by Kaylee Ryan
“Yeah, that’s why I called Ridge. Speaking of, he just pulled in.”
“Are you sure it’s him?”
I can’t help it. I laugh. “I know my brother.”
“You can never be too careful.”
“It’s him,” I reassure him. “I’ll call you when I’m back on the road.”
“I’m on my way home. I’ll call you when I get close to town.”
“Good. I missed you,” I tell him again.
His voice softens. “Missed you too.” We end the call, and I roll down my window as Ridge approaches.
“Sister,” he greets me.
“Brother, thank you for rescuing me.”
He laughs. “Pop the trunk and sit tight.”
“I can help,” I tell him, popping the trunk and climbing out of my car.
“Do you ever listen to anything you’re told to do?”
I stick my tongue out at him and begin helping him load all my purchases for the shop to the back seat of his truck.
“Why don’t we just put it in the back?”
“It’s supposed to rain. I assumed you didn’t want it getting wet.”
“Really?” I say, looking up at the clear blue skies.
“Pop-up showers.”
“Just my luck,” I mutter, going back to my car for another armload of supplies. By the time we get everything moved to the back seat of his truck, dark clouds are starting to roll in.
I stand over by the ditch while Ridge pulls out my spare tire. “Uh, Reagan, how long has it been since you had to use your spare?”
“I’ve never had to.” I step toward the car and peek into the trunk.
“Makes sense considering you don’t have one.”
“What?” I ask, pulling up the lining to see for myself.
“Nope. Must not have had one when you bought it.”
“Damn it,” I mutter. “Who checks to see if the car has a spare when they buy it? It was barely a year old when I bought it.” I kick the offending flat tire for good measure.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t have looked either. Grab anything else you need and lock it up. We’ll head into town and have them tow it to the garage and just fix the tire or put a new one on, whatever you need to do. I’ll make sure they give you a decent spare as well.”
“Fine,” I grumble. “Thank you for rescuing me.” Reaching in through the passenger side door, I grab my purse and my phone. I scan my car; there is nothing else of importance.
“You good?” Ridge asks.
“Yeah,” I say, dragging my feet to his truck. As soon as we’re inside with the door shut, the rain starts pelting the windshield. “Lovely. This day just keeps getting better.”
Ridge looks through the windshield and hesitates. Storms never used to bother him until the night he found Knox’s biological mom in an accident. He’s extremely cautious now. Not that I can blame him. Thankfully, the rain lets up enough for him to see the road clearly. Nothing is coming, so he pulls out onto the road. The reprieve doesn’t last long as huge drops begin to pepper the windshield yet again.
“Just take me to your place until this blows over.” He lives closer, and I can get my nephew fix for the day. There is nothing I can think of that can turn this shitty day around than spending it with Knox. Well, maybe Ty, but he’s traveling too. I’m tempted to text him to tell him to be safe, but I don’t want him texting and driving, so I leave it alone. He’ll call me when he gets close to town.
Ridge parks his truck in the driveway, and we make a mad dash for the front porch. As soon as we enter the house, we’re greeted with Knox’s laughter. Following the sound, my brother makes his way toward the living room, with me hot on his heels. There we find Kendall and Knox under a fort made of sheets and the furniture moved all around. The lights are off, which makes it easy to see the glow of the flashlight.
“Knox,” Kendall says excitedly. “I bet that’s Daddy. You think we should show him our fort?”
“Dadda,” Knox’s excited little voice echoes through the room.
“Reagan, have you seen Knox?” Ridge asks me.
“No. Knox,” I call out for him.
He giggles.
“Aunt Reagan’s here too,” Kendall tells him.
He squeals in delight, and the next thing we see is his little body appearing from underneath the fort. He stands on wobbly legs and rushes for Ridge. After he gets some loving from his daddy, his little arms reach for me. Ridge hands him off and goes to Kendall to help her off the floor. I keep my attention on my nephew, knowing that my brother is kissing the breath out of her right now.
