Stripped Down (Tap That)

She turned as much as the car would allow her to and reached out and touched his face, running her hands through his beard. “I like you. The man inside. I liked you then and I like you even more now. I appreciate the muscles, but they don’t make the man. Remember that. I watch you with River and it’s amazing.”

“And I see you with Finn and Kate and your family and those dogs at the kennel and I think you’re amazing.”

She smiled. “You still haven’t answered the question. Why was that kiss so hot?”

“Because we’re perfect for each other. Always have been.”

Her eyes widened and suddenly there were tears there. He ran his fingers through her hair, drew his thumb under her eyes to ease the tears away. “I don’t want to be just a guy who gets you off. I mean, I want to do that too.” Fuck. He was botching this. “I want more. I want you. And me.”

Her hair hit him in the forehead as they came around and were on the downswing. He held her hair down on either side of her face and he threw it all out there, just like the night he’d climbed in the bathroom window. She was worth the risk.

“Sloane, I love you.”

Fourteen

Sloane stared at Rick, disbelieving what she was hearing. Rick loved her? Like real love? Like what she was feeling?

This was unexpected and insane and totally irrational.

Or maybe it made complete and total sense.

Her body had known at seventeen what she had been too stupid and stubborn to see.

She and Rick were meant for each other.

He was staring at her intently, those green eyes dark and filled with love. He was squeezing her cheeks, hard, and she was getting dizzy from the Ferris wheel whipping back up into the summer sky, her legs dangling.

“Are you going to say anything?” he murmured.

There were a million things Sloane wanted to say. She wanted to gush and laugh and cry and ask him how they could do this. But then she realized all she really needed was to tell him how she felt. She nodded, raising her hands to place them over his. “Yes. I love you, too.”

“What do you mean?”

“What do you mean, what do I mean?” She laughed. “I love you. What response were you expecting when you said you love me?”

“I thought you were going to say you want to try dating out in the open.” He studied her, eyes boring into hers. He kissed her. “I didn’t think you were going to stay that. But damn, I am grateful.”

Sloane closed her eyes and gave in to the wild freedom of the bucket spinning around and around and Rick’s lips on hers, and love.

Unrestrained, unapologetic, love for a man.

When they broke apart, breathless, Sloane laughed. “The ride stopped.”

They were one seat away from the exit platform and a glance down showed that a crowd had gathered. Her brother, Lilly, River, Axl, and her father were all there, watching them. Axl put his fingers to his lips and gave a loud whistle. Her brother shoved him. Her father was shielding his eyes against the sun and giving a little nod of approval. River looked smug. Lilly appeared astonished, holding Finn tightly.

“It did stop. And we have an audience.” He dropped his hands. “They can say whatever they want and it still won’t ruin this.”

Except it wasn’t words they used as they got down and walked through the turnstile. Her brother swung before either of them could react. She screamed, Rick managed to duck, but Sullivan still got him on the side of the jaw.

“What are you doing?” she shrieked, rushing her brother with a shoulder. They collided and went careening backwards into a garbage can. “Are you nuts? You have a baby two feet away!”

Finn had started to cry. River had big wet tears in her eyes and she looked terrified, clutching her funnel cake.

Rick was rubbing his jaw but he didn’t swing back. He just said, “Sullivan. Back off, man. This isn’t the time or the place.”

“But it was the place for you to make out with my sister?”

Sloane grabbed her brother by the arm. “Get over here. Now. I want to talk to you.”