Here With Me by Megan Nugen Isbell Read Free Book Online

name?” she laughed.
    “Not to his face.”
    “And your mom?” Mallory asked and the second the words left her lips, she regretted it.  He hadn’t mentioned her, so why had she?
    “She passed away when I was four.”
    “Oh,” she said, not knowing what else to say. “I’m sorry.”
    “You don’t need to apologize. It’s okay.  It’s life.  My mother passed away, there’s no tip toeing around it,” he said, matter-of-factly and then turned the conversation back to her. “So, you mentioned your mom and your sister.  What about your dad?”
    The corners of her mouth turned into a slight frown as she thought about her non-existent father.  She set the bread down she’d been picking at and then looked up at Ryan.
    “Sore subject?” he asked and she nodded.
    “I don’t remember my dad.  He left when I was really little.”
    “And you haven’t heard much from him since?”
    “Not a word.  I must’ve been two the last time I saw him.  Last I heard , he was working the oil fields in North Dakota or something.  Who knows though?  I don’t really care actually.  He’s not worth my time,” she said and then suddenly stopped, realizing she was rambling. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to go on like that.”
    “You’re fine,” he said and he reached across the table the rested his hand over hers for a moment before the waitress came with their entrees.
    “How’s your dinner?” she asked Ryan after he’d taken a few bites.
    “Not bad for a hippie meal,” he laughed.
    “I’m glad you approve.”
    He smiled again and Mallory felt her cheeks burn for a moment before smiling back.
     
    ****
     
    “The beach looks different tonight than the night of the clam bake,” Ryan commented as they walked along the gray sand.
    “How so?” Mallory asked, looking out into the black ocean.
    “I don’t know.  Quieter, I guess.”
    “Yeah.  We don’t have the distraction of Kenna attacking Nate,” she laughed and Ryan joined her.
    “Truth is , he kinda liked it.”
    “He did?” Mallory asked, raising an eyebrow.
    “He won’t admit it, but he was quite taken with your unconventional best friend,” he said with a grin. “He may appear to be a strong southern gentleman, but he likes a take-charge woman, like Kenna.”
    “Take-charge,” she repeated thinking of Kenna. “That’s just a polite way of saying domineering or obnoxious.”
    “No, it’s not.  I never said Kenna was obnoxious.  Do you think she is?”
    “She can be,” Mallory admitted.
    “You two seem so different. How’d you ever become friends?’
    “You think I’m that different from Kenna?”
    “Well, yeah,” he said almost as if it were a stupid question. “You seem very different.”
    “So, I wouldn’t be the kind of girl Nate would like then?”
    “I’m sure he’d like you just fine.”
    “But I’m not a take-charge kind of gal,” she implied.
    He started laughing and then stopped in his tracks, causing her to do the same. 
    “You certainly like to read int o things, don’t you?”
    “No.  I just like to ask questions.”
    “You are a take-charge kind of gal, as you put it.  You’re just more…subtle than Kenna,” Ryan said, pausing for a moment to find the right word. “You’re smart, and I like that.”
    As he looked at her, the moon created just enough lig ht to accentuate his features.  Her heartbeat quickened and she wanted him to kiss her.  He reached over and took her hand, holding it for a moment before curling his fingers around hers.
    “Are you nervous?” he asked and she shook her head. “You seem nervous.”
    “I’m not nervous,” she lied.
    Her heart was pounding and she found herself leaning in towards him.  His breath was warm and sweet as he reached up and stroked her cheek before gently kissing her.  His lips lingered for a moment, before slowly pulling back.  Their eyes met and then he kissed her once more.

Chapter Five
     
    The phone was practically burning her ear