Waking Up to You: Overexposed by Leslie Kelly Read Free Book Online Page A

the loud cry of pain and he’d run around the house to see Buddy lying on the ground, looking like a fragile, broken porcelain doll.
    “Grandpa?”
    The eyes shot open and the old man turned to stare at her, his blue eyes shining with vitality and affection. “Candy-cane, what are you doing here?” He cast a glance at Oliver. “I told you not to worry anybody.”
    “Don’t be silly,” she said, bending to kiss his forehead. She tenderly brushed away a long strand of silvery hair—used in the ultimate old-man comb-over to cover the sizable bald spot on his pate. “Mom was going to come herself...”
    “Ridiculous! She needs to stay in Florida and take care of your stodgy old fart of a father.”
    Seeing the smile on Candace’s face, and the matching one on Buddy’s, Oliver could only think theirs was a close-knit family and the joke was an old one. Buddy had to be at least eighty, but he was usually as peppy and energetic as a much-younger man.
    “Well, that’s why I came, to scope out the situation and see if she needed to visit.”
    “She doesn’t!”
    “You certainly seem peppy.”
    “I’m feeling no pain,” he admitted. “You really don’t have to stay.”
    “Of course I’m staying. I’ll be here when you get out of surgery, and I’ll be at your house waiting for you when you come home.”
    He didn’t argue anymore, looking visibly touched and showing just the faintest hint of vulnerability. Buddy might not want to be a bother, but when it came to being in the hospital, nothing beat having family nearby. The old man hadn’t said anything about being nervous about his operation, but considering he hadn’t been expecting any such thing twenty-four hours ago, he had to be worried about it.
    “I think I’ll give you two some time alone,” Oliver said. “Buddy, I just wanted to say I’m here and hope everything goes well with the surgery. I have no doubt you’ll be kicking up clods of dirt and rocks in no time.”
    His boss nodded. “Thank you for bringing my grandbaby to see me.”
    “Not a problem.”
    “You’ll make sure she’s okay out there at the house? It’s awfully lonely and desolate for a helpless young girl on her own.”
    He saw Candace roll her eyes at the description. “I’ll be fine,” she insisted. “I certainly don’t need a babysitter.”
    “Humor an old man. Promise me you’ll let Oliver look after you.”
    She glanced back and forth between them, her mouth opening and snapping closed. Obviously she didn’t want to promise any such thing. However, she didn’t want to upset her elderly relative, either. Finally, she hedged. “If I need anything, I’ll be sure to ask him.”
    That could range from needing a roll of toilet paper to needing a spider killed. What it wasn’t was an agreement to let him watch over her.
    “Promise?”
    She obviously didn’t like being pressed, and mumbled, “If there’s a dire emergency, Oliver is the first one I’ll call.”
    Buddy didn’t appear thrilled by the concession, but apparently knew he’d pushed hard enough. “All right.” Then he extended his hand. “Thank you again, Oliver.”
    Oliver walked over for a handshake, but when he tried to end it, the old man didn’t let go. Instead, Buddy clutched his hand, while also holding his granddaughter’s.
    “So, you two are getting along okay?”
    If Cupid had ever suffered from a broken hip, he’d probably have taken a day off. Not so for Buddy Frye.
    “Grandpa,” she said warningly.
    “She’s already tried to kill me,” Oliver said, caught off guard.
    Buddy snickered. Obviously the pain meds were still in fine working order. Eyeing Candace, he said, “Did I ever tell you about what your grandma did to me once, back when we were dating? She shoved me in front of a moving car.”
    “No, you didn’t tell me, and I don’t believe it,” she replied a little primly. Then she gave Oliver a look that said, Don’t you dare make fun of me about this.
    “Yep. She