Page 122 of The Version You Hide

“That’s one way of looking at it, I guess.” A relieved laugh bursts from me as I draw her in closer. I act on instinct, pure habit to me at this point, as I crush my lips against hers. She leans further into the kiss, wrapping her arms around my neck. It’s several moments before she finally pulls away and I notice her eyes are filled with tears.

“Kenz?”

“You’d really have given up all of this for me? Just so that Grace could keep her studio.”

I shrug. “You know I would have.”

“How did I get so lucky?” she whispers. “Where did you come from Dylan Abbott?”

“I could ask you the same thing.” I stare back at the woman sitting in front of me, who has quickly become everything to me. My heart is full, grateful. “Come on. I want to take you home.”

“I want that too,” she says, though she makes no attempt to move. Instead, she pauses in place before adding, “But there’s something I need to do first.”

My brows pinch inward as she climbs into my lap, straddling my thighs. She tugs on the tie around my neck, digging her fingers into the knot until she gets it loose. She slides it from the collar of my shirt and then tosses it over the side of the boat.

I stifle a laugh, a smirk twisting my lips. “Feel better now?”

“It’s a start.” She slips her hands beneath my jacket, pushing it away from my shoulders. I lean forward, allowing her to slip it off. She clutches it in her hands, rolling it into a ball and throws that over the edge of the boat too.

A laugh rumbles up from my throat. “Not a fan of the suit, huh?”

“I fucking hate it.” She begins unbuttoning my shirt as her lips come to mine again.

My fingers wind through her curls and when she pulls away, a devious grin lights up her face.

I look down to where her fingers graze my belt buckle. “You know I don’t actually have anything else to wear right now, right?”

Her left eyebrow quirks upward. “Oh, I know.”

Chapter 38

MACKENZIE

“Are you ready, Kenz?” Dylan’s hand finds my knee in the backseat of Kristen’s VW Golf, giving it a light squeeze.

I blow out a breath. “Yeah. I’m fine,” I lie.

I may only have one painting on display at the exhibition tonight, but that doesn’t mean I’m not nervous about everyone’s judgmental stares. Though there’s only one person’s reaction I’m excited to gage, and he’s sitting right next to me.

“I can’t wait,” Kristen pipes up from the driver’s seat.

My sister had been over the moon for me when she learned of my new job opportunity with Grace. She’d practically demanded to meet her right away and when I’d mentioned the exhibition night, she’d jumped at the chance to come with me and pretty much dragged Henley along with her.

I could hardly complain when she’d offered to drive us all into Seabright Cove.

“Will there be food?” Henley asks.

His hopeful tone is only met with laughter from the rest of us.

“Relax, babe,” Kristen says. “We’ll make sure you’re well fed.”

We pull into the small carpark behind The Elmwood and make our way out onto the street. My nerves are starting to get the better of me as we approach the front door of the studio. I’m starting to second-guess my artistic talent, whether I’ve gotten the brush strokes just right. I’d spent hours perfecting the colour palette, but I can’t help the little voice that tells me that I could have done it better.

“Welcome!” Grace meets us at the door and ushers us inside the well-lit space. “You must be Mackenzie’s sister,” she says excitedly.

“It’s so nice to meet you,” Kristen says, leaning in for a hug. “I’m Kristen and this is Henley.”

Henley follows Kristen’s lead, reaching down to embrace my grandmother. “Hello, Grace.”

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