Page 22 of Starting Back
“Probably not.” She flashed a wide grin as her throaty laugh reverberated through me. Every move and sound Kristina made had me hypnotized and hooked…and already dreading whenever what we were starting would end. She’d be gone before either of us knew it, and it would be best to keep this as casual as possible.
Except when she slid her hand into mine, triggering a jolt up my arm before she squeezed, my visceral response to her was the complete opposite of casual.
“So, where are you taking us?” Her sexy grin made me not want to take her anywhere except her unmade bed behind us.
“Oh. I know it’s a mess, but I’m embracing being on vacation and letting housekeeping make the bed, even though it’s making me twitchy.” She craned her neck when she saw me staring. “I guess I could just sleep in the other bedroom tonight, get my money’s worth and all.” A smile stretched the soft lips I’d dreamed about since I left her last night.
“I wasn’t staring at the bed because it wasn’t made, Kristina.”
A blush bled into her cheeks and traveled down her neck.
“But small steps.” I smiled and rubbed her shoulders as they relaxed under my fingers. “We’ll start with breakfast. I know a place that has the best iced coffee, then I figured we’d drive down the coast and see where the day takes us. You aren’t one of those who has to make a schedule on vacation, right?”
“I’m not one of those whotakesa vacation, so that all sounds perfect.” She raised a brow and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Thank you.”
I wanted to thank her instead. When I saw women, I didn’t ponder whether we would last beyond the moment or worry if we did or didn’t. Being this excited to spend the day with her knowing she was just passing through in my life was a warning sign I didn’t want to acknowledge or decipher.
But right or wrong, weird or not, for today, she was all mine.
NINE
KRISTINA
“Is this like a prerequisite in Florida?” I pointed to the open sunroof of Leo’s truck, attempting in vain to hold my hair back as the wind whipped it across my face.
“No, it’s usually too damn hot to keep any windows open.” The corner of his sinful mouth twisted into a smirk. “I thought driving up the coast would be nicer with a breeze while it’s still early and not that hot yet. I never use my sunroof.”
“So, I’m special,” I teased and nudged his shoulder. “That’s sweet.”
I caught a smile ghost his lips as the truck rolled to a stop, gravel crunching under the tires.
“Yes, you are. I wanted to show you the Keys beyond the all-inclusive.” Leo shut off the engine and turned to me.
“Where are we?”
“This is the beach I usually come to on the rare days I’m not working. It’s quieter.”
“Like the quieter pool you took me to?” I laughed but stopped when his smile faded.
“I didn’t bring you here for that. I mean, it’s not that I don’t want that, I just—” He rubbed his eyes as a groan rose from his throat.
My heart swelled when I spotted the red tinge of his cheeks against his olive skin. I rubbed his back after I burst out laughing.
“It’s nice not to be the one to fumble the words this time. You’ve been the suave one up until now.”
His shoulders shook before he lifted his head.
“Suave?
“The one without their foot in their mouth.” I slurped the rest of my iced coffee as I took in the beach and swaying palms. The closest thing we had to this back home was the lake. A beach was at least an hour’s drive from us, and I hadn’t made a trip to one since Emma was a baby.
Getting lost in the waves crashing onto the shore always filled me with a calming peace, even if present company excited me too much to stay still.
“Was I right?” Leo asked as he nodded to the plastic cup in my hand.
“About what?” I asked, all that inner calm evaporating at his crooked grin.
“Best iced coffee you’ve ever had, right?”
