Chapter 11
11
Of all of the Hiller brothers, this was the one who made her… nervous. Ayla suspected she knew why. Just like Guthrie had Aubrey tied up in knots because her sister was attracted to him—this guy had the power to make Ayla feel that way.
She so wasn’t ready for that.
But she found herself sitting there right next to him. Then… they heard something. People walking around or something.
He looked at her. “Would you like to go check out the garden with me? The sky is clear tonight. Stars are really beautiful out here. I go out there sometimes late at night just to think. To pray.”
“I would like that, but… ” The garden was a long way away. “I probably can’t quite make it out there by myself. Not with just one crutch.”
“I can give you a lift.” He was looking at her, with those big hazel eyes. It was his eyes—they were always so sincere, so kind. Of all of the Hillers, he had the most beautiful eyes.
“I would like that.” No one had ever really carried her before. Definitely not a hot guy. If anyone had asked her before if she would have even wanted a man to carry her somewhere, she would have said no. Definitely not.
She was an independent woman, after all.
But… Gene scooped Chantal up all the time—and Chantal could walk around just fine. Dr. Hot-Lips Chad carried Genny everywhere he could, too. Greer had said it was so Gene and Chad could get their hands on Chantal and Genny.
That the guys thought they were sneaky that way, but it was so obvious.
Ayla looked at the good Reverend Hiller—was he trying to be sneaky here?
“You’ll have to grab the milk and cookies, though.” He put the gallon of milk on the counter again.
“Then I am all set.” She leaned her crutch against the counter. And lifted her arms. She wasn’t quite sure exactly what she was doing here, but… well… Ayla did it anyway.
Just like that, he scooped her right up. Hot arms went around her, she could smell his woodsy mint scent, and well… she wanted to just press as close to the man as she could get.
She was so pitiful here.
Ayla twisted just a little, ignoring the twinge. She hooked her left hand in the handle of the milk. He adjusted her a bit, until she could grab the cookies.
“I got’em. Success! I’m ready, big guy. You are very muscle-y for a pasty-faced preacher guy. And you probably won’t ever drop me, will you?”
“No. I’ll never drop you. Hook your arm around my neck, and we’ll head outside.”
Just like that, Ayla Erin Fisher let a man just carry her away.
Gunn carried her through the back door. Ayla just went along for the ride, clutching the bag of milk and cookies like a lifeline. She had been aware of Reverend Gunn Hiller for days now. It was late March and a little cold at night still. She had the shivers and everything.
She blamed him. She really did.
"You like carrying me around." She rested her head against his shoulder, watching his face for a reaction. “You do it all the time.”
And she was still trying to figure out what she thought about that. Was it because he felt sorry for her?
"Yes." No hesitation, no excuse, just a fact.
Her brow lifted. "So, is this just your thing, or is there some secret pact I wasn’t told about? Because Chad carries Genny everywhere, and Gene lifts Chantal up off her feet like constantly. I’m pretty sure neither Chantal nor Genny’s feet have touched the ground in days. Am I missing the initiation for some exclusive carry-a-woman-around club? I even saw Grady lift Hala the other day. Did you draw my name out of the hat, perhaps?"
Gunn didn’t even pretend to deny it. "Maybe. But only after I replaced every other name in there with yours. Just to be on the safe side."
Okay, that was gooey-making information. But… why? That was something a man would say to Aubrey or Chantal or Giavonna. Definitely not Ayla Erin Fisher.
"That’s not an answer," she said, tilting her head back to get a better look at him as he lowered her to her feet next to the lounge chair. Ayla didn’t know what else to do—so she just sank down into the chair and looked up at him. "Do you just scoop up unsuspecting women whenever the mood strikes, or is there a membership fee involved?"
His mouth twitched at the corner. "Only the ones I really want to hold.”
Well, that was not something she’d ever expect a man like him to admit. Or… maybe she’d just misheard?
Heat curled in her stomach, slow and distracting, spreading through her limbs in a way that had nothing to do with the blanket he settled over her legs.
