Page 23 of After You

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“You’re late,”Kyle said, feeling the satisfaction of seeing Hannah crossing the grass toward him expand and inflate at the look on herface.

She looked ruffled.

That was a very good thing. Because no matter what else Hannah felt about being back in Sapphire Falls, back with her grandma, back around him, it was not going to be calm, cool and collected.

Fuck no. Hannah was going to be riled up, stirred up, worked up, if he had anything to say about it. And he thought that he just might. She’d certainly seemed off-kilter in the kitchen earlier.

He’d figured pretty quickly that she would expect him to be cold and angry toward her. She hadn’t been expecting a smile and a friendly greeting and ahug.

The hug had been completely spontaneous. He hadn’t even thought about touching her. Actually, he had, and had decided against it, knowing that would be a bad idea for him. And he’d been right. Having her in his arms again had sent a shock wave of emotion and longing through him that had nearly sent him to his knees.

But he’d powered through. Not let it show. Kept his cool. And it had been worth it. She’d been shaken by the whole exchange, and he loved that. Being back in her hometown, with her family, with her ex, with the life she’d given up, should shake her up, dammit.

“Late?” she asked, lifting her hand to shield the sun from hereyes.

“I’m almost done.” He gestured toward the car, though couldn’t help but notice the way her eyes seemed to reluctantly leave his chest to follow his hand. “Figured you might want to help me out. For old times’ sake.”

They’d washed plenty of cars together. In part because it had needed to be done. In part because it was a damn good time. He’d never really thought about it, but while his friends had been taking their girls out for pizza and to river parties and concerts, he and Hannah had been working, taking care of their families. They’d cleaned and cooked, done yard work, shopped. But it had never felt like work. It had always been a lot offun.

And he intended to remind her of that. Along with other things.

As long as they had some rules in place. And aplan.

That waskey.

But Alice and Ruby were watching from the kitchen, so now wasn’t the time to fill her in. Besides, he needed to know a few things before they really got started. Like just how difficult this would be. For her. Of course, forher.

He rounded the front of the car and she immediately backed up. Yep, that’s what he’d expected.

He looked her up and down. “You remember the old times, right, Hannah?”

She frowned and planted her hands on her hips. “What are you doing?”

He glanced up at the kitchen. Sure enough, their grandmothers were watching. And not even trying to be sneaky about it. “Alice won’t like it if we argue.”

Hannah bit her bottom lip but dropped her hands. Her back was to the window so Alice couldn’t see her watching him suspiciously. “What are you doing?” she repeated.

“What do youmean?”

“Seriously? The big, happy smile, the hug, the ‘let’s relive old times’?”

“What did you expect?”

Her eyes narrowed further. “You almost proposed to me. I didn’t show up. I didn’t come home for three years. And you’re happy to seeme?”

Kyle felt emotions rock through him, and he fought to keep his expression neutral. “I wouldn’t say happy, no.”

She sighed, as if relieved. “Okay, that’s better. So what’s goingon?”

He still held the hose, the water splashing softly onto the driveway. He looked her over. She looked…exactly the same. She wore a dress that hit just above her knees. It was white with tiny blue flowers. It had short sleeves and four tiny buttons up the front, cinched at the waist and hugged her breasts, but was completely modest and sweet looking. She was wearing blue sandals that, of course, matched the flowers on the dress perfectly. Her hair was straight and shiny. Her lips were also shiny, the pink gloss applied flawlessly. Her makeup was picture-perfect, looking so natural he could barely tell she had anyon.

When they’d been together, he’d loved how put together she always looked.

Now he wanted her messy.

He wanted her dress wrinkled, her hair mussed, her lip gloss smudged. And he wanted to be responsible for all of it. He didn’t really understand what all of that meant. Except that neat and tidy were not words that accurately described anything he felt about all of this—her being here, all the feelings she stirred up, the complications she presented for Alice.

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