Page 106 of Fraud
“I look fucking ridiculous,” Killian said after stepping out of the makeshift dressing room.
I turned, taking a quick glance.
That quick glance turned into one long head-to-toe eye-gawker as I was reminded of how lucky I truly was.
“No, definitely not ridiculous,” I said as I took in his lean, muscular frame, now only covered in a pair of hip-hugging board shorts.
“Are you sure? Because I feel like I’m really pushing some sort of age limit here.”
I took a step forward, running my hand down his smooth chest. “Your body definitely disagrees.”
“Yours doesn’t look half bad either,” he growled, placing a possessive hand around my waist.
I’d done a little shopping of my own, forgoing all the boring bathing suits I had at home for something a little sexier.
A bikini.
It wasn’t my first by any means, but it had been years since I shared this much skin with the rest of the world.
And it felt good.
“I’m going to go pay for our stuff,” I said, grabbing the swim shoes he’d picked out.
“No, let me,” he said, pulling me back.
“My idea, my treat.”
“Kate”—his voice was somewhere between a plea and a demand— “let me do this.”
I wanted to argue. I wanted to insist.
But, instead, I simply nodded, allowing him to charge everything to his credit card when I had enough money in the bank to buy this entire store without breaking a sweat.
I knew I’d eventually have to tell him.
I knew I’d have to reveal that side of me.
The other me.
But, for now, I just wanted to be me. Just me. Because, when I did tell him—and I would—there was no guarantee I’d ever be the same person to him that I was in this moment.
And I wasn’t ready to give that up.
“Ready?” he asked after finishing up at the register.
I nodded, reaching for the swim shoes I’d thrown in at the last minute.
We headed out to the docks and met one of the staff members, who checked our receipt and handed us the equipment.
Killian’s face grew bleaker with each passing minute.
“You’ll be fine,” I promised as we buckled our life jackets. “Besides, sharks rarely swim up this far north anyway.”
I gave the staff member a quick wink, making him chuckle. He helped us into the kayak and gave us each a paddle.
We were on our own.
Too bad we couldn’t steer worth crap.
