Kiss by Kiss (Riggins Brothers #3) - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,27
my little sister.
“Want me to bring you something back?” I ask.
“Nah, I’m good. Besides, one of us needs to eat your leftover chicken parmesan from last night’s date.” She smirks.
“Fair enough.” Grant chuckles. “Let us know if you change your mind.” We wave to Aspen and then we’re off. With his hand on the small of my back, he leads me to his SUV.
Date number eight is officially underway.
“I’m impressed,” I tell him, finishing off the rest of my wine. “That was delicious.”
“I’ll admit I was nervous. I wasn’t sure I remembered everything from our class.”
“Is this what you call a two for one? Using what you learned on our cooking date to preparing the same meal on your own as another.”
“It got you here, didn’t it?” He smirks.
“Yeah,” I agree. “It got me here.” I stand and start clearing our plates.
“Sit. I’ll get that. You’re a guest.”
“I am, but you cooked. This is the least I can do.”
“Aurora, go sit,” he says, taking our empty plates from my hands. “Why don’t you refill your wine, and go pick out a movie?”
“You’re going to let me pick?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“We could stare at a screen full of fuzz as long as you’re sitting next to me.” He kisses my cheek and turns to start filling the dishwasher.
Doing as he suggested, I pour myself a little more wine and head to the living room. He already has the movies pulled up, so I scroll through looking for something that would interest both of us. I’m still scrolling five minutes later when he comes and takes a seat next to me with a bottle of water in his hands.
“Any luck?”
“No.” I hand him the remote. “You pick.” My anxiety about choosing wrong is taking over. I know it’s all in my head and that I’m overthinking this. I also know he’s not Elijah, but that’s just it. Elijah wasn’t always an asshole. No, he got me in his clutches before he became the devil here on earth. At least to me.
“Oh, no. That’s your job. I already told you I don’t care what we watch.” He places the remote on my thigh.
My breathing accelerates, and I hate myself for it. This is foolish. I’m a grown woman who has choices. I should be able to make these kinds of decisions with a man and not freak the hell out.
“Hey.” Grant turns to look at me, his hands resting on my cheeks. “Breathe for me, beautiful,” he says softly.
Keeping my eyes on his, I focus on slow, even breaths. Once I have gained control of my breathing, I turn my head to hide my embarrassment, but Grant won’t let me hide. Not that I expected him to.
“Come here.” He moves to settle against the couch and pulls me into his arms. My head rests against his chest, and the steady beat of his heart calms me. “You want to tell me what that was about?”
“Not really. I was hoping that we could forget that it happened.”
“No way. I need to know what I did to cause that reaction in you, so I’m sure to never do it again.”
“It wasn’t you.”
“No? Then tell me what’s going on. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.” He’s quick to assure me.
I don’t know how, but he always seems to know what I need or what I need to hear. “My ex was… not a nice guy.”
His body stiffens. “Did he hurt you?”
“Not physically.”
“Explain that for me, babe.”
“I’m sure you’d rather watch a movie than listen to my past relationship woes.” I’d do just about anything to get out of talking about this.
“You see, that’s where you’re wrong. I need to know what triggered that reaction, Aurora. I want to be a man you can depend on. If you can’t open up to me, I can’t be that for you.”
“Reverse psychology?” I chuckle.
“Not exactly, but if it works.” I can feel him shrug.
“Cliff’s Notes, he was a good guy in the beginning. He made me fall for him and then tore me down every chance he got. We’ve been broken up for almost two years. After my grandma’s death, he was… let’s just say he wasn’t there for me, and I finally saw my situation for what it was. I was in an abusive relationship. Mentally. I got out.”
“You’re glossing over a lot there, sweetness.”
“I just don’t want to talk about him. Not right now. We’ve had a nice night, and I’d like to