Page 6 of Lover from the Waves

She gasped and clamped a hand over her mouth. “Did I just…?”

Oh God, she had! She’d spoken those words—oh, fuck me—out loud. Kathryn’s skin burned even hotter in mortification; this was worse than any hot flash she’d ever experienced. What waswrongwith her? She’d never, ever lost her senses in such a way before.

Removing her hand from her face, she reclaimed her hair from his loose hold and took a step back. The tentacle around her ankle clung briefly before releasing her.

“It was…lovely speaking with you, Ector, but I should really go.”

He let his hand drop slowly, smile diminishing. “I did not mean to spoil your enjoyment of the festival.”

“Oh no, no. You didn’t. I’m just…not feeling quite like myself right now.” She reached out as though to comfort him, but thought better of it a moment later and jerked her hand back, tucking it into the folds of her skirt. No. Touching was bad right now. Really bad.

Then why does it feel so damn good?

His skin had reverted to its normal green. Why did that make her feel like garbage?

She cleared her throat and offered him a smile. “Please, enjoy the rest of the festival, Ector.”

He dipped his head in a nod. “I will. I hope you feel better soon, Kathryn.”

Glancing down, she carefully stepped over his tentacle and walked toward her daughters. Sand clung to her wet feet and ankles. Though she didn’t look back, she knew Ector was watching her; she could feel his eyes moving over her body like their gaze was a physical touch.

Why was she acting this way? It was like she was a teenager all over again, unfamiliar with her own feelings and unsure of how to handle them. Unsure of how to talk to the person she desired…even a bit afraid. It wasn’t that he was a kraken—well, perhaps it was a little, but notreally. She just didn’t know how to respond to his attentions.

As Kathryn approached Charlotte’s table, Megan spun to look at her, big brown eyes sparkling. The girl’s smile was huge, made even more adorable than usual by the icing smeared on her face—and the little bit that had found its way into her shoulder length brown hair.

“Gramma!” Megan pushed away from the table and darted toward Kathryn.

Crouching, Kat spread her arms. The little girl barreled into her, knocking Kathryn onto her backside, the fall cushioned by soft sand. Laughing, Kat embraced Megan—who had already locked her in a crushing hug—and pecked a kiss atop that sun warmed brown hair.

“You’d think you hadn’t seen me for a month,” Kathryn said, still laughing. “I thought you were playing with your friends?”

“She was until she realized she wasstarving,” said Charlotte, Megan’s mother and Kat’s younger daughter. “Megan, be gentle with Grandma.”

“Oops.” Megan loosened her hold and eased back. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay, love. I’m stronger than your mommy thinks.” Kathryn brushed a glob of icing off Megan’s cheek with her thumb. “I see you’ve been enjoying the cakes, even after you atesomuch dinner. Where is that all fitting in your little tummy?”

Megan giggled. “The race made me hungry, Gramma! My tummy was really empty, so I had to eat. But now Mama says I can’t have more.”

“Well, your mama is right. You’ll get sick if you eat too many.”

“Daddy hadfive.” Megan thrust her hand up with all her fingers spread wide.

Her father, Taylor, laughed and twisted in his seat to look down at his daughter. “Daddy is also an adult.”

Megan folded her arms and tilted her chin down in the ultimate pout. “Not fair.”

Kathryn smiled, brushed her fingers through Megan’s hair, and stood, dusting the sand off her backside. She looked at Charlotte. “I’m going to head home.”

Charlotte frowned. “Why so early? Everything okay, Mom?”

“Everything’s fine. I’m just tired and thought I’d get some rest.” Kathryn hated lying to her daughter, but in this case, Kat thought it was warranted. In all honestly, she was anythingbuttired. She was…she wasaroused. She just needed to get away, needed a place that was quiet, a place to think.

Charlotte leaned closer and hugged Kathryn. “Sure. Do you want me to come check on you later? To make sure you’re okay?”

Kat laughed. “I’m not dying, Charlotte.”

“I know, Mom. Sorry.”

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