Page 27 of Worth the Risk

“She said she’d like to get together again…” She trails off and hesitates.

“And?”I need to know what else she said.

“She asked if we could meet somewhere other than here,” she blurts out.

Her words are like a punch to the stomach.What the hell?I thought we connected last night. I’m confused about how I feel about her, and I don’t know if I have anything to give her, or anyone for that matter. But truth be told, I realized I want to spend more time with her.

“Leo. What happened? You’re not a relationship kind of guy, but I saw the way you two kept staring at each other. She was fine when she went to the guest room with Sierra. What changed from when she left my room last night to this morning with you two?”

I had the best fuck of my life.But I don’t say that to my sister. Instead, I say, “I’ll admit that I like her. A lot, in fact, but it will never work. She deserves more than I can give her. It’s for the best that we don’t see each other again.”

My anger recedes, leaving only regret. “Besides, she always leaves,” I grumble, getting to the heart of the matter.

Sophie places her hand on mine. She knows. She lived it with Dad and me.

“Sometimes they stay, Leo. Not everyone leaves. I have to believe that,” she says, always the optimistic.

Even after our mother, she still believes love conquers all and everything will be okay.

I don’t have the heart to tell her she’s wrong.

“She’s left three times already. I won’t give her a chance to leave a fourth.”

“Talk to her, Leo. She may be scared… like someone else I know.” She raises her eyebrows at me. “From what she told me, her ex-boyfriend, James, really did a number on her.”

That piques my interest but also makes me want to throat-punch the cocksucker.

Smirking, she knows she got me by mentioning his name, knowing I’d want more information. “I don’t know a lot, but from what I’ve gathered based on the little bit she shared and what Sierra told me at the lake, he wasn’t faithful and hadn’t been for most of their relationship. I imagine it’s hard to put yourself back in the game after that.”

What a stupid fucking prick.He has a girl as gorgeous as Kylie, who has more sex appeal in her little pinky than most models in New York City, and he cheats on her.How could he not see what he had and kept his junk in his pants? Even a guy like me would be faithful for the chance to be with her.

I pause at that thought.

Do I want to be with her?I might, but I am not sure what to make of it.

Sophie patiently waits for a response.

“He’s a dumb fuck for treating her that way. She deserves someone who will treat her with respect. But as much as I like her, I don’t know if I have it in me to care for her how she deserves.”

“It may be too late, and there’s nothing wrong with that, Leo. Give it a chance. She may surprise you.” She removes her hand from mine and puts her bowl in the dishwasher after rinsing it. “I have to pack for the drive home. I promise I’ll be back soon. I like it here. Much less chaotic than New York.”

She wraps me up in a hug, and when she heads upstairs, I think about what she said.

Do I have it in me to try?

Would it be a risk letting her in?

Recalling how she keeps leaving, I get angry again when I answer my own questions.

No. I can’t.

She leaves.

She always leaves.

ChapterEleven

Kylie

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