Page 60 of Fighting His Fate

They sat on the edge of the bed as he opened it, the scent of his aftershave and soap tingling her nose. The cover read, “Genetic breakthrough of the century: murdered scientist posthumously awarded medal for her work.”

“She got the cover,” said Brett, his voice tight with emotion.

Grace put her hand on his thigh. “She deserved it.”

He flipped through the pages, her concerns over being on time for the potluck all but forgotten. She looked around the room, from Brett’s wet, slicked-back hair to the chubby twins playing on the blanket. She owed Joni for every bit of happiness in her life, and it wasn’t a debt she took lightly.

He closed the magazine and put it down, threading his fingers with Grace’s. “I miss her so much.” He shook his head. “I think I’ll always miss her. I wouldn’t have any of this without her. Not you, not the boys, none of it.”

“I was just thinking the same thing.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “Do you know how much I love you?”

“How much?”

She smiled against his warm, damp skin. “More than you could ever know.”

He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it, his eyes darkening. “If you really love me, you’ll let us be late for the potluck.”

She grinned. “Maybe just a little.”

With one fluid movement, he scooped her up and dragged her to the middle of the bed, pinning the top of her body with his. She laughed wildly.

“Thirty minutes,” he said.

“Fifteen!”

“Twenty-five.”

“Twenty.”

“Done.” He lowered his head and kissed the sensitive column of her neck.

“Brett Champion wants to have sex with me,” she whispered.

His hand came up to her derrière and squeezed. “You bet your ass he does.”

* * *