Page 15 of Make Me Unwind

“There was one time when I didn’t listen to my mom and drank a full can of soda during a break at the pool and jumped off the diving board the instant the lifeguards blew the whistles. I nearly threw up.”

Lord, leave it to me to talk about vomit with the most gorgeous man I’ve ever met. No wonder I’m still a virgin.

He chuckles and turns to face me. His eyes rove over me, taking in my signature leggings and oversized T-shirt. If I wanted to get a man’s attention, I should try harder–wear cute tops, maybe a pushup bra to emphasize my chest, and shorts that showed off every inch of my legs. Only I can’t. If I wore shorts, everyone would see my scars. He’d see my scars.

“What are you thinking about?”

I step back from the water’s edge as the clouds roll closer. I’m not stupid. I know it’s possible to get shocked on the water. It’s even more dangerous than on land. He watches my movements as his question weighs heavy in the air.

Truth or evasion? What the hell? Truth. “I was thinking about how women entice men with a show of skin to get their attention, but if I wore shorts, I would have the opposite effect.”

“That’s not true.” The set of his jaw is tight in the remaining moonlight.

“That’s what people are taught to say.” I shrug and return my attention to the ocean. The waves swipe angrily at the sand.

“Piper.” He grips my chin and lifts it upward. “You’re a beautiful woman, and a few scars aren’t going to change that.” The sincerity of his gaze makes my knees weak.

“I’ve exposed my scars to people in the past, and it didn’t end well.” His jaw flexes in anger as his thumb strokes over my jaw. The faint brush of his calloused flesh has my toes curling into the sand.

“Whoever they were, they were assholes.” His voice is rough as his gaze drops to my lips, and I fight to catch my breath. Is he going to kiss me? I lick my now dry lips as my head spins. Our chests rise and fall in tandem as the breeze catches my hair, blowing it away from my face.

“What about you?” I arch an eyebrow as my heart hammers wildly in my chest. “It’s not like you show your skin to anyone either.” His chest may be bare, but his legs are covered in skintight jeans that leave nothing to the imagination.

Lightning arches through the sky, slamming into the ground with a snap. I jump and scream as panic surges through me. This was not a good idea.

“Shit.” Asher drops his hand to his side and searches the sky. “We should get inside.”

My heart drops to my feet. He was so close to kissing me. I think. Maybe. I don’t know. But now, it’s time to go back to the cabin. I lift my head high and swallow. Don’t act like it was a big deal.

Asher grabs my hand. “My house is closer.” One corner of his mouth arches upward. “My parent’s house.”

“Right.”

“You can stay there until the storm passes, and it’s safe to walk back to your cabin.”

“Sure.” I move to dislodge my hand from his, but his fingers tighten over mine and then lace them together.

“Come on before we get soaked.” He tips his head toward the sky. “Or get struck by lightning.”

The butterflies in my stomach flutter. It’s stupid. Juvenile. Naive. But it doesn’t stop my body’s response to him.

Chapter Nine

Asher

The lamps I left on when I went down to the beach to ensure everything was properly secured, left the living room basking in a light glow. It’s bright enough in the room that we can see each other but everything is softly muted.

My mind goes blank when Piper runs her fingers through her now tangled hair. It’s not like her place wasn’t the same distance. I could have walked her to the resort’s edge and gone my own way. But I didn’t want to.

When she said she was leaving, even though I already knew it would happen, the realization hit, I wanted to see her again. I stupidly looked for her all day but never saw her. How could someone get under my skin so easily? How could she when I hadn’t let anyone in since the explosion? Whatever the reason, it doesn’t matter. All I know is that I want to spend time with her. What little time we have left.

“When do you leave?” My heart thumps in my chest as the central air conditioning kicks on.

“Monday,” she murmurs and crosses her arms over her chest.

Monday. Shit.

Her eyes meet mine. “Where are your parents?”

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