11
Gracie
Oh my God, he’s saying all the right things. But how can I do this to him? Possibly destroy his whole life just so I can be with him.
I shake my head about to tell him to forget it when Jessica sighs against my neck.
But he’s already shaking his head. “That’s how, Gracie. It’s not just about you anymore. You have to think about your daughter.” So in one rush I lay it all out for him.
“My father found out about you and me. He sent me away and told me if I came near you that he would destroy your business and run you out of Whiskey Run.”
The more I say the angrier he gets. He’s gripping the rail of the bed like it’s a lifeline. Each word he says is deeply enunciated, and his face is red like he’s barely keeping it together. “If you believe I would just walk out on you . . . that I would leave—”
I shake my head. I’m completely screwing this up. “No, that’s not it at all. It’s the opposite. I knew you wouldn’t walk away, and I couldn’t do that to you. You would have lost everything because of me. But now I have Jessica . . . and it gets worse, Aiden.” Tears spring to my eyes. “He found out I was pregnant, and my aunt told me that he planned...” I take a deep breath, finding it hard to even say it out loud. “He planned to take the baby and sell it.”
“Over my fuckin’ dead body.”
I start to cry for real. “Oh Aiden, don’t say that.”
He grabs on to my hand and threads his fingers with mine. “Gracie, what do you know about me and my family?”
I can feel heat on my cheeks. “I don’t know . . . We mostly talked about art. And even then we didn’t do a lot of talking.”
He laughs. “You’re right about that.” He strokes his thumb across my wrist. The baby is making little cooing noises, and I pull her in even closer.
“So, my uncle—my mom’s brother—is Jax Walker.”
My mouth drops. “Jax Walker?”
He nods. “Yeah, he owns the Whiskey Run Distillery. He actually owns most of Whiskey Run.”
“I know Jax Walker. He’s the one guy that my father has made sure to steer clear of.”
“Well, that was pretty smart at least. But let me tell you, Gracie. With or without my uncle’s protection, no one is going to hurt you or Jessica.”
Aiden
I put my hand around her neck and force her to look at me. “Do you trust me?”
It’s the same question I asked her the day we met.
She doesn’t hesitate. “I do, Aiden. But I also don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Nothing’s going to happen to me. I have too much to live for now, Gracie.”
She puts her hand on my chest and bunches the shirt in her fingers. “Will you ever forgive me, Aiden?”
I cover her hand with mind and hold it. My heart is racing in my chest because when she left me nine months ago, I never dreamed I would get her back. I had wished and prayed on my knees every day for it, but I was so close to giving up hope.
“I’ve already forgiven you, Gracie. But you can’t ever leave me again.” I squeeze her hand tighter. “Promise me. Promise you’ll never leave me again.”
“I promise.”
Before she even gets the words out, I press my lips to hers. With Jessica between us, I’m holding my whole life in my arms. Nothing else matters.
12
Gracie
They say you should sleep when the baby sleeps, and that’s no lie. Besides being exhausted, I’m happy for the first time in a long time.
The doctors came in and said Jessica and I are both doing great, but they are keeping me until tomorrow. Tate and Lakelyn both stopped by when they came to see Violet and Josh Jr. earlier.
I also talked to my Aunt Bethany, and she was so excited about the baby and the fact that Aiden is here with me. Well, he’s not with me now.
Now, I’m sitting here in bed with two men staring at me. Aiden had to go take care of some baby plans for the apartment. I assured him I’d be fine by myself, but he wasn’t having it.
So, I have the one and only Jax Walker sitting in the corner of my hospital room holding his great niece on his chest.
In the other chair is a brooding friend of Aiden’s, Treyton Cree. He’s a tattoo artist too.
I cut through the silence. “I feel bad that you both are having to sit with me. I promise I’ll be fine. I mean, we’re in a hospital. My father won’t come here.”
Jax smiles. “There’s nothing I need to be doing but holding my niece.”
I giggle and a snort comes out. “I find that really hard to believe.” I mean, he owns more businesses than I can count. I’m sure he should be working.