Page 49 of Stick Break
I give a little twirl. “It’s cute. You have surprisingly decent taste for a man who voluntarily purchased water wings.”
He narrows his eyes playfully. “Am I going to get to see what’s under that dress?”
“Seriously, Rip? You couldn’t find a smaller bikini?”
He bites his bottom lip like he knows exactly what he did. “Kind of the point.”
I shake my head, laughing. “At least you’re honest. And no, you are not getting to see me in it.”
He pouts dramatically. “Maybe later?”
“Maybe,” I say, and glance at his outfit. “You planning to swim in those shorts?”
“Right.” He hops up.
“And for the love of God, take off those water wings.”
“Hell no. A deal’s a deal.” He pumps them up with all the determination of a man preparing for war. “Also, I’m leaving the door open in case you want to sneak a peek.”
“How generous of you.”
“I’m obviously the better fake fiancé,” he says with a wink.
And then, true to his word, he heads into the bedroom and leaves the door open. He turns his back, kicks off his shorts, and glances at me over his shoulder just to make sure I’m watching.
I am. Oh, I definitely am.
As he pulls on his swim trunks, I find myself staring and smiling, warmth blooming in my chest.
How did we never meet before this?
But that thought dims as quickly as it came. Because while this feels like a bubble—safe and shiny and full of promise—I know what waits outside it. The world still remembers the girl in the sex tape. The scandal career. The headlines. No man wants to sign up for that.
And Rip… Rip’s still tethered to a woman who doesn’t know what she’s got, but owns a piece of his heart anyway.
So, no. No matter how good it feels here in this cottage, in this moment, there’s no future for Rip and Charley. Not in the real world.
13
Rip
After signing the rental papers for the ski boat, we head down the sun-warmed wharf. The scent of salt and gas mingles with sunscreen and grilled hot dogs from the shack nearby. I jump in first and hold out a hand to Charley.
She pauses at the edge, eyeing the boat like it might bite. “If I die doing this, I hope you know I’m haunting you forever.”
“You’ll have to get in the boat to do that,” I say, grinning. “Come on. I got you.”
She takes a steadying breath, then grabs my hand, and there’s a flash of something in her eyes as I pull her in. Trust. Nerves. A little thrill. Maybe all three.
Once she’s on board, I tighten the straps on her life jacket and glance down to double-check the fit. “You good?”
“I think so,” she says, but her eyes flick toward the water. “You do know how to drive this thing, right?”
“I have a boating license.” I give her a mock-wounded look as I put my hand over my heart. “What kind of man do you take me for?”
“Maybe I should ask what license you don’t have,” she says. “Honestly I still can’t believe you marry people.”.
I chuckle, leading her to the big, cushioned seat beside mine. “You might get your chance to sunbathe naked.”