“How’s the car?” Kendall asks.
Ridge explains to her about the missing spare tire, and then the downpour of rain.
“Sorry to intrude.”
“Never,” she says adamantly. “You might as well stay for dinner. It’s nothing special, just chicken casserole in the crockpot. I’m using that appliance more and more these days.” She places her hand over her still flat belly.
“Nothing wrong with that,” I say, kissing Knox on the cheek. “You ready to eat, little man?” I ask him.
He squeals and claps his little hands in delight. “I’m thinking that’s a yes.” Kendall laughs.
Following her and Ridge into the kitchen, I get Knox set up in his high chair and keep him company while Kendall gets his food ready, and Ridge makes all three of us a plate. “I can feed him,” I tell them. “You might as well take advantage of the break while I’m here.”
“You sure?” Kendall asks.
“Positive.” I get busy feeding him some macaroni and cheese, which he loves. “Look at you, eating like a big boy,” I praise. His reply is to open his little mouth like a bird, ready for more.
“Thank you,” Kendall says as Knox takes his last bite.
“Sure thing.” I place his bowl in the sink, and sit back down to the plate Ridge made for me.
“You know, he’s getting better at that on his own,” my brother tells me.
“I know, but then you would have had to give him another bath.” I laugh. “I can tell by his lotion smell that he’s already had his for the night. The point was to give you guys a break.”
“A break we appreciate,” Kendall chimes in. She peeks out the window. “It’s really coming down. You might not get your car until tomorrow,” she says.
“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.”
“I think we should call a tow truck. We don’t want to leave it out there all night. Hard to tell what might happen to it.”
“Yeah.” I sigh, reaching for my phone. “Sh—crap,” I say, catching myself. “I must have left my phone in your truck.”
Ridge reaches into his pocket and comes up empty and grins. “Mine must still be out there too.” He stands as if to run out to his truck and get them when a monsoon of rain falls from the sky.
“Use mine.” Kendall hands me her phone, laughing. “Only a crazy person would go out in this for their phone.”
Taking her phone, I search the number for the local repair shop and have them tow my car to them to repair the tire and ask them to add a new spare to the order. “Thanks.” I hand Kendall back her phone. “They said the truck is out right now, but as soon as he gets back in, they’ll send the guy back out to get mine. I feel bad they’re out in this.”
“That’s their job,” Ridge says, just as there’s a pounding on the front door. Ridge holds up his hand, telling us to stay put, and stalks to the front door. Of course, we don’t listen. I grab Knox from the high chair before Kendall, and I peek into the living room. Ridge’s shoulders are tense as the pounding on the door continues, so loud you can hear it over the downpour of rain. I don’t realize I’m holding my breath until the door swings open and Tyler is standing there. His hands tense at his sides, water running down his face, his clothes soaked.
“Where is she?”
Chapter 10
Tyler
* * *
Normally, working out of town doesn’
t bother me. Hell, I’m usually the first to volunteer, especially now that Ridge has a family to take care of. This time, however, was different. I missed Reagan like crazy. I’ve gotten used to her lying next to me every night. It’s kind of our unspoken rule that we’re staying at her place or mine. Two weeks with her, and then two nights without her is more than I can take.
These last twenty miles have been torture. This craving I have for her is so intense, I can’t seem to sit still. I keep shifting in my seat.
“What’s up with you?” Kent asks.
Reagan and I haven’t really discussed us. It’s been just the two of us at night, and I’m pretty sure she hasn’t said anything to her brother or our friends. I broke down and told Kent the first night we were away. I kind of had to when he wanted to know who I was talking to. I’ve never kept something from any of them, and I don’t intend to now. Besides, Ridge knows, so why hide it from the rest of them?
“Just anxious.”
“To see Reagan?” he asks.
I nod and tighten my grip on the steering wheel.
“You’re supposed to call her when you get close, right? Go ahead and do it now. You look like a caged animal.” He laughs.
