Love At First Sight (Southern Bride 1)

“We hadn’t been happy for a long time. We hadn’t even slept together in three months or so. His proposal was his last shot at trying to win me over. The crazy thing is, I don’t really think he was surprised when I told him I couldn’t marry him. He tried to fight for it, but I could hear it in his voice. He was always so jealous of you. I knew it was because he saw what everyone else saw. Everyone but the two of us. Or maybe we did see it.”

We looked at each other, and I went on. “I wasn’t just mad at you that night I said yes. I was angry with myself.”

“Why?” he asked.

“Because in my heart, I knew that it was supposed to be you asking me. I knew you loved me, and I knew those weeks after you first rejected me you wanted to tell me the truth. I was pissed off and I wouldn’t let you explain. I don’t know, maybe it was my way of trying to punish you for hurting me. Rip, I saw it every time you looked into my eyes. I felt it deep within my soul. We both gave up on each other, and I don’t ever want to do that again.”

He reached for my hand and squeezed it. “If it helps, I wasn’t planning on letting you marry him. I’m sorry I decided to tell you the day Patches died. That was selfish, but the thought of him being there for you, hell, it nearly drove me mad.”

I smiled weakly. “I want to put the past behind us now, Rip. I want this to be about you and me from this moment forward.”

The corners of his mouth rose into that sexy smirk. “I’m glad you feel that way. Now that we got all of that out of the way, let’s head to Wimberley.”

“Wimberley?” I asked with a giggle. “Where in the world is there to camp in Wimberley?”

“Baby, I’m taking you Glamping!”

I wrinkled my nose. Rip Myers Glamping? This I had to see.

Rip

I PULLED INTO the driveway and put the truck in park. Chloe was sound asleep, making the cutest little breathing sounds out of her mouth. Reaching over, I gently squeezed her leg.

“Chloe Cat, we’re here.”

She opened her eyes and stretched. “Oh, man. I can’t believe I fell asleep.”

It had been an emotionally exhausting few days, and I was looking forward to spending the next two days alone with Chloe. Nothing but nature and the two of us.

Looking around, Chloe faced me. “Where are we?”

“It’s called Sinya. It’s an authentic safari tent that sits on top of a hill overlooking Lone Man Creek.”

“A safari tent! That sounds like fun!”

She had no idea.

“Come on, they’re expecting us.”

Chloe and I got out of the truck and made our way down a rock path.

A woman in her mid-to-late thirties came walking out to greet us. “Rip and Chloe, I take it.”

Holding out my hand to her, I nodded. “Yes, ma’am. Rip Myers, this is Chloe Parker.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Chloe said as her eyes took in the surrounding area.

“Pleasure is all mine. The name is Kim Evens. I’m the owner of Sinya, along with my husband, Ted. Everything you need, with the exception of food, is in your tent. There is a grocery store in Wimberley where you can find anything you need. The outdoor fire is already stocked with oak, and you’ve even got a s’mores kit if you’d like to use it. You will have complete privacy, so feel free to enjoy nature in its finest glory.”

Chloe’s cheeks turned pink.

“Are we celebrating anything?” Kim asked.

“Us,” I replied.

Kim smiled. “I like that answer. I like it a lot. Let’s get y’all all checked in, and I’ll give you the key and send you to the trees.”

Chloe looked at me, brow arched and a huge smile on her face.

Twenty minutes later we were walking up to the giant safari-style tent that was sitting on top of a wooden deck. You could walk completely around the tent on the deck and the views were out-of-this-world beautiful.

“Rip,” Chloe gasped as we walked up the steps and looked down at a waterfall. Birds sang, water rushed over the rocks below, and a warm, soft breeze blew wisps of Chloe’s hair around. It was June and the temperatures were starting to climb higher and higher, but the weather for the weekend called for mild to warm temperatures. I looked at Chloe. She looked beautiful. Her blue eyes almost giving the sky a run for its money.

“There are five outdoor spots for us to use.”

“Five?” Chloe repeated, a slight giggle in her voice. “I don’t think I want to leave this deck.”

“Let’s go inside.”

I placed my hand on her lower back and guided her to the door. The tent was exactly that. A tent. With high-quality plastic windows that went all the way around, and canvas, lots of canvas.