Page 73 of Seas the Dating Coach

“Fine, gorgeous. How are you? You look a bitwarm.” My gaze intentionally rakes over the flush streaking down her neck into the collar of her sundress as I bite the corner of my lip.

The suave response is all an act. My pulse is entirely too fast, and my shoulders are tense from short, inefficient breaths, but I place a confident, flirtatious smile on my mouth. I’m playing the part offinelike my life depends on it.

Vivian moves from her position leaning against the bathroom vanity, almost distracted. It seems she’s taken my muscled bait. My smile quirks higher as I pull my shoulders back, peacocking…just a little. All I need is for her to kiss me, and I’ll surge out of this water, distracting her and myself from this misery. But then Vivian surprises me by combing her fingers through my hair and setting a gentle kiss on my forehead.

“I’m so proud of you.”

My lashes flutter closed as my entire body riots. I’ve already been struggling to keep it together, but with one sentence, Vivian has decimated what’s left of my defenses.

I don’t think anyone has ever told me that. Not my father. Not teachers. Not even Magda.

No one.

I don’t respond. I can’t. All I can do is swallow over the boulder that somehow got in my throat.

“You know,” she starts, her quiet words giving me something to focus on. “I’ve never been on a date.”

This information has me opening my eyes and looking up.

Her small grin isn’t shy. It’s almost…peaceful? “I was kind of hoping you’d be my first first date tonight.”

I want to be your LAST first everything. Your last first kiss. Your last first date.

“I would be honored.”

Vivian does that bouncy thing, and I feel my chest relax for the first time since I lowered myself into the water.

“Okay, but five more minutes first.” She kneels beside the tub, extending her hand with her thumb up. “In the meantime, we thumb war.”

I chuckle. And the astonishment running through me is nothing short of a miracle. I, Finn Reynolds, who has avoided swimming for years, am sitting up to my chest in a tub of water,laughing. All because of Vivian. My love for her doubles in that instant, and it’s work to keep the words off my tongue. Since it’s far too early for declarations, I fall back on a tried-and-true standard—flirting.

“I don’t know, gorgeous. I have an unfair advantage being that my hands are a lot bigger than yours.” The suggestive tone has the effect I’d hoped for, staining Vivian’s cheeks crimson as she wrinkles her nose.

“Less talking, more warring.”

Another laugh escapes me. “Alright.”

After five minutes, my legs are jelly as I stand. I try not to let Vivian see the slight tremble, flexing unnecessarily as I reach for a nearby towel—because lifting a one-pound towel really requires full biceps contraction. Vivian’s gaze snags on my arms before slipping to my abs as I dry my torso and then tuck the towel around my waist. I can’t help but smirk at her blatant appreciation.

“What should I wear tonight?”

There’s a second delay before her focus returns to my face, getting stalled on my chest as I take an intentionally large breath.

“Um…something casual?”

Vivian heads downstairs while I get changed. As I pull a polo over my head, an insidious thought worms its way into my brain. There’s no way I can continue a relationship with Vivian if I fail professionally. If this all goes horribly wrong and I have to return to work for my father, I’ll have to leave Wilks Beach. The smart thing would be to keep my distance, to stay emotionally withdrawn.

But then I recall the exact phrasing of my father’s contract.

The Signatory agrees to attain the highest position in their chosen field by their thirtieth birthday. Failure to do so shall require the Signatory to return to employment under their father’s direction, under terms and conditions to be determined at that time.

My twenty-ninth birthday was a week before I met Vivian. I’d spent it celebrating with Alec, though it’d felt like a noose had been tightening around my neck.

A rough breath shakes free of my lungs. A year. Even if I fail, I have a year to love the most unexpectedly enchanting, irresistible, and astonishing woman I’ve ever met. And if I am successful and Cordelia’s future is secure, I’ll stay here. Eitherway, I’ll come clean to Vivian about my identity once the directorship position is finalized. Until then, I’m not going to waste a second of time in her presence.

I quickly don shorts and shoes, thundering down the stairs to start what will hopefully be Vivian’slastfirst date.

thirty-two

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