Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
“Right now,” someone said.
Aria turned toward the voice.
“Miss. Taylor, good morning…” His words filled the air but Aria turned toward Grant, who moved to her side. He took one of her hands within his and kissed her knuckles.
“Aria, baby, you’re awake.”
“Mr. Reynolds, I’m trying to—”
“Grant,” she said.
“You know who I am?” he asked.
She smiled and nodded.
“That’s good.” He looked toward the doctor. “That’s good, right?”
“Yes, it is good news.”
“What date is it?” Grant asked.
Aria smiled and tears filled her eyes. “I don’t know.” Her throat felt scratchy. “Do you have any water?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Mr. Reynolds, she wouldn’t know what day it is as she’s been asleep.” The doctor looked at her. “I want to run a few tests, Aria. I’ll be back with a couple of nurses in a few moments, is that okay?”
She nodded.
The doctor nodded at her and then left the room.
“Asshole. I thought he’d never leave.” Grant reached past her and then brought back a glass with a straw. “Here you go.”
She took the straw between her lips and sucked at the liquid. She felt instant relief.
“For a moment there, I didn’t think you were going to wake up.” He reached out, tucking some hair behind her ear. “I’ve got to text Lidia, Maddie, and your sister. They wanted to know when you woke up as soon as you did.”
Aria took his hand.
Grant looked up and stared into her eyes. She wanted to look at him.
“Nothing is going on between me and your sister, or Maddie, or Lidia.”
“I nearly died,” Aria said.
“I know, I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to stop it. I would do anything for you. Oh, Andy and Phil as well. They’ve been so worried about you.”
“Grant, shut up,” Aria said.
He frowned.
She chuckled. It tickled her throat a little and she asked for some more water. Grant wouldn’t allow her to lift the cup, so she had no choice but to drink as he took care of her.
“Can I speak?” Grant asked.
She shook her head. “No, I want to speak.”
“Okay.” Grant put the cup back down and then he took hold of her hands again.
“I nearly died and as I was in that hotel room, seeing the smoke fill the room, all I could think about was you.” She stared into Grant’s eyes. “I wanted to see you, talk to you, tell you that I forgive you. I have no idea who let out that rumor—”
“My brother.”
“What?”
“Bull, he called Jase, who then did as my brother asked and spread the rumor. He didn’t want to. I don’t know if that makes you feel any better. Also, he’s the one that left the roses.” Grant pointed toward a bouquet of flowers in the corner of the room. “He did also send some healthy kind of chocolate but I ate that, then the trash bin ate the rest.”
Aria laughed. “Your brother?”
Grant sat on the bed. “It was club business. The guy that took you was an enemy of the club.”
“We can talk about that some other time, outside of the hospital, where other people can’t hear.” She smiled at Grant. “I love you.”
“I love you too. I’m so sorry.”
“I forgive you.”
“You forgive me?” he asked.
“Being in that bed, chained up, unable to escape, all I could think about was seeing you. Loving you. Being with you. That was all I wanted. Just you.”
“And now?”
“Now, I just want to be with you, Grant. All of you.”
“Then marry me,” he said.
“What?”
“Marry me. That’s all I want. You and me, both of us. I want you to be my wife.”
“You’re serious?”
Grant reached into his leather cut and pulled out a ring. “Deadly serious.” He held up a diamond ring.
“You just carry around engagement rings in your pocket?” she asked.
“Ever since I saw it at the jewelry store, I have. I got it just before Christmas and I’ve been wanting to give it to you for some time. Will you marry me?”
“Oh, my God, we’re here for the proposal.”
Aria turned to see her best friend rush through the door. Isabella and Michael were not far behind. Then she saw Maddie, Bull, and Lindsey enter the room. They were not the only ones. Aria looked out the door to see several of the Chaos and Carnage MC. They had all come to visit her.
Lidia kissed her head and then smiled. “You’re awake, finally.”
“We’ve all been taking turns visiting you,” Maddie said.
“We’re your family,” Bull said.
Tears filled Aria’s eyes. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank us,” Pat said.
“We always take care of one of ours.”
She didn’t quite know who said that last part but then she turned to Grant, who still held the ring in his grip.
“Aria Taylor, will you marry me?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“What did she say?” someone else asked.
“I said yes,” Aria said, laughing.
Grant took her finger and slid the ring on it. It was a perfect fit.