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Leah threaded her fingers through his and led him into
the darkened hospital room. Mrs. Knightsbridge followed.
“Avery, this is my Pawpaw, Milton Ramsey.”
Leah held tight to Avery’s arm and closed her eyes.
Things should be so perfect now. This was what she’d wanted, right? To feel whole, to be loved, to have Pawpaw satisfied that she’d have someone to lean on.
Why did the last piece of the puzzle have to be such a tough one? Why couldn’t she flip a switch and make her grandfather whole again?
A terrifying series of beeps screamed through the room, ripping Leah’s eyes open. “Pawpaw!”
Pawpaw was sitting up, pulling at his monitors and tubes.
“Get these blasted wires off me. Man can’t breathe wrapped up in all this mess.” He stopped, blue gaze trained on Avery.
“Who in the sam hell has his paws all over my Leelee?”
Adrenaline flooded Leah and she grabbed her grandfather’s hand. “Pawpaw! Are you okay?”
He coughed and pulled the oxygen mask away from his bearded chin. “Can’t stand this plastic over m’face.
Leelee, get this thing off me.”
“Jamie, go get the nurse, please.” Leah turned to her grandfather, grateful tears tracking down her stinging cheeks. “Pawpaw, you have to leave that on. You need the oxygen.”
Pawpaw reluctantly stopped pulling at the mask and instead settled his steely gaze on Avery. “Who are you, son?”
“My name is Avery Russell, sir.” Avery bowed deeply, the courtly maneuver making Leah’s heart swell with pride. “I love your granddaughter, sir, and I ask for your blessing on our marriage.”
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Pawpaw didn’t say anything for a long moment. His gaze raked Avery up and down. Though he was flat on his back in a hospital bed, he was clearly the one in control. Though Leah longed to slip a reassuring hand in Avery’s, she stayed still. This was between her two favorite men on earth, and if they didn’t like each other, life was going to be pretty freaking difficult.
Several seconds later, her grandfather nodded. “I’m not against the idea, but I need to get to know you first.”
“Pawpaw, you know I don’t need your permission to get married, right?” Leah’s dry tone covered her complete excitement that he hadn’t dismissed Avery’s request outright.
Avery spoke up before Pawpaw could respond. “It is only right that we apply for his blessing. It is clear that you are precious to him.”
Pawpaw laughed, the sound slightly muffled by his oxygen mask. “I like this fella, I do.”
Jamie pushed through the door, a nurse right on her heels. At the nurse’s insistence, they cleared the room and let her check Pawpaw’s vitals. In the hush of the hallway, Leah turned to Avery, winding her arms around his neck.
“What do you think of Pawpaw?”
Avery smiled, rubbing her lower back gently. “It is easy to see where your adventurous spirit originated. I like him very much.”
“I just hope he’s okay.” Leah pressed her head against Avery’s chest, breathing him in.
Only half a heartbeat later, the nurse pushed open the door. She smiled at the tense group around her.
“He seems to have turned the corner,” she said. “It’s GeekGirlsDontDateDukes.indd 304
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kind of miraculous, actually. I’m going to call his cardi-
ologist and get him down here soon. In the meantime, try to keep him quiet.”
Leah hugged Avery in relief as the nurse walked away.
Ella, Jamie, Micah, and Mrs. Knightsbridge went back into the hospital room, leaving the two as alone as a pair can be in a hospital hallway.
“I didn’t know I could be this happy,” Leah whispered. “What did I do to deserve so many good things?”
Avery smiled and bent his head to kiss her. Just before their lips met, he said, “My love, you have brought light into my darkened life. I cannot hope to make you as happy as you have made me.”
Leah’s heart soared as her valet kissed her. He wasn’t Mr. Darcy, he wasn’t a duke, he wasn’t a fairy-tale hero.
He was so much better than that.
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Acknowledgments This book tried to kill me. It tried its best, but in the end, me and my army of love won over!
To Commander in Chief (and husband) Scotty. Your unshakable faith in me is quite undeserved, but it keeps me moving! I love you more than marshmallows.
To Co-Generals Mom and Dad. Your constant ques-tions about the state of the book kept me working when I wasn’t motivated. Thank you!
To Sergeant Frog, I mean, Sister. Heather, you’re a great source of comfort and kick-assery. I can’t do this without you!