“I do now. I feel everything differently, knowing Salem cut the lines ofcommunication.”
“We can’t blame her for everything. She was only the catalyst. I still should have followedup.”
“Is that why you went to Redstone? To see if Salem somehow survived and had herbaby?”
He nodded solemnly. “I didn’t findher.”
“If Salem’s still alive, do you think she had herbaby?”
Grady nodded slowly. “She would have had it end of May, if she’s stillalive.”
“Wouldn’t she have contacted Paul? Or asked for paternitytests?”
“Could have decided it wasn’t Paul’s and put it up foradoption.”
“I’m sorry.” Linx stroked Grady’s arm to comfort him. “You can’t let all these what ifs paralyze you. All we know is there’s no body, and someone’s setting fire to the houses of the guys she sleptwith.”
“I wish I’d never touched what she offered.” Grady’s voice was laced with regret. “That’s not how I feel aboutyou.”
“Oh…”
What could she say? She hated even being compared to any otherwoman.
He drew her into his arms and held her so close she could hear and feel that big heart of his beating. What was he trying to tellher?
“I’m having a hard time deciding what to do about Jessie.” He finally broke the silence. “I want to be her father. It’s my right, because I never gaveconsent.”
Linx squeezed her eyes shut as she shuddered with emotion. She, also, had fantasized about taking Jessie home with her, raising her alone and somehow, miraculously becoming a better mother than herown.
“I should have never given her away.” The words choked out. “I could have made it as a single mom. Many women doit.”
Grady’s body tensed and he pushed back. “You were young and confused. It was a good decision at the time. You didn’t know I’d beback.”
“Are you saying I would have been a horrible mother?” Linx whipped her glare at him, not understanding why she felt sodefensive.
“No. Not at all.” His dark-brown eyes pierced through her. “I’ve seen you with Ginger. You had no support system, and if Salem were your only friend at the time, I’m sure she told you to give itaway.”
“I wanted to keep her, but with my grandmother passing away a month before Jessie was born, no one knew what to do. My father least of all. He’d done the single parent route and it was rough, even with my grandmother around. I wish I hadn’t been so weak.” She bit her knuckles as a surge of tears wet her eyes. “I wish I’d stuck to my guns and beenbraver.”
“I’m going to consult a lawyer and see what we can do.” He gripped her tightly. “If you’re okay withit.”
“I… I want her back, all the time, but what about her? She doesn’t know we’re herparents.”
“Right, but living a lie is never a good solution.” Grady fixed her with a solemn stare. “I want to be her father, whether you want to be her mother or not. I never gave up myrights.”
“My sister’s a lawyer,” Linx said. “We can get a free consult fromher.”
“Sure, guess I will be meeting your family then.” He kissed the top of her head and tucked a tendril of hair behind her ear. “We both have a lifetime of regrets, but while I was looking over the burn scar, I realizedsomething.”
“What?”
“Wildflowers, shrubs, grasses springing up around the dead trees. Newhope.”
Linx peeked at Grady’s face, wondering if this was the same surly grouch she’d known these last few months. He seemed strangely atpeace.
“Knowing Jessie’s mine.” He swallowed as he cupped her cheek. “Knowing she’s got a home here means I have a home here, too. I want to watch her grow up. I want to teach her how to fly a kite, hit a softball, ride a horse, and be here forher.”
“I want thesame.”
If only he’d said these beautiful words seven years ago. Linx leaned up to Grady, her insides melting, and he met her halfway with the most tender, sweetest kiss she’d ever tasted fromhim.
Her emotions bloomed. She let her lips tangle with his, inhaling his masculine breath, the heat of his body, and gently caressing the two-day growth of beard on his strongjaw.
This was the Grady she’d wished for, the strong, silent type with the big heart. Maybe it’d taken the shock of having a daughter to bring him out of his shell, but whatever it was, her heart ached while a delectable movie played in hermind.
Jessie, Grady, and her, the three of them holding hands as they hiked to the top of the mountain, watching eagles soar and letting the breeze of hope wash over their upturnedfaces.
