Kinley told me about the night of Mason and Marley’s senior prom, it was one of Marley’s classmates who caught her unaware and alone in the parking lot in the field. Mason walked up on the guy when he wondered what was taking so long, and nearly killed him after he pulled him off her.
She said the guilt nearly killed Mason, who barely left histwin’s side after that, and Marley never fully recovered and never trusted another man outside of her family until Jax.
Her eyes are still wide, and she swallows as her chin starts to wobble. “Mason, I…”
He steps to her other bedside and reaches for her hand, she quickly takes his hand. “I’m not telling you that because I want you to feel guilty, Kins. I’m telling you that because that night changed a part of me that will never back down, the part of me that takes care of the people I love. You can be mad at me all you want, but I’ll never make a mistake like that again.”
Her beautiful hazel eyes are sparkling with tears as she looks up at him. “I’m sorry.”
Leaning over and putting his hand on her shoulder, he gently kisses her temple and leans back enough that he can look her in the eye. “I don’t want you to be sorry, Kins, I want you to understand.”
She nods and sniffs. “I understand.” But then she hits back. “But you can’t keep blaming Rhys for things that are outside our control.” Her eyes volley between his for a moment, and her voice is soft and gentle. “I needyouto stop. Do you understand?”
It’s written all over her face, she’s asking her brother to accept me. My tough as nails baby is standing up to her tough as nails brother - for me. I don’t want her to ever fight my battles for me, but my chest constricts at the depth of love I’m feeling for her right now.
The silent staring match doesn’t last long before he relents and nods once. “I understand.”
After Mason and Jax leave, she lets her head fall back onto the pillow behind her. Exhaustion makes her body sag, and I cup her cheek as I lean closer. “Baby, I don’t care about your hair.”
Before I can finish my thought, she angrily lifts her headand looks at me like she can’t believe I said that. “I work hard to look nice, Rhys.”
I love her clap-back, always like a little kitten swinging in the air with claws extended. “And you always look beautiful.” I twist a piece of hair around my fingers. “I love your hair.” Leaning forward, I kiss the corner of her eye. “I love your eyes.” Next, I kiss her lips. “I can’t express how much I love these lips.”
The anger has drained from her face, and her head leans slightly into me to follow my lips after I pull away from the kiss. Sliding my lips across her jaw, I kiss her neck under her ear. “I love your voice.” Her breath comes quicker, and a soft hum vibrates in her chest.
Cupping her head between my hands, I kiss her again, and she sighs as I pull away. “What I’m trying to tell you is that the only thing that matters is that I still have you. I just got you. I have plans.”
Her lips curl up as she tilts her head into one of my palms. “Oh yeah? What plans?”
“If I tell you, I’d have to kill you. They’re on a need to know right now.”
“You said ‘plans’, plural. Can I have a hint for just one? Pretend it’s Christmas.”
Sliding my thumb across her beautiful, full lips, I let out an exasperated sigh. “Idoneed to know what you thought of the pool house. Do you think you could paint in there? I know it’s not as nice as what you have at the ranch, but we can talk about any changes you want to make to turn it into a true art studio.”
Her lips stretch across her face even more. “Really?”
“I don’t think I can go back to not having you with me every day.”
“You think you can handle it? I can be… difficult …sometimes.” She lifts a brow, and I remember the first night I mether, and I asked her if she’s always difficult.
“I love a challenge. And besides, someone has to eat all that junk food you stuffed my kitchen with.”
Her eyes lower as the smile falls from her face, and she looks at her hands on her lap. “What about when work gets stressful?”
“Look at me.” The command comes out rougher than I intend. Her eyes flick back up to me, the green brilliant behind the gold. “I will bring work home, that’s just part of who I am, but I promise you I will always make sure you know what’s going on, and I will never put any of that before me and you. You’re more important.”
Her smile comes back, and her eyes are shining. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
THREE MONTHS LATER
Kinley
Tossing the empty box toward the front windows, I set the last of my painting supplies on the shelves Rhys installed for me yesterday. The new floor to ceiling windows run the short length of the front of the former pool house.
Knowing I would spend the afternoon unpacking boxes and arranging everything, I dressed in yoga pants, a long-sleeve t-shirt and my slip-on Uggs. My hair is in a messy knot on my head, and I barely put on any makeup. Nothing about how I look right now is sexy.
