Page 55 of Cowboy of Convenience
“I don’t know, Ev.” Grady teased across her again, causing the same reaction a second time. “I think we’re gonna be waiting.”
Her eyes flew open, locking onto his face. “What? Why?”
Grady’s smile was devilish and not even the smallest bit disappointed as he crawled over her, the heavy line of his cock resting against her belly through the fabric of his underwear. “Because I’ll be damned if I won’t feel you come around me the first time I’m inside you.”
She opened her mouth, ready to argue, but Grady was already off the bed and collecting her pajamas.
“Sit up.” His demand left no room for argument.
She complied, limbs heavy and weak as he carefully dressed her before climbing in beside her and pulling her useless body close. “Goodnight, Ev.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
GRADY
"I BROUGHT YOU some terrible coffee from a machine I found beside the bathroom." Evelyn lowered into the chair beside him, voice quiet as she passed off the paper cup. "Has the doctor come out yet?"
Grady shook his head before taking a sip from the drink that was just as bad as Evelyn claimed it to be. "A nurse came out a few minutes ago and said it was taking longer than expected, but that the surgeon should be out soon."
Evelyn inched a little closer to him, her expression filled with worry. "Are you holding up okay?"
"I guess I’m a little numb." He hadn't unloaded on anyone in years—hadn't opened up about how fucking hard all of this was. There really wasn’t anyone he could open up to. Not until now. "It's been one thing after another for so long I think I'm just used to it at this point."
Evelyn’s hand came to his shoulder, smoothing out the fabric of his shirt, adjusting the neckline, picking something he couldn't even see free before flicking it away. "I hate that you had to get used to it." Her busy hand finally stopped fluttering around then moved to slide into his. "I wish there was something I could do to help."
He could see that helplessness on her face. In her actions. Evelyn obviously didn't understand how significant her presence was.
But he didn't mind telling her. "You are helping. If you weren't here, I would be facing this alone."
Evelyn’s gaze drifted to the chairs across from them where Larry and Charlene sat not so long ago. "That's not true."
He got what she was trying to say, but it was still wrong. "It is. Having other people here isn’t the same as having someone like you with me."
Evelyn’s mouth hinted at a smile before flattening. "Someone like me?"
She was new to this, he got that. If Evelyn had been in a relationship before, he'd eat his hat. Because while he might have missed some things lately, there was no way he couldn't have noticed how uncertain she was when it came to their connection.
And they had a connection. One that went far beyond their plans and their scheming. One that had nothing to do with Gram-Gram or Sasha or his own need for distraction and her desire to live a life of her own choosing.
And he wasn’t afraid to admit it. "I think we both know this has turned into more than we initially expected, Ev."
Last night Evelyn said she was staying in Moss Creek. It was a decision he knew could change her whole life. Gram-Gram didn't seem like the kind of person who enjoyed not getting her way, and there was a large chance she would cut Evelyn off completely. That meant Evelyn could be giving up everything to stay. Money. Her family. The whole life she had before.
It was a huge decision. One she admitted was partly because of him.
Evelyn rubbed her lips together, that uncertainty he'd seen so many times pinching her brows. "I don't know how to be part of amore, Grady."
"Yes, you do." He slid his thumb across the back of her hand, wanting to reassure her. "You're here with me now even though you don't have to be."
Evelyn's eyes went wide. "Yes I do. I would never make you sit here alone—"
Grady chuckled. "That's why I'm saying you know how to be part of amore." Her obvious desire to support him eased a little of the tightness that had been fisting in his chest since they took his mother back. "After you got hurt yesterday falling off Lula Bell, you weren't worried about yourself. You were worried about me."
Evelyn rolled her eyes like he was making the worst argument ever. "Of course I was worried about you. I only had a little bruise on my ass. You'd just witnessed your mother acting very..." She paused before offering the gentlest explanation for the incident he could imagine. "Not herself."
It was almost cute that she didn't see how very significant all she did was. Almost.
He chuckled. "Sweetheart, that is exactly how a relationship works. You put each other first. You worry about the other person and want to take care of them. Want to make sure they're happy and supported."
