Page 45 of You Kissed Me First

My hand reaches up to find her face. She nods, her lips quivering as she looks like she’s about to cry.

“Oh, baby doll. I’ve got you. Let’s get you back on the jet ski.”

I turn, looping her arms around my neck before I start swimming. At this point, the others have turned around to come back to us.

“What happened?” Grant asks.

I glare at Barrett, who is hiding behind a couple of the others.

“Your asshole brother cut in front of me. When I jerked to the side to miss hitting him, Katie fell off.”

Grant looks over his shoulder. “Barrett, what the fuck were you thinking, man? She could have been seriously hurt.”

“It was an accident. I didn’t see them there.”

I want to argue with him, but the shaking female on my back keeps me from doing so. When I finally get to the jet ski, Grant moves to the other side, trying to hold it steady with his own.

It takes me a second to get on, but once I do, I reach down and pluck Katie from the water completely. Once up in my arms, I hug her to me.

“Are you okay, babe? What can I do?”

She’s been so quiet. She hasn’t said a word. She still doesn’t. She tucks her head into my neck.

“We are going to head back,” I tell the others.

“We will go with you,” Nessa calls.

“No. It’s okay. I’m going to take her back to the boat so we can rest,” I tell her.

“Maybe someone else should take Katie. Since you threw her off and all.” I can hear Barrett make the comment low, as if he only meant for Grant to hear it.

I jerk my attention to him, narrowing my eyes. “I have her. You guys go.”

Nessa nods. It takes them a few minutes, but after assuring them we were fine, they take off.

I don’t miss the disappointed look from Barrett.

I wonder for a moment if he was hoping Katie would refuse to stay with me and ride with him instead. Even with his little girlfriend perched on her own jet ski next to him. What the fuck is his game?

I shake him from my thoughts, focusing on the girl in my arms.

“Are you ready, or do you need another moment?” I whisper to her.

“We can go.” Her voice is small, but sure.

She goes to move back behind me, but I hold her.

“I don’t want you back there. Wrap your legs around my waist and hug me like a koala.”

“What?” She looks surprised.

I’m happy to see some of her fear has dissipated.

“I don’t want to risk you falling off again. If you are strapped to my chest, you won’t. There would be no way for you to go without me.”

“I’m fine, Dominic.”

“I know, but do it anyway. For my peace of mind.”

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