Saving You (Love Wanted In Texas Book 2) by Kelly Elliott Page A

hands.
    “Let’s kick some ass!” Libby shouted as she and Alex jumped and high-fived each other.

    I SAT IN the pool house, attempting to catch my breath. Libby and I had gone running on the beach tonight. I tried five times to tell her how I felt. I tried like hell to tell her I loved her, but all I kept seeing was me sleeping with Karen. What if I hurt Libby again? What if I wasn’t good enough for her?
    You’re hurting her now by pushing her away.
    I was tired of the push and pull from the voices in my head. I needed to tell Libby how I felt about her, and the sooner the better, before I pushed her into another man’s arms again. I stood up and pulled my T-shirt over my head as I opened the door to the pool house. Libby fell into my arms as she let out a small scream. I grabbed her and pulled her to me. Her breath caught in her throat and she looked at my bare chest. “Um … I … my … um …” She pulled her eyes from my abs and chest and looked into my eyes. “You have my phone still from our run earlier.”
    “Oh shit, yeah. Sorry!” I said as I reached into my shorts pocket and pulled out her phone. When I handed it to her, our fingers brushed together and my stomach dipped. Libby’s mouth opened slightly and I knew she felt the same thing I did.
    Smiling she turned and walked away. I pushed my hand through my hair and cursed. “Fuck me. I’m not going to make it through this week.”’

    I SAT ON the beach and tipped back my beer as I finished it off. Setting it to the side, I looked out over the dark waters of the gulf. I closed my eyes and pictured Libby at the dance club. The sexy silver cocktail dress she wore tonight had almost every fucker in the club staring at her. I sat there and watched her dance with that built motherfucker for three dances before I got up and cut in. I was surprised when he stepped away without a fight.
    I leaned back on the sand and closed my eyes. I could almost feel her warmth in my arms as we danced.

    “YOU REALLY DO look beautiful tonight, Libby,” I said as I held her closer to me.
    Smiling, she looked up into my eyes. “Thank you.” My hand was against her cool skin as I slowly moved it up and down her bare back. I wanted more than anything to press my lips against her sweat-shined skin. I could almost taste her on my lips.
    The song we danced to ended and another one began. When it started playing, I had a hard time catching my breath. Cascada’s “What Hurts The Most” was playing as Libby and I stared at each other as I held her in my arms. When the beat increased, we just stood there. Lost in each other’s eyes. I wanted so desperately to tell her how much I loved her. How much I wanted her.
    Libby’s eyes began to fill with tears as she began to turn away from me. I grabbed her arm and stopped her.
    “Libby …” I whispered as I removed my grip from her arm. I didn’t want to tell her how I felt in a damn nightclub. She turned and walked off as I stood in the middle of the dance floor.
    Closing my eyes I sucked in a breath and blew it out. I’m always fucking hurting her. Always.

    I WASN’T SURE how long I lay on the beach thinking, but I made up my mind on what I had to do. This whole time I had been pushing Libby away for fear of hurting her. What I needed to realize was that by not being honest with my own feelings—and fears, I was hurting her even more. Sitting up, I sucked in a breath of the salt air.
    Standing, I wiped off the sand from my shorts and headed back to the house. Standing at the bottom of the stairs, my heart pounded as I lifted my leg and headed up the stairs. Each step felt like my legs grew heavier and heavier. The idea of totally opening up and telling Libby everything, only to have her walk away, scared the hell out of me.
    Pushing my hand through my hair, I walked up to the bedroom where Libby was staying. I leaned in closer and heard her and Grace giggling. I raised the left corner of my mouth and smiled. Two of the