Love at First Sight

by Kelly Elliott

  He walked up next to me and leaned against the window frame. “What do you see it being?”

  Turning to face him, our eyes caught as we stood there staring at one another.

  I slowly lifted my shoulders before letting them drop. “I don’t know.”

  He broke the connection and looked out the window. For a few seconds he seemed lost in thought before he finally spoke. “Guess I picture it as a nursery or something.”

  My eyes were back on Rip as he continued to stare over the countryside. I had to place my hand on my lower stomach to settle the nerves that had suddenly appeared.

  “A nursery?” I whispered.

  Rip pushed himself from the window. “Yeah…or something.”

  Swallowing hard, I replied, “It would make a beautiful nursery.”

  He nodded, then lifted his hand and tucked a loose piece of hair behind my ear. “You have to know the reasons why I bought this house, Chloe.”

  “Tell me,” I breathed, my mouth suddenly too dry.

  Rip took a step closer, and my knees felt wobbly as my stomach fluttered. When I looked up at him, our eyes met once again. The dimples in his cheek were on full display for me.

  “I bought it for you, Chloe.”

  Whoosh. The air in my lungs vanished. Once I found my voice, I said, “Even though I was engage…”

  I let my voice trail off.

  “That day you looked back at this house, and you said you wanted it. I told you I would buy it for you.”

  My body instantly heated. With a slight head shake, I replied, “Rip, we aren’t even together.”

  His warm hands cupped my face, and he leaned down, his mouth inches from mine. It felt like the entire room was fixin’ to drop out from under my feet.

  “I told you I’d wait forever for you, Chloe.”

  His hot breath hit my face and made me dizzy. I needed him to kiss me, but a part of me wanted to stop him. As if he read my mind, he dropped his hands and took a step back. I felt the absence of his touch ripple through my entire body, leaving me feeling empty.

  “The, um, the other bedrooms are about this big. They don’t have the large picture window, though.”

  I blinked rapidly, trying to keep up with the way he changed subjects in a heartbeat.

  “Do you want to see the barn?” he asked, walking around me and heading to the door.

  “No.”

  He stopped and looked back at me. “No?”

  I let out a gruff laugh. “You’re just going to say all that to me, act like you’re going to kiss me, and then ask me if I want to see the barn?”

  “You said you needed time. I’m trying not to push you.”

  Burying my face in my hands, I let out a frustrated growl.

  “Is that not what you said?”

  My hands dropped to my sides, and I stared at him. “I did say that, but then you go off and do this.”

  He frowned. “Do what?”

  “Do what?” I asked, my eyes widening. “Do what! Rip, you bought the house I said I wanted when we were fourteen. You told me it was for me. You’re talking about a nursery, and all these plans and I’m… I’m…”

  “You’re what?”

  I balled my fists and said the first thing that came to my mind. “Pissed!”

  This time it was Rip’s eyes that widened in shock. “You’re pissed? Oh Jesus Christ, this is classic.”

  Rip shook his head and walked away. I heard him heading down the wooden steps, and it took me all of five seconds to go after him.

  “Rip! Wait!” I called out as I rushed down the steps.

  Rip

  CHLOE REACHED FOR my arm and pulled me to a stop.

  “Rip, please wait.”

  I looked down at her. Those beautiful blue eyes looked so confused.

  Well, she isn’t the only one.

  “I can’t do this, Chloe. I keep trying to do the things I think will make you happy and all I’m doing is pissing you off. I don’t know how to make you less angry with me. I know, I messed up, and there isn’t a day that goes by I don’t wish I could go back in time. But I can’t. No matter how hard I pray, I can’t.”

  I let out a frustrated sigh. “If you think for one minute I didn’t want all those things, too… The kiss, the date, the first time I was with a woman. If you don’t think I wanted you to be that woman, then I don’t know what else I can do. It was all I ever dreamed of. Hell, the first girl I had sex with I fucking called her Chloe. I don’t think I have to tell you how that turned out.”

  Chloe looked down at the floor.

