Page 45 of Paradise in Progress
“The guests seem to think so. Would you like me to have them set it up for you two to enjoy?”
With a warm smile, she shakes her head. “No, thank you. As much fun as it sounds, we’ll just sit out here and enjoy the ride back.”
“Of course.” He nods. “Is there anything else I can do for you two?”
We shake our heads. “No, I think we are good. Thank you, though. This has been a lovely evening.”
“We’re glad to have you on board.” And with that, he leaves, and an awkwardness settles over us.
Within minutes, the captain has the engine started, and we’re returning to the harbor. My mind spirals with ways I can salvage this evening. I want more of what we started. More touching. More kissing. More relaxed Kennedy. Wordlessly, she moves up from the trampoline to sit on the fiberglass deck, her feet dangling over the netting. The soft chords of a ukulele still play, and I recognize the melody this time.
Standing to my feet, I move on wobbly legs until I’m in front of her. “Dance with me?”
“Wh-what?” she asks, a pinch to her brow.
“Dance with me, Kennedy.”
For a moment, she only stares at me. I can see the gears turning in her mind, debating if she should embrace this moment. Selfishly, I hope she does.
When I think she’s going to ignore my hand, she accepts.
With a nod, she takes my outstretched hand as I pull her up so both of us are on the flat deck. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I pull her in close to me as her arms circle my neck. The lyrics to “SomewhereOver the Rainbow” begin as our bodies sway together. Daringly, I pull her closer until our bodies are flush.
“Tristan…” Her breathy voice is laced with confusion and desperation.
“One song, Ken. That’s all I'm asking for.”
Soft curls tickle my chin when she rests her head against my chest as my thumb grazes against the exposed flesh above her skirt. A shiver runs down her spine, and I long to see how else she’d react to my touch.
“Cold?”
“No,” she whispers against my chest as the two of us continue to sway.
“My mom used to sing this song to me. She lovedThe Wizard of Oz, so whenever she would rock us to sleep, or whenever we needed comfort at night, she would sing this song.”
She doesn’t lift her head from my chest and doesn’t respond. Her silence is deafening and has me paranoid I shared too much. Just when I’m about to open my mouth to say something else to ease the tension I feel, she lets out a soft exhale, relaxing deeper into our connection.
“I can see why she did that.”
I swallow, unable to find a response as I trace shapes against her skin.
I savor this moment for as long as I can, before the bubble we’ve found ourselves in is inevitably broken. But she surprises me by pulling me close to her as the song ends. The two of us stand against the railing and watch darkness settle around us. It didn’t happen overnight, but somewhere along the way, our time together on the island has shifted everything between us. The quiet nights spent together relaxing afterwork. The way we no longer struggle for conversation, but speak freely. Her smile is no longer forced and fake, but has brightened in a way that takes over her features. I no longer feel the need to prove myself to her. There’s no edge, no rivalry. Just us.
Chapter seventeen
Kennedy
“Welcome back.” Destiny greetsTristan and me as we step into the lobby. Our voices echo around the space. “How was your evening?”
“It was perfect,” I reply, flashing Destiny a warm smile. My heart stutters as I replay the night, especially the brief kiss I’m still reeling from. I cannot believe Tristan planned all of this. Like, who is he and where has my rival gone?
Destiny’s eyes peer over my shoulder and the subtlest smile graces her face as she looks at Tristan. Something tells me the two of them worked together to plan this evening.
“If you two are ready, I’d love to escort you to dinner.”
My head whips around to Tristan as shock covers my features. “There’s more?”
“Of course we’ve gotta eat.” He flashes me that devilish smirk, causing a tingling sensation to erupt between my thighs.
