I cock my head to the side. Collin Rattler is more than the playboy I pegged him to be. He seems all cool and suave most of the time, but then he has his moments. Like this. Where he proves he cares deeply. Deeply enough to notice things. To work to make things better.
By the time my toes hit the water, I feel almost back to normal.
And I know I said Collin couldn’t impress me, but I’m pretty sure he just did.
With a pirate joke, of all things.
19
Kiss Me
Collin
After a day at the beach, we made it to the bar. I’ve been watching Poppy and Mack tear up the dance floor, but the DJ just shifted to a slow song, and Mack pulled Poppy in close and is whispering into her ear, and I have to look away. There’s this unfamiliar longing in my chest. It’s been building for a while now, and it starts and ends with Noli. What would it feel like to hold her close? To taste the salt on the skin of her neck as I trail kisses up to her earlobe?
I give myself a mental shake. I can’t go there. I’m not in the market for a real relationship. I also can’t deny that Noli has burrowed her way into my every thought. Like a determined woodpecker. Or a sliver. Actually, she’s a much more pleasant thought. Like diving under the covers on a winter night.
I find myself wonderingwhat ifwhere she’s concerned. I don’t know what to do with that sort of question.
My gaze lands on her as she weaves back toward me from the other side of the room where she and Rose had excused themselves to use the bathroom.
She’s wearing a simple black dress. It has a halter top, which means her back is open and has been taunting me all night.
I’ve never really stopped to consider backs as sexy, but that all changed the second Noli took a step in front of me as I ushered her out the door of our Airbnb. Because, dare I say, baby got back. And not that kind of back. The actual back. Like a back that covers one’s spine. You get it.
She’s definitely bringing sexy back.
Yep.
What it all comes down to is the fact that I’m attracted to Noli, and her back is totally turning me on.
The only problem is my hand has been landing on her lower back when I lead her in and out of rooms. It’s her upper back that’s exposed, which means that it’s been torture all night to catch glimpses of her smooth, glow-y skin and not be able to touch it.
You shouldn’t want to touch her skin! What are you thinking?
This, from the annoying voice of reason in my head.
But I’ll tell you what I’m thinking: Noli is the most interesting woman I’ve ever met, and I might have developed a full-blown crush on my fake girlfriend.
It’s fine. Everything’s fine.
It’s good, actually. A crush will help me make this fake relationship look more real. I can handle it.
Can you?
I’m choosing not to dwell on that question.
Especially since something has shifted since the beach. Noli seems more at ease with me. Like she’s shed half her usual armor. She’s freer with her smiles, and she’s been teasing me. We’ve been having a nice time tonight.
Nice is perhaps too basic a word. I could honestly get used to going out with Noli like this.
I watch her move. She’s trailing Rose with a polite smile on her face—the kind that women wear in bars when they hope to blend in. She’s certainly not giving anyone a come-hither expression.
I appreciate that—since I’m her date.
Though I wouldn’t hate it if she shot me a come-hither look.
“Pull yourself together, Collin,” I mumble under my breath.
