Forever After All - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,41

window as memories of last night rush back to me. I should get up and leave. My car is here and facing Rip, and his rejection, doesn’t really sound like a good time. Sitting up, I stretch my arms above my head, then stand to fold the blanket and return it to the back of the couch. That’s when I feel someone watching me. Turning my head, I see Rip. His hair is tousled, and there are still sleep marks against his cheek. He’s wearing the same low-hung basketball shorts, and with no shirt, his chiseled upper body is on display.

“You okay?” His voice is laced with sleep and so damn sexy.

“Yeah. I’m uh… just going to head home.” I mess with the pillows, rearranging them to have something to do with my hands. That’s why I don’t see him approach.

“Come back to bed, Kenna.”

“I should really go.”

“Please?”

I want to. More than anything, I want to go back to his warm, cozy bed and let him hold me, but I need to preserve my heart here. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“Are you mad at me? Is this about last night?” He places his hands on my hips and turns me to face him. With one hand cupping my cheek, he uses the index finger of the other to wipe the tears under my eyes, he then lifts my chin so that we are face-to-face. “I’m sorry if I went too far, but damn it, McKenna, a man is only so strong. You were drinking… and damn it, I’m sorry. Please come back to bed.”

“Wh-What?” I ask as my brain tries to comprehend what he’s saying.

“Come on. It’s still early.” He laces his fingers through mine, and I follow him back upstairs and into his room. He closes the door, and the audible sound of the lock clicking in place has my heart skipping a beat.

Without saying a word, he leads me to the bed and pulls the covers back with a nod for me to climb in. Like the fool that I am for him, I do as he asks. I watch as he rounds the bed and climbs in, tugging me into his arms.

“Rip… I-I don’t understand this.”

“I want to hold you, McKenna. That’s what this is. Now go back to sleep.”

A little piece of my heart shatters. I’m falling hard and fast, and I don’t know what to do. I know this is going to lead to my heart being torn to shreds, but I can’t seem to stop whatever this is. Rip is a good friend, my best friend’s brother, and that’s all he’ll ever be.

Eventually, I fall back to sleep, only to wake a few hours later alone. Making a stop in the bathroom, I take care of business and head downstairs, where I find Colby and Rip in the kitchen. Colby’s sitting at the island watching Rip scramble eggs.

“Sleep well?” Rip asks.

“Yeah. Where’s Laramie?”

“Still sleeping,” Colby tells me.

I feel awkward just standing here, so I take one of the barstools and sit next to Colby. I’m barely seated before Rip is pushing a cup of coffee toward me. “Black,” he says by way of explanation.

“Thanks.”

“How’s studying going? You excited to get this test over with?” Colby asks.

“Excited, but ready for it all to be over if that makes any sense. I’m glad to be home for good. Missed all of you.” I make sure that I keep my eyes on him and not on Rip. Last night told me all that I need to know where Rip is concerned. He wants me, but he’s not willing to take me. I get it. We have history. Now I know. He regrets the kisses we shared. However, he still held me like I was precious to him. I’m so confused by his actions.

“You barely made it home the last five years. You think you can adjust to country living?” he asks.

“You can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the county out of the girl,” I say with a laugh. “I’m not going to have a problem,” I tell him.

“Well, I’m glad you’re home and will be here for the wedding.”

“Is that why you waited to ask her?”

“Partially. I also only plan to get married once. We were young when we started dating, and I wanted to give us both some time to grow up and be certain this is what we want. I want this to be for life. And