  “I know I’m confusing you because I bought this house when you were engaged to another man, but I knew deep down in my heart, I knew it would always be you and me. You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved. I bought this house for you because I love you more than I love the fucking air I need to breathe.”

  Her head popped up, and I nearly fell to my knees when I saw her tears.

  “Goddamn it. All I can seem to do is make you cry.”

  Chloe shook her head and wiped her tears away before speaking. “Do you want to know the moment when I finally realized I couldn’t marry Easton?”

  I didn’t answer because I didn’t want to think about her saying yes to that asshole in the first place.

  “I was standing in front of some mirrors looking at myself in a wedding dress.”

  My eyes stung with the threat of tears. I blinked rapidly to keep them at bay.

  She saw the hurt in my eyes and paused for the briefest of moments before continuing. “And a memory hit me.”

  With a cracking voice, I asked, “Wh-what memory?”

  More tears rolled down her cheeks as she placed her hand on the side of my face. In a reversal of our roles, her thumb wiped a tear from my cheek.

  “Me sitting up on the swing under our tree. You were eating that stupid apple,” she said with a half chuckle, half sob.

  Smiling, I stepped closer and wiped the tears that kept falling down her cheeks.

  “I’m…I’m going to m-marry you someday, Rip.”

  I closed my eyes as the familiar memory replayed in my head. When I looked down at her, her chin trembled as she tried desperately to stop crying.

  Running my fingers through her hair, then down her neck to her jaw, I slowly rubbed my thumb over her soft lips and whispered, “Okay, but we have to get married here. At our tree.”

  Chloe fell into me and buried her face in my chest as she cried. I wrapped my arms around her and held her tightly.

  “I love you, Chloe. God, I love you so much, and I swear to you I’ll make up for all of it. I swear it. Just give me that chance.”

  She grabbed my t-shirt and cried harder as I held her against my body.

  I had no idea how long we stood there. I’d have stayed in that house all night holding her, if she needed me to. When her body finally stopped shaking, she pulled back slightly, her gaze meeting mine.

  Her lips pressed tightly before she spoke. “I love you, too. I wouldn’t have done it.” She was fighting hard not to cry, but her voice shook with each word. “I wouldn’t have…m-married him. I need you… I need you to know that. It’s always been you. It will always be you, Rip.”

  Cupping her face with my hands, I leaned down and kissed her. Chloe instantly wrapped her arms around my neck as we deepened the kiss. My entire body felt like it was floating above me. It felt like heaven and hell were mixing together. Heaven, because I was finally kissing her. Finally hearing her say the words I longed to hear. And hell because I hadn’t done this four years earlier.

  I’d never experienced a kiss like this with anyone before. I couldn’t tell where I ended and Chloe began.

  When she moaned slightly into my mouth, my heart felt like it was going to combust in my chest. I dug my fingers into her hair, pouring everything I had into this one kiss. The kiss I had dreamed about more times than I could count.

  Slowly drawing our mouths apart, I leaned my forehead against hers. Our ch
ests rose and fell with heavy breaths. “God, I’ve been dreaming of that kiss for a long time.”

  She smiled. “Me, too.”

  “Je t’aime, Chloe.” Her eyes lit up and the tears seemed to slow.

  “Je t’aime,” she whispered.

  I placed my hand on the side of her face, gently running my thumb over her tear-soaked cheeks. “I don’t ever want to make you cry again, Chloe.”

  “What if these are happy tears?”

  “Happy tears?”

  Chloe nodded.

  “It hurts my heart to see any tears.”

  Her blue eyes locked onto my gaze. I swallowed, trying to settle all the different emotions swimming around inside of me.

  She licked her lips, her gaze falling back to my mouth. I wanted more of her, too. So much more. But not like this. Not on a day when we were both emotionally exhausted.

  “There’s a dance tomorrow night. Do you want to go with me?” I asked, watching her eyes slowly move back up to my face. Then she smiled, and my breath stalled in my lungs.

