Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 22109 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22109 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
I say it more forcefully than I probably should and try to soften it with a smile. She nods. “Sure, go ahead.”
I blurt it out. “I think we should get married.”
She’s surprised, to say the least. Her eyes widen, and she’s staring at me as if I’ve grown another head or something. “Wait, I’m sorry, did you just say you think we should get married?”
I nod. “Yeah. It could help with a few things actually, but most importantly, insurance. You wouldn’t have to worry about you and the baby having health care.”
She gets off the picnic table and strolls to the water. She’s looking away from me, but I don’t stop. “I have good benefits. Plus, it will be easier when you tell your parents that you’re married, right?”
I know I’m grasping at straws. I don’t know why I feel this is so important, but now that I’ve said it, I know it’s the right thing to do.
She finally looks at me with her arms crossed over her chest. “You don’t even know me.”
Instead of telling her everything I’ve learned about her in the few times we’ve been around each other, I shrug my shoulders. “I know enough.”
She tilts her head to the side. “What about your girlfriend?” She holds her hand up. “And before you say you don’t have a girlfriend, I’m sure you do.”
I shake my head because it sucks to think about what kind of men she’s around to be saying that. “Look, if I had a girlfriend, I definitely wouldn’t be proposing marriage to another woman. There’s no woman in my life... there’s no one.”
Her face is filled with pity. I know I said too much, but it’s true. I have no one.
“You live in Tennessee, I live in Texas.”
I shake my head. “Geography doesn’t matter. We can get married and then figure out the rest. We have time. You’ll finish with school right before the baby arrives. I can help you when you want to take time off work.”
She paces back and forth, and all I can do is stand here and watch her. I’m hoping she says yes. I don’t want to think about why it’s so important to me, but it is.
When she stops and shakes her head, I already know she’s going to say no. I shouldn’t push her right now, but I can’t keep my mouth shut. “Ellie, listen to me. Let me do this for you. I want to help, and this is the only way I know how.”
Her cheeks are flushed. “I’m sure I can get on assistance or something, Gray. You don’t have to do this.”
I take a step forward and put my hands on her shoulders. “You could, but it would probably take a while. Just let me do this, Ellie. I want to.”
I don’t know why I’m pushing so hard. I’m telling myself that it’s because Dawson would want me to make sure his child is okay, but I know it’s more than that.
She finally agrees. “Okay, if you’re sure. I don’t want to get you in trouble or anything with your boss. I mean, you work for a motorcycle gang. Are they going to be mad you’re doing this?”
I guess she deserves to know the truth. “The club I work for does mercenary work, Ellie. We work with an elite team of mercenaries, and even though I left the military, I still serve my country.”
She looks confused, but she doesn’t ask me any more about it. “Okay, so what now?”
She looks so overwhelmed, and helping her is the only thing that’s keeping the guilt I have at bay right now. I should have tried harder to get Dawson to leave when I did, and maybe he’d be alive right now. I pull Ellie into my arms and hug her tightly. She leans into me, resting her head on my chest. “I’ll stay in town a few days. We’ll get married, and I’ll get you added to my insurance. I have a mission in a few days, but we can get everything taken care of before then.”
She mutters okay, and we stand here in each other’s arms, lost in thought. I don’t even question if I’m doing the right thing because right now, with Ellie in my arms, there’s no way it can be wrong.
Chapter 3
Gray
It’s been two months since I left Ellie in Texas and flew back to Tennessee. We talk on the phone sometimes, but it’s been a few days, and her phone is now disconnected. I should give her space. That's what I told myself the whole way here, but it didn't stop me. I still got on a plane in Tennessee and flew to Texas. I’m worn out because the guys and I just got back from a mission, and instead of taking a few days off at the clubhouse, I decided to jump on a plane instead.