Page 91 of Resorting to Romance

I’m so thrown by bumping into Brad, and now Kai, that I blurt out. “Oh … hi … babe.”

Kai is at my side before I can say another word, his arm around my waist, a kiss to my temple.

Is he allowing his lips to linger a little longer this time? I think he is.

I don’t have any earthly explanation for what I do next. None.

My hand raises of its own volition and cups Kai’s jaw. I turn my head and tilt my chin in an obvious invitation. Time stills. My heart probably stops beating. I’m not sure I’m even breathing. All I know is the feel of Kai’s warm skin on my palm and the look ofsomething like desire in his eyes. And that look propels me forward. I might lick my lips. I might give his chin a light nudge with the hand cupping his face. I might cry out, “KISS ME, KAI!”

Okay. I’m pretty sure I don’t do that last thing, but I can’t vouch for whether I do or don’t because Kai’s lips meet mine in this moment that feels like, “Finally,” and “Yes,” and “You … You … You.”

I run my hand to the back of his neck on instinct. My brain says something like, “Wow, I remember how to kiss!” But then I forget everything I ever knew about kissing or gravity or basic words becauseI’m kissing Kai!Andhe’s kissing me. Softly, carefully, tenderly, but with a low burning fire under the surface that promises more—so much more. His lips are commanding and possessive. I wonder how I’m bearing my own weight right now, maybe it’s because I’ve become weightless, floating, feathery light.

All too soon, Kai pulls away and looks at me with a dazed expression. My hand is still on his jaw—the only evidence that I didn’t just enter a fugue state and imagine kissing my friend, this man who dominates my thoughts, who comes to my rescue, who means more than words could ever capture.

Kai’s lips turn up in a smirky grin. His eyes flit between mine and I feel the soft smile inch onto my face as I watch the corners of his eyes crinkle. Slowly, as if waking from the sweetest dream and stretching lazily from a restful nap, the world starts to come into focus.

Kai turns us toward Brad.

Brad.

Brad was here, watching me kiss Kai, witnessing Kai kiss me back.

Kai aligns me next to him so we’re a solid wall of unified post-kiss coupledom.

Then he bends his head so he’s whispering into the top of my head. “Babe?”

I just grin up at him, obviously still in a stupor from that kiss.

I’m not one prone to P.D.A. I never was. Brad used to tease me,Lighten up, Mila. No one cares.

Brad.

He’s standing there with a dejected look on his face, and for a split-second, I feel sorry for him. That’s until I remember all the reasons I’m here, kissing Kai next to the hydrangeas and bags of peat moss.

Brad did this. He threw away our future. He rejected me and our son. I’m not sure I want to kiss Kai in front of him ever again, but I can’t say I regret the kiss we just shared. I’d be lying if I said I did. And I’ve done enough lying to last me ten lifetimes lately.

“I’ll just …” Brad stammers. “I’ve got a lumber order I need to check on.”

“Good to see you, Brad,” Kai says, as if they’re old college roommates.

“Yeah. Uh. You too, Kai.” Brad looks at me. “Mila.”

“Take care, Brad.” I mean it. I hope he does take care. I don’t want him to burn in a fiery afterlife or have his toes nibbled off by sharks one digit at a time. I just want peace. And I want my life back—not the one he stole from me years ago, but the one I built from those ashes before he came barging back in asking to see Noah.

As soon as Brad is inside the house turned hardware and garden store, Kai drops his hand from around my waist.

“Sorry,” he says, calmly.

“You’re sorry?” I scoff. “I’m the one who attacked you!”

Mortification overtakes every part of my brain and face that were previously overrun with giddy ecstasy as a result of our kiss. I finally kissed Kai. And it was as good or better than I had imagined. And, yes, I had imagined it. A lot.

“You did attack me, didn’t you?” Kai smirks again.

“What? No!”

He chuckles. “It’s okay, Mila. We’re adults. We’re faking a relationship. You kissed me. We’ll live.”

---