Always and Forever Read Free Page A

When he’d persisted, I’d finally explained to him about the breakup letting
     him know I probably wouldn’t be good company. He’d understood but had continued to
     pursue things, asking me to give him a chance. He was very cute and very sweet, so
     I’d finally agreed. After our second date (we’d gone to Jen’s and I’d run into Brody
     on the way out which had been all kinds of awkward), I realized Alex would never be
     anything but a rebound, which I hated because he was such a nice guy, but my heart
     couldn’t be convinced otherwise, so I’d ended things with him at my front porch where
     he’d given me a chaste kiss then told me to call him if I ever got to a place where
     I thought I could move on.
    And now Brody’s asking if I’m in love with him, a guy I haven’t seen in three months
     and who I seriously could’ve seen myself with if it hadn’t been for my feelings for
     Brody. And with his accusatory tone, he’s trying to make me feel guilty about it when he’s the one who broke up with me ! And now here comes my temper.
    “No, I’m not in love with him! And it’s all your fault!” I hiss.
    His head jerks back as he frowns at me.
    I nod. “Yeah. If it wasn’t for you, I could be dating him right now!” I step into
     him and jab my finger into his chest on the words you and now but stop because his chest is rock hard and that just pisses me off more. Putting
     my hands back on my hips, I continue. “Alex is a wonderful man but I had to let him
     go because I realized I wasn’t over you yet!”
    When I see his lips twitch at that, I see red.
    “What’s so fucking funny, Brody Matthew Kelly? Is the fact that I’m still not over
     you and had to end it with a great guy that hilarious?” I screech.
    He frowns again.
    Now I go for the throat. “And what’s more is, he didn’t have a problem with me only wanting two kids!” Total lie because Alex and I
     never talked about kids.
    Brody’s eyes spark with anger again and I’m glad I’ve hurt him because he’s hurt me
     so much. The next thing I know, he grabs me by my upper arms and turns, pushing me
     against the wall and gets right in my face, his voice all rumbly. “You listen to me,
     Piper, and listen good. I love you! You’re mine! I wanted to rip that fucker’s head
     off when I saw him with you at Jen’s but knew I had no right. I’ve got a right now.”
    His lips come crashing down on mine and I’m so stunned I don’t even try to resist.
     But when he pulls back and looks down at me, I gaze up at him, definitely shaken by
     what’s happened until my head stops spinning enough for me to realize what he’s just
     done and I’m livid. To prove it, I haul off and slap him, feeling some satisfaction
     that I’ve actually made him step back from me.
    “Stay away from me, Brody!” I snap, pushing at his chest but of course he doesn’t
     budge which just serves to make me madder than I already am. “I mean it. You lost
     any rights to me when you ended things between us!”
    His eyes are on mine as he rubs his cheek slowly and I see an edge to them, as if
     I’ve offered him a challenge.
    Great.
    And now the bastard grins. “We’ll see about that,” he replies smoothly as he turns
     to leave. “Catch you later, Greer!” he hollers without a look back just before he
     walks out the door.
    Greer comes up and stands beside me, both of us watching Brody walking down the street
     toward the firehouse, hands in his front pockets all easygoing and shit.
    “Jerk,” I mumble.
    I see Greer nodding out of the corner of my eye. “I do have to say, though, that was pretty steamy, Pipe.”
    I glance over to see her staring dreamily out the window and elbow her in the arm.
     “Whose side are you on?”
    “Ow!” She rubs her upper arm frowning at me. “My arms are sore enough, Piper! God,
     you keep doing things to make them worse, then I’m definitely on his side!” She turns
     and walks to the back and I hear her