Page 6 of Keep On Loving You

He laughed. “Is that what I am now?”

She shrugged.

“Well, city boy or not, I haven’t lost my edge. I think I’ve proved that.”

“Seriously?” She laughed. “You’re trying to tell me you think you’ve still got it? Afterthat?” She waved behind them at the trail they’d just ridden.

“You don’t think that’s enough proof?”

“Not even close,” she scoffed.

Andy looked around at the system of trails and tracks they currently stood at the crossroads of. He wasn’t a stranger to Trickle Creek’s extensive trail system, but it had been a while. If he wasn’t mistaken, the only option besides the one they’d just ridden, were black diamonds. The hardest and most challenging rides. There were massive trees and tight tracks to navigate, but when they were kids, those were the rides they liked the most. More than once, they’d placed bets, along with Craig, about who could ride them the best.

“Okay,” Andy said, an idea formulating. “Why don’t you give me a chance to prove it?”

She followed his gaze, picking up on his idea. “Oh yeah? You want to bet me? Like the old days?”

“Sure do.” His lips quirked up into a grin. “But unlike the old days, let’s make it interesting.”

There was no doubt that he was playing with fire, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself.

“Okay.” She said the word slowly, each syllable sliding off her tongue. “What kind ofinterestingdo you have in mind?”

Her sharp eyes flashed the way he knew they would, because she could only be thinking of one thing. The same thing he was.

It had only been one night, over two years ago. But he remembered every single detail—from the overcooked pasta, to the sensation of her fingers trailing down his back, to the deliciously sweet taste of her—as if it were yesterday.

Chapter Three

Just over two years earlier…

The pasta was overcooked, the sauce far too salty, and the garlic bread a shade too dark. But as far as Kat Carlson was concerned, it was the best meal she’d ever had. She helped herself to another piece of garlic bread, choosing one that wasn’t quite as crispy as the others.

“Sorry about dinner,” Andy said as she dipped the bread in the salty marinara. “I’m really not much of a cook.” He shrugged. “Maybe I should have ordered something in, but it didn’t seem right to treat you to takeout when you came all this way.”

“It’s perfect,” Kat said with a full mouthful before reaching for the glass of wine she’d hardly touched since they’d sat down. “Honestly, Andy. It’s been such a crazyweek of going nonstop, I’ve hardly even had a chance to sit down and eat a meal. Let alone a home-cooked one.”

She’d been in Vancouver for four days at an advanced hairstyling workshop she’d managed to wangle an invitation to. The entire workshop was totally out of her comfort zone, but that’s exactly why she’d wanted to attend. The only way to get better at her craft was to push herself. And she’d done just that. Kat was completely exhausted. But not too exhausted to accept the invitation for dinner from her childhood crush.

She’d never be that tired.

“I’m just so happy to see you, Andy, and?—”

Kat bit the inside of her cheek and silently cursed herself for being so eager. Truthfully, she was surprised it had taken her so long to say something stupid.

Sure, she might no longer be the awkward, flat-chested seventeen-year-old with braces, acne, and an unfortunately short haircut that made her orange curls frizz up around her head like a combination between an overgrown Orphan Annie and a clown straight from the circus. But even now, as an adult, with straight teeth, clear skin, and a generous C-cup, she was no less awkward. At least not when it came to Andy Fisher.

“I’m happy to see you, too, Kitty Kat.” Andy flashed his signature smile.

The same one she used to pray he’d flash in her direction whenever he’d come over to her house to hang out with Craig, her older brother. And the nickname he’d given her…no one ever called her that. Only Andy. Kat could still remember with almost perfect accuracy the first time he’d said it. She’d been fifteen. It was the first time her brother had brought Andy home from school with him. He was new to their small town of Trickle Creek and had been assigned the locker next to Craig, the brother she was closest to growing up because they were only two years apart. All the other siblings, a mixture of step siblings and full siblings, were all quite a bit older than her, and to say they were a close family…well, it’s not that theyweren’tclose. But at any given time, there was a lot going on with the Carlson clan. It could be hard to keep up. Even for Kat.

“What’s your name?” Andy had asked when she’d walked into the kitchen to find an after-school snack. The boys were sitting at the table, a plate of leftover fried chicken between them.

She hadn’t been expecting to see anyone but Craig, let alone the most beautiful boy she’d ever seen in real life. His jet-black hair and sparkling blue eyes made him look like a movie star. And when he smiled…she was completely dumbstruck.

“Her name is Kat,” Craig answered for her when no sound came out of her open mouth. “Kat the brat. She’s my little sister. Ignore her.”

Kat’s face bloomed in embarrassed heat, but Andy only smiled in her direction. It was the first time she’d felt important. Seen.

---