Protecting Bethany Read online

  Brendan settled in next to her and, a few minutes later, Connor slid under the blankets on her other side. Both of them wiggled in close and wrapped their arms around her. Soft kisses to her cheek, one from each of them and then they both relaxed.

  “Sleep well, Bethany,” Connor said softly.

  “Don’t forget to wake me so I can catch your daddy in the morning,” she whispered with a smile. “Good night you two, I love you,” she whispered before dropping off into sleep.

  Epilogue

  With a cup of coffee in hand Bethany watched the shadows and grinned. Oh that wily old goose. She waited until Daniel turned the knob and entered the room quietly. She saw the tilt from him, the way that he moved and held back her laughter. She took a sip of her coffee. “Welcome home, Daniel,” she said with a grin. “You know the front door is a very good thing, it doesn’t have the squeak that this door has. You really should have oiled it before you went out.” She saw the look on his face and poured another cup of coffee, offering it to him. “You are too funny. Why couldn’t you just tell us that you were staying out all night? No one would have given you any issues with it at all you know.” Just busted his balls a little as she was doing now.

  Daniel looked at Bethany and took the coffee that she handed him. “Hardy, har, har. You are filled with jokes aren’t you, girl?” Taking a sip of the coffee he winced. “What the hell is this?”

  “That, Daniel, is coffee, decaffeinated with cream. And no I’m not expecting you to turn to decaf all the time however I figured this morning you could use the coffee taste but not the caffeine because you need to sleep.”

  “Sleep, what the hell? I have a lot to do today, woman.”

  “And first you are going to sleep, second we are going to sit and have a chat. You are going to tell me just why it is that you were out all night long. That’s for later though.”

  “And if I don’t want to?” the old man questioned her as he passed the drink back.

  “I can always start asking everyone else,” she said with a smile. “Up to you, Daniel.” Turning, she watched as Connor walked in and grinned. “Coffee is on the stove, it’s fully leaded and there is a lunch for you in the fridge because you have to go out to the back acres today and help patch a fence.”

  “Thank you, love.” He grinned at his father. Turning to her he pressed a kiss to her lips and nipped at her lip. “So, have you read him the riot act about staying out past curfew, not calling to let us know where he was and how we stayed up all night pacing the floors in worry while calling all the hospitals in the area?”

  “Well not exactly in those words, but sure.” She looked to Daniel again and laughed. “See, you always have to call first. Staying out until all hours. What are we going to say to your grandchild when they come along? And what if Patty went into labor while you were out of the house? What then?”

  “Oo, good point,” Connor said. Crossing his arms over his chest he settled next to her side, his shoulder to hers. “What would you do, Dad?” he asked.

  “What are we doing?” Brendan asked as he joined them. “Oh, hi, Dad, have a lovely evening out with one of the widow’s did you?” he asked, a smirk on his face.

  “We’re just grilling the old man about his whereabouts and what could potentially happen when Patty’s living back here during the last weeks of the pregnancy.” Connor supplied him with some more information.

  “Ah,” Brendan took up position on her other side and crossed his arms. “Where are we in the interrogation?”

  “Waiting on answers now,” Connor told him.

  “Excellent, proceed.”

  All three of them stared at Daniel and waited.

  Daniel looked at the three of them and snorted. “Just keep outta my business, you young pups. I’m an old man and if I want to go and have time away from my place I can.” Shaking his head he walked away from them, muttering something about the uppity young guns.

  When Daniel was gone Bethany grinned and looked at her men. “Lordy, the two of you are too funny. I didn’t let him have caffeine so he might be grumpy. He will thank me after he’s had some sleep though.” If the man would sleep. “Now then, Connor I know you have a full day ahead of you, Bren what are your plans today?” She only knew about Connor because of Blake calling and reminding him.

  “I have the horses to exercise today,” Brendan told her. Connor dropped another kiss to her lips and then headed for the kitchen. “Other than that, not much. Blake has Corbin working with some of the new horses to ensure they are fit to begin training. And Blake’s off to the east pasture to check on a herd, he thinks we need to move them in the next couple of days but wants to be sure they all can.” She knew that the man would be checking on the young in the herd and any of the older members. “So, if you have any diabolical plans involving closets, I’ll be around.” He grinned at her.

