Page 97 of Contentious

“Probably at least twenty.”

“Whoa, that’s a lot. I can’t wait to watch twenty movies with Carson.”

“I’m sure he’ll love that.”

“He will, cuz we’re best friends.”

Cresley’s throat closed around a huge lump. “You sure are, buddy.”

Chapter Nineteen

When Cresley and Ty returned to the waiting room, an older man had joined the others. He was seated in a wheelchair, but he stood slowly and carefully when she came in with Ty. “You’re the lovely Cresley Dane.” He held out his hand to her. “I’m Spencer Remington, Carson’s grandfather.”

“It’s so nice to meet you. This is my son, Ty.”

Spencer shook hands with Ty. “Good to meet you, young fellow.”

“I’m going to take care of Carson when he comes home from the hospital. He asked me to.”

“That’s very good of you.” Spencer hooked a hand through Cresley’s arm. “How about you take me to see my boy? And tell me all about yourself on the way.”

“I’d be happy to.”

After she’d confirmed that the others would keep an eye on Ty, she and Spencer headed for Carson’s room.

“We only have a second together,” he said, “but you should know my boy is smitten with you—and your son—and has no idea what to do about that. The whole damned lot of them have themselves convinced they need to avoid romantic entanglements for obvious reasons, but that’s horse pucky. He’s apt to make a complete mess of it, but if you give him a chance to figure out his shit, he might surprise you in the best way possible. He’s one of the good guys.”

Utterly charmed by him and his sales pitch for Carson, Cresley said, “I already know that, but thanks for confirming it for me.” She leaned in closer to him. “He just took a knife to keep me and my son safe. He’s earned enough points to get him to at least his ninetieth birthday.”

Spencer barked out a laugh that had the nurses scowling at him. “Take it from me—that’s when the real fun begins.”

Cresley was still laughing when they stepped into Carson’s room.

“Are you making a pass at my lady, Gramps?”

“Would I do that?”

“In a heartbeat.”

Carson smiled at her and held out his hand to his grandfather. “Lose that worried expression, old man. It’s gonna take more than a couple of stab wounds to get rid of me.”

Spencer gave his grandson’s hand a squeeze. “Who you calling old, punk?” He leaned against the bed rail. “So you’re calling her ‘your lady’ now. That’s progress.” To Cresley, he added, “I couldn’t believe he took you home after you were at the house that first time. I asked him if he was crazy.”

“He spies on me through the security cameras.”

As she went around to the other side of the bed, Cresley muffled a laugh that she knew Carson wouldn’t appreciate. “I had to get home to Ty.”

“And we were still just friends then,” Carson added.

“I’m glad to see you’ve moved past that nonsense, because if you hadn’t, I might’ve had to ask out Ms. Cresley Dane myself.”

“I would’ve said yes, Spencer.”

“Damn it. Missed my window.”

Carson looked right at her when he said, “Yes, you did, and that window is closed for good.”

Holy moly… How did he manage to say everything in one sentence while lying in an ICU bed after being stabbed? Had the near-death experience made him see what was truly important to him? And that was her?