Page 46 of Her Passionate Hero

“You need to tell me, you and your family’s lives are at stake.”

She blew out a deep breath, “I’m going to, I promise. Just give me a minute to catch my breath.” She gave him a pleading look.

“My God, you’re stubborn. Well fine, it doesn’t matter, I am planted firmly in the middle of your shitstorm, no matter what.”

She looked up when her grandmother giggled.

“What?” she asked. “What’s funny?”

“I learned a new idiom. Shitstorm. I like this one.”

Aliana looked to heaven. God help her, everyone had gone crazy.

“Babička, I appreciate that you’re going to learn great new terms from Hunter, but he needs to leave. Actually, we both do. We’re going to check into a hotel.” Why hadn’t she thought of this yesterday?

“No. I’m not leaving my home. I want to stay.” It was a bad sign when her grandmother put her hands on her hips.

“You don’t understand―”

“I understand just fine,” the older woman cut her off in Czech. “You’re afraid of Hunter. Something has been broken in you since your father took his life. Hunter can fix it.”

“What are you talking about? Hunter can’t fix anything.” She didn’t address the part where she was broken or her father.

“No, that’s not the truth, granddaughter. You’ve been living a half-life for too long. I’m not going to allow it anymore. You have to face your past and move on. This is a good, strong man who will keep you safe. You need him. Face your demons and walk into the light, beautiful girl.”

Tears threatened to fall.

“Okay, enough of this happy horseshit. I don’t know what’s being said, but you crying isn’t acceptable.”

“I’m liking him, Láska,” her grandmother switched to English. “Happy horseshit means you’re unhappy, yes?” she asked, turning to Hunter.

“God save me,” He muttered. “Look Aliana, I’m sorry I said you were naïve. I’m sorry I got mad that you didn’t tell me you were attacked. I have a lot of stress right now. Would you like to hear about it?” Oh God, he was giving her a half smile. He was up to something. She remembered this from years ago.

“Say what you need to say.” She crossed her arms.

“I have my grandmother’s book club meeting on Saturday, and they want me there. Why? Because they will have checked their little old lady network to find out who might have set the bomb in your apartment. Then, I have your grandmother wanting me to educate her in all the ‘less than appropriate’ terms I’ve learned since being in the Navy. You gotta just let me help you. Come clean to me, I’m begging you.”

His brown eyes sparkled. He used to do the same thing whenever she was close to tears or actually in tears back in school. He would do crazy things or make up wild stories to make her laugh. Anything so she would feel better.

“Your Mamie doesn’t really have a book club, does she?” She hadn’t just asked that, had she? She wasn’t actually suckering in, was she?

“Swear to God.” He held up three fingers like a boy scout would.

“And they’re meeting on Saturday and invited you?”

“Yep.”

She narrowed her eyes. He had to be kidding her. “If this is true, I want to come.”

“Thank you.” He reached down and cupped her cheeks. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. The way Mamie was talking up Velma’s German chocolate cake, I was worried she was trying to fix us up.”

Aliana sputtered out a laugh. The man was outrageous. Out came the dimples. She tugged his hands, pulling them away from her cheeks. He held them clasped in his hands. She was aware of every moment they touched. She thought about the letter he wrote her when he left. Those words had touched so much more than just her body, they’d touched her soul.

“Why are you frowning, have you changed your mind already, mi Cielieto?”

Aliana rolled her eyes. “Just because I’m trying to take the high road and deal with our situation today in order to make sure Babička is okay doesn’t mean I’m going to fall for your bullshit every time you start peddling it, you got me?”

They both laughed at her, and she knew she was doomed.