by Julia Crane
“You know I will wait forever for you.” Rourk reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You just tell me the date and time and I will be there.”
Keegan wiped a tear from her cheek.
“Why are you crying?” His voice sounded panicked. “I don’t want you to cry.”
“I don’t know. It’s stupid. I was excited and nervous thinking I was going to lose my virginity today, and now I feel like an idiot. My own chosen doesn’t want me.” Keegan threw a pillow across the room, her anger obvious.
Rourk was worried she would turn the room into a block of ice. “Keegan, look at me.”
She slowly raised her head to meet his eyes, a sullen look on her face.
“I’m sorry you don’t agree, but this is who I am. You say that you love me right?’ Rourk asked gently.
Keegan nodded.
“Well, you need to love this part about me as well.” Rourk reached out to take her hand. “We have a lifetime to spend together, and I’m sure plenty of it will be spent in bed. Let’s just spend this time getting to know each other more. Ok?”
Keegan wiped her nose with the back of her hand and nodded. “Will you still sleep in my bed with me?”
Rourk hung his head. “I can’t. I’m sorry.”
“I promise I won’t attack you in the middle of the night.”
Rourk took a deep breath. “I hope I don’t regret this. Yes, I’ll stay in here.”
“Thank you. I’m going to change into my PJ’s I’ll be right back.” Keegan rummaged through her drawer looking for the least sexiest thing to wear and then headed to her bathroom. She came out a few minutes later wearing Power Puff Girls pajamas. “How’s this?”
“You look adorable.” Rourk noticed she still had the necklace on. “Come here.”
Keegan walked over and Rourk stood up. He put his hands around her neck to unlatch the necklace. Keegan jerked away. “No, don’t take it off. It hurts too much.”
“Keegan, I am here you don’t need it anymore.”
She looked skeptical. “Are you sure?”
“Trust me.” He unlatched the necklace and set it on her nightstand.
Keegan grinned. “No pain.” She reached up and kissed him. Rourk hesitantly returned the kiss.
“Don’t worry, Rourk. I promised, so you need to trust me.” She kissed him again.
“It’s not you I don’t trust, it’s me. This is much harder than you can imagine. I’ve lain awake many nights dreaming of being alone with you.”
“You have? Seriously?” She crossed her arms across her chest. “You’re not just saying that to make me feel better?”
“Of course not, Keegan, you are beautiful and you are mine. I want to explore everything about you. I just want to wait until you are my wife.”
“That’s really sweet.” Keegan pulled his hand to her lips and kissed it.
“I know you’re tired after that long flight. Why don’t you get changed and we’ll try to get some sleep.” She crawled under the covers.
Rourk left to grab his backpack from the living room. He changed into a pair of shorts and T-shirt. He wished she would just agree to marry him so they wouldn’t have to deal with this. It was almost funny—Keegan had been torturing him since he first laid eyes on her. He should be used to it by now. He would endure anything she threw his way.
He got under the covers and she snuggled up against him. She fit perfectly in his arms.
Rourk ran a hand through her hair, his other arm tucked tightly around her small frame. She was asleep in no time. He lie awake awhile, listening to her breathe. His last thought before he dozed off was I am the luckiest man on the planet.
Chapter 11
Keegan woke up and flung her arm across the bed to find it empty. Was her night with him a dream?
She rubbed her eyes and sat up, the blankets falling away from her. She looked around for any proof that he had been there, but saw nothing but the faint indentation in her purple satin sheets. She flopped back on the bed and grabbed the pillow next to her. Bringing it to her face, she pressed its softness to her face and breathed deep. Yep, he’s real. She loved the smell of him—he smelled like the woods.
But where is he? She jumped out of bed and tugged her favorite robe from the hook over her door. It was a fluffy lavender robe from Target that had been worn so many times the elbows were going thin, but she loved it. She stepped into some slippers and went to search for him.
