Page 56 of Finding Romance
“No, it’s not always like this. It’s not always this perfect,” I say because that’s the truth.
I stand and pull her up with me. “Let’s shower.”
I lead her up to the master suite and turn on the shower. I take my time, washing her hair and soaping her body. I memorize each line and crease, every freckle and hair. And then I let her wash me. She has to stand on the shower seat to reach my hair. Her giggles have me pulling her against me and pressing kisses all over her face and breasts.
“Stop,” she says with laughter. “Let me wash your hair!”
I step back and let her continue. When we’re clean, rinsed, and towel-dried, I lead her out to the dock. We sit down and look out over the lake. She leans her head on my shoulder and I feel so at peace.
“I wish we could stay here longer,” she says after a few minutes.
“Me too,” I admit.
“Maybe we can come back here someday,” she says and I’m not sure if she really means it or if she’s just trying to be nice.
“Perhaps we will,” I state, not knowing what else to say.
“Did you always like the water as a kid?” she asks. I consider her question for a few seconds, but it’s one memory in particular that makes me laugh.
She puts her head up and looks at me. “What?”
“Just remembering when my dad taught me to swim,” I say as I look down at her. Her eyes are bright and curious, and something about that makes me want to share the story. “I was maybe five and we’d gone over to visit my grandparents in Scotland. I said I wanted to go on the boat with them, but Dad said I couldn’t go until I learned to swim. I asked him to teach me and he just tossed me in the water. I thought for sure I was going to die. But then he jumped in with me and held me up, he flipped me on my back and said to relax. So after a bit, I did and I floated. Right as I was starting to get the hang of it, a dolphin came into the cove and we stayed there and swam with it. Well, I sort of clung to Dad but we’d stick our heads under and it’d come over to us. And after that, I was just…hooked. I always wanted to be in the water or around the water. Even after they died and after the explosion on the beach, I never stopped wanting to be in the water.”
“Explosion?” Piper asks, pulling her knees up to her face and setting her chin on them as she wraps her arms around her legs, making her seem so small.
I look back out at the water. “I was in a special ops unit. We had come in from the water. We were supposed to scout an area along the shore. My friend was next to me. I went left and he went right. There was an old landmine to the right. We had been told the area was cleared and…well, it wasn’t.” I point to the scar on my forehead, the one on my side, and my leg. “I got cut up pretty bad. Tyler lost his life.”
“I’m sorry,” she says, reaching out a hand and grabbing mine. “Is that when you got out of the military?”
I nod. “I lost some hearing in my right ear, and between the physical stuff and the PTSD, they honorably discharged me.”
“And then what?” she asks.
“I went to college. I’d worked on some computer stuff in the military and liked it. My former commander suggested I study cybersecurity and, well, he was right. I did love it and I was good at it. A guy I knew from my early days in the Navy had started a firm and I began working for him. Eventually, I got too good and now I consult, which is nice. I set my own hours, pick my own projects, and basically dictate when and where I want to work most of the time. He's still the boss and sometimes I have to take projects that I don’t want, but being a contract employee does give me more flexibility.” I stop speaking, realizing how much I’ve been saying. It’s the most I’ve told anyone in a long time.
“It sounds nice, working solo but still being part of a team,” she says.
“Maybe you can do it too,” I suggest.
“Maybe,” she answers. She turns to me. “Do you think we have time to…practice some stuff again before we leave?”
I laugh at her subject change. “Yes, illustrator, I think we have time to practice.” I pick her up and she yelps as I toss her over my shoulder and walk her up to the house.
“Kasen! Put me down!” she giggles as she slaps my ass.
I only put her down once we get to the bedroom. She looks up at me.
“Practice makes perfect,” she says, and with that, I help her practice two more times.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Piper
“Oh my God! It’s a Dairy Queen! Can we stop?” I say excitedly as we drive toward the interstate.
“Please tell me it’s because you need a Blizzard,” Kasen says as he pulls into the parking lot.
“Obviously,” I answer because who doesn’t love Blizzards.