“Just wait,” I tell him. “I get it. I gave Ridge shit when it was him falling for Kendall. I didn’t get it until now. Your day is coming, and you’ll get it.”
“You’ve been shit at hiding it,” he says, laughing. “We can all see the sparks fly between the two of you.”
“And you didn’t ride my ass because…?”
“Because I know you, brother. You wouldn’t get involved with her if it wasn’t real. There is too much at stake. With Ridge, we thought maybe Kendall was the one, the way she was ruffling his feathers, but you and Reagan, this is different.”
“She’s different.”
Kent picks up my phone from the cupholder and hands it to me. “Call your girl.”
That’s exactly what I do; only I get her voice mail. “Hey, Reags, I’m just outside town. I’m going to drop Kent off at his place, and then I’m coming to you.”
“Feel better?” Kent laughs.
I don’t answer him as something catches my attention up ahead. Slowing down, I see it’s her car still sitting there. Pulling my truck over to the side of the road, I call her again and get her voice mail.
“I thought Ridge was helping her.”
“So did I,” I say, turning to face him. “She said he was there when I talked to her last. I even asked her to make sure it was him before we hung up.”
“Oh, shit,” he says, looking over my shoulder. “Someone broke the window.” He points in the direction of her car.
“Fuck.” I climb out of my truck just as the rain starts to fall. With a quick glance at traffic, I jog across the road, and sure enough, her window has been broken. There is what appears to be blood on some of the glass. The rain is falling so hard it’s hard for me to see much of anything else. My heart is racing. Did something happen to her? She assured me it was Ridge who pulled up behind her. Was she wrong? Fear grips my chest as my mind whirls with what could have happened.
Turning back, I look left then right, then again; this road is twisty, and people drive like maniacs. Crossing it in this kind of weather is dangerous as hell, but I’m not standing out here when I need to find out what’s going on with my girl. One more glance both ways, and I sprint across the road. Climbing in my truck, I’m soaked, but I couldn’t care less. I dial Reagan again and get her voice mail. “Son of a bitch.” I hit the steering wheel.
“Try Ridge.”
I nod and hit his name. It rings and rings, and rings before his voice mail picks up. “What the fuck is going on?”
“Drive to his place,” Kent says. “I’ll keep trying to call both of them.”
Slamming the truck into Drive, I hit the accelerator and pull out onto the road. I don’t bother looking. The rain is so heavy I can barely see the road in front of me. It takes us double the time to get to town. Ridge’s place is closer, so I start there. Pulling into his driveway, I park behind his truck. “Why the fuck is he not answering our calls?”
“I don’t know, man,” Kent replies. “I—”
I don’t wait for whatever else he was going to say. I’m out of the truck and sprinting through the rain to the front door. The thought that I might be waking the baby runs through my mind, but the need to make sure Reagan is okay is stronger. I’ll make it up to my little buddy. I lift my fist and pound on the door again, just as Kent appears beside me.
Fist raised, I’m ready to knock again when the door slowly opens, revealing a tense Ridge. “Where is she?”
“What happened to you?” he asks.
I’m just about to ask him again when I hear her voice. “Ty?” Ridge steps back, and that’s when I see her. She’s standing there holding Knox, looking confused and beautiful. Always beautiful.
“You’re okay,” I say, stepping into the room, and wrapping my arms around her and Knox. He giggles and wiggles, which has me pulling back, but not releasing her.
“Of course I am. What’s wrong?” she asks, and then her eyes widen as she steps out of my hold.
“What are you doing?” I ask, reaching for her. It’s been two long days. Add in the fear that something might have happened to her, and my nerves are shot.
“Not here,” she whispers as Kendall takes Knox from her arms.
