She knew exactly what he was asking. They’d shared many a conversation about Clay’s romantic escapades. “I crushed on him when I was twenty, Dad. I started falling in love with him when I was twenty-five. I tripped head over heels in love with him not long after and I’ve stayed there ever since. Yeah, I’m sure.”
“Is he?”
Georgie stretched to tiptoe so she could peek over her father’s shoulders. Clay’s gaze remained glued to her, his eyes warm and concerned, though his face betrayed little of his thoughts. But she knew him, knew the nuance of almost every expression. She held Clay’s gaze as she replied. “I tried to run away, Dad. After I found out. I didn’t want to put him through this. He wouldn’t let me. He’s gentle but strong and very, very stubborn. And determined to fight this battle with me.”
Her lips curled into a smile she wasn’t aware of until Clay returned it with one of his own. “I thought you were the only family I had, Dad.” Her eyes flicked to meet his. “I was wrong. Clay is my family, too. And Boone. Hunt. Ev. Even Clay’s brothers and their wives. I’m gonna be okay, Daddy. We’re gonna be okay.”
“Of course you are, Georgie. Come home Saturday. And bring your man with you.”
Still on her tiptoes, she pressed a kiss to her father’s weathered cheek. The man had been a rancher his entire life—working with his hands in every kind of weather southwest Oklahoma could throw at him.
Her dad dropped a kiss on her forehead. “I figure you still know the way home, girl. Call before y’all leave the city.”
“I will, Daddy.”
Clay approached then, offering his hand to Georgie’s father. “I look forward to getting to know you better, Mr. Dreyfus.”
“George, son. I figure we’re gonna be stompin’ around each other for a while.”
When Clay’s smile lit up his eyes, Georgie felt light-headed. She still couldn’t believe her luck and a voice in the back of her brain urged caution. She told it to shut up and transferred from her father’s embrace into Clay’s.
“See you Saturday, Dad.”
“We’ll do burgers on the grill.”
Her dad gazed at Clay for a long, tense moment, then the lines around his eyes relaxed. “Take care of my little girl, Clayton.”
“Always.”
An hour later Clay and his brothers were ensconced in the media room of Clay’s Heritage Hills house. Built during Oklahoma’s first oil boom, the historic mansion seemed more like a museum than a home. The “boys,” as Cassie referred to them, had beers and the Cardinals baseball game blaring. Cassie and Jolie had Georgie settled around the breakfast nook table, with cups of hot tea.
Jolie studied her face and Georgie forced herself to meet the other woman’s gaze. Cassie and Jolie were beautiful, unlike her. Clay needed a woman like them. She pushed her glasses up her nose, breaking the staring contest. She always blinked first.
“You’ll be okay,” Jolie murmured, a hint of a smile transforming her expression from scrutiny to gentle concern.
“Yeah. I will.”
Cassie leaned in from the other side. “What’s your schedule like?”
Caught off guard, Georgie blinked at her. “My schedule?”
“Yeah. Your schedule and Clay’s.”
“Oh. We have to be up early to make the morning show rounds.” She blanched and Jolie squeezed her hand.
“Dealing with this publicly must be hard.”
“It is. But this is Clay’s life. He’s important.” She inhaled deeply. “He’ll be a fantastic president.”
She didn’t miss the looks the two women exchanged over her head. “What?”
“Honey, are you sure you’re up to a campaign?” Cassie watched her closely.
“I don’t know. It...depends.”
“You know you can talk to me,” Jolie interrupted. “It’s been a while since I did an oncology rotation, but I can translate any medical jargon you don’t understand. And Cass and I are both here for you. Miz Beth, too. You can stay with Cord and me—”
“Or Chance and me,” Cass cut in.
“Whenever you have doctor appointments or treatment. I...” Jolie looked around the kitchen. “I think it would be better if you stayed with one of us instead of here alone when Clay is on the stump. I mean...oh, hon.” Jolie blinked hard and swallowed. “Some of the treatments will wipe you out. You’ll need someone with you.”
When she could speak around the lump in her throat, Georgie’s voice came out a strangled whisper. “I know. I’ll... I came home so I could be with Dad. I’ll stay on the ranch down at Duncan when I can’t be with Clay.”