A Brand New Ending (Page 26)

Especially love.

He took a sip of lukewarm coffee, squinted at the screen, and wrote.

“I think we should leave.” He’d been thinking about it for a long time but was finally ready to bring it up.

She sat between his legs on the high hill by the barns. The sun was a circle of fiery orange, suspended high in the sky, brushing the tips of the jagged mountain peaks. Fingers entwined, her head leaned back against his chest. His lips brushed her cheek.

“Where would we go?” she asked, sounding more curious than shocked. She’d known his frustration with his father had reached an epic level. He was trapped, and the only way to freedom was to blow everything up that kept him tied down.

Everything but Ophelia.

She was his everything. If she decided to stay, he’d stay with her, but he hoped to hell he could communicate his vision for their future.

“California,” he answered. “It’s the best place for us. Besides having great weather, that’s where the jobs are. I want to write screenplays. You want to sing. We can both follow our dreams there.”

“What about college? I thought we were going to the community college in the fall together?”

He stroked her hair away from her nape, kissing her sensitive skin and reveling in her shivers. “What is college going to do for us other than delay our dreams? We already have talent. I won that writing contest, and I’ve clocked in endless hours studying books on how to write screenplays. I already have two ready to go.”

“And they’re good,” she added.

He smiled. “Your voice is everything, baby. When you sing, people stop to listen. Everyone talked about your solo in Grease for weeks. You could probably stand on a street corner and get your bucket filled up in a few hours.”

She chuckled and stretched out her legs. The heavy weight of her breast pressed into the back of his hand. He ran his knuckles over the sweet curves, his erection pressing with demand against her ass. He ignored it, used to the condition whenever he was around Ophelia.

“I don’t know how to do big auditions and stuff,” she said worriedly. “I’ve never been out of New York.”

“Neither have I, but we could do it together.” His voice filled with intensity. The vision shimmered before him in all its glory—sharing an apartment, working to follow their dreams, sleeping with her every night. Away from the farm and the suffocation of daily existence. Ethan already planned to go into the military. How could they just go to the local college and believe anything would change?

He grasped her shoulders and turned her around. Looking into her beautiful face, he tried to make her see. “Do you want to spend your life serving guests and being a glorified housekeeper? I sure as hell can’t keep living with my father and taking care of his farm. We were meant for more than this. We’re special. We were blessed with talents, and it wouldn’t be right not to go out and try to use them.”

Excitement glittered in her sky-blue eyes. She chewed her lip, obviously thinking over the possibility. “We don’t know anyone out there. How would we get a job? An apartment?”

“I contacted my uncle, and he said he could set us up with a small place. I already have enough money saved to get us started.” He’d been saving every dime for years now, just for this moment. “My uncle said he knows some people in the entertainment industry and will introduce us.”

“Your uncle Tony?” she asked. “Won’t he tell your dad?”

“They’re not close—they barely talk. He said he’s willing to help us. I have my car. We’ll drive out to California and finally get to be together.”

A nervous laugh broke from her lips. “Oh my God, my mother will kill me. So will Ethan.”

“We don’t have to tell them until we go. It may be easier that way. But I don’t want to do this unless you want it, too, Ophelia. Leaving would mean nothing without you.”

Her eyes softened. She stroked his cheek, and he kissed her, plunging his tongue deep into her honeyed mouth, gathering her taste and falling into her with everything he was.

He still hadn’t made love to her. He was waiting for the perfect time, and it was hard to get her alone for a night with Ethan and her family constantly around. He refused to rush. He wanted a full night of her stretched out in his bed—not a literal roll in the hay.

“Do you think we can do it?”

He smiled, clutching her tighter, willing her to believe what he already knew. “Yes. California will be magical. And warm. And exciting—the perfect place to start our lives together.” He couldn’t stand seeing doubt in her eyes, so he gave her the truth, not wanting to wait any longer. “I don’t just want to live with you, baby. I want us to get married.”

Her eyes widened. He held his breath and waited, but only caught joy and want in her face. “You want to get married?” she repeated, her voice a breathy wisp of sound. “Kyle, are you serious? You don’t need to promise me marriage for me to go with you. I don’t need that.” She tilted her chin up. “And I don’t need a wedding to sleep with you. I’m tired of waiting. I want you. It’s starting to drive me a bit crazy.”

“Me, too, baby. But maybe I’m the one who needs the wedding.” He pulled her tight and kissed her. “Maybe I need reassurance that you’re not just using me for my hot bod.”

She giggled against his mouth—a sweet, feminine sound he adored—and ran her hands over his back. “How’d you find out my evil plan?”

“You undress me with your eyes. I have to prove I have more to offer you than sex.”

Her face grew serious. She tipped her forehead to his. “All I want is you, Kyle. Always. Forever. Just us.”

“Just us. So we’re going to do this?”

Her smile was slow and sweet and perfect. “Yes. Let’s go to California and get married and become famous.”

He laughed and tumbled her to the ground, tucking her tight against his body. The sun sunk and bled out muted golds and dewy oranges, throwing the valley into shadow. He kissed her and promised her the world. He knew he’d deliver.

There was absolutely nothing to stop them.

Chapter Twelve

“We have reservations at Crystal’s tonight. Seven p.m.”

Ophelia froze midstep. She’d been completely focused on trying to run away when she heard his footsteps on the stairs, but Kyle’s commanding voice stalled her retreat. She swiveled back around and stared at him.

“I can’t go out tonight. I’m busy!”

He climbed down the last few steps and crowded her space, his lean build practically vibrating with masculine body heat. He smelled like chocolate chip cookies and coffee and washed cotton. She dug her nails into her palms and tried to look calm, to pretend she had no interest in those delicious, sulky lips and their immense talent.

“It’s Thursday night. I double-checked your schedule. Your guests arrive tomorrow, but you have time to have dinner with me tonight.”

“You spied on my calendar!”

His lip twitched. “Yeah. I learned your programs when you were sick, remember? Why? Is your calendar like your diary or something? Are there little scribbled hearts with my name scrawled in them that you didn’t want me to see?”

Her cheeks grew hot, which made her even madder. “Don’t be ridiculous. I just don’t like you sneaking around and trying to manage my time.”