Page 98 of Her Guarded Hero

“I’ve already talked to Myrna Englewood at Torrey Pines. You’re hired whenever you want to be.”

Aurora sipped her cocoa until it was gone. “That’s a bit presumptuous, even for you.”

“She’s okay with you taking five of the horses, including Aladdin.”

“Not interested. I want to come up here whenever I can instead. I want Aladdin to stay here, and I want to be involved with rehabilitating the horses from the Lyle’s place.”

“Stop,” Gunnar held up his hand. “That’s been taken care of and you know it. Elsa is well on her way to wearing an orange jumpsuit, and for the next six months Tate is going to oversee the place.”

“But-”

He looked at her. “Honey, your place is with your husband and your son. Your horses will be at Torrey Pines. Now tell me the real problem.

She felt the tears start. Damn hormones.

“I told you the problem. I can’t leave you Grandpa. I can’t stand the idea of you being alone in this house,” she whispered hoarsely.

Gunnar grabbed her hand in his and ran his thumb over the sapphire and diamond ring on her ring finger. “It matches your eyes,” he said.

“It matches his eyes,” she disagreed.

“Believe what you need to believe. You need to be with your husband. On a full-time basis. Anyway I have something to tell you. That’s why we’re having this picnic. I’m not going to be alone. I’ve met someone.”

Aurora couldn’t believe her ears.

“What? What did you say?”

Gunnar laughed loudly. “You heard me, Darlin.”

“Who is she? Who have you met?” she demanded to know.

“Kim Sokolov.” At Aurora’s confused look, Gunnar laughed again. “You know her Aurora. She works at Safeway. I’ve known for over a year that you’ve been feeding me turkey bacon.”

“Oh, Kim. I just didn’t know her last name. Is this real?” she asked softly.

“I think I’m old enough to know real. I want to explore this. You’re not leaving me alone, I promise.”

Her hot chocolate spilled as she threw her arms around her grandfather’s neck. “Oh my God, I’m so happy for you.”

“Really? She’s not Barb,” he teased.

“Kim’s so nice. I think the world of her. I was just worried she’d tell you about the food.”

Gunnar grinned. “You thought right.”

He kissed her forehead.

Both of them looked around the orchard. “Grandma is so happy for you, I just know it.”

“So do I, Aurora. So do I.”

Epilogue

The minute, the second, the moment that Dalton had seen her pregnant, Aurora had known that there would never be a better father in the world for their child. She stood in the shadows outside the nursery and soaked in this moment.

“Your name is James. Not Jim. James. But right now, you can be Jamie. At least until you start school.”

Aurora smiled. Her husband was a huge softie.