Page 19 of At His Wife's Behest

“Have fun, Kel. You deserve it. Talk to you soon!”

The call cut out, and Kellan turned off his phone. After a deep inhale, he eyed himself in the mirror across the bedroom, wincing.This is as good as it gets.

4

Pulse racing, Connor stood at the edge of the pool and inhaled, attempting to calm his shakiness.I can’t believe it’shim, of all people.

Kellan Rhodes.

The one parent he’d been willing to leap across the line for. Early in his career, he’d dated a dad and it had turned out badly. Caused him to quit a spot in a great school district and move to a new city. So, he’d made the rule. He loved working at the Academy. The private school paid better than public, which still wasn’t much, but he didn’t want to lose that or the benefits that came along with it, so following that rule had been easy.

Until Kellan Rhodes.

He dove into the warm water. While waiting, Connor took another lap to give him something to focus on besides the growing anticipation.

By the fourth lap, he grew worried. Glancing at the door, he feared the man wouldn’t show. Doubts slowly crept in. After onemore lap, he gave up. The sun was setting, and the air outside the pool grew colder. He waded toward the steps, but as he placed his foot on the first one, the door swung open. Kellan emerged, a huge fluffy robe tucked tightly around him.

Connor grinned, meeting Kellan’s gaze. “I wasn’t sure you were coming out.”

“To be honest,” Kellan replied as he walked closer. “I wasn’t sure, either.” Inches from the pool’s edge, he discarded the robe and tossed it to a lounge chair and dove in—so fast, Connor couldn’t get a good look.

He emerged from the water and swam a lap, taking him farther away from Connor. Kellan’s head rose from the water, and he brushed his wet hair from his face. Watchful, as if he sensed he was prey, giving the predator a wide berth.

“I won’t bite,” Connor called over the surface. “You can come closer.”

What looked like a hint of fear shone in Kellan’s eyes before he swam closer. In Connor’s opinion, he was still too far away.

“I’m still not sure how I feel about…this,”Kellan murmured.

“I’m just here as a friend. So you don’t have to vacation alone.” Connor grinned. “I’ve always wanted to travel to Italy. I’m crossing something off my bucket list, thanks to you.”

Kellan offered a wry smile but said nothing.

“Are there any sights you wanted to see while you were here?” Connor had done a bit of digging and had a short list, just in case, but he was there to tagalong. His list came secondary, if at all.

“Not really,” Kellan said. “I have to meet the agent at some point. Emma’s going to connect us this week. Otherwise, I was just going to relax.”

“Stay all week in the house?” Connor glanced around. “I mean, the view hereisspectacular, but you don’t want to go explore the towns along the lake?”

Kellan shrugged. “I suppose we could. Is there somewhere you wanted to go?”

“When I was researching the area, I saw an eight-hundred-year-old villa in Verenna that’s now a museum with gardens. I thought that might be interesting.”

Kellan nodded. “Might be.”

“There’s also the Orrido di Bellano, if you like hiking.”

“I think Emma and my in-laws went there the last time I was here. I missed out,” Kellan said, brushing water from his face as he drifted closer. “I would like to see it this time around.”

Connor nodded. “Why don’t you tell me what you like to do?”

Kellan sighed. “In all honesty, I don’t know. All I seem to do these days is work and take care of Abby.”

“Do you dance?”

Kellan’s gaze whipped to his. He was silent a moment. “Um… whatkindof dancing?”

“As in a nightclub. A guy I met on the train gave me the name of one in Lombardy that would be welcoming.”

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