Love swelled in her chest as she stopped at the doorway of the kitchen. The early morning sunshine slanted through the window and illuminated him. His hair was mussed from sleep, sticking haphazardly up, and he was in a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. Keegan had never known him in such an intimate aspect.
Rourk was hovering over the coffee pot. He jabbed at a button; then, he frowned and punched another. When nothing happened, he swore under his breath and jerked the coffee pot out, glaring at it.
Keegan smirked and shook her head at his troubles with the coffeemaker. She closed her eyes and called on the power inside her. The tingling sensation that accompanied her main power of invisibility rushed through her body: starting from her head and claiming her body all the way to her toes. She loved to sneak up on people.
She tiptoed forward until she was right behind him.
“Need some help?” she asked and was disappointed when he didn’t jump.
“I didn’t hear you.” Rourk turned wide eyes in her general direction. His brow furrowed as he searched the room for her.
Keegan let go of her power, and her body shimmered back into view. “I would hope not. What would be the fun in being invisible if you could be heard?”
His smile was huge. “I’ve never seen you use your power. Do it again.”
She closed her eyes, relishing the familiar sensation as it ran through her body, and she was gone.
Rourk laughed. “Ok, you can come back now. I’m impressed.”
When she appeared beside him, Rourk turned and grabbed her around the waist. “I wasn’t sure you were ever going to wake up. It’s almost 9:00.”
Their lips touched lightly, and Keegan felt hot and restricted beneath her robe. She stepped away. “What time did you wake up?”
“Five-thirty. Same time I usually wake up.”
Keegan crinkled up her nose. “Yuck. I can’t believe you willingly get up that early on a weekend. What have you been doing?”
“Not much. I stayed in bed for awhile. Then I figured I’d come see what you had to make for breakfast. However, I can’t seem to figure out this thing.” He gestured to the coffeemaker where it sat innocently on the counter.
She reached over and flipped a switch on the side, and it started making noise. “That’s because it’s set to automatically go off at 9:30 on the weekends. I like to wake up to the smell of coffee.”
“That is a great smell to wake up to,” Rourk agreed, pulling her close once more. This kiss was tender and slow, and he tangled his hands in Keegan’s long hair, drawing it out. When he finally pulled away, he murmured, “How does french toast sound?”
“Yummy, that’s one of my favorites.” Keegan rubbed her hands together.
As he opened the fridge to pull out the eggs and milk, Keegan took a seat at the table, tucking her legs underneath her as she watched him. He turned on the stove and cracked a couple eggs in a bowl, then said, “Do you have any plans for us today?”
“Yes, we’re going to pick out our puppy. I found a local breeder.”
Rourk chuckled, whisking the egg mixture with a fork. “I almost forgot about the bulldog.”
“I can’t believe you already forgot about a member of our family.” Keegan placed her hand to her chest in mock surprise. “We aren’t going there till three so I thought I could show you around town, and where I go to school.”
“I’d love to see where you have been spending your days.” Rourk dipped a piece of bread in the mixture and slapped it in the pan. It started sizzling on contact.
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br /> “We might even get lucky and see the northern lights while you’re here.” Keegan’s eyes lit up. “It’s the most amazing thing I have ever seen in my life. Wait until you see the pictures.” She paused. “Actually, you should see them in person. If we don’t see them this weekend, I’ll show you the pictures.”
“That is something I would like to see,” Rourk replied. He flipped the three pieces of toast cooking in the skillet and glanced at her.
Keegan stood and held up a finger as she walked backwards for the door. “I do have something to show you though. I’ll be right back.” She banged into the door frame and made a face, rubbing her elbow.
Rourk laughed.
“Not funny.” She stuck her tongue out. She found the brown leather album on the desk in her living room. It was thick—much thicker than Keegan had meant for it to be.
She brought it back to the kitchen and placed it on the table. “These are the photos I’ve been saving for you. I took them with the lens you gave me.”
Rourk brought her a plate of french toast and a mug of warm syrup. He sat down across from her and reached for the album. Slowly, he turned the pages and took in parts of Keegan’s life he had missed.
