple more days before being moved to a rehab facility."
Grady seemed to tense up again, prompting her to tip her head up so she could see his face. "Which part are you most worried about?"
There was so much on his plate it would be impossible to relax while staring down all the problems he was facing, but maybe she could help him focus on one. Reduce the weight resting on his shoulders one load at a time.
Grady's fingers worked through her hair and against her scalp, gently massaging as he considered her question. "Charlene's able to stay with her at the hospital tonight, so I don't have to worry about that. Larry's got the ranch under control for the most part." His eyes pinched. "I guess I'm worried I won't be able to find a place willing to take her because of her history of aggression."
It was an understandable concern. One she was clueless about where to even start trying to solve. "Could the hospital help find options?"
Grady's hand continued working through her hair as his eyes moved over her face. "Maybe. It's worth a try." He nodded, like the idea made sense. "I'll ask while I'm there tomorrow."
A little of the helplessness she'd been struggling with eased. "What time are we leaving in the morning?"
Grady's brows pinched together. "You don't have to go with me. You have better things to do than sit in the hospital."
"Actually, I don't." Yes, she had a couple classes she would have to cancel. And yes, she normally went out to Amelie’s for lunch on Thursdays. But being with Grady was more important than any of that. He needed her.
And she needed to be there for him.
