Page 115 of He Loves Me Knot

“Yeah, I know,” she breathed out. “I do terrible relationships with stupid guys and get my heart broken.” She rubbed her knees. “So I’ve decided to turn over a new leaf and just have fun.”

Kyle stared at her, his eyes unamused. Then he shook his head, tearing his gaze away. “Goddammit. You’re going to make me punch someone on this trip, aren’t you?”

What?

She loved that Kyle was so fiercely protective of her but where was this coming from?

“What are you talking about?”

“I. . .I-I don’t know how you can sit there and say that with a straight face, Lids. Answer me this: who wants this to be a vacation fling? Him or you?”

Oh.

She drew a shallow breath. “Him.”

Anger flashed in Kyle’s eyes. “Right. Because. . .” He stood, clearly struggling to sound calm. “Because he’s a stupid guy drawing you into a terrible relationship. And he’s going to break your heart, too.”

Why do his words ring so true?

Because I’m scared. Scared I’m going to get hurt.

And yet . . .

This is what I want.

I want to be with Callum, even if it’s just for this trip.

She’d tasted him. Slept in his arms. She couldn’t go back now.

“Kyle.” Liddy stood and took both of his hands. “I know it sounds crazy, but I’m going into this with both eyes open. I know what he’s offering, and I know what I can handle. So just give the guy a break, will you? For my sake? He’s been great and really sweet the last few days. He even paid for all those excursions yesterday.”Kyle doesn’t have to know about our arguments.

“Amazing how sex messes up people’s ability to think straight,” Kyle said in a flat tone. He glared at her. “And don’t deny it.”

“Deny what?” Granny’s voice came from around the bend. She walked right beside Mom with a bounce to her step.

“Deny me the opportunity to watch her do yoga,” Kyle shot back. “Looking beautiful this morning, Granny. You, too, Mom.”

Mom rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to compliment me, Kyle. I’m not a compliment whore like Fran.”

Granny gave her a side-eyed glare. “No, you’re just a regular old whore, am I right, Brenda?” Then she cackled and continued down the path with Kyle.

“You’re really going to yoga, Liddy?” Mom looked surprised as Liddy fell into step beside her. She made a face. “Sorry. I’m not trying to discourage you. I know you can do much more now since your surgery. I just forget sometimes. My friend Linda—you remember her son, Jalen? Severe allergies. Even though he’s been out of the house five years, Linda still checks labels everywhere she goes.”

Liddy sighed, her eyes skimming the palm trees bent low over the water near the beach. The small group on the shore chatted as they rolled out yoga mats on the sand. “It’s fine, Mom. Yeah, I’m going to yoga. I need to talk to Elle.”

“About what?” Mom held onto Liddy’s arm as she descended the last steps toward the beach. Hard to believe that just a few years earlier, Mom hadn’t been able to move around without a walker after her accident.

“I just want to make sure she’s okay. I know Quinn’s mom really mixed things up by bringing on that wedding planner and trying to change the wedding to The Four Seasons.”

“Elle seems happy with the changes, honey. I wouldn’t bother her with that.”

Liddy searched Mom’s face. “Does she, though? You know how Elle is, Mom. She doesn’t like making waves.”

Mom squeezed Liddy’s forearm. “Liddy, I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but the only person I’ve seen causing waves lately is you. Look”—Mom gestured toward the group peacefully stretching on the beach—“everyone is fine. Relaxed. Happy. You’re the only one who seems out of sorts.” She winked at Liddy as they reached the sand, then released her arm and continued forward.

Liddy hung back, Mom’s words making the hairs on the back of her neck rise.

Am I really the one causing drama?

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