Page 49 of Rum Sips and Salty Lips

“I like sweating, so I decided to move to a swamp.”

I shake my head. My eyes burn. It’s not fucking fair that I open my soul to him repeatedly and then he gives me that bullshit. He pushes me to open up. He’s the one who made me come undone, and he gives me nothing.

He sighs, then looks at me with serious eyes. “Last fall, a wave knocked over my kayak and my paddle hit me in the head. I was unconscious when I hit the water.”

“Oh my god.” He could have died.

“I came to quick enough and was able to flip upright. I took a hard look at my life. I’d been drifting my entire adult life. I wanted to settle down.”

“So, you came to Florida to go wife hunting? A state that denies the existence of queer people and forces people to give birth?”

“You’re here too, princess.”

“I am trying to make the world a better place.”

“So don’t let your investors talk you into downplaying the part of your business you care most about!”

“What?” How the hell did we get back here?

“You care about your home and the environment. You wouldn’t give this house up for anything. You love this island, and I love how much you love it. Even though you know how bad Florida gets hit with extreme weather. So don’t back down with them. Especially not when it matters,” he shouts.

“It’s not that simple.” But he’s right, and he cares, and I need this so bad.

“I can play my music loudly every day at this time if you need to yell at me.”

I smile. “What are we doing?” I ask, even more exhausted than I was before.

“We’re being friends. I’m guessing you don’t complain to anyone.”

“I have Haley and Sienna.”

“You didn’t reach out to either one to vent.”

“To be honest, you were closer.”

He sighs heavily. “It’s always nice to be chosen for proximity reasons.”

“Oh please. Don’t pretend your interest in me is more than geography based.”

“Come on, Carina. If I didn’t want to be around you, I wouldn’t be around you. Please tell me you have enough self-esteem to know that.”

I want to be around him. No matter what he told me about wanting to settle down, he’s a flight risk. I feel raw. I need to get away from him. I reach for the door handle, but he grabs me from behind. I expect to be spun around and for him to kiss me. Instead, he tosses me over his shoulder and walks us toward my pool.

“Put me down!” I don’t know if I mean it.

“Don’t worry, I will.”

I wiggle, trying to escape his grasp, but he’s strong. For my effort, there’s nothing I can do. I feel momentarily weightless and then I’m underwater. He holds me while he does it. Cradling my head so I’m safe, and then immediately releases me so I can surface on my own.

“You bastard!” I swim to the shallow end, and he laughs behind me as he follows. We’re both standing in my pool, water dripping down our skin, my cardigan clinging to my chest, staring at each other.

It wouldn’t take much effort to close the distance between us so I could run my fingers through his hair. I remember how good he feels. I want it again.

It’s a terrible idea.

The heat falls out of me. “I should go.” I need him to know I’m not mad at him. I just don’t want to fight anymore. “I have to send some emails.”

I get out of the pool and he follows. I grab us both towels. Instead of taking his, he pulls me in for a hug. It would be a friendly hug if he wasn’t shirtless. I accept, pressing my face into his neck because he’s warm and he’s here and he’s the only person to have touched me in weeks.

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