LOCKING THE FRONT DOOR OF the shop, I pocket my keys and make my way across the street to In Ruins. Hoping to hell Saylor pulls through and gets me alone with Kennedy.
It may seem desperate, but this girl has been freezing me out since day one, and I can’t fucking take it anymore. Especially after last night when that fucker put his hands on her. So after racking my brain for most of the night, trying to come up with a plan, I took matters into my own hands and recruited my sister to help me get Kennedy alone. Hoping that if she has nowhere to run or anyone to buffer our interaction that she’ll have no choice but to talk to me. To give me the time of day. Even just five fucking minutes.
Walking up to the door, I see Saylor stepping out.
“Gus just left, and I told her I wasn’t feeling well so I was going upstairs to lie down. I feel like shit for lying to her, but she told me to go and she’d finish cleaning up. You owe me, big brother.” Her brown eyes glare pointedly at me. “Good luck. I hope this works.”
Then before I can reply, she pops up onto her healed tip toes and kisses my cheek before entering the door to the side that leads to the apartments upstairs.
Fuck, me too. This has to work.
Quietly I turn the knob and walk through the door before locking it behind me. Blaring country music fills my ears as soon as I walk in, the stereo system in the corner pumping “Last Minute Late Night” by Kane Brown through the entire space.
Then I see her. Her long hair’s pulled up into a messy knot on her head, exposing her slender neck. She’s wearing tight, dark jeans and a flowing top that showcases her killer body.
I stand stock-still and take her in as she busies herself with clean up.
She’s wiping down tables and turning up chairs as if she’s done it a million times before.
But that’s not what has me riveted. No, what’s got me rooted to the spot and has my pulse racing is the swing of her hips and shake of her ass as she does. Her body moving to the beat of the song as she moves through the handful of tables left to clean.
Not wanting to interrupt the show, I lean my shoulder against the doorjamb and keep quiet.
Eyes roaming and roving over every tight inch she’s packing. Taking in how carefree and unreserved she’s being, singing out loud and dancing all about. If I wasn’t there last night, I’d have no clue that less than twenty-four hours ago she was manhandled and scared.
She lets out a yelp when she finally notices me but doesn’t say a word. Just stands in the middle of the bar looking at me with pale green eyes wide and chest heaving as the last notes of the song filter through the air around us.
Then “Fire Away” by Chris Stapleton starts to filter through the speakers, and I can’t stay away a second longer.
I had this whole speech planned, to ask how she was and to plead my case, but without a word I erase the distance separating us and hold out my hand. Needing her close—in my arms—where I know she belongs. She looks down at my hand, palm up, unsure and if I’m not mistaken…interested.
“Move with me.” I don’t ask, but state. Wanting nothing more than to have her in my arms.
Her eyes soften and her shoulders relax. A long exhale leaves her full lips. Then, after tossing the rag she was using to wipe down the tables, she lifts a small hand and places it into my larger one. Still not saying a word.
At the feel of her soft skin against my rough palm, I breathe deep. Reveling in the simple connection. Feeling it down to my bones as I take in her flawless skin against my tattooed hand.
Then I bring her into my chest, wrapping her arms around my neck and winding mine around her slim waist. The top of her head only coming to my shoulders. My hands riding precariously low toward her ass.
As we start to move, my heart thunders and my soul fractures. Both calling out to her.
I lead her small body around the floor as we sway to the beat and heavy lyrics of the song.
With each step, we get closer and closer until her full tits are pressed against my chest. Her hips fitted close to mine.
The perfect fit. Like she was made for me.
Just like I knew she was.
I can feel her warm breath searing my chest through my shirt right before she tilts her head to lean her cheek against my shoulder. Her arms tightening their hold.
I’ve never felt so right and whole and goddamn alive in all my life. With this stunningly beautiful woman in my arms, held tight to my body, swaying and moving to the beat.
I never want this moment to end. But as the song comes to a close, she steps back but not out of reach.
Taking a chance, I leave one hand to her hip while I lift the other to trace a finger down her cheek. Just like that first night she stole the breath right from my lungs.
Her skin is as soft as it was then. And she flushes and sighs and leans in all the same.
“Still never seen anything as beautiful as you.”
She flinches slightly and goes to turn her head. But I don’t let her.
“Don’t do that, baby. Don’t hide. Ain’t nothing wrong with how gorgeous you are. Radiating beauty unlike anything I’ve ever known—ever seen. True and real and good.”
Mossy green eyes widen and fill with emotion. So I keep going.
“Never been graced with that before. So much good.”
She sighs then. Dream-like. Then she parts her lips and speaks. “Just when I’ve got myself convinced to stay away. You do this, say these things, and completely throw me off-kilter.”
I smirk at that. Nothing but a slight tip of the corner of my lips. “Go out with me.”
She huffs a faint giggle and lightly shakes her head. Eyes always on mine. Hands to my chest.
“Let me show you I’m not like them. Let me prove to you how good and right and fucking perfect we could be.” I trace another gentle finger down her soft, flushed cheek. “Go out with me,” I urge on a rough whisper.
Her breath hitches a beat before her eyes slide closed.
Then she rocks my world. Tilts it on its axis. And totally fucks me up in the best way possible.
As her wide eyes open, she breathes, “Okay.”
And my heart, it fucking soars.