Hearts and Aces (Kelsey's Burden Series Book 7), Kaylie Hunter [guided reading books TXT] 📗

been a comfort when I felt lost and alone. Wild Card had been an escape from danger. Grady had been a friend by my side, who shared my goals and held me up long enough for me to keep fighting. I’d loved all of them, though in different ways, but… would I have chosen any of them if I was planning on living a long life? Was that why I couldn’t commit to Grady when he asked me to marry him? Could I see any of the men in my life drinking coffee with me on the back porch when we were old and grey? I didn’t know the answer, which I suppose was Pops’ point. I looked up at Pops.

He must have seen the confusion on my face because he folded me into his arms and sighed. “Yes, baby girl. That’s the life you deserve. The one you just pictured in your head. That’s the life you’ve always deserved.”

He held me, rubbing my back, while I sniffled. It wasn’t until Wild Card ran past us, stopping when he saw I was crying, that I pulled away and wiped my eyes.

“Everything okay?” he asked, stepping closer and cupping my face as he looked down at me.

“Pops and his wise words,” I said, nodding. “All is well.”

“Good,” Wild Card said, grinning down at me. “Because I have a surprise for Nicholas.”

He turned, running across the yard to a white van that was parked down the side road. A few minutes later, it all made sense as he led a young dog out of the van on a leash.

“Oh, no, he did not,” I said, laughing.

“He got Hattie’s permission,” Pops said, throwing an arm around my shoulders. “He also arranged for a dog trainer to come to the house twice a week to work with Nicholas and the dog. Nightcrawler and Beth offered to help as well. The dog has almost two years of training as a protection companion dog. He’ll keep Nick safe, and…” Pops looked down at me grinning. “Nicholas agreed to brush his teeth without argument if Wild Card bought him a dog.”

I laughed harder. Nicholas ran out of the house and across the yard. He dropped to his knees in front of the dog and started hugging him. The dog looked up at Wild Card who was grinning down at them. Nightcrawler walked by and winked as he carried a large bag of dog food and two oversized paper tote bags, likely filled with dog supplies.

“Well, I guess we have a dog then,” I said, shaking my head and turning into the house. “Is that how Wild Card’s mother convinced him to brush his teeth?” I asked Pops.

“Nope,” Pops said, opening the door and holding it open as I walked through. “She bought him a horse.”

“Damn. I’m getting off easy on this bribery thing,” I said, grinning. I turned to step into the kitchen and came face to face with Grady.

“Nicholas isn’t ready for a dog,” Grady said, seeming annoyed.

“Not your decision to make.”

Grady sighed, looking down at the floor. “Can we talk?” he asked, looking up at me then at Pops who stood behind me.

“Remember what I said, baby girl,” Pops said, kissing the top of my head before he turned up the private stairs to Hattie’s room.

“What was that about?” Grady asked.

“Life, death, and old age,” I answered. I pointed to the other side of the house and led the way to my bedroom. Lisa had cleared Abigail’s spare crib, toys, and supplies earlier, so the atrium was once again my quiet place. “What do you want, Grady?”

“Can we sit?” Grady asked, motioning for me to join him on the couch.

“No. I don’t think so.” I walked over to the window where I could still see Wild Card and Nicholas with the dog. Nicholas looked happy. Happier than I’d seen him in a long while.

“I’m sorry,” Grady said.

I turned to watch him. He was sitting on the couch, leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and running his fingers through his hair. He looked almost lost.

“When I suspected Sebrina was responsible for the shit in Mexico, I tried to pull her in the other direction, to keep the mess away from the family. That plan took a nosedive though when you drugged us and dragged us here.”

I leaned against the cool glass of one of the windows. “I couldn’t leave you out there, alone, unprotected. That wasn’t something I could accept. Your death would’ve hurt the whole family. Nicholas might be angry with you right now, but he loves you. He couldn’t have handled losing you. Not like this.”

Grady nodded, not looking up. “I hurt him. I hurt you. I’m sorry.”

“You did,” I admitted, wiping a tear away. “You broke my heart, Grady. In my head, I understand it. I understand you still being in love with Sebrina. I understand you wanting her to be a different person. Someone worth saving. Understanding, though, is miles away from forgiveness.”

“I love you. You have to know that. I thought my feelings for Sebrina were over. I would never have started a relationship with you if I didn’t, but in Mexico…”

Neither of us needed him to finish that sentence. We both knew how emotions were heightened in life and death situations. Hell, it was the foundation of our entire relationship.

“I need you to leave,” I whispered.

“Leave Michigan?” he asked, without looking up.

“That’s up to you. Right now, Nicholas and I both need some space. We need to know our home is a safe place to think and figure things out.”

“What if I stayed at Headquarters? Can we work things out if I give you some space?”

“I don’t know,” I said, walking over and sitting on the couch across from him. “If nothing else, I hope