Nash Brothers Box Set - Carrie Aarons Page 0,318

if you’ll let me.”

“You said you’d never leave Fawn Hill.” There are tears in her voice.

“I don’t care where I live, or where the hell in the world I am. Because you are my home. Nothing is right side up in my world when you’re not with me. So, I came here. Can’t you see? I’m addicted to you. I’ve been clean and sober for five years, and one look at you and I’m back on my knees, begging for just one more taste. I can’t get enough of you, Ryan. You’re all I think about, and when I’m with you … you make me better.”

She swings her head away, those straight, shining locks obscuring her face from me. “I promised myself, I was taking a break. I’m scared! I’m petrified to love you, but I’m also just petrified of love. I don’t know how to do it, I have no clue how to receive it in a healthy way. Look at what happened when we tried!”

“Love isn’t just trying one time. It’s trying all the time, every single day. We let our problems overshadow everything else, we were both wrong. I’m here telling you that I want to give it all up for you. My security blanket, the safety of Fawn Hill. I thought it was the only thing that would help me stay sober … but I don’t need it anymore, I was lying to myself. You’re what I need.”

I’m pleading with her, and finally, I take her hands in mine. “I love you, Ryan Shea.”

Now the tears spill over her lower lids. “I love you, too. I’ve been so miserable, Fletcher. Leaving you … it proved that I never really loved anyone before. The way I feel about you—”

“It’s something you only get once.” I have to cut her off, tell her that I feel the exact same way. “So, let’s stop wasting time.”

She accepts by stepping into me and grabbing me behind the neck to pull my mouth to hers. All of my favorite things about her rush in; her scent, the way her lips part for me, the shape of her body in my hands.

The beat of my heart for only her.

“I can’t believe you got on a plane and flew to Denmark.” She breaks our kiss, laughing through her tears.

Pressing my forehead to hers, I relish the feel of her in my arms. “Believe me, it was not pretty. Don’t expect me to get on one anytime soon.”

Those amber eyes gaze into mine. “Guess you’re stuck here with me, then.”

“That was the whole point.” I nuzzle her nose with mine.

“So, what now?” Ryan breathes, neither of us moving to detach our embrace.

I know the perfect answer.

“Forever.”

Epilogue

Fletcher

Five Years Later

The plane lands smoothly on the runway, one that was paved two years ago.

My hand is clasped tightly around hers, mostly because she knows I don’t like takeoff or landing, but also because there is never a time I don’t want to be touching her.

The scenery outside the window looks exactly the same as it always has. Since the day I was born, I’ve seen the same trees, landscape, and people. But that all changed when she stepped into my world. Or rather, when she stepped out of it.

“You happy to be home?” Ryan turns to me, her newly cut jet-black waves billowing around her shoulders.

She’d kept it long for our wedding, the tendrils of it almost skimming her waist, but immediately after, she hacked it off to what she calls a long bob. The style resembles the one she wore when we first met, all those years ago when Presley was marrying Keaton.

My ear to ear grin must give away my excitement. “Yeah, I really am. Although, Forrest is still pissed he didn’t get to throw me a bachelor party. Not that any of my brothers really had one, so I don’t know why I was supposed to be the one to provide the stripper-fest.”

My wife chuckles. “Because your twin is jonesing for some time away from the kids. Penelope said the boys are really getting to that reckless age, and Forrest wants to keep a tight leash.”

I can’t believe that Travis is now seventeen, almost ready to graduate high school. And with Matthew just starting his freshman year, that left Ames at the pre-teen age of eleven, which also isn’t easy. So, I guess I couldn’t blame my brother.

“Very true. But it will be nice to see everyone.” I pick our interconnected hands up and