Kipton laughed as she stopped a few feet away from me.
“How about this—we promise each other right now that if either one of us is feeling off, worried, scared, unsure…whatever…we talk to each other about it.”
Her head tilted again. “Okay,” she replied softly. “I think knowing I have a possible friend here will really help.”
“You’ll have my entire family, as well, since you’re staying here. Lily and Rose will be on winter break, and I’m positive you’ll all get along.”
She smiled. “I’m sure we will.”
I pushed off the desk and walked over to her. Gazing into her eyes, I ignored the way my heart felt like it was beating just a little too hard, and reached my hand out for hers. “To our newfound friendship.”
Her eyes darted down to my hand, then back up. When her eyes lingered on my mouth, I let myself believe for a hot second she wanted to seal our new friendship with a kiss. I quickly pushed that thought away. It was inappropriate…considering I’d be sort of dating twenty damn women in a few weeks’ time.
“To our newfound friendship.”
Chapter Three
KIPTON
The way my body came to life when Hunter touched me was something I wasn’t expecting at all. Never mind that the guy was insanely handsome, with blue eyes that you could get lost in for hours on end. And that dark brown hair that looked so soft, my fingers itched to touch it. And his body…
Sinful.
Friends, Kipton. He’s a friend, and one you desperately need right now.
“We should probably get back to everyone. My mom might have sent a search party out for us.”
I chuckled and nodded. “We should totally go.”
But neither of us made a move to leave. In fact, my hand was still in his as we continued to stare at one another.
“Are we, um…are we going to go?” I eventually asked, gently drawing my hand away.
Hunter snapped out of whatever daze he was in and laughed. “Yes! Let’s go.”
As I preceded him, he placed his hand on my lower back and guided me across the room. I prayed he didn’t feel my body shudder at his touch. I’d always read in books about men placing their hands there, and wondered if it was as sensual as romance novels made it seem. I could say without a doubt that it was.
Maybe it was just because of Hunter, who knows. Maybe it was simply me, reading into a private moment in a gorgeous library, with a good-looking man, who’d just promised to be there for me when I needed him. That was rare these days.
When Hunter stepped forward and reached for the library door, holding it so I could walk through, I glanced up to thank him…and was assaulted by his smell.
No, assaulted wasn’t the right word. Engulfed. Yes, I was engulfed by the scent of Hunter Shaw. It was an earthy smell, not too heavy, not too light. A spicy, woodsy smell, like rosewood.
Trying not to seem creepy, I drew in a small breath before walking past him, and I swore his eyes seemed to turn darker.
We continued in silence through the house, toward the muffled sounds of people talking. As they grew louder, I grew more nervous.
It was like Hunter could sense it. He took my elbow and drew me to a stop.
“They’re all harmless, I promise. And they really will have your back, always. But my younger cousins, I have to warn you, are going to trip over themselves in order to get your attention.”
I chuckled. “Thanks for the warning.”
He smiled, and I noticed a dimple in his right cheek.
Look away, Kipton. Look away.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Let’s do this.”
I walked into the large living room as Hunter cleared his throat and got everyone’s attention. Suddenly the room was silent, all eyes on us.
“Sorry, Kipton and I wanted to spend a few minutes alone, introducing ourselves.”
Hunter’s mom, Lincoln, beamed at us, while my mother placed a not-so-subtle hand over her heart and smiled a big, goofy smile.
We stood there, everyone staring at us, before I gently elbowed Hunter.
“Right. Okay, so, let’s introduce you to everyone. You already met my mother, Lincoln, and my father, Brock.”
I nodded. “As well as Bradly,” I added, with a smile in his direction.
Hunter leaned in and softly muttered, “Don’t encourage him, Kip.”
I turned to look at him in surprise. He’d called me Kip. No one had ever called me by a nickname. Why did that make my heart flutter?
Forcing my gaze off him, I turned back to the large group while Hunter introduced me.
“I’ll go by families. It’ll make it easier,” he joked.
“And you’ll be quizzed at the end of the night,” said a beautiful young woman with dark blonde hair, standing next to a very handsome guy with short light brown hair.
Hunter laughed. “Don’t listen to my sister. But since she spoke up first, this is my older sister, Morgan, and her husband, Ryan Marshall. Morgan and Ryan are expecting their first baby this May.”
Morgan made her way over and gave me a warm hug. “It’s so great meeting you, Kipton.”
“Likewise,” I said, as I shook Ryan’s hand.
“If you ever need an escape, you’re more than welcome to come to our place. Especially if you like horses,” Ryan said.
“I love them!” I beamed. “And thank you.”
They moved on, and another couple appeared in front of us. They looked to be in their mid-twenties. The guy was the spitting image of Brock, so I figured he had to be Blayze.
“Blayze Shaw, Hunter’s older brother,” he said, shaking my hand. “This is my wife, Georgiana.”
“It’s a pleasure meeting you both,” I replied.
“They’re expecting a baby at the end of April,” Hunter added.
“Oh, wow, congratulations!”
No one else made a move to approach, so Hunter pointed at a couple. “That’s Uncle Ty and Aunt Kaylee.”
They both waved, so I waved back as I said, “Nice to meet you.”
“One of their offspring is Rose Marie,” Hunter continued, as a stunning young woman stood and smiled at me. Her blonde hair was pulled half up and half down, with curls that I would kill for. I could see her blue eyes shining brightly from across the room. “She also goes to Montana State.”
“I wonder if we’ve ever seen each other or taken classes together?” I asked.
Rose gave a little shrug. “I’m not sure.”
“And Joshua is their son.”
A boy who looked to be about fifteen tipped his cowboy hat and winked. I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Next, you have Uncle Tanner and Aunt Timberlynn. Their kiddos are Lily and Nathan.”
A girl about my age, with dark brown hair, stood and waved. “We also go to the same college.”
“Oh, wonderful,” I said, making a mental note to seek her and Rose out after the introductions.
A young man appeared in front of me suddenly. He lifted my hand and pressed a soft kiss to the back. It took everything I had not to grin. He was darling, maybe around sixteen or so. His eyes were a captivating color of silver, and stood out even more with his brown hair.
“Nathan Shaw. It’s an honor to meet you.”