Page 16 of Kiss Me

He not so discreetly moves the crutch from my hold, placing his arm around my waist, all but insisting that I lean on him for support.

I want to tell him that I don’t need his damn help. Mostly because I don’t like the way my body heat rises from his nearness.

Or how damn good he smells.

I have to fight the urge to lean into him even more to sniff his neck. The smell is a mix of peppermint, cacao and pure masculinity.

“O-okay,” Liza says, her eyes swinging between the two of us.

Taehyun doesn’t pay her much attention as he moves my crutch to his free hand and tightens his hold around my body.

I clear my throat. “Um, a-are you going to tell me where you’re taking me tonight?” I ask because it’s the only thing I can think to do given the awkwardness of our current situation.

“We’re taking part in a gingerbread house competition.”

Taehyun

The look on Tania’s face when I told her about the gingerbread house competition shouldn’t have been as funny as it was.

Nor should having her tucked underneath my arm feel as damn good as it does. Yet, here the hell we are.

“I can hang out here in the lobby and wait for you two,” Liza says as we enter one of the smaller dining areas here at the resort. This one is about a quarter mile from the main dining hall where I first spotted Tania with her assistant this afternoon.

“No, you can’t wait out here,” Tania insists.

“This looks like a private family thing.” Liza peaks around the both of us into the doors that lead to the private room that’s been rented out for the evening.

“It is,” I respond.

Tania peers up at me and though I’m not looking at her, I know she’s glaring. She’s protective over her assistant. And not only to keep her from finding out her secret.

“Which is why it’s my pleasure to have you as my special guests. Both of you,” I say. “The Townsends won’t mind a few more entries to the competition.”

Within seconds of the words coming from my mouth voices from the entrance, interrupt us. The first few members of the Townsend family begin pouring through the door.

Tania’s body tightens against mine.

This is an act. I remind myself.

She doesn’t really need me for physical support.

Her ankle’s fine.

Yet, I pull her closer, holding her tighter as if she truly might fall without my assistance.

“Taehyun, we missed you earlier at lunch,” Kyle Townsend, my cousin’s brother-in-law comments upon first seeing me.

He peers down at Tania and his eyebrows spike. “We meet again.”

“Tania, you’re here too?”

“Ladybug, where are your manners?” Riley, Kyle’s wife scolds their almost thirteen-year-old daughter.

“Sorry, I mean, Ms. Casey,” the girl corrects.

“Tania’s fine.” She looks up at me with uncertainty in her expression. I have to force myself to tear my attention away from her toward Eve.

“She decided to join us for a little friendly competition. I hope that’s alright?” I ask, although it’s not truly a question.

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