Page 35 of Adrift

Oh, Kieran.

By nature, he’s perkier than a pinched nipple, but there’s no way that’s the whole story. He slathers on even more sunshine and sass, because we both know damn well that nobody will look twice—or even once—at the sun.

Some people build walls to hide their shadows. Others turn up the sunshine instead.

I have to be careful with this one.

Kieran could wrap me right around his finger—and then saunter off with my heart. Until he gives me a glimpse of what’s underneath, I want to try my hardest to resist all the shiny temptation he offers up.

And boy, is there a lot of it.

“Mmm,” Kieran moans, draping himself elegantly across the rickety kitchen chair. He’s trying to maximize the skin he’s showing off. And when I can’t help a glance at all those legs, he winks at me and bats his lashes.

It takes all I have to tear my gaze off Kieran and roll my eyes so I can dig into my breakfast.

As we start eating, neither of us says a word.

Even without looking at each other beyond fleeting glances, the chemistry between us is thickening until it fills the whole room. A shivering hot electric charge is racing between us like a live wire.

“Mm,” Kieran moans. “I’m getting breakfast,andyou washed the dishes,andlast night didn’t leave me unable to walk straight?” He props his chin on his fist. “Is that what romance is like? I wouldn’t know. Ask me wheremyexpertise is.”

Oh, that’s clever.

There are all kinds of ways I could take that. All of them help him test the waters—and, I bet, keep people at arm’s length. But if he’s going to keep me on my toes, I’ll give him a taste of his own medicine.

“Really?” I ask him, tilting my head quite seriously. “You’ve never had a boyfriend before?”

Just as I’d hoped, it catches Kieran off-guard.

His smile falters, and then he nods. “Yeah. Partly not meeting the right people, and partly… I guess just not letting myself stick around.” Then he quickly looks up at me, like he’s said a little more than he expected. “You?”

Relief floods my chest.

This is what I wanted to see—so much more than well-used pickup lines. Real answers.

“I’ve tried dating seriously, but it didn’t last long.” I shrug ruefully, setting down my knife and fork. “I guess I was tryingto find a country boy in the big city. I should have been looking here. In your natural habitat.”

Boom. There it is.

Kieran just did it again. I thought he’d like that line. But whatever I said wrong, Kieran suddenly remembered some shadow he doesn’t want me to see, and now he’s cranked the sunshine back up to eleven.

He giggles. “That’s a pity.”

“I don’t mind. I’m ready to try new things,” I tell him, almost holding my breath.

But I don’t know if he is.

Kieran bats his lashes. “My romantic virginity is still on offer. All I need is a more experienced man.

I’m speechless again.

“Aha! A smile!” Kieran triumphantly thumps his coffee mug on the table.

Even knowing what Kieran’s up to doesn’t make me immune to his charms. I rub my hand over my face, rubbing at my scruff. “No,” I grunt at him.

“Was so.”

“Eat your breakfast,” I grumble.

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