Page 28 of Hers to Kiss
Pete was too young and she was going to L.A.
“What’s so interesting about Pete’s boat? You’ve been staring at it like a stalker for, like, five minutes.”
Keke half frowned. It couldn’t have been that long. “I’m just taking in the beautiful image of the lake.” A half-truth. A beautiful image on the lake, rather.
“The kids want to row over there.” Bertie pointed to a shadowy part of the lake. “I told them the story of secret treasure being buried by an eccentric old guy who didn’t want anyone getting their grubby hands on his money.”
And now these miniature grubby hands wanted to be all over it. Keke appreciated the tale Bertie told, which would keep them occupied and her mind off Pete.
She’s good at telling tales.Keke’s heart clenched in pain as she thought about Bertie’s lie. She hadn’t finished college.Why couldn’t she tell me?
“Sure,” Keke said, dropping her oar into the water. The sooner they could get away from Petey, the better. At least she could put distance between her and one Headley.
A scream followed by a splash made Keke stop rowing midstroke. She saw Pete slip into the water and swim over to Lea.
Now how did she fall out of the boat? Keke shook her head while the kids in her boat laughed and pointed.
Pete hoisted Lea up, and she tumbled back into the boat. Then he lifted himself back in while the kids screamed as the boat tilted a little.
From Keke’s vantage point, she could see the embarrassment on Lea’s face. Her soaked blonde hair hung everywhere around her shoulders. Using both hands, Pete gently brushed the locks and placed them behind her shoulders before moving to tuck the shorter strands that clung to her face behind her ears.
Excellent execution.
Absentmindedly, Keke brushed her own hair up toward her signature bun. A dart of jealousy hit Keke off-center of her heart. She did her best to ignore it. Her pupil was making progress, and that’s what mattered. And the proof was how Lea had stared unabashedly up into the eyes of her sort of rescuer. Lea had on a life jacket. There wasn’t any real need for Pete to jump out of the boat like a superhero.
But he sure looked like one in Lea’s eyes, Keke thought,and in mine.A deep pink color filled Lea’s face. After Pete finished with her hair, Lea gripped his closest arm, as though holding on for dear life. They were in the middle of a still lake—man-made.
“Nice job,” Keke said underneath her breath. Her jealousy faded, and Keke sighed with satisfaction. Her heart was in no danger, and she could continue with her lessons without fear of falling for Peter.
“I think she did that on purpose,” Bertie offered. “How do you fall out of a boat?”
Keke didn’t know, but Pete had done exactly what he needed to do to win the girl.
Only one lesson left.
The kiss.
