His stare was hard and steady, and a vein twitched on his forehead. “No wonder you didn’t say anything when I yelled atyou.”
Linx held his gaze, unflinching. Her pulse quaked as she shuddered with anger. “Believe me, if I heard from you before Jessie was born, I would have screamed at you to come back. Instead, I got a text message telling me you denied everything and to get rid of thebaby.”
“I would never say something like that.” He snarled as if he were falselyaccused.
“Yes, you would. Right before Jessie was born, you sent me a nasty letter. You accused me of lying. You said the baby wasn’t yours and you never, ever wanted to hear from me again. So … I … gave her … away … to give her a betterlife.”
“My lawyer told me to send you written notice. I was going to countersue you for defamation.” Grady slapped his palms onto the futon, startling Cedar who jumped and squared off against him. “It’s because the dates were allwrong.”
“I didn’t know the baby was coming in July,” Linx wailed. “I was hiding in the mountains—in your cabin. I couldn’t let my family know. If Salem hadn’t come to bring my groceries that day, both Jessie and I would have died. My water broke and then I was in an ambulance, and everything happened so fast. Please don’t hateme.”
“I don’t hate you.” Grady wrapped her into his arms and cradled her. “I’m pissed at myself. I should have come to check it out. I shouldn’t have stayed away. I’ve a feeling the text messages you sent went to Salem, and then she texted me the blackmail threats. She must have sent the text telling you to get rid of it. God knows, I would never ask you to do that. No wonder she was so smug the entire time she was on the fire crew, like she knewsomething.”
“I thought she was my friend. I saved her life that day when she got hurt. I thought she cared about me.” Linx wasn’t sure why she was babbling, except she was numb and aching at the same time. “I blew it. I really blewit.”
“No, I did. I should have come home when I got those messages. I should have calledyou.”
“You did, once, after Jessie was born, and you sounded so suspicious and pissed. At that point, I didn’t care anymore, so I told you nothing happened. I thought I’d never see you again, that it wouldn’tmatter.”
“Because I’d been such an ass.” Grady knocked his forehead against hers. Tears sprinkled on his eyelashes as he gazed into her eyes. “Now what? Can we get herback?”
“I don’t know. You’ve met her. Isn’t she wonderful? Isn’t sheprecious?”
“She’s adorable, and I’m so glad she got Betsy back. She’s such a determined kid, so much like you.” Grady wiped his eyes and smiled at the same time. “What do we do now? Will her mother let us talk toher?”
“Her mother doesn’t know you’re the father,” Linxsaid.
“But she’s mine, you’re sure?” He lifted an eyebrow and swallowed. “I’ve always been so careful with birthcontrol.”
“We got blasted drunk after that last fire…” Linx’s voice was little more than a whisper. “The one where the fire rolled over us and we had to hide under the fireshelter.”
“I wasn’t sure you made it.” Grady’s voice softened and that old familiar look, the one that melted her heart, reflected on his ruggedface.
“I thought I’d die if you didn’t make it.” Linx moved closer, her eyes locked to his, then closed them when he pressed his lips overhers.
He kissed her, softly and slowly, his hands and fingers stroking her, comforting her, and she let her tears mingle with his. All she’d ever wanted was him to acknowledge her, to believe her, and most of all, to trusther.
He tasted different, sweeter, and more tender—like he was baring his soul with the whisper of a kiss. And she didn’t want it to end, this peaceful, soothing, blissful state of receivingcomfort.
She came up for air and gazed into his eyes. “I’m so sorry. So sorry I didn’t tellyou.”
“I’m the one who’s sorry.” He feathered his rough fingers down the side of her cheek. “I should have believedyou.”
“If you had believed me, would things have been different? Would you have comeback?”
“Yes. I would never have left you alone and pregnant. I should have known those weren’t your texts. I’m still kicking myself. I don’t know if I can live with this. I hate myself so much.” Grady’s face scrunched, and he sat up with his elbows over his knees. He pinched the bridge of his nose and drew in a shuddering breath. “I don’t know if I can go on, knowing how I screwedup.”
“We both screwed up.” Linx wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder. The man was broken about this. It was too much to take in all at once. Ironically, this was exactly what she’d wanted—him to hurt as much as she had beenhurting.
But all of this hadn’t been his fault. It had all come down to Salem intercepting their messages and twisting them around for her ownenjoyment.
And now, Salem was dead, and there were rumors she was pregnant with Grady’sbaby.
“One more question,” Linx said, knowing it would bug her if she didn’t ask. “Was Salem pregnant by you when shedied?”
Grady rose to his feet and paced around her tiny loft, then knocked his head against thewall.
Linx waited. A pit grew in her belly as the silence dragged on. Did it really matter? Salem was dead now and so was the baby she wascarrying.
