Kiss by Kiss (Riggins Brothers #3) - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,26
date tonight?” Marshall asks.
“Yes, and you jokers need to leave me alone so I can get shit done and get to her.”
“Oh, it’s worse than I thought, Con,” Marshall quips.
“Fuck off.” I toss another highlighter. Their laughter follows them down the hall. They can give me all the shit they want. It’s not going to change a thing.
Not with her.
Never with her.
Chapter 10
Aurora
“Tell me, dear sister, what date is this?” Aspen asks from her spot on the side of the tub.
“I don’t know.” Lies. I know exactly how many dates this makes for us, but I’m not going to admit it.
“Liar,” she calls me out.
“Fine,” I sigh dramatically. “Eight.” I pretend to not notice her smile of victory.
“Eight.” She nods. “How long, like two weeks?”
“Three.”
“I like him.”
My shoulders relax. “Yeah, I like him too.” I really like him—more than I should. I was supposed to be focusing on me and my business, but Grant Riggins is hard to resist.
“Are you happy?”
“We’re just dating.” That’s what I keep telling myself, but I know my heart doesn’t understand. With every message, every phone call, and every date, I fall harder for him.
My sister throws her head back in laughter. “If you call the way Grant looks at you ‘just dating,’ then the rest of us are screwed. Quite literally screwed. That man is more than just dating you, Aurora.”
“I thought maybe that was in my imagination.”
“Nope.” She grins. “Whatcha gonna do about it?”
“Nothing. We’re taking things slow, getting to know one another.”
“Maybe tonight will be the night.” She wiggles her eyebrow.
“The night for what?”
“You know? Brown chicken, brown cow,” she singsongs.
“Stop. That’s not going to happen.” It’s not that I haven’t thought about it. I mean, Grant is sexy and charming, and it’s been way too long for me. I don’t have the experience that a man like Grant would want or need. It’s best not to go there. He’s going to realize I’m not the one for him, and all this will end. No use in adding in sex to make things more complicated. I’m already having a hard time keeping my heart in line with the “don’t fall for him” concept.
“Date night, the man is a saint. Has he tried anything?”
“Other than kissing or hand-holding? No.”
“Aw, sis, don’t sound so disappointed. I know he wants you. He’s just giving you time. He’s one of the good ones.”
“I don’t know what this is,” I finally admit. “Look at me. I’m not the kind of woman a guy like Grant goes for. He’s so nice. I’m having a hard time figuring out his angle.”
“Aurora, that’s because he doesn’t have an ulterior motive. He’s into you. And if I hear you say that shit again, you and I are going to have words. I hate Elijah and what he did to you. You’re beautiful and sexy. You have curves, curves that drive men wild, even men like Grant. Elijah was a dick who wanted to manipulate you. Don’t let him ruin this for you. He’s already stolen so many years of your life and left you—”
I stop her. “Don’t. I can’t go there right now. Hell, I don’t ever want to go there again.” Thinking about my ex before my date with Grant is not a good idea.
“I’m sorry.” Aspen is quick to apologize. “Where is he taking you tonight?”
“I’m not sure. He just said dress casual.” I look down at my black skinny jeans, black tank top, and burgundy open-front sweater. “Is this good enough?”
“You look hot. He’s going to go crazy.”
Before I can second-guess my outfit, the buzzer sounds. “Will you let him in?” I ask my sister. I just need a few more minutes. With each time I see him, my feelings grow. I always have a good time with him. He never makes me feel pressured or less than him. It’s a feeling I’m quickly becoming addicted to. Squaring my shoulders, I take one last glance in the mirror and go to meet my date.
“Wow,” he says as soon as I step into the small living room. “You look great.”
“Thanks,” I say shyly, looking down at my feet that are now covered in my knee-high boots.
“Ready?” he asks.
“Yes.”
“Aspen, do you want to join us?”
“No. You crazy kids go ahead.” She gives us a knowing smile, like she has this big secret that she knows we’re about to discover. That’s Aspen for you. Always optimistic and looking at the bright side of life. I wish I could be more like