Page 44 of Resorting to Romance

“I thought you and Mila had something to discuss … alone … out front … anyway.” Ben punctuates each of his statements with a slight lift of his brows.

Subtle. So subtle.

As if he hadn’t made his point, he says, “You know. Since you two might need time alone to say those things, we’ve got Noah here showing us videos. So, take full advantage of the opportunity to get those words out.” He smiles at Mila, then me, like he’s some sort of genius.

Noah looks up at Ben. “You’re acting weird.”

“Yeah, bruh. I’m weird. Now show me that video.” Ben looks over at us. “You two, shoo. Go have your adultconversationwhile we’re watching the next big name in surfing show us his first waves.”

Mila blushes. I wonder if I’m blushing too. But, to her credit, she turns and walks out the front door.

I follow behind, unsure what we’re actually supposed to do now that we’ve basically been sent into the adult version of Seven Minutes in Heaven, minus the closet.

“Well, this isn’t awkward,” I say, as soon as we’re outside the shack and out of earshot.

Mila giggles. “Ben is so over the top.”

“He’s the poster child for over the top.”

“Is he watching?” Mila asks, her head tilted up toward me.

It’s the exact posture a woman would have if she were waiting for a kiss. My eyes flick toward her lips—soft and rosy, tilted up in a smile, the bottom one just slightly fuller than the top. And that Cupid’s bow at the peak of her mouth. Did she always have that? Why didn’t I notice it before today?

“Kai?” Mila’s words draw my eyes back to hers.

“Yeah?”

“Is he watching?”

“Who? Noah?”

“No. Ben. He thinks we’re dating. I don’t want to stand out here looking like friends if he thinks we’re more. If anyone couldblow our cover, it’s him. He wouldn’t mean to, but … you know him. Sometimes his mouth starts speaking before his brain has engaged.”

“Sometimes?” I smile down at Mila.

Then I glance over my shoulder into the shack. All three of the guys in there, Jamison, Ben and Noah, have their shoulders bent so they can huddle close with their eyes fixed on the video playing on Mila’s phone.

“They’re all watching the clip of Noah surfing.”

“We’d better hit a happy middle ground,” Mila suggests.

“Middle ground?”

“If Noah looks out here, we need it to appear like we’re our usual friendly selves. If Ben glances over, we need it to seem ...” She pauses. “You know, like we’re taking advantage of the opportunity he gave us. That’s what we’d do if we were newly dating.”

“How about a hug?” I suggest.

Mila smiles up at me and then she wraps her arms around my waist. I loop my arms behind her and tug her close. Her cheek rests on my chest and I hold her there, hoping she can’t feel the uptick in my heartbeat. I rest my chin on top of her head, and I swear I hear her sigh.

“Okay.” She breaks away abruptly. “That should do it.”

“Okay. Yeah.” I run my hand through my hair. “Seems like we need more rules, or a guidebook. Or maybe it’s just me. Do you feel out of your depth yet?”

“I’m sorry, Kai.”

“No. No. It’s not that. Forget I said anything. We’re laying the groundwork here. Brad will be back when he starts developing the business. We have to get a reputation for being together before he shows up, otherwise we won’t be convincing.”

“Are you sure?”

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