Page 18 of Starting Back
Leo was still a stranger, but he seemed to know me better than I knew myself.
SEVEN
KRISTINA
My eyes flew open when my phone blared. As I popped up with a jolt, my heart leaped into my throat until I realized it was only my seven-a.m. alarm. I’d meant to mute the alarm for the next few days, but I was too busy, first, second-guessing why I was here, and then enjoying myself too much to remember anything else.
I scrubbed my hand down my face as everything from last night came back to me in a rush. When I’d awoken during the night, I was sure Leo and everything we’d done were crazy-sexy figments of my imagination. I still felt the scratch of his stubble across my chest and along the insides of my thighs, the memory triggering flutters in my core.
And I’d agreed to spend an entire day with this man. A man I’d just met who made me feel more alive in hours than I’d felt in years.
As I held my phone, a text came through from Nicole.
Nicole:It’s early, but I was too stuffy to sleep. When you wake up, let me know how your first night was! Is the place as awesome as it looks on the website?
I threw my phone across my bed and laughed out loud. I doubted hot bartenders slash firefighters with bodies of sin and magical tongues were listed in the amenities.
Me:First night was great. The place is definitely nice.
Nicole:What aren’t you telling me?
I squinted at my phone, reading over what I’d said and searching for what tipped her off that I was hiding something.
Me:All I said was that the first night was great and the place is nice. Why do you think I’m hiding something?
Nicole:When I spoke to you last, you said you were killing time by the pool and had no idea what you’d do for dinner. You sounded bored and annoyed. Now your night was “great.” OMG did you meet someone?
I groaned, deciding whether to tell her about the man and the night I never saw coming, when a text came through from my brother with a photo of Emma and Peyton. Emma was on her aunt’s lap, both of them giving Jake duck lips. Chloe was probably still sleeping after staying up too late with my nephew.
Jake:Sorry, I know it’s early, and I hope I didn’t wake you. Emma said to send you the picture right now, and you know we all do what she says.
I smiled even with the unraveling of my stomach. After living an alternate life for a few hours last night, and planning on heading back there at ten a.m. today, it felt strange to be reminded of my real one. The one that I spent scheduling playdates and activities around my work schedule, and arguing with both girls over one more toy or a little more lip gloss.
After revolving my life around my kids all this time, partly because I wanted to, but also because it was easier to focus on them than my miserable marriage, I’d ignored myself to the point I didn’t know or remember who I was or what I wanted.
The type of woman who let a man she’d just met run his mouth all over her body in public was not who I expected to find on my vacation of self-discovery.
Nicole:Well, tell me. I see you read my message and are just ignoring me. Praying for hot, meaningless sex for the win!
Me:Fine. I met a bartender named Leo. He’s also a firefighter with bedroom eyes, muscles, tattoos, and a magic tongue.
While I waited for my phone to explode as Nicole’s brain short-circuited, it buzzed in my hand.
Jake:Jesus, Kristina. While I’m glad you’re having fun, I didn’t need to know that.
I gasped, thanking God I didn’t addhowI’d discovered his magic tongue.
Jake:My wife says she wants a picture, but I’ll deal with that in a minute.
I burst out laughing, picturing his narrowed eyes at his wife after he rolled them at me.
Me:Sorry, big brother. That wasn’t meant for you.
Jake:I kind of figured that.
I shook my head and dialed Jake, compelled to explain my accidental text but without a clue as to how.
“Tell me everything,” Peyton said, probably bouncing in the chair after she answered Jake’s phone. “Starting with how you know his tongue is magical.”