Keegan reached over him and pointed at a photo. It was a close-up of dark gray rocks; the power of the lens allowed the droplets of water on the surface to stand out. Speaking through a mouthful of toast, Keegan said, “Those were taken at my favorite spot with the fisheye lens.”
“They’re beautiful, Keegan. You are really talented.” He turned the page.
Keegan pointed with her fork at the page he was on. “That’s a bunch of graduation and prom pictures. I had my mom take some for you.”
Rourk looked over at her, one of his hands splayed across a picture of Keegan in her slinky gray prom dress. “So you took all of these photos especially for me?”
“Yeah, it was my father’s idea.”
“Keegan, this is an amazing gift.” Rourk’s voice was soft and full of emotion. “It means so much to me, knowing you were thinking of me as these photos were snapped.”
He turned his smoky eyes to hers, and she thought he had the most intense eyes of anyone she had ever met. Keegan knew he meant everything he said one hundred percent. “I’m glad you like it. Why don’t you finish making your breakfast and then we can see the rest?”
After Rourk had his own plate, Keegan paged through the album and told him about each photo as he ate his food. When she closed the last page, both of their plates were empty.
Rourk cleared his throat. “Thank you.”
Just those simple words coming from him made her feel so happy. She reached across the space between them and ran her fingers through his hair. “You’re welcome.”
“I’m surprised you are not going to school for photography. Those shots are amazing.”
Keegan sighed, dropping her hand to her lap and fiddling with the drawstring on her robe. “I’ve been seriously considering changing my major and going to an art school for photography.”
“Why don’t you?”
“Well, I’ve dreamed of being a marine biologist since I was old enough to know what one was,” she said simply and shrugged. “I feel like I’ll let my parents down if I don’t go through with it. I really do love science and marine life. It’s just not as much fun as I expected.”
Rourk took her hands into his. “You should do what makes you happy. Your parents would not be disappointed as long as you were doing what you wanted to do.”
“I’ve actually been looking into art schools in Seattle. I’m just not sure. I think I’ll feel like a failure if I don’t finish my biology degree.” His hands were so much larger than hers; they were so much more creased and calloused.
“That’s silly, Keegan. You can always do both if it’s that important to you.”
Keegan let go of his hands and pulled at her sleeves. “What I would really like to do is photograph animals. I would love to get some underwater photos of dolphins and other marine life.” She shrugged. “That’s probably silly.”
Rourk reached over and pulled her into his lap. He swiped one hand through her hair, his skin warm as he rested his palm against her cheek. “It’s not even slightly silly. I think that is an amazing idea. You could get the best of both worlds.”
“You really don’t think it’s crazy?” She bit her lip, one hand playing with the hem of his T-shirt. Her heart thudded as she waited for his answer. His opinion meant so much to her.
“I really don’t. But, it’s your choice, so you need to decide what is best for you.”
Keegan grinned. “Well, the photography program is much shorter. Which means we could get married sooner.”
“I’m not going to lie. I like the sound of that.” Rourk kissed her, a slow, lingering touch of his lips. When he pulled away, he caught her eye and said, “Whatever you decide, I’m beside you.”
Wrapping her arms around his neck, Keegan squeezed. She was embarrassed to find she was a little teary-eyed. She took a deep breath, drawing in Rourk’s earthy smell. His hair was like satin on her cheek.
I’m so lucky to have him.
Keegan took a deep breath and pulled back with a smile. “I’m going to get ready. I’ll be back in little while.”
“How long are you going to be?” Rourk asked.
“Total? About an hour. It takes girls a little longer to get ready,” she teased, and then winked at him.
“Ok, I’m going to throw on some clothes and go for a run. I’ll be back in about 45 minutes.” Rourk kissed her one last time before she stood up.
Keegan rocked back and forth on her feet, her hands clasped in front of her, as she watched him walk away. She felt so at peace with him around. Once he walked out the door, she headed for the shower.
