Broken (16 page)

“I can’t let you do that. That’s too much.” She looked up into his eyes, but she could see the resolve and she knew it wasn’t up for discussion.

“It’s done, it’s not up for conversation or debate. I’ll let you know who I find on Monday. Am I understood?” His voice was kind but stern, with a sweet protective undertone.

“Yes. Thank you.” She put her head down and fidgeted with her fingers.

“We should go, it’s really late. I don’t want you to be so tired you can’t enjoy your time with Sam,” he said as he looked out to the horizon.

“I am excited about
this
. Thank you for tonight, Bradley. I can’t begin to tell you how lovely it has been.”

“I’m excited, too. And, no, thank you, Gabby.” He took her fingers and gently pulled her hand to his lips and placed a long sweet kiss on the top of her knuckles.

The pair picked up the blanket and shook it to get the sand off and they packed it back into their bag. Bradley took their shoes into one hand and threw the bag over his shoulder. He walked with his hand protectively around the lower part of her back the entire way home. As they approached the driveway, he stopped and faced her.

“Can I still see you tomorrow evening? Are we still going to dinner?” he was stroking her hair as he spoke the words in almost a whisper. The charge between the two of them was so strong, but he knew he had to try not to be too affectionate. He didn’t want her to get scared, second guess her decision and change her mind about trying.

“Yes, I’d like that.”

“Good. I’ll pick you up at seven. What should I wear?” He couldn’t help but grin at their earlier conversation that she would be picking attire and food.

“Casual, comfortable, and seven sounds great.”

He could see her eyes were tired and she could barely keep them open.

“Let me walk you to your door, make sure you get inside okay.”

“Thank you, Bradley.”

“For what?”

She shrugged her shoulders and looked at the ground. Then her eyes were blazing as she looked back up at him.

“For everything. For finding me and not letting me run away this time. For being a gentleman. Goodnight.”

His eyes sparkled off the front porch light that Sam had left on for Gabby and he smiled releasing a sigh as he pushed her hair back behind her ears.

“Anything for you, Gabby. Good night, I’ll see you later, it’s already tomorrow.”

Gabby giggled and Bradley leaned in and placed a sweet kiss on her forehead and released her and walked to his car.

He opened the door and grinned to himself like a school boy. He would make sure he found the best therapist for her and Sam Charleston had to offer on Monday. He would spend all of his free time making sure he could be near her, no matter the cost, and his newest mission was to win her, to worship her, to love her.

Visit
www.jbmcgee.com
to stay up to date on news regarding the release of the second book in the
This
series,
Mending
.

About the Author

J.B. McGee was born and raised in Aiken, South Carolina. After graduating from South Aiken High School, she toured Europe as a member of the 1999 International Bands of America Tour, playing the clarinet. While attending Converse College, an all-girls school in Spartanburg, South Carolina, she visited Charleston often. It quickly became one of her favorite vacation spots. She met her husband, Chad, during Christmas break of her freshman year, and they married in 2001 and she moved back to her hometown. In 2005, the couple welcomed their first son, Noah. J.B. finished her Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education at the University of South Carolina-Aiken in 2006. During her time studying children’s literature, a professor had encouraged her to become a writer.

In 2007, she welcomed their second child, Jonah, and she became a stay at home mom/entrepreneur. In 2009, they found out their two children and J.B. have Mitochondrial Disease. In 2011, a diagnosis also was given to Chad. Please take a moment and learn more about Mitochondrial Disease. Awareness is key to this disease that has no cure or treatments.
www.foundmm.org

J.B. McGee and her family now reside in Buford, Georgia, to be closer to their children’s medical team. After a passion for reading had been re-ignited, J.B. decided to finally give writing a shot.
Broken
(
This
Series), is her first book and first series.

Acknowledgments

To my mom and dad, Taylor Swift says it best. “Standing back and watching me shine, and I didn’t know if you knew but I am taking this chance to say that I had the best day with you, today.” You have always stood back and watched me shine. Whether it was dance, cheering, sports, band, monogramming, web design, or writing a book, your support has been unwavering. One of my biggest goals in life has been to make you proud.

Amanda, my big sister, my Sam. I am so thankful that we both got to go through the process of publishing our first books at the same time, sharing all these crazy emotions that come with it. I cherish every moment I get to spend being your sister.

Emily, Debi, Dee Dee, Joanne, Trish, Gwendolyn, Lora, and Jessica; you were my very first readers. You were true friends, telling me what was terrible and what was great. Thank you for being so incredibly supportive of this process and cheering me on when I was down, for always encouraging me to keep going.