Love At First Sight (Southern Bride 1)

When she tilted her head with that look only she could give, I had my answer.

Bitch, it is.

“Actually, I do. We were in the middle of talking about the plans we have for leaving early in the morning. Rip was asking me to drive him home, so if you’ll excuse us, I’m sure you won’t have a problem finding another guy to be…alone with.”

Lori’s mouth dropped open, and Rip tried to hide his beer-induced laugh but failed.

Turning on the heels of her boots, Lori walked away.

“Damn, Chloe! If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were jealous.”

“Hardly. I simply saved you from getting some weird sexual disease from her.”

Rip watched Lori walk away, his eyes clearly on her retreating ass. Maybe he had wanted to be with Lori. My heart dropped to my stomach at the thought.

Jumping off the tailgate, I said, “I’m ready to leave now. Are you about done?”

“We can leave if you’re ready to.”

I held out my hand. “Want to give me the keys, or would you rather I call Lori back over? I didn’t mean to send her away if that was what you wanted.”

Rip jumped down, stumbling a bit. He placed his hand on the side of my face. My stomach fluttered when he rubbed his thumb over my cheek.

“Lori is definitely not what I want.”

My breath caught in my throat. We stared at each other for what felt like forever. Finding my voice, I whispered, “What do you want?”

His eyes went to my mouth, and then just as quickly back up to meet my gaze. He smiled, both dimples displayed on that handsome face. “I think I want my bed so I can get some sleep, or we’ll never be able to get up and go fishing in the morning.”

Disappointment rushed over my body, but I quickly pushed it away. I jumped into the driver’s seat of his Ford truck and said, “Then let’s get you home.”

My sunhat blocked the strong rays, but not my view of Rip while he stood at the bow of the boat. For only being eighteen, he had a body to die for. He had a broad chest and muscles that made all the girls at school stare at him. Including me. Years of sports and hard work on his granddaddy’s farm and Frio Cattle Ranch had made him solid. Plus, his oldest brother, Jonathon, who was married to my Aunt Waylynn, owned a construction company. Rip had put in countless hours working for Jonathon last summer.

“I can’t believe I haven’t caught anything,” Rip stated.

Once a month, Rip and I went fishing with my dad, Uncle Trevor, and my younger brother Gage. I was a female surrounded by a lot of testosterone…completely outnumbered but I could totally hold my own against these men.

“Dude, you’re not using the right bait,” Gage announced from the back side of the boat.

Rip shot Gage a dirty look. “I know what kind of bait to use, Gage.”

“Don’t argue, boys, you’re scaring the fish away,” my Uncle Trevor said, pulling his hat down over his face. He was currently sitting with his feet up and eyes closed. I think he often napped more than he fished but he would say he was “waiting for the right moment to cast his line” whenever anyone pointed that out.

Glancing over to my father, he walked up to Rip. The two of them were soon lost in conversation about bait. I sighed and looked out over the water.

My father and Rip had always been close. I knew my father had had a talk with Rip once after he caught us kissing in middle school. I wondered if whatever it was my father had said to Rip was the reason he wouldn’t kiss me again. I thought I saw it in his eyes every now and then. It was how he looked at me. Or little things he said to me. Like last night. He hinted he wanted me, but then he didn’t say it. It seemed like he wanted to kiss me as much as I wanted him to. Neither of us would ever make the first move, though. I knew why. We were the best of friends, what if things didn’t work out?

Or maybe Rip was just curious and not serious about wanting me.

“Penny for your thoughts,” Uncle Trevor said, sitting next to me.

I had to quickly change my thoughts even as Uncle Trevor’s voice pulled me from them. “Rip hasn’t told me what school he’s going to yet.”

“You hoping he picks A&M?”

With half a shrug, I replied, “Maybe. It’s going to be weird if he goes somewhere else. We’ve always been there for each other.”

Trevor nodded and looked back over toward Rip and Daddy.

“I’m sure wherever he ends up going, he’ll always be there for you, Chloe.”