Page 44 of Paradise in Progress
“She left the guy she was supposed to marry at the altar, moved to the city, and started her own life. She was career driven, and that inspired me.” Kennedy looks down, twirling the bangles on her wrist, as if she’s biding time. “My mom always told Olivia, my sister, and me how special we were. That we were courageous, strong, and smart. Of course, she told us we were beautiful, but the words she spoke to us were centered around our strengths outside of beauty. And that stuck with me.”
“That’s admirable, Kennedy.”
She blushes. “Studying always came naturally. When most people were out partying in a cornfield, I was inside my room, reading textbooks and taking practice tests. NYU was always my dream school, so instead of nights out with friends, I chose to spend time with McGraw-Hill and Merriam-Webster.”
“Who?”
Nudging into me, she fights her embarrassment. “The people who publish textbooks and the dictionary.”
I can’t help the chuckle that leaves my lips. “Only you, Firecracker.”
She finally turns to face me and my breath catches. We stare at each other for what feels like hours, both of us trying to read the other. Hereyes bore into mine before she finally reaches for the champagne flute without another word and walks away, leaving me sitting in confusion.
When she returns, empty-handed, I watch in fascination as she climbs back down to where we’re sitting. Only, instead of sitting on the fiberglass, she moves on shaky legs to the center of the trampoline, where she settles with her legs stretched in front of her and her body resting on her hands.
“Coming, Golden Boy?” Mischievous eyes stare back at me, daring me to follow. And I do just that. With her eyes on mine, full of longing and playfulness, I’d follow her to the ends of the world, it seems. Taking a seat next to her, our arms brush, and to my surprise, goosebumps trail down her bare skin at the contact. I knew she was just as affected.
The sounds of the ukulele fill the silence as we stare out at the open water and the beach houses hidden by the surrounding jungles. Many of the private estates can only be seen by water. Maybe this is what I need, a little island house to get away from the city when the overwhelming deadlines and suffocating sounds wear me down.
Would Kennedy like the escape too?
The question is on the tip of my tongue when we hit a choppier spot in the ocean from a passing ship.
A frightened gasp leaves Kennedy’s lips as she snuggles closer to my side, fingertips digging into my forearm. I welcome the opportunity to wrap my arms around her shoulders. With my thumb, I rub tiny circles as I try to calm her.
“I’ve got you, Ken,” I whisper as my lips brush her hairline. She grips me tighter, and I relish the moment, savoring every second.
The walls she’s been building between us for years have slowly started to fall. As much as I want to press her for answers to why she hates me, I don’t want to burst this bubble we’ve created.
Rounding a corner where the land juts out, the captain steers us toward a cove. Ahead of us, I spot the familiar stone buildings as our resort comes back into view. Cabanas and palm trees are dotted along the boardwalk, where the sand kisses the turquoise waters. The tower at our main pool captures your attention, as does the peer that stretches out across the sea, where flags line the wooden planks.
Everything looks so strange from our vantage point since the resort is closed. It won’t be long before the white beaches are filled with honeymooners snuggled together and resort staff bustling to keep guests happy and our resort looking clean.
“You did good, Firecracker.”
“The resort looks so beautiful from here. I can’t wait to see what it looks like when we have guests.”
I hum against her warm skin. “I was just thinking the same thing.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Nelson,” a crew member interrupts. “Would you and Miss Reed like another glass of champagne as we prepare to watch the sunset in the next few minutes?”
“That’d be great, thank you.” He steps down onto the trampoline, handing Kennedy and I each our own flute before he pours the bubbly into our glasses.
Within minutes, the golden hue melts away and transforms into shades of purple, orange, and pink across the horizon. We sit there in awe at nature’s painting. The engine cuts off, blanketing us in a peaceful quiet as soothing sounds from the waves lap at the boat as we float.
Kennedy rests her head against my shoulder as her soft voice breaks the silence. “This is breathtaking. Thank you for doing this.”
Turning her attention upward, our faces are only inches apart. Our gazes lock, and I watch as she scans my face, her eyes landing on my lips. Her tongue peeks out and licks at her lower lip, and my body urges me to make a move.
Does she want me to kiss her? Because I want to. I’ve been desperate to know what those plump lips feel like. It’s all I’ve been able to think about. Every night before I fall asleep, I’m tormented by images of her. Seeing her outside of the office, and in a setting where she’s let her guard down, has me wanting to explore this newfound comfort between us.
Leaning forward, I slowly, painstakingly, erase the space between us. So many thoughts flash across her eyes, but she never moves away. In fact, I think she leans closer, which has my heart racing.
Without any more hesitation, my mouth finds hers. Fireworks flash through my mind at the contact, at how soft her lips are, how she kisses me back so effortlessly. Before I have a chance to deepen our connection, the captain’s voice sounds from around the corner. Kennedy springs away from me with wide eyes, her fingers grazing her lips as she puts space between us.
“Thank you so much for joining us tonight,” the captain says, before explaining what the next steps of the night include for guests. He tells us how the staff will transition the salon into a nightclub atmosphere where a DJ performs with LED lights to set the mood while unlimited rum punch is served.
“Oh wow, that sounds like so much fun,” Kennedy says from her new position, where shestays at a distance.
