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Why the hell was everyone on this girl for her weight? She already was an absolute babe. Somebody needed to teach this jackass a lesson.
I draped an arm over her shoulders as I turned back to face Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb. “Making friends, babe?” I asked casually. Vanny stammered. “Erm. I—we—” I chuckled and pressed a kiss to the side of her head, which sufficiently shut her up in order for me to proceed with the charade.
“I asked you a question.” I pulled Vanessa in a little closer to my side. She didn’t resist. Instead, she sort of fell into me, bracing herself with a hand against my chest. The warmth of her palm was a maddening, wild distraction. “Were
A woman like Vanny Hampton did not need the advice of two bozos like this. What she needed was a getaway car.
“I might as well own it. If the owner hears two of his customers were giving Rhys Daniels’s woman a hard time, what do you think he’ll do? Sounds like a lifetime ban to me.”
He sat up a little straighter and frowned at me. “Used to it? That happens often?”
“I was standing on the third floor looking down. I didn’t notice Kim. I noticed you.”
His eyes flicked back and forth between mine like he was reading the page of a book. “You’re a curious girl, Vanny.”
“You have no fucking clue how beautiful you are.”
She was four years younger than me. She was bright and full of youth. Maybe it was the permanent rosiness in her cheeks or the tautness of her skin. Either way, I felt like a lucky son of a bitch sitting across from her.
“You were on the debate team?” “Yes.” Cute. Every little thing I found out about her made her even more interesting.
“I think you should go to your reunion.” “I think you should reconsider telling me what to do.” Sassy and sexy and cute all at once. Who was this girl, and how the hell had Chris managed to hide her from me for so long?
But I knew her brother would put an end to this thing before I had a real chance to get to know her, and I was so close, I could almost taste those damn jalapenos on her tongue.
We’ll have to spend more time together. Do you think you can handle that?” Handle it? The sweet girl had no idea what she was getting herself into. “Baby, I can handle it. Don’t you worry.” “I’m a lot of woman.” “I have big hands.”
My fake fiancée had the cutest smile, and everyone in that reunion would believe we were together if I could get her to do what she just did just one time. That was all it would take. Vanny Hampton was mine. At least for the next two weeks.
I’m not the sort of fiancé who won’t let his woman enjoy a night out with her girls.”
To my delight, she threw her head back and laughed. It was easily the best part of the night,
She was beautiful and clever and sly.
She was careful and considerate. She didn’t have a rash or impulsive bone in her body, where I was the definition of often unwise compulsive behavior.
Would her senior class believe our fake engagement? What could a girl like her ever see in a trust-fund baby like me?
“I need to be stronger. Healthier. Thinner.” “Fuck off.” Vanny blinked. “I beg your pardon?” “You heard me. Fuck off.”
She had no idea how stunning she was inside and out.
“Vanny, I swear to God. I’m not lying to you. You’re perfect the way you are. And if I’m being perfectly candid, I have to say you’re a fool if you don’t pursue your dream job because you think you’re so overweight. Bodies are just bodies.”
I wanted to gather her up in my arms and kiss her deeply and show her with my lips and my body how worthy she was of anything and everything she wanted. I wondered if she would believe me then that she was beautiful.
She’d told me that when it came to love, it was worth all the trials and the efforts, and I believed the same thing about pursuing your dreams. They brought you fulfillment just like love did, and chasing your dreams was the ultimate form of self-love.
I started laughing along with her, wondering what it was I’d said that was so funny but feeling grateful I’d said it. Because now that I’d heard her laugh this hard, I was determined to earn this sound a hundred times over as I got to know her in the days leading up to the reunion.
“Anyway. She’s a handful. Truly. She keeps me on my toes unlike any girl I’ve ever been around. And she treats me like… like I’m not me.
“But she doesn’t see herself as she is. I’m just some guy. I know. What could I know about a woman’s insecurities and body issues? But it bothers me. How she talks about herself. I wish she could see herself the way I see her.”
There isn’t a single person at my reunion who will believe for a second that I’m engaged to someone like you.” “Stop saying that.” I didn’t like how she kept putting me on this pedestal.
“Vanny, listen. This isn’t some game I’m playing. I don’t know where you got it in your head that I have other intentions. I just… I don’t know. I think you’re an impressive person and I think it will do you some good to walk into your reunion with your chin up. It’s much easier to do that when you have an ally at your side. A friend. Let me be that person.”
I didn’t work hard for my abs for nothing. If someone wanted to appreciate them, especially her, she could stare all she wanted.
Vanny smiled thoughtfully. God, she was beautiful. And soft. And so feminine. She looked good cuddled up in the middle of my couch, flanked by cushions, hair messy, feet bare. Better than good. She looked like she belonged there.
You’ve been nothing but kind to me, Rhys. But I’m not used to this. I’m used to people treating me like I’m less than because I don’t fit into their idea of what a pretty girl looks like. Like that’s the most important thing to be. I’m so… I’m so fucked up about this stuff and I know it. I just don’t know how to fix it.”
“Vanny, I don’t think people treat you less than because they don’t think you’re pretty. I think you treat yourself like you’re less than because you believe them. And they’re wrong. Plain and simple. But I understand. When you hear the same thing over and over for years upon years, it becomes what you are.”
She tilted her head back and gazed up at the stars decorating Nashville’s sky. “You have a beautiful view.” I was still looking at her. “Sure do.”
I had a nice time too. Every time we’ve been together, I’ve had a nice time.”
She was preparing for whatever words were about to come out of her grandmother’s mouth. And so was I. I wanted to catch them in the air before they reached Vanny’s ears and snuff them out. I wanted to protect her. I wanted to spare her.
I was talking before I had the sense to realize I should keep quiet. “Vanny doesn’t need a boyfriend.”
“She’s with me.”
“We are. We’ve been keeping it under wraps because Chris here might try to murder me in my sleep, but it’s true. Your granddaughter is a very special woman. Only a fool wouldn’t be able to see that.”
“Vanny, is this true? Are you and Rhys dating?” Vanny swallowed. “Yes, we are.” I grinned and fell against the back of my chair. “It feels good to have it all out in the open. Doesn’t it?” I wrapped an arm around Vanny’s shoulders.
leaned in and kissed the girl I was falling for like it might be our last day on earth. Screw the PG 13 birthday party. This was our moment.
Vanny’s lips on mine were softer than silk. And warm.
I didn’t want to pull away. I wanted to gather her up and carry her out of this place and show her what it was really like to be kissed by Rhys Daniels.
“But that kiss…” “Was to drive it home,” I said. “It looked pretty real to me.” It felt real, too. And like kissing an angel. A sexy angel that I wanted to do very naughty things to. “I’m not going to give her a half-assed kiss, Chris. She’s cute.”
But that kiss spoke more than a thousand words. That was real. The whole room could feel it. I think he truly cares about you.”
“I told my Mom it wasn’t true.” “I thought you might.” I could have been wrong but he sounded disappointed.
So I guess what I’m trying to say is thank you. You saved—” I never got to finish my sentence. Rhys grabbed me by my waist, pulled me forward, and pressed his lips to mine. I stood paralyzed as he wrapped his arms around me. The swell of his chest was firm against me as his hands worked up to cup my cheeks and then plunge into my hair. My breath caught in my throat as his tongue slipped between my teeth. He explored my mouth with an eagerness that rivaled the desire swirling to life inside me.
“What are you doing?” “I need you, Vanny.”
“You don’t get to tell me what I need. I’ve wanted to kiss you for weeks. Just being around you drives me fucking crazy, Vanny. Now tell me something.” My voice quivered. “What?” “Are you going to let me in or not?”
