Page 43 of Ignite

Ethan Cooper just might be the love I’d been looking for and the man I deserved.

Ethan.

Almost one month ago, I’d crashed into his ute and now he’d crashed my world.

Ethan

What the living fuck?

I lay on my side and watched a naked Rylee sleep. Her beautiful face was relaxed with no hint of the tears or meltdown from before.

After she started talking about her ex, her shoulders relaxed, and I felt the weight of secrets melt away.

We talked about how her friends had been conflicted about which side to take in the break-up. She’d been surprised at the loyalty from the rest of my team. Truthfully, I couldn’t believe it. Guys usually stuck with guys. Call it a bro code, or just the way things were.

But my guys had kicked their Captain-Coach to the curb and fundraised until they could afford my ass.

We hadn’t talked details. I didn’t need to know, and Rylee didn’t offer.

But FML.

Now I understood her reluctance to take our banter to the next level. Hooking up with me was more than just boy meets girl and bumping uglies. She had been in a serious, living with each other relationship with the Meringa Hawks Rugby League team’s Captain-Coach. If we dated, she would be in a relationship with the new Captain-Coach. Would anyone remember that Rylee hadn’t traded Darin in, that he’d been the asshole to stick his cock where it didn’t belong?

Except, now Darin was engaged and living in the house that Rylee had renovated.

And Rylee had somehow survived the loss of her father and relationship within a short period of time.

I leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. I couldn’t help it. She was amazing. Most women—no—most people would be bitter, twisted, or still curled up under the quilt cover and wallowing in grief or jealousy.

Not Rylee.

She fought each day to keep her business afloat while still doing all the pro bono equipment servicing as a sole operator that had once kept her and the original Rylee flat out.

“Why don’t you employ someone?” I’d asked when she explained not having a lot of time over the next month. One of the surf lifesaving boats had a problem with the engine and if she didn’t have a look at it, people could literally die. Meringa relied on tourists. Tourists came for the beach and surf. And if they hadn’t grown up watching for rips, it was easy to get dragged out to sea.

“It’s fine,” I’d assured her. “I’m learning to live without my truck.”

“Perhaps, we could share my car in the mornings.” She looked so shy and cute, that I’d pretended not to understand until breaking down, laughing.

“I don’t know how many nights you’re gonna want to spend at my place. I’d give you the tour, but that really only needs you to spin in place.”

“I know, I helped you move in, remember?”

Rylee Mettner had been involved in all the significant moments since I’d moved to town. And now? Hell, I hoped she’d be part of every significant moment for the rest of my life.

Yes. I’d just thought about living in Meringa longer than just serving out my contract, and I wanted Rylee to be cheering me on from the sidelines.

Which reminded me, I needed to organize the surprise.

Ethan to Felicity:Would you say you’re Rylee’s best friend?

I hadn’t expected a response before morning, but my phone flashed within seconds.

Eric:Do you have health insurance?

Ethan to Eric:?

Eric:Why are you texting my woman in the middle of the night?

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