“Aspen,” he whispers my name.
I can’t deny him. I know that I need to protect myself and my heart, but I can’t. Just one more dance. We all head home tomorrow, and things will go back to normal. This is my last chance to be in his arms. It’s an opportunity I know I should pass, but I just can’t.
With a nod, I scoot back in my chair and stand. He offers me his hand to lead me to the dance floor, and I take it. I crave his touch, and the realization that this could be the last time I ever experience it has hot tears pricking the back of my eyes. Swallowing hard, I smile at him as he settles his hands on my hips and pulls me into his embrace. Sawyer and Royce, Owen and Layla, Grant and Aurora, and Lena and Stanley are already dancing.
My eyes scan the room to find Marshall and my mom joining us on the dance floor while my father tosses a laughing Carter into the air over and over. He’s going to be a wonderful grandpa. Sadness washes over me. Will I ever find true love? Will I ever be able to give them grandkids?
“Hey.” Conrad places his index finger under my chin and assists me with lifting my chin so we are looking eye to eye. “What’s going through that pretty head of yours?”
“Nothing. I’m fine.”
“Aspen, baby, you can talk to me.”
I want to. I want more than anything to tell him that in a matter of a few days, he’s made me fall for him, but I don’t. “I’m good,” I assure him.
“I missed you yesterday and today. I feel like I’ve barely gotten to see you.”
“It’s been a busy few days.”
“I’ll be glad when we get home and can spend some more time together.”
“Conrad—” I start just as the song changes. Brantley Gilbert’s “Let it Ride” flows through the speakers, and I give him an accusing glare.
“I might have had something to do with the song selection,” he confesses. I didn’t think it was possible, but he pulls me closer, holding me tighter. “This is our song,” he says as he proceeds to sing the lyrics low, his lips next to my ear.
I feel the meaning. It’s us, and we both know it. We are most definitely caught up in the moment, and just as Brantley suggests, we’re letting it ride. I feel myself start to get choked up. I really like him. No, it’s more than that. I care about him, and the thought of not having more moments like this is enough to cause an ache inside of me that I’m not sure will ever be cured.
“Let me show you, Aspen. Let me show you how great we will be together.”
“Conrad, you’re caught up in the moment. You’re blinded by the events of the past week.”
“No. I’m blinded by your beauty. I’m blinded by how perfect you fit in my arms. I’m caught up in your hazel eyes and the feel of your skin against mine. I’m lost in the fact that all I want to do is touch you. I don’t care if it’s holding your hand, sitting with my hand on your lap at dinner, spinning you around on the dance floor, or making love to you. I crave you and your touch.”
“Con—” My voice cracks, and I feel his lips press against my temple. I’m very aware that our families are in the same room with us and could see him kissing me. They can see him holding me as if I’m his. I pull out of his arms and stare up at him. “I can’t do this.” Turning, I walk out of the living room and close myself into the bathroom at the end of the hall. Tears well in my eyes.
I want so badly to believe him. I want to believe that our circumstances are not what’s fueling his confessions, but I know better. Or do I? Can someone really change just like that? Is it possible that everything he says is true? Looking at myself in the mirror, I say a silent prayer that the universe leads us back together. Only time will tell how serious he is. I vow to keep an open mind. When we get home, we’ll see if he changes his mind.
Opening the door, I find Marshall leaning against the wall. “You good?”
“Y-Yes,” I stammer.
He throws his arm over my shoulders and leads me back out to the living room. “I know my brother can be an ass, and take it from a man who’s already watched three of them fall ass over head in love. He’s into you.”
“Wh-What do you mean?”
“Come on, Aspen. Only a blind man would miss the tension between the two of you.” He must read the panic on my face. “Don’t worry. Everyone here is wrapped up in their significant other. I, on the other hand, have had a lot of time to people watch. Just promise me you’ll think about giving my big brother a chance.”
“Did Conrad put you up to this?”
“Hell no. As the youngest, only unattached Riggins brother, I have a reputation to uphold.” He laughs. “I just see the way he looks at you, and that’s exactly how the rest of them look at their wives.” With that, he gives me a hug and makes a beeline for his parents, stealing Carter from their mom. He takes him to the dance floor and starts spinning him around, and Carter’s laughter echoes through the room over the music.
For the second time in a matter of minutes, I’m sending up a silent prayer. “Please let him be right,” I whisper.
Chapter 16
Conrad
I slept like shit last night. I got home from the cabin around five and texted Aspen, asking her to come over. She declined. Not that I expected her to actually accept the offer, but it still put me in a bad mood. I lie awake all night trying to think of ways to show her that what I feel for her isn’t just some random idea from the time we spent together. The best I can come up with is to just stay consistent. To let her see that I want her in my life. No, I need her in my life. Not as my brother’s sister-in-law but as my… everything. Whatever the two of us decide that looks like is okay with me.
She just needs to be mine.
It’s a little after 5:00 a.m., and going to sleep now would be a disaster considering I have to be at the office at eight. Instead, I drag my tired ass out of bed and text Marshall.
Me: Gym?
Marshall: You think you can keep up, old man?
Me: Probably not. No sleep. See you there.
I don’t wait for his reply. Instead, I dress in clothes for the gym, grab my phone and keys, and head out. I’ll come back here to shower and get ready for work, and maybe grab some breakfast. On second thought, stopping at Warm Delights for breakfast sounds like a better plan. I know my girl will be there. Suddenly, regardless of my lack of sleep, I’m looking forward to the day. At least the beginning of the day. If I’m lucky, she’ll agree to dinner, and I can look forward to the ending too.
“You look like hell,” Marshall greets me.
“Fuck off.”
He throws his head back in laughter. “Trouble in paradise?”
I glare at him. “Spot me,” I say, going to the weight bench.
“What are you going to do about it?” he asks, standing behind the bench to spot me.
“What am I going to do about what?” We both know that I know what he’s talking about. I choose to ignore the fact.
“How are you going to get the girl?”
“That is the million-dollar question. I’ve been up all night, and nothing I can come up with seems to be enough. How do you convince a woman you spent a few magical days with that you want her forever?”