Page 53 of Cowboy of Convenience
Grady's hand moved along her face, touch achingly gentle. "Ev, I—"
Evelyn reached up to press her fingers against his lips. "If you're about to tell me I don't have to go with you, then you can save your breath."
Grady's mouth slowly curved as he spoke behind her pressing digits. "You enjoyed turning that back on me, didn't you?"
Evelyn smiled. "I did." She backed up, taking his hand to pull him along. "Now come lay down. You need to get some sleep. You’ve had a really long, fucked-up day."
Grady came easily, looking every bit as delectable as he had the night before in nothing but a pair of boxer briefs, his hair still damp from the shower. While that would have normally distracted her, tonight she needed to stay focused. Needed to be there for him.
Grady slid under the covers, shifting down against the mattress, holding the blankets up as she curled against him. There was no point in pretending like that wasn't where she would end up anyway. The second she fell asleep, she would wedge her body as close to his as possible, so might as well get comfy now.
Once she was settled, he tucked the blankets around her, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Comfortable?"
Evelyn nodded, her cheek resting against the tickly press of his chest hair. "Very." She trailed her fingers through the textured strands. "What about you?"
"Honestly?"
Evelyn tipped her head back and studied his face. "Of course, honestly."
Grady flashed her a boyish grin. "If you want the truth, my bed’s more comfortable than yours."
She snorted out a laugh. "That's because your bed’s probably nicer than mine. I bought the cheapest one I could find."
Grady's brows lifted. "Yeah? Why’d you do that?"
Evelyn continued toying with his chest hair, sliding her fingers through the strands before smoothing them back down. "When I first moved here I didn't have a great concept of how much things cost, and I started to go through my money pretty quickly. Once I noticed how fast it was going, I cut way back."
As a result, the furnishings of her home were an odd hodgepodge of high-end and store brand. For a while, she'd kicked herself for not figuring things out sooner, but maybe she should be relieved she'd figured them out eventually. When you jumped in with both feet you were bound to get wet no matter how quickly you learned to swim.
And at least she didn’t drown.
"I'm really proud of you, Ev. Most people wouldn't have done what you've done. And they sure as hell wouldn’t have worked as hard as you have to figure shit out." He stroked down her arm before linking his fingers with hers. "You’re really fucking brave."
Was she? It didn't seem like it. "I didn’t come here because I was brave. I came here because I was scared." She never wanted to live the way her mother had—miserable and resentful. "I just wanted to be able to live my own life and I was afraid that wasn't going to be possible if I stayed in New York."
She was still a little afraid that wouldn't be possible, but those concerns were diminishing quickly. Because Grady was right. Shehadfigured things out. Maybe not right away, but eventually. Even if her grandmother flew back to New York tomorrow, withdrawing any hope of financial support or family connection, she would be okay.
Would she be rich? No.
And the thought was almost a relief.
"You know you don't have to go along with what Gram-Gram says." Grady's voice was low as his touch continued moving over her skin. "You have options."
Evelyn smiled against his skin. "I know." She hesitated but only for a second. "I decided I’m not going back to New York. I'm staying in Moss Creek. No matter what my grandmother threatens."
The minute the confession was out of her mouth it was like the clouds parted and the sun finally peeked through. She'd been so scared of what would happen if she chose to go against her grandmother, so worried about everything she would lose.
Now she was focused on what she would gain.
"I just feel like I should probably stick around. The girls need me. If I leave, they won't have anyone to drive them around when they go out." She could only imagine who they would try to con into being their new babysitter. Probably poor Cooper. “And I want to see Amelie’s baby grow up.”
Grady was quiet for a minute. "That the only reasons you want to stay?"
Evelyn’s smile grew. "There is this man I'm interested in." She continued teasing her fingers through Grady's chest hair, a little fascinated by the feel of it. "But he's kind of bossy, so—"
She squealed as the mattress and the room shifted, her body seeming to move all on its own. Grady was suddenly over her, his weight heavy and grounding. "Bossy?" He pushed up to his knees. "You haven’t seen anything yet, Ev."
How had she thought she’d be able to keep her head tonight? To resist the urge to ogle Grady in his underwear. Because she was wrong. So very wrong.
