Page 98 of Playing Mr. Perfect

I don’t know about need, but I want him in it. Every time we’re together, I feel closer to him than I did the time before. Heck, than the hour before. I feel stupid for running from him for so long, when we could have been together all that time. I want to tell him how I feel. The words are right there on the tip of my tongue, vying for release. I’m afraid to bare my heart like that. But I don’t know how long he’s staying, and I’m more afraid that he’ll leave town without ever really knowing how I feel. I scramble for a middle ground, a comfort zone outside my own but close enough to race back if need be. One without kind of or might.

My heart races, and butterflies swarm in my belly as I reach up and touch his cheek, needing the surety of him, as I gather the courage to reveal my heart. He’s gazing so deeply into my eyes, I’m pretty sure he can read my thoughts as I say, “I really like you.”

His smile broadens. “I really like you, too, Reckless.”

My hand slides around to his neck as he lowers his lips to mine, and I give myself over to the emotions winding around us like a bow, binding us together, as the rest of the world falls away.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Clay

A cool breeze sweeps up Observation Hill, where Pepper and I are cuddled beneath a blanket watching the sunrise over the campus. She shivers, and I hug her against my side, pulling the blanket further around her as gorgeous streaks of yellows, oranges, and pinks paint the sky.

“We need a picture for your grandpa.”

I love that she thinks of him, and I take a picture of the sunrise, and one of us, which I’ll send to him later.

Pepper rests her head on my shoulder. “Do you think watching sunrises counts as a hobby?”

“According to the great Bradshaw Braden, watching the sunrise is the most important part of the day, and it should be a habit for all beings great and small.”

“I’m starting to think he’s right. I can’t believe I never took the time to watch a sunrise before you and I got together. It’s a calming way to start the day.”

“Other than when my grandfather used to pressure me to watch them with him, I’ve never been able to sit still long enough to enjoy them. But I can with you. I think you’re my calming force.”

“That’s funny, because you get me out to do more than I’ve done in years. I guess that’s kind of a calming effect, too, since my brain is usually too busy to focus on anything but work, and with you it’s all about pleasure and fun.”

I kiss her temple. “Pleasuring you is fun for me.”

She smiles, and I know she’s thinking about our sexy night in front of the fire, too. We made love and slept there all night. My shoulder is paying the price for sleeping on the hard floor, but it was worth it. I’d sleep on nails if it means being with Pepper, but I hope I don’t end up with a headache.

“There’s a hill like this back home that overlooks the Jerichos’ barn. Brindle and Morgyn loved sneaking out to watch the Jericho brothers hold midnight rodeos. They’d drag us all with them. Sable would try to keep them in line, which never worked, and Grace loved going when we were young, since she and Reed were secret lovers in high school, and he was always there. Amber went just for the sisterly camaraderie, and Axsel went anywhere there were hot guys.”

I love how she knows her siblings so well. “What about you?”

“I only went when they forced me to. It wasn’t my idea of fun. Not that there’s anything wrong with it. But I learned early on that getting too caught up in boys led to trouble.”

“That’s true in many ways, but what kind of trouble did you get into?”

“None on those nights.”

“But…?” When she doesn’t respond, my mind starts making up shit. “Did you get in trouble with Ravi?”

“Not with him. I let Sable talk me into going to a party one night so she could see Tuck—”

“The guitarist from her band?”

“Yeah. They went out when they were young. She really cared about him. It was when I was seeing Ravi. He was away with his family, and I was waiting to hear from him. I didn’t want to go to the party. I hated parties as much as I hate driving at night, but Sable was desperate to see Tuck, so I went. It started to get late, and I didn’t want to be there anymore. I begged Sable to leave or at least drive me home, but she wanted to stay with Tuck, and she told me to drive myself home. I was on my way when I got a text. I knew it was Ravi, and I was crazy about him. You know how when you’re young, everything feels like it’s life or death? That’s how it felt when that text came through, but I couldn’t reach my phone on the passenger’s seat.”

There’s a sinking feeling in my gut. I tighten my grip on her shoulder.

“I only took my eyes off the road for a few seconds to reach for the phone, and when I looked up, a deer was right there, just standing in the road. I was going too fast to go around it.” Her eyes dampen. “I don’t remember the accident, and I have no idea how I got out of the car. It was wrapped around a tree, and there was blood everywhere. On the broken windshield and the hood, and all over me.” Tears spill down her cheeks. “The next thing I know, I’m huddled in the grass by the dead deer, shaking and covered in blood, and Sable is sprinting down the road toward me, shrieking.”

My chest constricts, and I wrap her in my arms. “It’s okay, baby.”

She shakes her head against my chest. “I’ll never forget the fear in her screams.” Her voice is ragged. “She’s always been fearless. But that night—” A sob steals her voice.

“It was an accident, sweetheart.” I pull her to me, and she buries her face in my neck. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”