Brady Remington Landed Me in Jail

It felt good. It felt comforting.

I chuckled and rested my head on his shoulder. Then I closed my eyes when Brady soothed a hand down my hair. "I don't know what that guy said, but he was wrong. Whatever he said, he was wrong."

I tightened my hold. Joshua hadn't been wrong about all of it.

"And I'll make sure that he leaves you alone, okay?" Brady whispered.

I looked up. "You're going to beat everyone up if they say something that pisses me off?"

"Depends."

"On what?" I couldn't hide my grin.

Brady smiled back. "On whatever he said to hurt you."

I saw a clear genuineness in his eyes right then. It took my breath away. "It's done with. It don't matter anymore."

Brady tipped his head back, scrutinized me for a moment, and never bothered to point out the incorrect grammar. He just shrugged. "Okay."

"Can you take me home? I'm tired."

"What? You don't want to loosen up some more?" He let me go, but then his hand slid down my arm and found mine. He entwined our fingers and led me to the parking lot.

"Shut up," I groaned.

"You did hit someone. And that make out session, woohee—if that wasn't hot then I don't know what is." Brady squeezed my hand again.

I flushed. "I did not make out with that guy."

"Yes, you did. He even did the leaning thing with you."

"Shut up."

"I can lean for you. You want me to lean for you, Ray?" As Brady turned to walk backwards he caught both my hands in his. His eyes danced as he waited for my answer.

I held my breath.

Brady just chuckled. "I'm way better at leaning than that prick."

"Could you please shut up?"

Brady tightened his hold and jerked me close for a hug. He whispered, "Next time that guy tries something; remind him who your boyfriend is. That should send him running."

I just shook my head, but a grin tugged at my lips.

CHAPTER FIVE

As Brady pulled into my driveway and parked the car, I couldn't move for a moment.

Bent over the garden gnome was my grandfather in overalls, a John Deere Hat covering his greying hair. His old leather boots still had duct tape around them. The sight of Neil fidgeting with the garden gnome shouldn't have stopped me, but it did. I was my grandpa's little girl. When he found out that I'd had sex…

I swallowed and closed my eyes.

"Ray…" Brady murmured gently.

I knew that he'd read my mind.

"Come on…it's not like you have to tell them."

"I have to."

"Why?"

"Because when they ask why I didn't tell them after it happened—I'm going to have to tell them that I chose to lie."

"It's not lying, it's just…sex is personal and you don't have to tell them everything."

"Of course you'd say that."

"Come on, don't be like that. I know that I can't understand where you're coming from, but it's not like—I was a virgin too once."

"You were a boy! You are a boy," I cried out. "It's not the same thing at all, Brady. And you don't even—" I stopped myself, just barely.

The silence was heavy.

"I don't what?" Brady asked quietly, but I heard the savagery beneath the surface. "I don't have parents like you? You don't either, Rayna."

"It's not like that," I murmured softly. "I'm sorry. I'm the good girl. I'm the…I'm the one who makes Viola and Neil go to church. I'm the one who insists on sitting at the table for our meals and not in front of the television. Having sex is not me."

Brady was quiet. I was afraid to look over at him, but I did and what I saw halted my own misery. The sparkle in his eyes was gone.

"What'd I say?"

His shoulder jerked in a shrug.

"Come on, Brady. What'd I say?"

"Nothing," he growled. "Leave it alone."

"What?" I insisted.

"Leave it alone, Ray. You don't want to go there."

I looked down at my lap.

"Look…," Brady started. "…you can just…tell them that you wanted to say something when you knew what to say, but you didn't know what to say for a while. How’s that?"

"Thank you and I'm sorry for whatever I said to upset you."

"I'm not upset."

"I know, but…" I knew better. "I'm sorry. Will you tell me later?"

He jerked his head in a nod and I knew an emotion was just simmering underneath the surface. I reached for the door, but Brady's hand stopped me as he squeezed my shoulder. I needed that.

"We'll, um...we'll talk later…okay?" Brady stumbled out.

I nodded my head, thankful, and squeezed his hand in return. "I'm glad Mr. Stephens dropped the charges."

A scowl appeared. "You talk to that ass**le, you tell me."

I nodded, but when I straightened and moved away from the car I realized that I didn't know who he meant; Kid, his father, or Joshua. I didn't think Brady would've wanted me to talk to any of them, but that's a confrontation for another day.