Page 111 of Counting On You

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Vicky

It’s a chilly Sunday afternoon. I’m taking my regular walk, lost in thought, when I get the distinct feeling that I’m being followed.

I spin around and almost bump into Kade.

“Whoa, there.” His hands go around my waist to steady me, pulling me a little too close to him.

“Jesus.” Pressing my hand against my chest, I exhale a sharp breath and peer around us to make sure no one’s seen us. “You scared the life out of me.” I want to be angry with him, but I can’t. He looks so carefree with that lazy smile on his lips and the sun catching his eyes, that for a moment I almost forget who we are and why we’re here.

For a moment, it feels as though he’s someone I’ve known forever.

Someone I’ve started to like way more than I should. I don’t even know when it happened. Maybe the feeling’s been here all along. Or maybe it started the moment I realized that even though he only wants my body, during those moments together he made me feel as though he treasured it.

As though he treasured me.

“I thought I’d take a turn being a stalker. You know, shake things up a little.” He guides me to a nearby tree and presses me against it. We’re shielded from the rehab building and the windows overlooking the back, but that doesn’t mean people walking by couldn’t see us.

Even though the weather’s been rainy, a few rays of sun are shining through the heavy curtain of gray clouds. Squinting, I reach up to brush Kade’s hair out of his eyes and marvel at just how right it feels to have his hard body press into me.

This won’t last.

My mood drops a little at the thought, but I won’t allow myself to go there. All that counts is the present.

“Don’t tell me you’ve been following me all the way up here.”

He laughs. “To be honest, walking isn’t really my thing.” He tilts his head to the right. I follow his line of vision and notice a mountain bike leaned against a tree.

“Where did you get the bike?” I watch his lips twitch and frown. “On second thought, don’t answer me if it involves anything illegal. I won’t be your partner in crime.”

“Anything that doesn’t carry a lock and an explicit warning, can be borrowed.”

I gape at him, unable to decide whether to laugh or be shocked.

“How about we take a trip around the island and visit the local museum? Group meeting’s been canceled, so we might as well enjoy the day together.”

“I’m pretty sure most tourist attractions are closed.”

“We can still look around, spin our own stories about the early settlements.” He wiggles his eyebrows. “I bet we’ll see some interesting things inside.”

I let out an exasperated laugh. “You’re not seriously thinking about breaking in.”

“Who says anything about breaking in?” Kade says gravely, but his tone can’t fool me.“Come on. It’ll be fun. We’ll have a bottle of cabernet sauvignon and maybe watch the sun set on the beach.”

“You brought wine?”

He points at the bike again. “The most expensive…available in rehab, which is a ten-dollar bottle.”

“I’m impressed. How could a girl possibly decline?”

“You have to promise me something first. Don’t get drunk on me again. My arms are still aching from carrying you back to our apartment.”

He had to bring that part up. Slapping his shoulder, I look at him. Really look at him and realize it comes as no surprise women are throwing themselves at him. I mean, everything seems so easy with him.

“You in?” Kade prompts.

I close my eyes. “Kaiden Wright. You’re going to break me.”

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