Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 68743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
“We weren’t. I asked a question and you lied.” She narrowed her gaze and frowned at him, reinforcing how smart she was.
“So my segue sucked but I need to tell you something. They’re arriving here. Soon.”
Her eyes opened wide. “I’m sorry, what?” She raised her voice as obvious panic set in. “Your family, as in your stepmother, father, and all your siblings are coming here? To the island?”
He held back a chuckle at her reaction because it was a fair one, and she’d get pissed if he laughed.
“Okay,” Nikki said, all but wringing her hands, the prospect of being surrounded by new people clearly sending her spiraling.
“Breathe.” He grasped both her hands in his. “I was so caught up in everything going on with you, and between us, I forgot all about the planned weekend. And it’s not everyone.
My stepmom and my dad are coming for their anniversary. Zach and Harrison decided to join them. Nobody else can make it.”
Now that he thought about it, Harrison might have tried to remind him about the weekend when Asher had spoken to his brother from the airport. He’d been too stunned by the sight of Nikki to pay attention.
“Four people,” she said, more to herself than him. “Your brothers and your parents. I think can handle that.”
He nodded. “You can.”
“I need to shower. Make myself presentable.” She scrambled off the bed, pulling on the bottom half of her clothes. “Asher?”
“What is it?”
She looked up at him. “Do you think they know about the pictures? Will they judge me?” she asked, sounding as vulnerable as he’d ever seen her.
Everything in him softened at her fear of what his family would think of her, no doubt caused by how her parents blamed her instead of being on her side.
“No, honey, they won’t. That’s not who they are.” He could easily make that promise.
“Okay, good.” Her shoulders lowered and she nodded, her expression filled with relief. She turned and walked toward the door.
“Nikki.”
She turned back to face him.
“Come find me when you’re ready.”
A grateful smile lit up her face before she walked out.
He drew a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair, wondering what the hell was happening between them and whether his brothers would notice and give him shit for it. In the way siblings always did.
He thought back to her question after he unloaded about his past. They both knew he’d lied to her. He wasn’t always fine but he’d never thought about who looked out for him before. Not until that moment. Until she’d poked and prodded at vulnerabilities that forced him to admit, if only to himself, he wished she could be that person.
His person.
Considering the problems between them, her age and her brother’s reaction to Asher sleeping with her, that was a wish he shouldn’t be having. But he couldn’t deny his growing feelings for Nikki. Couldn’t discount the warmth in his chest when he looked at her or the way sliding inside her felt like coming home. She settled him in ways no one and nothing else did.
But it wasn’t right. Derek trusted him to take care of her, not take her to bed. And she was so young. She’d barely lived a life or knew who she really was. He shouldn’t be thinking about anything long-term. Besides, he was looking for trouble where there wasn’t any. They were having an affair. One they shouldn’t have started, but they both knew things would end when they returned home. He’d said as much and she’d agreed.
But his gut churned at the idea of letting her go.
* * *
Nikki stepped out of the shower. She cracked the bathroom door, and while waiting for the mirror to clear, she lathered her body in her coconut-scented moisturizer. With the towel wrapped around her, she stared at her bare-faced reflection in the mirror. Here on the island, she’d been relaxed and very much herself, but now she had Asher’s family coming. Should she dress up, as much as possible, given how little she’d brought with her? Or did she go natural and hope for the best?
All her life, makeup and clothing had been her cover. A façade that helped her face the world. She was well aware that need came from her mother’s constant pushing. Most mothers would angst over the right time to allow their daughters to wear makeup to school. They didn’t want them to grow up too soon. They worried what was age appropriate. Not Nikki’s mother.
From the time Nikki turned eleven and hit her awkward stage, Collette did everything she could to make sure the normal teen things about Nikki didn’t embarrass her. Cover-up for teenage breakouts quickly became foundation to hide other imperfections Nikki would never have noticed but her mother did.
Considering how badly her mother had nitpicked Nikki’s looks, she’d never know how she’d found the courage to participate in pageants and modeling. Yet she had. But with her mother’s words ringing in her ears, she’d rarely left the house without a full face of makeup.