Summer Love_ A Steamy Small Town Romance Anthology - Piper Rayne Page 0,18

have so much to say.

It’s morning before I’m told I can go and see him. I follow the charge nurse’s directions to his room and knock softly on the door.

When I step inside, he’s lying in bed, eyes closed. His color isn’t great, a little pale, and it’s weird to see him in a hospital gown, but otherwise, he looks pretty good. His eyes flicker open when I reach the side of the bed and his baby blues look a little glazed from the painkillers.

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” I whisper with tears in my eyes, bringing my hand up to cup his cheek.

He reaches up and circles my wrist in his huge hand. “Can’t get rid’a me that easy, honey.”

I smile down at him and the impulse to get the words out, everything I need to say to him overwhelms me and so I do. I just blurt it out so that the words are out there and I can’t second-guess myself or take them back.

“I’m sorry I tried to push you away again. It’s just… my feelings for you scare me. What if I fall for you and you see how messed up I still am from everything with my mom and can’t deal with it? What if you get bored with me and want to move on? What if something happens to you and I lose you?”

“Told ya, I’m not goin’ anywhere.” He shifts his position and winces.

I nod. “I know, I know.” I take his huge hand in two of mine. “I realized something when I was waiting for you to get out of surgery. It doesn’t matter what all my fears are—it’s too late. I’m already in love with you. Even if all of those things happened, it’s too late. I’d still suffer.”

His eyes get soft and he squeezes my hand. “Took you long enough. I already knew you loved me. Was just waitin’ for you to figure it out.”

My mouth drops open and he chuckles then winces again.

“You knew, did you?”

“Hell yeah. Why do you think I wouldn’t let you push me away?” He reaches out and his hand goes into my hair. “And I love you, Reagan. Have for a long time. Just glad I don’t have to hide it no more.” His voice isn’t as strong as it normally is, but I can tell he means the words.

The tears that were building in my eyes drop free and he uses his thumb to wipe them away.

“I’m gonna be the man you need me to be, which includes not lettin’ you push me away because you’re scared. We’re gonna be happy, honey, I promise.”

I nod and lean in to place a chaste kiss on his lips. He tries to deepen it, but I pull back, not wanting him to tear his incision.

“Thanks for fighting for me,” I say.

“Honey, some things are worth fightin’ for.”

Later on, I’m leaving the hospital to go home and shower and change before I return to sit with Moose. I had my back to the window in Moose’s room but apparently a summer rainstorm must’ve moved through because the pavement is wet but it’s no longer raining.

I make my way through the parking lot to my car when something catches my eye. Off in the distance, there’s a rainbow in the sky. The colors are bright in contrast to the somewhat gloomy sky behind it, and I can practically see the entire arch. It might be one of the best I’ve ever seen.

Emotion clogs my throat, and I struggle to swallow.

I know with every part of my being that this is a sign that I’m on the right path.

In fact, I like to think that my mom guided me into that tattoo shop that day and back into Moose’s arms.

Thanks, Mom.

We hope you loved Reagan and Moose’s story! Explore the series, our readers are head over heels for, The Baileys!

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About Piper & Rayne

Piper Rayne is a USA Today Bestselling Author duo who write “heartwarming humor with a side of sizzle” about families, whether that be blood or found. They both have e-readers full of one-clickable books, they're married to husbands who drive them to drink, and they're both chauffeurs to their kids. Most of all, they love hot heroes and quirky heroines who make them laugh, and they hope you do, too!

Also by Piper Rayne

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Lessons from a One-Night