  “Oh I love the way that your mind works.” Bethany licked her lips. “I can totally see myself needing to exercise some closet usage.” She looked at the ring that they had placed on her hand and smiled. “When your dad wakes I will let you tell him that you boys asked me to marry you. That way he can bum rush you and you can let him know that he can plan our wedding or we are running off to Vegas, either or,” she oh so casually put in there.

  “I’m all for Vegas,” he said with a grin. “Con, you up for a Vegas wedding?” he called out.

  “As long as it’s not Elvis, he creeps me out,” Connor called back.

  “Deal!” Brendan grinned at her and pulled her into his arms. “Want to bet on how fast Dad can set up a wedding if we tell him we’re off to Vegas?” he asked her softly. Lowering his head he brushed his lips to hers and gave her a squeeze.

  “Oh I’m sure pretty fast,” she said with a grin. “But does it matter? I’m all for leaving tonight. It just means that Corbin, Blake and Patty will have to come over to the ranch sooner. That or your daddy is going to just have to bring in a new housekeeper and cook. What do you think?” Because god love Daniel Graymont, he could do a lot of things, but cooking was not one of them.

  Shrugging he smiled and kissed her. “I think we could swing it to leave either tonight or first thing in the morning. Doesn’t matter to me, I just want to marry you. Only issue is, if we do it in Vegas, only one of us can marry you. If we do it here, with the same guy that married Patty and the guys, we both can marry you. He doesn’t have the same issues after all as a regular minister would.”

  Kissing her again he lifted his head and looked at his watch. “Think about it, love. But, for now, I need to head out and get working. I love you, Bethany Hanson. Whatever you choose, I’m good with. Promise.” Smiling, he cupped her face and kissed her again.

  She didn’t have to think about it at all. “Then we will do it here. Just a little fire under your daddy’s tush and I’m sure it will be pulled off before next week.” Licking her lips she smiled. “I love you too. Now, get your butts out of here. You’ve both already had breakfast.” Only good part about waking as early as they did was that they all got to sit together and enjoy breakfast. “Now get. I have to get breakfast ready for the whole ranch.”

  “Yes ma’am.” He grinned. Stepping back he paused. “You do know, if you push him just right, we could be married before we move out to the ranch,” he said. “Just a bit more to think on,” he said. Chuckling, he headed into the kitchen. She could hear the brothers talking before the door opened and shut on their voices.

  “That’s my hope,” Bethany told them as they retreated. Smiling she shook her head and laughed. “Did you hear that, Daniel?” she asked the old man that she knew was listening just outside of the kitchen door. “You know, you can come in here and help me,” she said with a grin. “Now then, think you can do this?”

  “Under a week,” he commented as he strolled in. “Sure. It won’t be as fancy as Patty’s but I’ll get it damned close.” He walked to her and pulled her in for a hug. “I’m glad that you’re marrying those boys. They need you, Be
thany. And it makes my heart happy to know that I can finally call you one of mine.”

  Hugging him back Bethany sighed. “I need them too,” she admitted. “And I’m glad that I’m going to be marrying them as well. I need them every bit as much as they need me if not more,” she admitted honestly. “They are amazing men, you did good in raising them,” she said quietly and felt like tears were going to fall. To keep from crying all over her future father-in-law she pulled back. “Now, since you are obviously not going to sleep we will get you real coffee and you can help me with the food.”

  “Thank the good lord, that decaf stuff is crap,” he muttered. Grinning at her he bumped her hip and then moved to the coffee pot to get a cup of the “good” stuff.

  Bethany just laughed. Happiness filled her completely. She was safe, she found a home with the Graymonts and she was going to marry the men of her dreams. Life was truly perfect.

  THE END

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  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Born in the midseventies Honor has always had a love for the written word. Whether she is reading a book from another author or writing a story of her own, she is always letting her mind expand and delve into possibilities. It all started off as scribbles for her, then a phase of poetry before she found her true calling in the erotic paranormal genre where her imagination is the only limit.

  Since beginning her journey as a published author in 2011 Honor says she has learned a great deal about herself and writing. She believes that it’s a never-ending journey, the mind always wanting to learn and to grow. With that comes a better skill and smoothness to her writing she’s discovered and begun to enjoy more with each story she creates.

  Thankfully, as she puts it, she has a job that gives her plenty of opportunity to write whatever comes to mind with very few interruptions. Her biggest supporters are, as always, her family. Her two children and her husband are continuously providing her with laughter and joy, making the time she takes to write a little bit easier. Without them and their support she knows she wouldn’t be half the author she is today.

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