Page 14 of The Fear (The Hillers of Barratt County #7)

He wanted to kiss her again. Grady had thought about nothing else but her since he’d kissed her that morning. He still didn’t know what he wanted to do or say to her now. He had never imagined feeling this way about her.

But he did. He was turned on by Greer’s little monster best friend. Hotter than he had been by a woman in a long, long time.

Hell, he wanted to just scoop her up and carry her off. Keep her all to himself for as long as she’d let him. And once he had her, he didn’t think he could ever let her go.

He could keep her forever.

He just kissed her right back. Probably for far longer than he ever should have.

He finally pulled back, even though every instinct he had said to just devour the woman right where she stood. That she was his. “What exactly are you doing?”

Uncertainty crossed her beautiful face. She was a little… shy with him? He thought that was beyond cute. “I think it would be rather obvious. This is called kissing, Grady. Do you need an instruction manual?”

There was the typical Hala snark. Sassy. She’d always been so sassy.

“I thought I was the last Hiller on earth you’d want?” Maybe those words had stung a bit more than he’d originally thought that night.

She tried to pull away.

No. Grady wasn’t going to let her. He was just a man, after all, and the woman he wanted more than he’d wanted any other in a long, long time was right there in his arms. Hell, she’d kissed him first. He wasn’t about to let her go now.

“Oh, no, you don’t. I am not nearly a good enough man for a woman like you, Hala Hanan, and I’ve known that for fifteen years, but I’ll be damned if I want to let you go just yet. ”

“Why would you say that? There is nothing wrong with you, Grady. Why would you even think there was? Except, you are just a little too grumpy sometimes. Just a wee bit.” Her arms snaked around his neck.

Hala arched against him, pressing that little purple t-shirt she wore and everything sweet and perfect beneath it against him. “But that’s about it.”

She should always wear purple. Always. It would probably turn him on instantly. For the rest of his life. He’d remember this moment right here.

Grady sank his fingers into the cute little ponytail. “I’m not nearly the man my brothers are. No getting around that. Not good enough for a woman like you, but damn, I want to put my hands on you.”

“You are just not making sense. You are just as good as they are; of course you are. Well, maybe not Gunn. But I do think that twin of yours is too goody-goody for anyone on the planet other than Ayla. But…doesn’t he drive you a little insane sometimes?

Be honest. Chantal once threatened to do a naked pole dance on your kitchen island just to see how he’d react.

I really think she meant it—since she was halfway up there at the time, and most of her shirt was unbuttoned before Gia got her down.

Since you guys were all coming in and we could see you from the window and everything. ”

His brother was one of the most good-hearted people he knew. That was the kind of man Hala deserved. “Yeah, more than you know.”

“Seriously, what makes you think you’re not as good as the rest of them?” She rested her head against his shoulder for a moment. As if they hadn’t just been kissing hot enough to set the barn on fire. “You are, you know.”

He just wanted to breathe her in. She felt so…perfect…in his arms like this. “I’m just…not. But I sure like holding you. Discovered that this morning and everything.”

“I think you are just fine. Better than most other men out there I’ve met, that’s for sure.

Even when you are completely driving me crazy.

I think you do that on purpose, though. I’m almost sure of it.

I like it when you hold me, too. But…you are going to forget I said that as soon as we leave this barn.

Because I don’t want you think I’m getting any ideas about you, you know.

Or think I cooked this up with your mother, or anything silly like that.

” She leaned back, shot him a perfect Hala grin.

But her cheeks were red. She was nervous of him.

But she wasn’t backing away. “That whole not future darling husband thing we have already discussed.”

What she’d said sank in. Completely.

That was all it took.

Hell, in that moment, he became hers forever.

Grady knew it. She captured him, heart and soul. I like it when you hold me, too.

There had never been more powerful words said to him. Especially by a woman.

If she would just let him, he would hold her forever.

He dropped his hands to her waist. He lifted.

Until they were pressed as close as they could get.

“Kiss me again, then. I like it when you do that. Then we have to get back out there, before that mountain-sized big brother of yours comes looking for you and catches us in here. He’ll know exactly what I’ve been up to, and he scares me. ”

Her arms tightened around his neck and she leaned forward. “This…this is insane.”

Well, he agreed with her there.

Grady met her halfway. This was definitely the craziest thing he had ever done, but he just didn’t care.

All Grady wanted…was her. “You deserve so much better than me. But I’ll be damned if I can resist you. I never want to let you go.”

He kissed her, just like he’d been imagining for hours.