Ripped (Real, #5)(89)

“Never,” Greyson murmurs, but I notice he’s looking at Melanie, not my ring.

Mackenna quickly pulls me over to one of the living room couches. Greyson and Melanie settle on the opposite one, and we have a great time swapping meeting stories and celebrating. Even Kyle stops by with his girlfriend to toast with us.

Later, the men start talking about their respective businesses and I find myself asking Melanie for good ideas for a wedding reception. She can’t even believe it’s actually me asking.

“Seriously, this is almost creepy, Pan!” she swears.

We laugh it off and so does Kyle’s girlfriend, Terry, and soon, my grin starts to hurt on my face. All this time, I feel Kenna’s hand moving on my bare arm and shoulder—a gentle reminder that he’s by my side even though he’s talking to the boys and I’m talking to the girls.

I keep stealing touches, squeezing his hand, rubbing his hard thigh—just so he knows I don’t forget for a second who I’m with from now on.

That night, I slide into bed with my guy and start kissing him with all the passion I feel. I nibble on his jaw and slide my hands over his sexy buzz cut and press as close as I can get. I nibble on his lone diamond earring and then on the ear where my ring-diamond used to be. There, I whisper what I used to be so afraid of saying. I didn’t say “I love you” for so many years, yet now I can’t say it enough. I can’t hear it enough. And Kenna shows no signs of asking me to shut up either. He rolls me beneath his body and takes control of the situation, with one sure, perfect move, getting up as close and deep as possible to me.

One day later, it’s Sunday morning and we’re listening to I Heart Radio, like we usually do when we wake up. Then it happens.

“So, now we get to hear the first single from Crack Bikini’s new album. This is ‘Lullaby.’?” And suddenly we both grow quiet. And there, in his arms—where I feel loved and accepted, warm and safe, wanted and forgiven—I close my eyes and listen to his heartbeat with one ear, and his song with the other.

Young and in love

We thought we were invincible

If you’re lonely or sad

Need to feel someone’s there

Precious baby, let me sing you our lullaby Let me sing you this lullaby

You may be five or six next year

You may be fifteen in a second

Growing up in a record

Lipstick, girlfriends, boyfriends, first times It hurts we will never be a part of that We couldn’t give you what you needed Couldn’t keep you by our sides

But, baby girl, we can give you

All our love, right in this one lullaby Your mom and I

Thought you’d have a better life

We were broken, young, and wild

Our sweet girl, you will never know why But for this moment here’s a lullaby We’d turn back the clock

I’d man up and stop

Make sure you knew who you were

You were hers and mine

But time, that’s something we never recover Mistakes we make, promises we break

Things we can never get over

So here I stand

Hoping you can understand

It wasn’t you; it was us

Nothing wrong with you

Our little baby girl

You were perfect; you still are

So here’s your lullaby

“?‘Lullaby,’?” the voice on the radio crackles in. “Already topping the charts as the singer and his fiancée hold a worldwide search for all the girls born on January 22, five years ago . . .”

Tears trek silently down my cheeks while Mackenna quietly cups my face and lets them fall into his palms. “What will we do when we find her?” My voice breaking, I swallow. “We can’t take her away from her real parents now. But we can’t not try to be a part of her life in some way.”

“We’ll do whatever she wants,” he promises me—and his eyes, they look as wolfish as ever.





ACKNOWLEDGMENTS


As always, this book would not be possible without a tremendous amount of help from an amazing number of wonderful people.

With immense gratitude to my supportive family, my husband, my children, my parents.

To all my author friends who both beta read and cheer, or pass on the Kleenex for the tears (you guys know who you are!), and who I cherish more than words can say.

To the very special Kelli, CeCe, Angie, Ryn, Kati D, and Dana, who helped me prep this baby and always have the best, most amazing feedback for me.

To my editor, Adam Wilson, my publisher, Jen Bergstrom, and their hardworking team at Gallery Books—thank you for supporting my work, getting it on those bookshelves, and working with me to make it the best possible.

To Amy, truly, you are a dream agent, and I am blessed to have you in my life.

And to you, reading this right now, thank you. You let my words touch you, and now I live to try and do just that.

Katy





ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Hey! I’m Katy Evans, and I love family, books, life, and love. I’m married with two children and three dogs and spend my time baking, walking, writing, reading, and taking care of my family. Thank you for spending your time with me and picking up my story. I hope you had an amazing time with it, like I did. If you’d like to leave a review and help readers find the REAL series, I’d appreciate it so much. If you’d like to know more about books in progress, look me up on the Internet. I’d love to hear from you!