Page 102 of Resorting to Romance

TWENTY-NINE

Kai

She knew all my secrets except one:

that I’m in love with her.

~ Unknown

The first drop of water feels like nothing. It could be mist or spray off the ocean, but the next droplets come with certainty, and suddenly we’re in a squall—an unanticipated storm that blew in without warning. Our empty plates fill with water, the blanket is instantly soaked. The cooler, which had been sitting open, quickly gathers almost an inch of the downpour. We’re up and scrambling around. I dump the water and we throw items pell-mell into the Igloo while I hand a towel to Mila to use as a shield against the wind and water assaulting us.

Her shirt is soaked. My clothes are drenched. Our hair is sticking to our faces and necks as we make a mad dash for shelter, yelling to one another over the hiss and splatter of the rain. The only available nearby refuge is a tiny hut. It’s been out here as long as I’ve lived on Marbella, but it looks like it’s been around fordecades with its rotting wood and peeling paint. The shack backs up to the cliffs that line this section of beach. It’s tiny—probably five by five at most. I’m certain I couldn’t lay down on the floor unless I went corner to corner, and even that would be cramped.

I usher Mila inside and follow her, shutting the rickety door behind us. The air smells salty and a bit musty. There’s sand and bits of driftwood and dried seaweed on the floor. The sound of the storm hitting the wood surrounds us. Mila’s shivering, so I pull her in toward me, even though I’m not going to be of much use in warming her with my sopping wet shirt.

Her teeth chatter, but when she looks up at me, she smiles. And then she starts laughing.

“Oh my gosh! That came out of nowhere. I hope my guests are alright.”

“I’m sure they’re fine. Didn’t you say Stevens was taking them on a marine bio cruise?”

“Yes. Two of the couples went. The other couple had massages at the Alicante.”

“Well then, they’re covered. Stevens has that interior cabin with tables. They’re fine.”

Leave it to Mila to think of others when she’s shivering in a dilapidated hut during a sea squall.

“So … should we practice … our kiss?” Mila’s voice is shy.

My arms are wrapped securely around her, my hands rubbing her arms and back to warm her up.

“I …” I don’t even get to answer her before she’s speaking again.

“Why did I suggest that? I was just thinking …”

I cut her off. “Just to get more comfortable, it might be a good idea. What do you think?”

“It might be wise.” She nods.

I understand her shyness. It’s natural. She’s suggesting we kiss. We don’t kiss. We’re friends. That kiss we shared, though. I probably should heed my better judgment and avoid anything toophysical with her, but she’s right here, looking up at me with her doe eyes, her hair falling in wet waves around her face, her clothes soaked. I’m only so strong.

“Just for the sake of our ruse,” I assure her.

It’s not that I want to chalk up another intimate moment to this sham we’re embroiled in. But I need to remind myself this kiss is like rehearsal for a play, nothing more. My heart has to listen to reason or I’ll be in danger of crossing all the lines with her, and that would mean risking everything we have for something Mila never promised—something she already clearly told me I can’t have.

“Of course. For the ruse.” She nods.

“Of course,” I repeat.

It’s only awkward for a flicker of a moment and then our eyes lock. The heat I feel between us could set this hut on fire.

The tip of Mila’s tongue darts out and she licks her lips. Then she lets out a short puff of breath as if she’s girding herself to go in for the kill. Her nervousness rolls off her, making me question the sanity of what we’re about to do.

“Hey,” I tell her. “It’s just me.”

“That’s the problem,” she says softly.

“Friends kissing?”

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