Page 7 of Rose's Ripped Van Winkle

To complete the picture, he’s wearing nothing but a towel slung low around his hips. My mouth goes dry when I take in the sight of him. The washboard abs carved into his slender frame make me gulp for air as I mumble my apologies for practically mowing him over on my way to the bathroom.

I can’t begin to fathom the magic that allowed him to sleep for over a hundred years, kept his body working and muscles toned without food or water. Why did his hair keep growing but not his nails? It’s unbelievable, but the proof is standing right in front of me.

A flush of awareness races through me as our eyes lock, sending heat coursing through every nerve ending in my body. I can feel my breath quickening and heat pooling deep inside me until I can barely contain my arousal.

He steps closer and reaches out to cup my chin with gentle fingers, sending sparks of electricity radiating down my spine. His gaze is magnetic, drawing me closer until my toes are almost touching his bare feet on the cold wooden floorboards.

“What do you want from me, Rose?” he asks softly, his voice a warm caress.

I have no idea what I should say. All I know is that whatever this is, it feels bigger than either of us. Bigger than anything I’ve ever felt before.

“I’m sorry,” Rip says finally, his voice still barely a whisper. He blinks hard, twice, as though he’s returning from a dream. “I didn’t mean to…”

What is he apologizing for? Being here? Barging in on my quiet, solitary life? Looking so freaking delicious I’ll dream of him all night long?

He steps back, but his hand remains warm against my skin. “It’s just… things are cloudy in my mind from when I followed the instructions on the amulet. One thing is certain. I was yearning so powerfully for something that I risked everything, my very life, to find it. Now that I’ve found you…”

He shakes his head, refusing to say anything more. Smart move. I don’t think I could tolerate whatever was going to come next.

My heart skips a beat as I mentally finish his sentence for him. He thinks I’m his one true love. That’s ridiculous. I grew up in a cult and when I walked away from them, I thought I’d quit believing in fairytales.

I find myself gazing up into his brilliant blue eyes. In this moment, I understand something: what’s between us is larger than anything we can define with words or even comprehend. It’s an ancient energy, something both inexplicable and powerful, and it’s brought us together despite time itself trying to keep us apart.

Reluctantly, I step back and force a chuckle, pretending nothing is happening between us. Then I pointedly look at his bare chest and say, “We’re going to go to town tomorrow to get you some clothes.”

“Looks like it. As soon as I removed my pajamas they disintegrated into nothing. I guess the magic that held them together isn’t required anymore,” he replies with a smile, meeting my gaze. “We’d better get some rest then.”

I nod wordlessly and turn away, feeling his glance on me as I head toward the bathroom. It’s only when I notice the pile of sheets from his bed that I left by the washing machine has now disappeared that the situation really hits me. I feel woozy and reach out to hang onto the wall when the truth becomes undeniable. Magic is real.

As I drift off to sleep, I can’t help but wonder if my life will ever be the same again.

Chapter Seven

Rip

“Ridiculous,” I mutter as I jam my leg into… “What are these, anyway?” I yell through the closed door of my room.

Rose set out some clothes on the foot of my bed when I was in the bathroom this morning. I must admit, a towel wrapped around my hips isn’t fit for mixed company, but this? Other than having two legs, I can’t figure out what they’re made for.

“Beggars can’t be choosers, big guy. The black things are yoga pants. They’ll still look ridiculous, but they might be stretchy enough to cover those muscular legs of yours.”

I lift and inspect them again, not believing the tiny things could ever fit over my body. A smile curls my lips when I realize she called me muscular. Perhaps the woman who has made it clear she wants to keep her distance isn’t totally immune to my charms.

“The blue and white plaid number is sleep pants. They’re made to be baggy. Those are the choices. Make do.”

Someone’s in a bad mood, I think as I jam my foot into the leg of the yoga pants. Taking a deep breath, I struggle to pull them up, thankful they’re extra stretchy. Turning around in front of the mirror, I see my initial misgivings were right, but at least now I’m covered—mostly.

I leave my room and enter the living room. “Well, what do you think? Am I ready for town?”

“No. We need to get you a shirt first.” After I put on something she called a beach cover-up, she says, “You still look ridiculous, but I’m afraid it’s the best we can do.”

Before we leave the house, she grabs a blue baseball cap and jams it onto her head after tucking her beautiful hair into it. It’s almost as though she doesn’t want to attract attention. Her expression hardens, as if she’s daring me to ask about it. I guess we both have secrets from our past.

A few minutes later, she gives me the funniest look when I open her car door. She even releases a little giggle, as if my opening her door gave her a thrill.

“How gallant.” The smile she flashes me tells me she’s not teasing. She glides behind the wheel as I slide into the passenger seat of her car.

I’m an artist who sometimes imagined fairies and elves in my paintings, yet I never could have dreamed up anything like this car before I took my long nap. She even has to teach me how to use the seat belt.

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