Page 97 of Shattered Hearts

The door opens and Austin slips out of the passenger seat, worry marring his features. “You kids all right?” he asks as he approaches.

My chest heaves, my head swirling a little as Austin comes to a stop a foot away.

“Yeah. We’re good, Dad,” Grayson gets out roughly, and I can tell he’s just as bothered as I am.

Austin’s cobalt eyes peer between us, and I wonder if he can tell we were just making out. Probably, since he wasn’t born yesterday.

“Right.” He steps backwards, boots crunching in the muddy gravel as he half spins, giving us a coy smirk. He knows. “Don’t be out here too long. It’s too cold and wet, and I wouldn’t want either of you getting sick. I’ll meet you back at the ranch. Oh, and I’d say use protection, but…”

My tongue pokes the side of my cheek, and Grayson snorts a laugh. Austin jumps back in the ute. Headlights burn my eyes before he takes off, disappearing in the distance.

I turn to Grayson. “Did your dad just have a dig at me?”

He chuckles, and I bite down on my lip, trying my best not to smile. “Yeah, he did. I can’t believe the confidence of that man.”

My head shakes, and I go to move towards the passenger door, but Grayson stops me. Spinning me on the spot, he kisses me again, gentler this time. My hands find his back, pressing myself against him as he lets out a pleasant sigh.

“I love you, Laynie,” he repeats, my heart jolting again as his words wash over me.

Grinning, I press a kiss against his cheek. “I love you, Grayson Lawson.” Giddiness bubbles through me.

“We should get going now.”

I pout, and his head tilts a little, amused. “But it’s quiet again.”

He arches a brow. “But you’ll get sick, and I can’t have that,” he argues, taking my hand and leading me to the car, opening the door for me.

“Fine…” I whine, slipping in and clipping in my belt.

Grayson switches on the car, and I smile, grabbing a hold of his hand as we resume the drive back to Honey Haven.

Foot tapping on the floor of the car, I look out the side window. “I have my next ultrasound in two weeks on Wednesday at twelve.”

“I’ll pick you up at eleven,” Grayson answers immediately, and I sigh, finally feeling less anxious.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Grayson

It’s been a week since Mum was taken to emergency, and she’s already back to her upbeat self, mixing up cookies in the kitchen.

Grabbing a drink of water after morning duties, I lean against the bench and watch as she turns on the stand mixer and continues with the batter, humming to herself. With her air of easiness, you’d hardly think that she just came out of hospital after a seizure.

I’m just glad she’s feeling herself again. It was a scary few days there when she was recovering and feeling lethargic.

“How are you feeling, Mum?” I ask, sipping on my glass.

She spins, giving me one of her famous wide smiles that are infectious. I feel my own mouth twitch. “I’m feeling okay. Just working on a new batch for the weekend. Aspen has a friend coming over,” she says in her bubbly tone.

I snort a laugh. “Aspen’s already bringing friends over? She must be a little social butterfly.”

“Oh, she is. They all love her at childcare, although Holden hates dropping her off. I think he’s the attached one.”

My head shakes. “Nah, Aspen wouldn’t last a day without him. They’re like two peas.”

“Well, he is her dad. Of course she’s attached to him.” Mum smiles, her eyes trailing out the kitchen window at the countryside beyond. “I always wanted to have a daughter.”

“Well, sorry to disappoint,” I chide.