“Yes, here,” I say, snaking my arm around her waist and pulling her close. Her hands land on my chest as if she’s going to push me away, but I hold strong. “Don’t.” My voice is firm. “The last time I talked to you, you told me Ridge was there to get you. I just drove by your car that’s still sitting on the side of the road. The window is broken and there’s blood on the seat.” I squeeze her tightly. “Fuck, Reags. I thought something had happened to you.”
“I’m fine,” she says, trying to pull back.
“Stop. Stop pulling away from me.”
“Tyler.” Her eyes dash to her brother.
“He knows, baby.”
“W-What do you mean, he knows?”
“I told him. Well, I asked him what he would think. No way could I start something with his little sister and hide it from him.”
“Y-You told him?” she asks. “Were you going to tell me? He’s my brother.”
“He may not be my blood, but he’s my brother too,” I counter.
“For the sake of an argument, I’ll tell you what I told him.” Ridge appears beside us. “Respect each other. If neither of you is feeling it, be honest, be respectful. That’s all I ask.”
“I think it’s about damn time.” Kendall laughs. “Sorry, buddy,” she says to Knox bouncing him in her arms. “We’ve been watching the two of you dance around this for months. Good for you, for both of you for going after what you want.”
“You really are sh—crap at hiding it,” Kent chimes in as he steps through the still open door.
“You all knew?” Reagan asks.
“We had a pretty good idea. The way you two look at each other.” Ridge peers over at his wife. “That’s how I know it’s not a game for either of you. I know Ty would never do that to you.”
“Hey.” I rest my forehead against hers. “I’m sorry for not telling you, but I’m not sorry for this. For us.” I stop to let her process my words. When her hands that are resting on my chest grip me tightly, pulling me into her, I know. I know that she’s in this with me. That I’m not the only one feeling this magnetism between us. It’s more than just a crush, or a fling. It’s real.
“I love you, Reagan,” I whisper. However, she and Kendall both gasp, so I must not have been as quiet as I thought.
Not that I care. I want the world to know how I feel about her.
I feel a strong hand squeeze my shoulder, and then footsteps leaving the room. Standing back to my full height, I bend down and lift her into my arms. She doesn’t say a word, not even a yelp as I carry her to the chair, which happens to be the only piece
of furniture open. “Looks like Knox is getting a lesson in fort building,” I say, settling her on my lap.
“Yeah,” she answers, never taking her eyes off mine.
“You don’t have to say anything.” I tuck an errant strand of hair behind her ear. “I just need you to know. You’re right here.” I tap my chest over my heart.
“Ty.” She smiles as tears shimmer in her eyes.
“You and me, Reagan. I’ve wasted so much time not knowing for sure if you wanted the same things as me. Then, when I thought you did, I worried about Ridge and our friendship. I had to tell him. And just so you know, I didn’t ask for permission. I asked what he thought, but if he had told me no, we would still be sitting right here. I would have pursued this anyway.”
“He’s one of your best friends.”
I nod. “He is. Has been for a long time. But you’re the love of my life. Nothing comes before you.” Conviction holds every word strong. There’s no way I’m holding back with her.
“Tyler.” More tears well in her eyes.
“You’re everything I never knew I wanted.”
“Is this real? Am I dreaming?” she asks, her smile growing wide.
“Come home with me? We can get your car later. I just need you close. I was scared out of my mind that you were hurt… that something had happened to you. Neither of you answered your phones. I was going crazy with worry.” I wrap my arms around her a little tighter, thankful she’s here, and she’s safe.
“I’m here and I’m okay,” she assures me before pressing her lips to mine.
I stop this kiss before I get carried away. I have to remind myself that we’re in Ridge’s living room, and we’re not alone. “Come home with me. I’m not ready to let you go. Not yet.”
“Okay.”
I want to kiss her, but I know I won’t be able to stop. She must realize it too. She smiles and stands, pulling me from the chair. Hands intertwined, we make our way to the kitchen. “You ready?” I ask Kent.
“All good?” Ridge asks, looking from Reagan to me.
“Yes,” we say at the same time.
