Love Untouched (Unexpected) (29 page)

While out shopping today, Kieran had texted Brynn multiple times asking if everything was okay. Finally, Brynn had put her foot down and called him, telling him, “If you text me one more time, I’m going to plant poison ivy in your trunks!” Kieran must have said something because she lowered her voice and replied, “I love you, too. And, yes, I am okay. I am having fun, and I’ll see you later.” Her phone pinged a few minutes after that and she let out an exasperated breath before digging it out of her purse. After checking her phone, she burst out laughing uncontrollably, which had Sofia gurgle in excitement, the milk that she was drinking spilling out of her mouth. As I wiped Sofia’s mouth and hands, Brynn showed me what had her choking in laughter. It was a picture of Kieran’s gold medal, but instead of the insignia in the middle, he had replaced it with a picture of Brynn, and the words ‘MY GOLDEN GIRL’ typed in cursive below the photo.

Yes, my best friend had become a sappy guy. Brynn has shown him how to enjoy life and has brought so much laughter into his loner-like existence.

I’ve known my best friend most of my life. From the time he shook my hand when I was nine and dared me to jump that pool, he has become one of the single most important people in my existence. It relieved me and lightened my heart to see him loved the way he should be, by a woman who is undoubtedly the right one for him.

When I was 16, the night before Kieran went to college, I fell asleep in his arms. I was upset that he was leaving, going hundreds of miles away from me, so we spent the whole day together, as we normally did. That was the first time I had ever fallen asleep with his arms wrapped around mine. I must have woken him up because he moved his arms lazily and unfiltered words came out of his mouth. He mumbled them so softly, but I heard him loudly and clearly. “I love you Ace.”

He had told me he loved me a hundred times before that, but this time, he said it differently, and I felt a stabbing pain in my heart because even then, I knew that he was not the one for me. That I couldn’t love him the way he must have wanted me to at that time.

Zander’s hands encircled my shoulders across the chair, and I glanced at Kieran and Brynn again. The love between them was what he deserved, and I knew because this was the love that flowed between Zander and I.

There were many types of love in this world. Some we were born into, some we grow into, some we fight against, and some we fight for. Then, there were the kinds that touched every fiber of our beings; that we would wilt away without it if it were lost. Lastly, there was a type of love that we could leave untouched.

At the tender age of 16, I left Kieran’s love for me
untouched
. Fate came into the picture, bringing us to the present, in full circle, where we both experienced this great love for each other, just not
with
each other. He would always be my best friend, and I his. Never more, never less.

In Gaelic, Kieran means “little dark one.” Kieran is by no means “little.”

To his fans, Kieran’s a source of light and hope and has touched their hearts in more ways than one.

Chapter Headings are just a few of the letters and wishes that Kieran has received, answered, and made come true.

Coming in 2014

Hubby: For being there every step of the way and making me feel that I can do what I want and reach my dreams – whatever they may be.

Readers: I can’t ever call you my fans. To me, we’re tethered by our love for books. I appreciate every comment, every word of encouragement, every
thing
that you give me. I wish I can write and publish a book as often as my imagination takes over but my love for writing is superseded by my love for my career. I don’t think I will be able to write my stories if it were not for the plethora of emotions that I see and experience in nursing. I would like to think that in every story I write, I am able to impart a little bit of the struggles and emotions that I get a glimpse of every day. Writing will always be my escape. I will
not
always write about nurses. I have many stories in my head about doctors too (lol). I cannot thank you enough for reading my stories. Because of your continued support, I am able to give back to organizations that need help and to me that is the biggest reward that writing has brought me. My personal FB page is this one:
www.facebook.com/anne.leigh.963
- I have to warn you that this page is a place where I can just be silly me. My author page is listed in the back and future book info. will be there.

Family: My dad, my brothers, my family. You inspire me every day and make me whole. See, Dad, I’m still writing…Still trying to make people laugh. I hope.

Best of the Bestest Girlfriends: Elle, G, Shar, Lan, Chris, Berns. I cannot wish for better friends than you. You know me in the best and worst possible ways. Thanks for standing by me.

Book Friends

Author Jay Crownover. My book bestie. Thanks for telling me to keep going and being by go-to gal for book decisions. You’re my
tighty
. Always. I love your Marked Men Series and all the super secret characters you create!

Cris Soriaga Hadarly, Pam Carrion, Jennifer Gruler Haren, Janessa Osborne, Karrie Puskas, Shannon Girard, Jamie Bourgeois, Melanie Dawn, Kimi Flores, Nichele Reese, Amanda Stone, and many others: You ALL rock!! If I forget to list your name, I apologize but you know who you are. You were there for me from the very start. Merci.

Katie Mac and KMS Editing: Thank you! You are both wonderful editors. All the errors after your final edits are on me.

The bloggers who are always there, just to name a few : The Book Avenue Review, Book Junkies Anonymous, Book Addict Mumma, Sugar and Spice Book Reviews, Book Bitches Blog, Reading Past My Bedtime, Becky’s Book Blog and MANY, MANY OTHERS – Thank you so much for your hard work and for spreading the word about indie authors. Where would we be without you?

My Future Books

Love Untouched
is the end of the Unexpected Series. However, I’m planning on writing spin-off novels and novellas from the characters in this series. I also have a lot of stories ruminating in my head of characters that are unrelated to the series.

So…we’ll see where the future takes us.

“I write because I love it and for no other reason. The minute I stop enjoying it will be the exact moment I will stop writing.”

Anne Leigh is a 30-something-year-old who refuses to let the calendar dictate her age. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s degree in Nursing. She likes to write about strong women and equally strong guys who grapple with their emotions when faced with something as intangible as love.

She lives in Los Angeles with her husband. With her crazy schedule, she gets frustrated at L.A. traffic and needs an escape to keep her sanity, which thankfully her characters provide.

She didn’t think of publishing her stories and when she finally did, she’s truly appreciative of every, single person who found the time to let her characters become parts of their world.

She appreciates all the readers who leave kind comments/reviews on where they purchased the book because without them, all her stories would remain locked up in a thing called “computer.”

She’s always happy to find new friends and would love to hear from you via:

Facebook:
Like
her Official Author Page for
book updates
: Author Anne Leigh

E-mail:
[email protected]

Twitter:
@ Anneleighauthor

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