Saving Grace #Wattys2016

Chapter Two

CHRIS HEMSWORTH AS HARDISON HALE

"What in Sam's Hill happened?!" Mama gasped as Danny and the rest of the boys helped me into the house.

"Nothing, it's just a starch from a rock." I whined while Scoot got the first-aid kit. "Ouch!" Danny held my hand while Mama cleaned up the cut that thankfully was nothing more than a layer of skin gone.

"Thank you, boys." Mama said the guys who were leaving. "And I hope you got all the adventure you needed for a while you're healing. Danny, can you take her upstairs?" I was getting up from the table but something caught my eye. I thought I saw the man that saved me in a photo in the newspaper. With a closer look I realized it was him.

"Mom, can I borrow this newspaper?" She nodded and Danny helped me to my room.

"Night, Danny. Close the door, please?" I waited until I was alone to open the newspaper. He was in the Social Section which you were only in if you were the Mayor's family or another high ranking family. He obviously wasn't the Mayor's son so.... There he was, dressed in a tux, smiling. A twinge of desire flowed throughout me. With his hair slicked back and blue eyes shining, it would've been impossible not to have found him attractive. The blonde standing next to him laughing too was movie star gorgeous. Probably his girlfriend, I thought, still I read. Hardy. Hardy, was a shortening for Hardison, Hale. Hardy Hale, where have I -?

Hardy Hale of the Houston, which was right next door, Hales.

His mother was one of the top socialites in the state and his father, the president of an environmentally friendly oil company, were like the First Couple and their kids; beautiful, smart, respectful. Just overall perfect that you had to like them. Hardy Hale noticed me. ME. He saved me and all in the same day. I hobbled to my bed, changed into my pj's and settled into bed with the newspaper.

"Hardison Hale." I tried it out as a whisper first in case I didn't like it. And in case anyone else in the house heard me. "Hardy." I like that better, I thought while going to sleep.

I woke up to a breeze and the sun shining brightly through a window. Trying to pull the blanket up, I realized two things; one, I was naked. I definitely remembered changing into nightclothes before going asleep. The second thing was a strong arm curled around my waist. I sure as hell didn't go to sleep with anyone else in my bed. The person behind me sighed into my hair and grabbed me closer.

"Morning, darlin'." He drawled out, making my whole body shiver like never

before. I was bringing up all the self-defense moves my dad taught me from the dusty cobwebs that was the corner of my mind but something was too familiar.

"Hardy." I gasped when I turned to face him. His eyes were still sleepy in a sexy way and his bright hair was perfectly tousled for me to run a hand through.

And- oh, Lord; was he naked?

"Yes," He smiled lazily, stroking my cheek. "We did manage to get names out of the way yesterday. Did you enjoy last night?"

"The question I'm wondering was did you enjoy last night?" I answered back boldly. The grin that he gave me answered my question as he came closer, wrapping a hand in my hair. I couldn't stop him, this was too perfect to stop.

"Ready for Round 3, Grace?" He whispered in my ear before climbing over me.

Hardy was kissing my neck, going lower when I shot up. My alarm woke me up the next morning out of my wonderful dreams in annoyance. I couldn't remember when I went to sleep or why I was holding a newspaper in my hand then it came back to me; Hardy Hale saved my life last night from a black hating group with a gun.