But the rest of our family had been amazing. Teller had takenanother break from Ayla’s tour to come see me and spend quality time with Ollie. Ayla had even made a quick trip here over a weekend.
That had really been something. The Landrys and the O’Neals and all their significant others, together for the first time. Just like Grace had been dreaming of.
Even Danny had been there. Which was even more astounding, given all the hard looks my brother gave him.
It would be a very long time before Teller, Grace, and our other family members were ready to trust Danny. Heck, I didn’t fully trust him yet. I had way too much experience with him for that.
But he’d braved their disapproval and sat with Ollie, who’d been ecstatic to have his dad there with the rest of us. Danny was making a real effort. Even if he was still pretty surly about it.
He was also still recovering from his wounds, as well as dealing with a bankruptcy and renting a cheap apartment on the edge of town. And true to his word, Grayden had been the one to go over and help Danny those first few weeks after he left the hospital.
If you heard Danny tell it, you’d think having Grayden as his nurse was the worst punishment the world could devise.
But from Grayden, I’d heard the wordkarmathrown around several times.
Danny didn’t deserve Grayden. Sometimes I wondered ifIdeserved him, because Grayden was the best man I’d ever known. Every day, my feelings for him grew.
He was everything I’d never believed I could have.
And I was finally ready to tell him so.
“You’re still up for your first tattoo today?” Grayden asked, giving me another soft peck on the mouth. “You don’t have to.”
“I want to! Definitely.”
“Okay.” He grinned. “I’ve got the room all set for you. Did you decide on a design?”
I pulled a piece of paper from my pocket and unfolded it.
Before, I’d had no idea what kind of design I’d wantpermanently inked on my skin. Seemed like I’d been waiting for a sign, and now, I had it.
“This is what I was thinking.” I handed him the paper. “A heart, but better than the one I drew here. I’d love if you draw one for me? With vines and flowers, like your mural. If that’s okay.”
“Absolutely. I’d love to do that for you.” He hadn’t taken his eyes from the paper. “And these names on the sides?”
On either side of the heart, following the curves, I’d written the namesOliverandGraydenin my messy script. “Maybe you can fancy up the font too?” I asked. “This is just my best attempt.”
His brown-and-gold eyes lifted to meet my gaze. “You sure you want my name there? Absent tattoo removal, that’s going to be there forever.”
“I know. That’s the idea. You’re already in my heart forever. I love you.”
Happy tears filled my eyes. It was the first time I’d told him, even though I’d felt it for a while. Grayden had been so patient with me.
He cupped my face with his hands. “I love you too, sweetheart. With my whole heart and soul.”
We kissed for a while longer, but then Grayden got down to business. He put on his glasses and sat down at the desk, where he sketched my tattoo free-hand. It was exactly what I’d asked for.
Then he put the design into his computer and printed it on some kind of tattoo printer thing.
Grayden showed me to a back room. In fact, the room that used to be my bedroom. Of course, it had been transformed as much as the rest of the house.
“Have a seat.”
I told Grayden I wanted the tattoo near my right shoulder blade. He transferred his design to my skin and showed me in the mirror.
I already loved it.
He wore his glasses as he worked, his handsome face a mask ofconcentration. I’d worried the needle would hurt, but the rhythmic pulsing of it actually lulled me into calm. More than anything, I trusted Grayden. I knew I was completely safe in his hands.