Keegan pulled the Jeep into the driveway of a large, red-brick home with a huge fenced-in yard. The shutters on every window were black, and the front door was framed by tall bushes shaped into spirals. She jumped out and pocketed her keys, then met Rourk at the front of the vehicle.
“I’m a little nervous. This is our first big purchase as a couple.” She grasped his hand and squeezed it. “The house looks nice. I’m sure they take good care of the puppies.”
“I’ve always wanted a dog. Not sure I would have picked a bulldog though.” He laughed, tucking Keegan’s hand into the crook of his arm as they began walking up the driveway. “Aren’t they supposed to be lazy?”
“Hey, don’t talk about Santa like that. Lazy is good! I just want someone to keep me company when I’m alone. We can always get a more active dog later, if you want. I’m sure he’ll want a friend.”
They mounted the three steps to the porch and came to a stop on a generic black and brown “Welcome” mat. Keegan reached over and rang the doorbell.
A woman who looked to be in her mid-forties open the door and greeted them with a warm smile that reached her pale blue eyes. “You must be Keegan and Rourk. Come in.”
They stepped inside, and the woman closed the door behind them. Keegan glanced around in awe—the house was beautiful. The foyer ceiling soared above their heads, where a large, crystal chandelier hung down past the white railing of the upstairs balcony. To either side, arched doorways opened into equally large and open rooms: One filled with over-stuffed couches and chairs in warm, neutral tones and the other with a long dining table covered in fine China. It felt warm and inviting.
“The puppies are in the back room,” their hostess said with another eye-crinkling smile. “And I’m Marjorie, in case you didn’t remember.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Marjorie. I’m Rourk,”—he put an arm around Keegan—“and this is Keegan.”
The house was decorated in an understated, simple way. Lots of browns, reds, and gold made it look like a page out of a magazine. They passed through a huge kitchen filled with all stainless-steel appliances. It smelled like cinnamon which made Keegan hungry.
Marjorie came to a stop in front of a g
ated doorway. She unlatched the small wooden gate to let them pass through.
It was a small spare bedroom with hardwood floors and a single twin-sized bed covered in a plain white blanket. Six bulldog puppies, shaped like sausages and in a variety of colors, were wrestling on the floor.
“Oh my goodness!” Keegan clapped her hands together. She got on her knees and picked up an all-white bulldog, then kissed its face. His fur was so soft, and he had that adorable puppy smell—a sharp tang. She glanced at Rourk. “How are we ever going to choose?”
Rourk was still standing in the doorway. He chuckled and shrugged.
“Get over here!” Keegan teased him. She picked up a second wiggling bulldog—white and covered in black spots—and squeezed both puppies to her chest. “Which one do you like best?”
Rourk sat down beside her on the floor and gently took one from her. It squirmed in his grasp, trying to get it’s little head around so it could nibble on Rourk’s fingers. “They are all pretty cute. Do you like the ones with colors or the all-white ones?”
“Well, I always wanted one with different colors…” Keegan trailed off, eyeing the spotted one in Rourk’s lap. The one she still held licked her face, its tongue wet and scratchy. Keegan giggled. “But the white one is super-cute, and he seems to like me. Is it a boy?” She held the puppy up and looked at its belly. “Oh shoot, it’s a girl. Do you think we could name a girl Santa?”
“I think you can name a dog anything you want to name it.” Rourk reached over to scratch behind the little dog’s ear. She kicked her arms and legs as if she were trying to get to him. “Although, I don’t think the name matches the dog. She should have a cool name like Athena.”
“Hmm, Athena. I actually love that! I think she likes you,” Keegan said as she handed the dog to him.
“I think we should take this one home,” Rourk declared and looked the puppy in the face, inspecting it. She had dark eyes that were nearly hidden in the rolls of her face, and her nose was pale pink. Rourk laughed when she put a paw on his nose and licked him. “It’s so fat and wrinkly.”
