Page 97 of Counting On You

“I know that.” I let out a scream as his fingers squeeze a little. “I’m going to be tickling you until you ask me to be your sponsor. Call it blackmail tickling.”

“I think you’ve just invented an expression.” Laughing, I jump up and start running. I’m headed for the water even though I’ve no intention of jumping in fully dressed. I feel Kade’s arms around my waist a moment before he spins me around. I collide with his hard chest and let myself be pulled into the soft sand.

He lands on top of me. And, wow. I feel like the temperature has just increased a few degrees.

From up close, he looks even more delectable with those skilled lips and the strange look in his eyes. He reminds me of a god—the bad and naughty kind. I’m holding my breath, marveling at just how perfect he feels against me. I try to look away, but I can’t. His gaze has me captured, mesmerized. My heart is slamming against my chest. If he were to lean farther into me, I’m sure he’d hear it crashing louder than the waves against the store.

“Now, what was your reply again?” His voice is hoarse, and I swear it’s not from the cool breeze. “Who will you ask to be your sponsor?”

“You.” I can barely speak, let alone breathe. “You, of course.”

“Doesn’t sound convincing.”

“That’s because I’m not sure you can handle me and all of my addictions.” I think of my therapist and the many moments of disagreements we had over the past two weeks. “I can be a handful, and I’m sure you’ll give up on your first day.”

“I like you.”

“That’s a good thing, because you need to like me as my sponsor. Right?”

“No, I like you, Vicky.” His serious tone sends a tingle through my body. “I likelikeyou.”

My already shaky breath breaks as I realize that our conversation has turned in a different direction.

“You like me?” I can barely speak out the words. My voice is a strangled whisper, far more emotional than it should be.

I shouldn’t care whether he likes me or not, and yet it matters.

Something changes inside me. Something takes hold of my chest, squeezing it tight.

“Yes, I do.”

It seems as though his eyes stay on me for a long time, and then he kisses me as if every beat of my heart belongs to him. As if he really means it.

If only I didn’t know any better.

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