Geek Girls Don't Date Dukes (39 page)

grandfather whole again?

A terrifying series of beeps screamed through the

room, ripping Leah’s eyes open. “Pawpaw!”

Pawpaw was sitting up, pulling at his monitors and tubes.

“Get these blasted wires off me. Man can’t breathe wrapped

up in all this mess.” He stopped, blue gaze trained on Avery.

“Who in the sam hell has his paws all over my Leelee?”

Adrenaline flooded Leah and she grabbed her grand-

father’s hand. “Pawpaw! Are you okay?”

He coughed and pulled the oxygen mask away from

his bearded chin. “Can’t stand this plastic over m’face.

Leelee, get this thing off me.”

“Jamie, go get the nurse, please.” Leah turned to her

grandfather, grateful tears tracking down her stinging

cheeks. “Pawpaw, you have to leave that on. You need

the oxygen.”

Pawpaw reluctantly stopped pulling at the mask

and instead settled his steely gaze on Avery. “Who are

you, son?”

“My name is Avery Russell, sir.” Avery bowed

deeply, the courtly maneuver making Leah’s heart swell

with pride. “I love your granddaughter, sir, and I ask for

your blessing on our marriage.”

GeekGirlsDontDateDukes.indd 303

4/11/13 11:26 AM

304

Gina Lamm

Geek Girls Don’t Date Dukes

Pawpaw didn’t say anything for a long moment. His

gaze raked Avery up and down. Though he was flat

on his back in a hospital bed, he was clearly the one in

control. Though Leah longed to slip a reassuring hand

in Avery’s, she stayed still. This was between her two

favorite men on earth, and if they didn’t like each other,

life was going to be pretty freaking difficult.

Several seconds later, her grandfather nodded. “I’m

not against the idea, but I need to get to know you first.”

“Pawpaw, you know I don’t need your permission

to get married, right?” Leah’s dry tone covered her

complete excitement that he hadn’t dismissed Avery’s

request outright.

Avery spoke up before Pawpaw could respond. “It is

only right that we apply for his blessing. It is clear that

you are precious to him.”

Pawpaw laughed, the sound slightly muffled by his

oxygen mask. “I like this fella, I do.”

Jamie pushed through the door, a nurse right on her

heels. At the nurse’s insistence, they cleared the room

and let her check Pawpaw’s vitals. In the hush of the

hallway, Leah turned to Avery, winding her arms around

his neck.

“What do you think of Pawpaw?”

Avery smiled, rubbing her lower back gently. “It is

easy to see where your adventurous spirit originated. I

like him very much.”

“I just hope he’s okay.” Leah pressed her head against

Avery’s chest, breathing him in.

Only half a heartbeat later, the nurse pushed open the

door. She smiled at the tense group around her.

“He seems to have turned the corner,” she said. “It’s

GeekGirlsDontDateDukes.indd 304

4/11/13 11:26 AM

Geek Girls Don’t Date Dukes

305

kind of miraculous, actually. I’m going to call his cardi-

ologist and get him down here soon. In the meantime,

try to keep him quiet.”

Leah hugged Avery in relief as the nurse walked away.

Ella, Jamie, Micah, and Mrs. Knightsbridge went back

into the hospital room, leaving the two as alone as a pair

can be in a hospital hallway.

“I didn’t know I could be this happy,” Leah whis-

pered. “What did I do to deserve so many good things?”

Avery smiled and bent his head to kiss her. Just before

their lips met, he said, “My love, you have brought light

into my darkened life. I cannot hope to make you as

happy as you have made me.”

Leah’s heart soared as her valet kissed her. He wasn’t

Mr. Darcy, he wasn’t a duke, he wasn’t a fairy- tale hero.

He was so much better than that.

GeekGirlsDontDateDukes.indd 305

4/11/13 11:26 AM

Geek Girls Don’t Date Dukes

Acknowledgments

This book tried to kill me. It tried its best, but in the end, me and my army of love won over!

To Commander in Chief (and husband) Scotty. Your

unshakable faith in me is quite undeserved, but it keeps

me moving! I love you more than marshmallows.

To Co- Generals Mom and Dad. Your constant ques-

tions about the state of the book kept me working when

I wasn’t motivated. Thank you!

To Sergeant Frog, I mean, Sister. Heather, you’re a

great source of comfort and kick- assery. I can’t do this

without you!

To Private McBoing- Boing. Jason, I’m so proud of

you. Keep working on being the best guy you can be!

To Princess Dawn. The first, the incomparable, the

best beta reader. Thanks for nagging me to give you

something to read!

To Empress Denise. Your friendship is invaluable

to me. If not for you, this book might not have gotten

started. If not for you dragging me to the beach, there’s

no way I would have finished on time. I owe a TON

GeekGirlsDontDateDukes.indd 306

4/11/13 11:26 AM

Geek Girls Don’t Date Dukes

307

of this one to you. Thanks for always being there. I love

you bunches. To the careers!

To the Medical Corps, led by Stephanie. You’ll never

know how much you, Dave, Jodi, Gabe, Keith, and even

crazy Lee have meant to me. Just hanging out with you

guys gives me strength! Mario Party next week?

To my dancing ladies who’ve never forgotten me.

This is to Shell, Jenn, and Krysti! May we all wiggle in

the same space soon.

And to my special ops team. Without these ladies?

There is no book. Frances Black and Jennifer Mishler,

my kick- ass agents, and Leah Hultenschmidt, the bestest

editor ever. You guys make me want to be a better

writer. I can’t tell you how much I value your opinions.

I live in fear of disappointing any of you, and I hope that

you’ll allow me to continue bringing smiles, entertain-

ment, and spicy scenes into your lives! Thanks for all

your wonderfulness!

GeekGirlsDontDateDukes.indd 307

4/11/13 11:26 AM

About the Author

Gina Lamm loves geekery, but don’t let that fool you.

She’s also an overly dramatic theatre rat with a penchant

for reading scary books too late at night. She belly dances

too much, tweets too often, and lives her life with a

passion that could be considered foolish. She’s addicted

to stories and loves nothing more than penning funny,

emotional tales of love, lust, and entertaining mishaps.

Married to a real-

life superhero, she lives with her

beloved family in rural North Carolina, surrounded by

tobacco farms, possums, and the occasional hurricane.

When not writing, you can usually find her fishing or

playing
World
of
Warcraft
. Badly. Visit her online at www.

ginalamm.net anytime.

GeekGirlsDontDateDukes.indd 308

4/11/13 11:26 AM