  “Are you asking me on a date, Rip Myers?”

  “I am.”

  Chloe’s finger traced my jaw, then outlined my lips as she whispered, “Kiss me again.”

  “Is that a yes?”

  “That is a forever yes.”

  “Chloe,” I whispered before pulling her against me. I pressed my mouth to hers. The kiss was different from a few moments ago. This one was filled with passion. Longing. Our need for more of each other.

  Lifting her up into my arms, Chloe wrapped her legs around me. I pressed her back against the wall. Her hands slid to my hair where she gently tugged. Pushing into her with my hard cock, Chloe pulled her mouth from mine to gasp.

  “Rip.”

  “I’m sorry. I can’t stop myself from wanting you, but this is not where our first time together is going to be, sweetheart.”

  She gave me a saucy grin. “The back of your truck?”

  Laughing, I kissed the tip of her nose. “As much as I want that, no. Not our first time.”

  Chloe tilted her head to study me. “Why are you blushing?”

  I let out a small laugh and answered her. “It’s just, I’ve always had an idea of what our first time would be like. Where it would be. The things I would whisper into your ear when I first pushed inside you.”

  Her lips parted slightly, then she swallowed hard.

  “It wasn’t in an empty house against a wall.”

  The corners of her mouth lifted. “Where was it?”

  It was my turn to smile. “If I told you, it wouldn’t be as romantic.”

  “Romantic?” she said, her cheeks turning a soft pink.

  “You deserve that, Chloe. After everything we’ve been through, you deserve that and more.”

  Her fingers ran through my hair as she let my words settle. “I’ll be patient, as long as you promise not to make me wait very long.”

  I laughed. “Trust me, I won’t.”

  Chloe’s teeth dug into her lip, and I felt the strain against my pants. She must have also, because her brows rose.

  “We should leave,” she said in a breathless voice.

  “Probably.”

  I set her down and kissed her gently on the lips once more.

  “Rip?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Are you nervous? About this.” She gestured between the two of us.

  “No. Are you?”

  The most beautiful smile I’d ever seen appeared on her face. “Not at all. It feels so right.”

  “Yes, it does.”

  Chloe laced her fingers with mine as we headed toward the front door.

  “When do you close on the house again?” she asked as I was locking it.

  “Wednesday. Do you think you could be there?”

  “Sure. What time and where?”

  “Frio River Title Company, three in the afternoon. We can drive together. I’ll be working with your dad that morning.”

  My stomach flipped when she reached for my hand again. She had no idea why I wanted her at the closing, and I had no plan to tell her ahead of time. Once we got to my truck, I opened the door and held her hand as she climbed in.

  I watched as she took another look at the old white house. I couldn’t help the bubble of happiness growing inside my chest and noticed that that empty feeling was slowly fading away. When I told her I bought the house for her, I meant it. Now she was going to be a part of bringing it—and me—back to life.

  And I couldn’t wait to get started.

  Rip

  I SAT ON the sofa while Steed and Paxton sat across from me. Steed stared at me with an intimidating glare. Paxton, on the other hand, was grinning from ear to ear.

  “So, you’re finally dating her,” Steed said.

  “Yes, sir.”

  He nodded.

  “And you’re going to the town dance tonight? How fun!” Paxton said, excitement in her voice.

  With a smile, I replied, “I think it will be.”

  “What are your plans for after?” Steed asked.

  “The dance?” I asked.

  “Yes.”

  I shrugged. “We haven’t really talked about it.”

  He tilted his head and looked at me as if I were lying out of my teeth. “Really?”

  Paxton cleared her throat and spoke in a warning tone. “Steed Parker.”

  “What? I simply asked what they planned on doing after the dance. Is that a crime?”

  I grinned.

  Steed sighed. “Honestly son, I was getting worried there for a bit.”

  Rubbing the back of my neck, I replied, “So was I.”

  Paxton walked over to the bar area. “I would offer you a drink, Rip, but you’re driving.”

  “Chloe told us you bought the old Durham house.”

