Page 6
GEOFFREY
The more we talk, the more that careful control she's always maintained starts to slip. Her laugh becomes genuine, unguarded. She leans closer when she talks, her hand occasionally brushing mine. And every innocent touch sends electricity racing through my system.
“This place really has gotten a glow up since the last time I was here.” Brynn Rose takes another sip of the drink I poured for her.
“I can’t believe you even remember the last time you were here,” I chuckle. “From what I recall you were face first in the hayloft when we finally found you.”
“Shut it.” She laughs and it reaches the corners of her eyes.
She launches into a story about the salon and I could stay here all night. I don’t know if it’s the drinks or the fact that she’s grinning up at me from beneath her long lashes, but I want to throw caution to the wind. Hell, I’m in love with this girl and I’ve got half a mind to tell her.
Before I can make a stupid decision, Brynn's phone starts buzzing on the bar top. The caller ID flashes Mom and I watch her face fall. Anger courses through me.
"I should probably..." she starts, reaching for the phone.
"Don't," I say, but she's already answering.
"Hi, Mom. No, we're not working anymore tonight. The lighting was—" Brynn pinches the bridge of her nose as her mother's voice carries through the speaker, loud enough that I can hear every dramatic inflection.
I signal for her to hang up.
She nods. "Mom, I really can't talk right now." But a minute later she’s still holding up one finger and mouthing one minute .
There’s more muffled talking from Brandi. Then Brynn Rose’s shoulders tense and my girl all but disappears in front of me. I decide I've had enough.
Without giving it another thought, I reach across the bartop. I grab her phone.
"Geoffrey, what are you doing?" Her eyes widen.
I slide it face down across the bar top. The call stays connected. There’s something satisfying about Brandi's muffled voice still going. But my gesture works. I have Brandi Rose’s full attention.
“She’s still on there,” Brynn Rose covers her mouth in shock.
“So she is,” I growl.
Then I kiss her. Right there at the barn bar, I cut off her protest with my mouth on hers.
The moment our lips touch, everything else ceases to exist. The distant lowing of cattle, the rustle of wind through the rafters, even the hammering of my own heart.
It all fades into nothing. There's only Brynn Rose. She’s curvy, warm and finally in my arms.
She tastes like the drink I made. Her lips are softer than I imagined and I've imagined this moment more times than I care to admit. But somehow the reality is so much better.
Our kiss deepens when she parts my lips with her tongue.
My hands find the small of her back, pulling her closer until there's no space left between us. She fits against me like she was made for this moment. It’s like all the years of dancing around each other were just preparation.
Heat spreads through my veins like wildfire, pooling low in my belly and making my head spin.
When we finally break apart, we're both breathing hard. Her eyes are wide and dark, her lips slightly swollen from our kiss. She looks as stunned as I feel, like she's been hit by the same lightning bolt that just rearranged my entire understanding of what a kiss could be.
The kiss feels right in a way I can't explain, in a way that terrifies and thrills me in equal measure. Like every kiss before this was just practice, preparation for the real thing. For her.
A muffled shriek comes from the phone and it breaks the spell. I pull back and stare at the phone across the bartop with flared eyes. But Brynn Rose is only staring at me. Her cheeks are flushed and her eyes are glassy.
"You know what I love about being out here?" she says, gesturing around the bar with her beer bottle. "No one expects me to be perfect. No cameras, no performance, just..."
I lean closer, close enough to catch her chin in my hand all over again. She lets out a soft, breathy little moan that goes straight to my cock. I lean even closer, until my lips are almost brushing her ear. “Just you. Come here.”
She slides off her barstool and I pull her to her feet.
Brynn Rose places her hand in mine. The contact sends electricity straight through my entire body.
I lead her to the small open space near the jukebox.
Pulling her close, I sway to whatever slow song is playing.
She fits against me perfectly. It’s like she was made for my arms.
When I spin her out and back in, she laughs.
She throws her head back with pure joy and it cracks something wide open inside of me.
This is the Brynn I've been waiting years to see again.
Ten minutes pass and our bodies are pressed together.
My heart is beating hard enough that I can feel hers against my chest. Her lips are parted slightly, and when she looks up at me with those eyes that have haunted my dreams for years, I'm done fighting this.
"Brynn," I say her name like a prayer.
"Yeah?"
"I'm going to kiss you now."
She rises up on her tiptoes and meets me halfway.
Her mouth is soft and sweet. It’s everything I remember, but deeper now, hungrier.
She tastes like promises. My hands tangle in her hair.
She makes this little sound in the back of her throat that nearly brings me to my knees.
Our tongues dance and a bulge grows between my legs.
It’s a frenzy of push and pull. It’s like all the chances we never took and all the time we wasted pretending we didn't want this rolled into one fiery kiss.
"Damn," I breathe against her mouth.
"I know," she whispers back.
My hands roam her curves. I pull her body into mine.
Then she's kissing me again. It’s harder this time.
It’s like she's trying to make up for fifteen years in fifteen seconds.
I back her up against the jukebox and cage her in with my body.
She doesn't protest. Hell, my girl doesn’t miss a beat.
Her hands fist in my shirt. She pulls me closer.
When I trail kisses down her neck, she arches against me.
Slipping my hand down the front of her jeans, I find she’s already drenched for me. I trace the length of her slit and rub circles on her swollen nub. The way she comes undone in my arms is breathtaking.
"Geoffrey," she gasps when I find that spot just below her ear that makes her shiver.
"Tell me what you want," I murmur against her skin.
"I want..." She trails off, breathing hard. "I want you to take me home."
Those six words hit me like a lightning strike. I pull back to look at her. I search her face to make sure I heard her right.
"Brynn, are you?—"
"I'm sure." Her hands slide up my chest to cup my face. "I've been sure about you since I was seventeen years old. I was just too scared to do anything about it. I’m done being scared.”
Every part of my body ignites and I inch her shirt up over her bra. Then the damn door blows open. Holden and Bowen burst inside. Brynn Rose goes rigid in my arms. I cover her mouth and tug her shirt down with a quiet laugh. I wonder if we can slip out without being seen.
"Talked to Danner about it again today," Holden is saying in a low voice. "She's definitely coming out to the ranch for Christmas."
Brynn Rose looks up at me. I shrug. They haven’t seen us. I take her hand and pull her toward the back door.
"This is insane. I can hardly believe it. A fucking sister," Bowen shakes his head. "After all these years."
I reach the doorknob, but hesitate. Suddenly interested in what my brothers have to say.
Bowen continues, "I’m just putting it together.
It was obvious all along I guess. I just didn’t know to look for it.
Her name starts with an E. She’s got to be the missing letter in the Kingridge family alphabet.
But I guess we’ll find out at Christmas time.
We are about to meet our long lost sister, apparently.
Wait until Sagebrush Creek gets ahold of that news.
Thank god we’ve got time before anyone finds out.
It might put Pa right over the edge. What would a Kingridge brother even look like if he was a chic… "
My jaw drops open. I’ve only just recovered from the shock of our half-brother Danner’s existence. This can’t be happening.
Brynn Rose tugs my hand. Her voice is a whisper, “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”