Page 34 of The Fear (The Hillers of Barratt County #7)

Somehow, they ended up alone. Greer wasn’t feeling too great.

Gene took Chantal off to his room—well, to George’s room, which she’d sort of commandeered lately—to tuck her in.

Yeah, he wasn’t stupid. Calvin and Ryan were sound asleep, and Gunn was gone.

Gene was going to get that hot little redhead he adored naked, fast.

Grady didn’t exactly blame him.

It had been a long time since he’d gotten a woman he cared about naked.

Like the one right in front of him now.

But now certainly wasn’t the time for that. He just acted before he thought it out. He scooped her into his arms. “Hold on, honey. I’ve got you.”

Her arms went around his neck, like he’d held her a thousand times before.

Grady carried her to the big rocking chair in the corner, and settled in. The boys were both asleep. His family had gone their separate ways for a little while, as they waited. He half-suspected they were giving him and Hala some time alone. He appreciated it.

Maybe he hadn’t been quite as careful to hide how she’d confused him lately as he’d thought. But…he didn’t care. He’d shout it from the rooftops how she made him feel if he had to.

Big wet brown eyes looked up at him. Grady just tightened his hold on her. “He’ll be alright, I promise. It’ll just take a few weeks to clean up the mess. Then he’ll be back in there, probably with a better color scheme or something.”

Grady just held her while the minutes passed. As they waited.

Until she was limp against him and he held her, imagining what his world would be like if he never had to let her go.

He just couldn’t get the sight of her brother wrapped around his sister out of his head. How Hudson had looked at Gia like that woman was his entire world. How…Gia and Hudson hadn’t been able to let each other go.

And he knew…

He damned well felt the same for the woman in his arms.

And how…he never wanted to let her go.