Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Grady drove down the dirt road to the ranch house, everything that had happened at the school fresh in his mind.
Thankfully, picking up the chicks had gone a lot faster than he’d expected, so he was already in the school parking lot when Fiera had called him in a panic, alerting him to what was going down with his Little girl.
Even as he’d nodded to Joy as she walked past him to keep an eye on Rose, Grady had heard the commotion as soon as he walked through the front doors of the school.
It grew louder with each step he took as he raced to her.
Standing just inside the doorway of the classroom, he’d stopped, realizing he’d misjudged the situation.
His wildfire had everything under control. Except maybe her temper. She was a magnificent sight to behold with her fire-red hair going everywhere and her finger pointed at Harriet—the most venomous snake of a woman he’d ever known—like she was ready to fight the devil himself. All for his daughter.
He’d never been prouder of anyone in his life.
His wildfire never ceased to surprise him. Wild and free, fun and sassy, sweet and loving… and when it came to Rose, as ferocious as a tiger. She was unlike any woman he’d ever known.
The moment she heard someone speak ill of his, no, of their Rosie, Sage had gone full mama bear, all flashing eyes and sharp tongue.
She’d refused to back down even an inch.
Not letting Harriet get a word in had to be a first for the woman.
Sage had no idea who the woman in that classroom was.
She just knew someone had dared to attack Rose, and that had been enough.
In that moment he knew the truth of who Sage was to him. There was no ignoring it anymore.
Sage had worked her way into every facet of his home.
His daughter’s heart, and, whether he wanted to admit it or not, straight into his own.
He could no longer picture a life without Sage.
She kept him on his toes and filled his life with joy.
She was so different from anyone he’d ever known, but she was perfect for him.
And she needed him, too, in ways no one ever had. She needed his rules, his structure, his firm hand… and damn if he didn’t need to be the one to give it to her.
He wanted to love her, care for her, and yes, spank that sassy little bottom red when she earned it. Her playful, mischievous Little side was now dear to him. And when she was bold and full of fire, he loved her just as much.
There, he’d finally acknowledged what he’d known for a while… he loved her.
Right now, the only thing on his mind—besides how painfully hard he was—was how much he needed to show her his appreciation. To pull her close, kiss her until she melted, and finally tell her exactly how he felt.
Once they’d arrived at the house, he killed the engine and just sat there. He had to focus on convincing his hands to release their death grip on the steering wheel.
Sage sat beside him, cheeks still flushed from her outburst at the school, fingers twisting in her lap. She kept throwing him worried glances. He should tell her she wasn’t in trouble, but in the state he was in, he wasn’t sure he could get the words out.
His chest felt like it was wrapped in a vice.
Fuck him, he hadn’t panicked over talking to a woman since he was in junior high.
It hadn’t been an issue with Tricia, but with Sage…
she was different. He had no idea how she would respond to everything he planned to say.
Getting this right was important. Too important for him to muck it up.
He unbuckled her seatbelt, still blown away by what she’d done.
His little wildfire had stood up for his daughter without hesitation, ready to go to war for Rose even when it wasn’t her fight.
That kind of loyalty, that kind of love…
it cracked something open inside him he’d thought he’d lost forever.
He helped her out of the truck and led her straight into the house.
He guided her to his bedroom. It was large with a sitting area and a fireplace.
The door shut behind them with a soft click.
He then led her to his large leather recliner in front of the fireplace.
Taking a seat, he pulled her into his lap.
Sage frowned, her voice small and shaky. “I can explain, if you’ll give me a cha–”
He moved on pure instinct, pulling her against him, his fingers sliding possessively around the back of her neck. He kissed her deep, hungry, and unrelenting, like a man who knew if tomorrow came without her by his side, he didn’t want it. He only wanted her.
Because she kissed him back just as fiercely.
All her passion, need, and fire poured straight into him.
She was innocence and sin woven together, and her taste flooded his system, sinking into his blood and bones and soul so hard and fast he knew he’d never be free of her again.
Nothing else mattered. He only wanted to drag her closer, to lose himself in her while thunder roared through his veins.
