First Love by Kathy-Jo Reinhart Read Free Book Online Page B

you where I was. I asked them not to. But, I never told them why. I didn't want them to have a reason to hate you. I knew how important they were to you." He places his hand on mine and slowly moves his thumb back and forth over the top of my wrist. Butterflies invade my stomach from his touch and the way he looks at me with those blue eyes. I could get lost in those beautiful blue eyes. The coffee pot beeps and I quickly get up. I pour out two mugs and bring them to the island where he is already prepared with milk and sugar. We sit on the couch. He sits so close to me, barely touching, that I find it hard to breathe. I let out a shaky breath, and breathe in deeply. I can smell his cologne. Eternity. I bought it for him for Valentine’s Day when we were in tenth grade.
    "It was always your favorite. I have been wearing it since I was fifteen." Shit, now I get busted smelling him? I need to change the subject. My body is alert and on fire. Having him so close… I take a gulp of coffee hoping it will clear my tequila fog. I’m so close to throwing caution to the wind and saying, “Screw it!” It takes everything in me to not straddle his hips. With the way he is looking at me, I don't think he would put up a fight.
    "I know Gram told you where I lived three years ago. Why didn't you ever contact me?" The smirk is gone and he looks so sad. He tells me about the bar and his parents. "Kyle, I am so sorry you had to deal with all of that at once." He gives me a sad smile and nods, taking a big breath.
    “About a year ago, just before your grandparents passed away, I did go to get you back. You weren't home, so I waited in the coffee shop across the street." He laughs, but it isn't a happy one. “It was just my luck that I pick the same day some douchey guy decides to propose to you right in front of me."
    Oh my God! What are the chances? I cannot believe he was there that day. So close to me and I never knew it. "If I would have known you were there, I never would have said yes."
    He grabs my hand and holds it, but I continue before he can say anything. "I didn't date anyone. Four years after I left and I still couldn’t find it in me to date. I was a mess. I met Daniel right after I got to Atlanta. I told him it would be a long time before I was in any shape to move on from you. He said he was happy to be my friend. And, a good friend he was. At a time when I really needed one, there he was. I never should have dated him. I definitely shouldn't have agreed to marry him. I loved him like a friend … not like I love you." Oh, shit! Did I just say that out loud? Maybe he didn't catch that. His head snaps up. Shit…he caught it.
    "Did you say love?"
    "Of course. I will always love you."
    "Enough to be with me again?" he asks, sounding hopeful.
    “I thought you were angry? That you hated me for what I did?" My voice breaks up a lot more than I want it to. Kyle grabs my face in his hands and pulls me toward him. We are so close, I can feel his breath on my lips.
    "I could never hate you. You are the only woman I have ever loved… will ever love. I was angry for a long time. I had no idea why you left. Actually, I was hurt more than anything. But, you know me, anger is easier to deal with."
    "I want nothing more than to be with you again, but I don't think jumping in head first is the way to do it. We have missed out on six years of each other’s lives. We need to get to know each other again." I search his face, trying to see what he is thinking. His expression is one that I can't quite read.
    "I can agree to that for a little while, Princess," he says. He moves his lips against my ear and whispers, “We are going to have to get to know each other again quickly, though. It is killing me to be around you and not have all of you." A shiver runs down my spine. He definitely wasn't like this before. This new aggressive side of him may be my undoing. "It’s really late. I am going to stay here with you and fall asleep holding