The Rebel's Return (Red River) by Victoria James

are you here, Aiden?”
    “Because of the other night.”
    She tapped her finger against her chin. “Did something happen?”
    He grinned. “Almost happened,” he said in a deep voice, lifting his arm. His hand gently clutched a fistful of her hair, and she thought she might die. It was as though everything were happening in slow motion as he slowly lowered his face to hers, his lips hovering so close. Omigod, she couldn’t. She couldn’t kiss him again after all these years.
    “I thought about you every single day I was gone.”
    Her breath hitched, and she cursed herself, knowing she was going to let him kiss her.
    “Aiden McCann!”
    Aiden cursed under his breath before he was yanked out by the collar. Eunice Jacobs stood at the door, tugging at his shirt and looking like an enraged peacock. “I don’t know if you’ve been getting advice from Evan Manning, but this is not what these changing rooms are for! Now get to the front of the store and wait until Natalia is properly clothed.”
    Natalia closed the changing room curtain, but couldn’t help peeking out to watch as Aiden left.

Chapter Seven
    Rain drummed on cars, and puddles quickly formed on the downtown street ahead. It caught the leaves on the old oak trees, whipping them to the ground in a windy bundle. Aiden had forgotten how much he loved the rain in Red River. It was different here. In Red River, you could smell the earthiness as the rain soaked the grass, the dirt. You could see the gray sky, the clouds, you could slow down for a minute and watch it transform the small town. He stood on the lift bridge and just took it all in, the view of his childhood town from here. God, he was a different man. He’d been a kid back then, in so many ways. Angry, hurt, afraid. He and Dylan had run, really. They wanted out of here, away from the place and people that they’d made fools of themselves in front of. Away from the town that held their best and worst memories.
    He rolled his shoulders. In some ways he was glad his morning run was done, in others, mad because he didn’t feel as though he’d released any of the tension that was slowly consuming him. He’d avoided Red River because of his stupid past. He’d avoided it because of the dysfunctional relationship he had with his father, and he dreaded being back here because of Natalia.
    In their run-ins these last few weeks, the growing need to make amends with everyone here had shaken him. Every time he saw her, he wanted her more. He’d almost lost it in the changing room. If it hadn’t been for Eunice, he would have kissed her. He wanted so many things. He wasn’t a guy to wish for things. He knew if you wanted anything in life, you had to work damn hard for it. Natalia included. He wasn’t so cocky as to assume he could just walk back into her life, kiss her, and they could start over. No, getting her back would involve coming clean…about everything. It would also involve the idea of coming back to Red River for good…
    His eyes narrowed on a familiar, curvy silhouette coming his way. Said person was alternating between a jog and a walk, looking like she was struggling on the tough hill that led to the lift bridge. He wasn’t going to smile at his luck, or maybe his misfortune, because as she approached he made out the deep frown on her otherwise gorgeous face. She had on a black hoodie that was tightly molded to her curves and a pair of black leggings. Her hair was pulled back and hidden under a bright pink baseball cap. All in all, Nat managed to make boring, concealing workout clothes sexier than the most revealing lingerie.
    Her feet splashed into a massive puddle, and he smiled as she cursed out loud as water sprayed up her legs. He quickly stopped smiling when she made eye contact with him. “What are you doing here?”
    He leaned against the cold, wet iron railing of the bridge. “I’m everywhere, Nat.”
    She clutched her sides, trying to look nonchalant even though he could tell