When he finally pulled back, Sage looked up at him with wide, hopeful eyes, her breath coming in soft little pants. “Wait… Grady… are you firing me or not?”
Tears flowed in a steady stream down her cheeks, creating spots on her shirt. Damn, he’d messed this up already. Though how, after a kiss like that, she could think he was sending her away was beyond him.
“Wildfire—”
“I know,” she said. They’d have to work on her tendency to interrupt him.
Her voice cracked. “I know I lost control at school. I’m so sorry.
I j-just got so freakin’ mad that this complete stranger w-would talk about Rose that w-way.
I couldn’t stop myself. I know y-you have every right to be angry, but please…
I’ll do anything if you’ll let me stay. You can spank me for as long as you want, as hard as you want, and I won’t even cry.
I’ll do everybody’s chores for the rest of the summer.
It’s… it’s, well, I care about you—I mean Rose. I care about Rosie so much.”
His pulse quickened at her slip. She’d said she cared about him. But then she broke into sobs so hard they racked her entire body. Yeah, he needed to fix this.
Now.
“Shh,” Grady tightened his arms around her and pressed his forehead to hers, breathing her in.
“Hush now, babygirl. Breathe. You have nothing to apologize for. You responded exactly like you should. Harriet was way out of line, as usual.” He exhaled slowly.
Best to get this over with quick, like ripping off a bandage.
“She’s not just anyone. She’s my mother-in-law, Tricia’s mother.
Though I use that term loosely. She’s the reason Tricia was afraid of her own shadow.
It did my heart good to finally see somebody stand up to that woman.
Well, other than me. I’ve ripped her a new one on more than one occasion just to protect Tricia from her. ”
Sage’s eyes widened, “She’s your mother-in-law?”
BAM! BAM! BAM!
The sound of someone pounding on the door broke the spell they’d woven. The pounding came again, and not on his front door. No, someone was pounding on his bedroom door.
“You have got to be fucking kidding me!”
Grady lifted Sage off his lap and set her on the edge of the bed and headed for his door. The list of people who had the gall and lack of sense to come into his house without permission was very short.
An extremely unpleasant voice on the other side of the door called out, confirming his suspicion.
He turned back to the bed and pointed at Sage. “Do not move,” he said, before opening the door wide enough to get through and shutting it behind him.
As he expected, Harriet Gulch stood just outside his door. She took one look at him and snarled, “Grady!”
The woman’s sharp, nasally voice had always gotten on his last nerve, and today it was worse. “I’m not dealing with you today, Harriet. But you should know I’ll be by your place first thing tomorrow, and we will be having words.”
“Grady Kane! What took you so long? What do you mean keeping me waiting like that? It’s rude.”
“When you come storming into my house uninvited and pound on my bedroom door, you get what you get. Now are you leaving, or do I need to escort you?” he demanded.
He walked toward her, forcing her back into the family room.
“You’re gonna want to move to the door of your own volition. If you don’t, I will move you.”
“If you lay a hand on me, I’ll have you charged with assault.”
“Woman, you broke into my house. Nobody is going to blame me for kicking you out.”
She held out her hand. “We need to get a few things straight.”
He wouldn’t have stopped, but he heard the creak of his bedroom door opening. Damn it. Turning, he watched as Sage walked into the living room. He glared at her, but his Little wildfire didn’t flinch. “I thought I told you to stay in the bedroom.”
Vowing to deal with his naughty Little girl later, he gave Harriet his attention. The woman stood ramrod straight, staring past him at Sage.
“What is she doing in my granddaughter’s house?” Harriet demanded.
“That’s none of your business,” he said. “Now, are you leaving, or do I have to throw you out?”
Ignoring his question, Harriet crossed her arms and stood her ground. “Why didn’t you tell me that Rose had started to talk?”
“Why would I tell you that?”
“Has she said anything about me?”
Grady took a moment to really look at Harriet. The woman was nervous. She had something on her mind, and everything inside him told him he needed to know what it was. “What could she possibly have to say about you, Harriet?”
A panicked look lit the older woman’s face. “I don’t know. I am her grandmother. I just wondered if she had said anything about the last conversations we had right after Tricia passed away.”