  “Well, we close on it on Wednesday, so it’s not official yet.”

  Paxton and Steed both looked at me with a curious look and said at the same time, “We?”

  “Um, ah.” I could tell it was taking everything out of them not to smile.

  “You made her a promise once. I see you’re sticking to it,” Steed said. “Risky play on your part, considering she was engaged to doucheballs.”

  In an attempt not to laugh, I cleared my throat. “Yes, sir, I am, and yes, it was.”

  “Wait, what is going on?” Paxton asked, walking back over and handing Steed a drink.

  “You both couldn’t have been more than what, fifteen?”

  “Fourteen,” I said.

  He nodded and let out a soft laugh. “Right. Fourteen years old.”

  “Who was fourteen?” Paxton asked, clearly eager to hear the story.

  “Chloe and Rip. They were with me when I stopped by the Durham farm. Chloe was enchanted with the house, so much so that she made a declaration she was going to live in it someday.”

  Paxton sighed and placed her hand over her heart. “Oh dear, Rip Myers.”

  I could feel my cheeks heating.

  “Rip here made her a promise he would buy it for her someday.”

  Shaking her head, Paxton leaned closer to me and squeezed my hand. “Rip, you had to put an offer in while she was engaged.”

  With a half shrug, I replied, “I would have finally gotten my head out of my ass and fought for her. And maybe the house was going to be a bit of a bribe, if I was being completely honest with myself.”

  They both laughed.

  “She doesn’t know, does she? That you’re putting the house in both of your names?”

  “No, sir. She doesn’t.”

  Paxton sniffled, and I watched as she wiped a tear away. “That is the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.”

  Steed faced his wife, his mouth gaping. “Excuse me? I’ve done some pretty damn romantic things.”

  She bit onto her lip. “Of course you have! It’s just, well, Rip is buying our daughter her dream house. That’s pretty big, Steed.”

  He rolled his eyes.

&n
bsp; “Hey, what’s going on?” Chloe asked as she walked into the room.

  I stood and let my eyes take in every inch of her. “Hey,” I managed.

  Steed cleared his throat. “You might want to tone down the look of lust there, Rip. I am still standing right here, and she still is my little girl.”

  Chloe’s cheeks turned pink as she walked up to me. She reached up on her toes and kissed me. It was quick, but it was on the lips…in front of her parents.

  “Does anyone care I’m right here? Watching all of this? Anyone?” Steed asked.

  Paxton and Chloe laughed.

  “Of course, Daddy. Here is your kiss.”

  After she kissed her father on the cheek, he sent me a glare. “I used to get the first kiss when she walked into the room.”

  “I won’t apologize for that,” I stated.

  A smile played at the corner of his lips. “You shouldn’t. Now, you two go have fun tonight.”

  “Y’all aren’t going?” Chloe asked.

  Paxton and Steed followed us as we headed out of the living room and made our way to the front door.

  “I think your mother and I are going to enjoy an evening to ourselves.”

  Paxton smiled as Steed opened the front door for us.

  “Have fun tonight!” Paxton called as we walked down the front porch steps, hand in hand. “Oh, finally they are together,” she added.

  Chloe laughed and looked back at her parents. “Mom! I heard you!”

  “It’s about time, darn it!” Paxton yelled.

  With a shake of her head, Chloe looked up at me. “I have a feeling we’re going to be getting that a lot from folks.”

  I opened the truck door and helped her in. “I’m right there with you on that one. Tonight should be interesting.”

  Chloe chewed her lip. “Especially since some people will think I’m still engaged to Easton.”

  Leaning in, I kissed her. “They won’t after tonight.”

  She sighed and leaned back in the seat. “Oh Lord, the prayer chain is gonna be put on high alert.”

  I laughed. The ‘prayer chain’ should have been renamed the gossip text. It would most certainly be lighting up tonight after Chloe and I showed up at the dance.

  We walked into the dance hall, and Keith Urban’s “Coming Home” was playing. I smiled and wrapped my arm around Chloe’s waist.