Love At First Sight (Southern Bride 1)

Leaning up on my toes, I kissed him on the cheek. “Congratulations, Rip.”

His cognac-colored eyes looked down at me, almost making me dizzy with such an intense stare. “You know how much you mean to me, Chloe? Right?”

I nodded.

Leaning down, he brushed a soft kiss to my forehead before being pulled back and tackled by all the other players.

My heart pounded as I laughed and tried to forget how his kiss had burned into my skin. How every touch, caress, and look he gave me burned into my very soul.

“I don’t get it.”

Lori Rhodes stood next to me. She was the captain of our cheerleading team.

“What don’t you get?” I asked, reaching down and picking up my pom-poms before walking with the rest of the team over to our coach. The football team would be presented with the state championship trophy and she would want us all to be ready to take a picture for the Oak Springs Gazette, our local newspaper.

“Everyone knows Rip likes you and you like Rip.”

I rolled my eyes. “We’re friends. Best friends, and we always have been.”

She scoffed. “He runs by everyone, including his coach, after that touchdown to get to you. You, Chloe. He looks at you like you’re the best thing since apple pie, and you do the same. It’s obvious the two of you want to be together.”

Peeking over my shoulder, I watched as the entire football team continued to celebrate. Focusing back ahead, I shrugged.

“We’re just …”

“Friends. Is that why every girl who tries to go out with Rip is met with utter devastation when he only goes out with them once or twice and barely even kisses them?”

My blood boiled any time someone talked about Rip going out with a girl. Especially when the girl in question was doing the talking. Rip’s a great kisser! Rip took me to make out point, and we danced under the stars.

Ugh.

I’d had to listen to it for the last four years of high school and was tired of acting like it didn’t affect me. The only thing I did know for sure was that Rip was still a virgin. I knew it because he told me. A small part of me was hoping that maybe, just maybe he was saving himself for me, like I was for him. I would never admit that to anyone, though, not even Alyssa.

“From what I’ve heard, he’s a good kisser,” Lori said. Then she tossed her head back to laugh, turned and walked backwards. “I will say, if you don’t go for him soon, I may have to take a shot at him.”

I swallowed hard and forced a smile. “Don’t let me hold you back.”

Lori smirked. “Oh, you wouldn’t be able to.”

She turned and started walking faster, leaving me lagging behind. I wasn’t alone for long, though. Rip ran up next to me, draped his arm over my shoulders and launched into the plans we had for our fishing trip tomorrow.

Later that night, at Mike’s field party, Rip and I sat on the back of his tailgate talking. He’d had a few too many beers and was asking me if I wouldn’t mind driving him home. Since I knew he always got loose lips when he was drinking, I decided to probe him for some answers.

“Rip, do you ever get tired of people asking us why we don’t date?”

The beer paused at his lips for the briefest of moments before he took a long drink.

Without looking at me, he said, “Nah. I’m not bothered by it. They’re just jealous.”

I laughed. “Of what?”

“That I have a pretty girl on my arm all the time.”

Smiling, I bumped his shoulder. “Is that all I am to you?”

“Hardly, Chloe Cat.” He turned and looked at me. “Do you get bothered by it?”

“Nope,” I lied. How I thought I would be able to share this was beyond me. That’s when I saw Lori walking up. I held my breath as she made her way to Rip. My eyes roamed her way-too-tight shirt that showed practically all of her breasts, and her super tight, super short skirt.

“Hey, Chloe.”

“Hey, Lori.”

She turned to Rip and ran her tongue along her bottom lip. I rolled my eyes.

“Congratulations on winning the game, Rip.”

“Thanks, Lori.”

“I was wondering if you might want to,” she looked my way, then back to Rip, “spend some time together. Alone.”

Rip smiled, and his gaze raked over her body. I swallowed hard and looked away. If he went off with her I was going to have to leave. There was no way I could handle it.

“Thanks, Lori, but I’m talking with Chloe right now.”

The corners of my mouth threatened to spread upwards.

“She won’t mind. Will you, Chloe?”

I could either say I didn’t mind and push Rip right into Lori’s arms, or I could be a bitch.