Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,71

help, and that’s okay. Please, for me. Just trust me, okay?”

I lean in and press my lips to hers. I have to; there’s no other way to explain it. It’s quick, but the meaning behind it is no less than what it is. A ‘thank you,’ plus an ‘I don’t know what I would do without you in this moment’ kiss. Sure, my sister offered to do the same thing, but we butt heads; my sweet girl moved right in before I knew what hit me. That’s what she’s done since the day I met her.

“Thank you,” I murmur next to her ear before dashing upstairs. I rush through a shower; even though I would love to stand under the hot spray, the need to be near her trumps that. The fact that she’s downstairs, in my house, taking care of my son . . . yeah, I take the quickest shower known to man. Regardless of how fast it is, I still feel revived, but then again, that’s probably just Kendall.

I’m just hitting the bottom step when I hear Reagan. “How’d you do it?” she asks Kendall. I stop and listen.

“He’s stressed, Reagan. He just needed someone to help him feel like it was okay to ask for help, and it is. He needs to lean on us.”

‘Us.’ Not ‘you,’ not ‘your parents,’ but ‘us.’ My sweet girl.

“That’s what I was trying to do,” Reagan says, exasperated.

Kendall laughs softly. “Maybe, but you also got pissed off when he didn’t do what you expected.”

“He just wants in your pants,” Dawn teases.

“Maybe, but he also needs support.”

I’ve heard enough. Taking the final step, I walk the short distance down the hall and into the living room. “Hey,” I say, but only to Kendall. She’s all I see, holding my son, who is now blissfully sleeping in her arms.

“Hey, that was the quickest shower ever.” She smiles up at me.

I take the spot next to her on the love seat and lean in to her, my lips close to her ear. “Yeah, didn’t want to miss this,” I tell her honestly.

She runs her thumb over Knox’s hand, which is gripping her finger tightly. “Miss what?” she asks, watching my son sleep in her arms.

I don’t hesitate when I say, just for her, “You, sweet girl. I didn’t want to miss you, here in my house, where I can be close to you. You make it all better.”

She sucks in a breath. I’ve managed to shock her. Good, that’s what I’ve felt since the moment I met her—like I’ve been shocked, and the only balm is to be near her, talk to her. Hell, a simple text from her changes the outcome of my day.

“Ridge,” Reagan says softly, and I can hear the apology in her voice.

“I’m sorry, sister.”

“What can I do?” she asks.

“I have nothing ready. There are drinks in the garage refrigerator, but that’s about it.”

“We got this.” Dawn stands and heads toward the kitchen. Reagan smiles in our direction and follows her.

“The guys will be here soon,” I tell Kendall.

“Hey,” Reagan calls from the kitchen. “I told the guys to hold off until eight thirty. I recorded the prelims, since we always bitch about the commercials anyway,” she informs me.

Kendall smiles. “Go take a nap, Daddy. I got this little guy.”

Come with me. “I can’t—”

“Ridge, you can and you will. I’ll be right here. I promise, if I need you I’ll wake you up. Go get some rest. You’ll need it to take care of him when we’re not here.”

Reaching out, I gently smooth the hair out of her eyes. I could stare into them for hours, get lost in their blue depths. But I don’t have hours—not today anyway. Instead, I lean in and press my lips to hers. “Thank you.”

Pulling back, I watch as she licks her lips. “Go rest, Mr. Beckett.” She points to the ceiling.

I chuckle. “I’m going.” I lean in and give her one more quick, chaste kiss and slowly stand. She doesn’t push me away, and I’m going to keep stealing kisses until she does. Three times. Three times I’ve had her soft lips pressed to mine, and I’m already addicted.

I wake to laughter and sit up, startled. Then I remember—I’ve got company. Peering over at the alarm clock, I see it’s two minutes to nine. I rub my hands over my face before climbing out of bed. I hate to admit it, but I needed that. Hell, I could go back to sleep