When You Are Mine (The Bennetts, #1)

by Kennedy Ryan

you shouldn’t feel guilty about having money. You should feel responsible, and make sure you do the right things with it.”

“It’s an accident when cars collide.” The remnants of desire hoarsened Walsh’s voice. “When lips collide it’s a kiss. That wasn’t an accident, and we need to talk about it.”

“You don’t think I loved your mother?” “I think you broke my mother’s heart.” Walsh snapped the words before firming his mouth and smoothing the scowl from his face. “I think you cheated on her. Guess that was just part of grabbing your dick and figuring it out.” “Son, I—” “I have a flight to catch.” Walsh turned on his heel to leave before his father could offer excuses for the inexcusable.

“Kerris, your childhood was a nightmare sometimes, but you managed to become this amazing woman. This smart, independent, compassionate, ambitious person who drives old ladies home and cries for little girls she barely knows. Your past haunts you, but it hasn’t twisted you, it hasn’t ruined you. If anything, it’s made you a stronger person. That’s a miracle. You’re the miracle, baby.”

She wasn’t sure when the tears began, or how long she wept into his once-crisp shirt. She only knew that with each stroke of his hand on her back, another layer of pain, another layer of shame, fell away, until she was bathed in the waters of her healing, baptized in her own tears. Made new. Made whole.

“Is it simple that I’m in love with you?” He couldn’t hold it back, even with the guilt eating him. To be this close to her again after so long was rapture and torture. “’Cause it feels pretty complicated to me.” “Don’t say that.” Her voice was soft, but fierce. “Don’t ever say that again.”

“I don’t want to see you, Kerris.” It was a lie, but it was the truth, too. “And for a while, I don’t think I should see Cam, either. I’ll come home when absolutely necessary, but other than that…” “You’re the best friend Cam has.” Her voice was wet with tears. “Please don’t do that.” “I’m sorry. I just can’t do this. Not to Cam. Not to us. It’s too much.”

“Kerris, the way my son looks at you is like—” Kristeene started, briefly hesitating. “It’s like a starved man. It’s like he can’t bring himself to look at anything else in the room.”

“And it’s a force of nature. Literally. It cuts through rocks. And once the course was set for that river, there’s no changing it. It stays the course. You understand?”