The stars were gorgeous. She had to look and just… soak them in. Tonight was a night of bad memories, the anniversary of the day she’d almost died. Usually, she and Aubrey spent it trying to forget. But now… she liked being here. With people who loved one another. Who made her feel like she belonged with them a little bit, too.
Ayla hadn’t really wanted to be alone tonight. She’d been on her way to find her sister. To just… remind herself that they were all okay now.
"You do this a lot?" She adjusted under the blanket, shifting to face him as he lowered himself onto the lounger beside her. It was a double chair, after all. And he was sitting really close right now.
Of course, he’d just carefully folded a blanket up and put it between them, before covering her with another, but… she still felt him all around her. Wasn’t that enough to tempt a woman to sin? Ayla really had to be good here—this man was a preacher, for heaven’s sake. She wouldn’t want to do anything to shock him.
Even if she knew what to do with a man in the first place.
She really needed a Phone-A-Friend Lifeline here, or something. Like… maybe she could pause him right now, and text Hala for some pointers?
"Most nights when I can’t sleep." The weight of him made the lounger dip, shifting her closer until her knee almost brushed his thigh. "Something about it makes everything feel smaller. Helps me settle. I pray out here sometimes, too. Ask for… clarification if I need it."
"It puts things in perspective," she said, tilting her head back again to look at the stars above the Hiller Ranch. The Texas sky could be really amazing. "All the things that seem overwhelming during the day—just tiny specks compared to that."
Ayla shifted again, stretching beneath the blanket. The movement sent a sharp pull through her back, enough to make her breath catch.
Gunn didn’t miss it. His focus sharpened immediately. "Hurting?"
"Just the usual," she said. "Happens every night.”
“I’m sorry. I wish I could make it better.”
“I’m actually doing really good, you know. Aubs made sure I have a good physical therapist this time. And I do swimming therapy in Finley Creek twice a week. It’s amazing. She still covers my insurance. State insurance, Reverend Hiller, is really bad. Better than nothing, but… bad.”
He poured milk into two glasses he’d brought out earlier and handed her one before taking a cookie from the package between them.
She lifted hers. She loved Oreos, no denying that. "Cookie cheers?"
"Cookie cheers."
"This is weird.” Well, why deny it? She’d never sat outside with a hot guy this late at night before. How could it not feel a little awkward?
"Weird how?"
"Normal," she said, glancing around. "I don’t do normal."
"You don’t do midnight cookie picnics under the stars?"
"My social calendar is packed. I spend my nights scrolling through my phone—texting Greer and Hala, usually—until I pass out like a responsible adult."
"Wild lifestyle."
“I know. Aubrey threatens to lock me up for my own good on a regular basis.”
He shifted, his arm going around her shoulders. “You okay with my arm here?”
“Very okay.” She wanted to snuggle right up to him. Which… totally too soon. Totally too soon.
She tucked her feet under the blanket, shifting slightly closer, stretching her toes toward the heat of his leg.
"I like seeing you like this."
Her fingers twisted the edge of the blanket. "Like what?"
"Relaxed."
She exhaled, letting her shoulders sink deeper into the cushions. "Cookies are powerful like that."
She stayed where she was and just listened for a moment. To the sounds of life around them.
"Can I ask you something?" she asked.
“Of course.”
“What are you really after?” Well, that came out all wrong. “I mean… why are you spending so much time with me lately? Are you just being… nice? Preachery?”
“What exactly is preachery? And… I am spending time with you because… you fascinate me, Ayla Fisher. And I find myself wanting to spend every single moment with you that I can.”
“Like… your brother and my sister fascinated? Because… open and honest is the way I roll, you know.”
“Me, too.” His hand cupped her cheek, for the longest moment. “I promise to always be honest with you. I want to be with you. To spend time with you. Because I find you more fascinating than I have ever found a woman in my life. But if you want me to back off, I will.”
Well, she didn’t want that at all.
“I don’t want you to back off at all, Reverend Hiller. Not even for a moment. I’m just not entirely certain what happens next, here.”
“I don’t think I am, either. Why don’t we just figure it out together?”
Ayla bit back a gooey sigh. Yes, this man was the perfect man. No denying that now. And Ayla… wasn’t going anywhere.