“Thad won’t get near you,” he growls, grabbing my thigh.
“Okay, Kai. You know everything.” I shake my head and look out at the ocean, trying to ignore the feelings his hand on my skin is giving me.
“It’s a few days, Myla,” he says gently.
“It’s a few days of lying to their faces,” I clarify. “How are we going to explain sleeping in separate rooms?” I question, raising a brow at him.
“We’ll be sleeping in the same room while they’re here.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal.
“What?” I whisper, feeling the color drain out of my face. It’s difficult enough seeing him every day. I have no idea how I will deal with him sleeping in the same room as me, let alone the same bed.
“It will be fine. You’ll see.”
“You’re delusional,” I breathe.
“Pardon?” he asks, taking on the same tone I hear from him when he’s speaking to his men.
I gather some much-needed courage and look him dead in the eyes before repeating myself more slowly. “I said you’re delusional. You actually believe this is going to turn out okay, when I know that it won’t. Haven’t you ever watched a movie before? There is always some huge lie that is being kept hidden, and in the end, the truth comes out.” I suck in a breath. “I don’t want to be there when this hole caves in.”
“The difference is this isn’t a movie, Myla, and I know what I’m doing.”
“If you say so.” I shake my head again and pull my eyes from him.
When we were just lying to ourselves, I was able handle all of this, but now that we have gotten people we both care about involved, I know that this is going to be something I end up regretting. I just hope I don’t regret it for the rest of my life or that my choice doesn’t have a negative effect on the people who are innocent in this whole thing.
“Your mom misses you,” Kai says, breaking into my thoughts.
“I know, and I miss her too, Kai, but this isn’t the time or place for a family reunion.”
“You need to learn to trust me.”
“And you need to learn to talk to me before taking it upon yourself to just do stuff you have no right to do,” I argue.
“You’re right,” he says, and I’m completely taken aback by his words and the fact he just agreed with me. “You’re right, but I’m also right.”
I let out a defeated breath, realizing once again that he just doesn’t get it.
“So much for that,” I think and don’t realize I’ve said it out loud until I see his lip twitch.
“It will all work out.”
“You keep saying that, Kai, but you and I both know that your mother has built it up in her head that my mother’s wish has come true. She is so happy that she has this relationship to reconnect her with her friend who is long gone that she is not going to be very understanding about the fact we have lied to her and everyone else.”
His eyes search my face, and for the first time, I get the feeling that he finally understands what I have been saying all along.
“So we try to make this into a real relationship.”
My lungs freeze and my mouth goes dry as I sit there in stunned silence, looking at him and trying to think of a way to come back from that.
After a moment, I sit up in the lounger. “Are you insane?” I screech.
“You’re attracted to me,” he states.
“I…I’m attra—attracted to you?” I stutter out.
“And I’m attracted to you,” he says as his eyes travel over my body, and I feel my nipples pucker against the thin material of my bikini.
“Be serious.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“I’m being very serious.”
“It won’t work,” I argue.
“Why won’t it? Every relationship starts with attraction. You’re attracted to me, and I’m attracted to you.”
“Stop telling me that I’m attracted to you,” I growl, trying to stand up, but before I can, I’m down in the lounger and Kai is leaning over me with his face inches from mine.
“Why not try, Myla?”
“Because it’s a very, very dumb idea, Kai.” I roll my eyes.
“We don’t even have to have sex until you’re ready,” he says, ignoring what I just said and moving his face closer to mine. “Let’s try it while your family is in town. After they leave, we will reevaluate everything and then decide if we want to keep moving forward in our relationship.”
“I can’t believe I’m even considering this,” I say.
A small smile appears on his face right before he lowers his head and takes my mouth in a kiss so hot that I feel it all the way to my toes. When he pulls his mouth from mine, his lips go to my forehead, my nose, then my chin. I’m surprised by the sudden feeling that ignites in my chest from his soft show of affection.
“We need to have a first date,” he tells me, and I don’t even try to fight back my smile this time. “What?” he questions as his eyebrows pull together.
“I get to pick our first date,” I tell him and then bite my lip when his eyes narrow.
“All right, Myla. You get to pick the first date,” he agrees.
I can tell he is trying to figure out what I’m up to, and it takes everything in me not to smile or tell him that he’s in for it.