Ella helped with the dishes anyway and we made small talk as she told me about the camp in Washington D.C. She planned to go to college there, but they had an early entrance program that she hoped to get into for her last two years of high school. I was sure that Ian had a future somewhere in D.C. In an attempt to mask the sting that threatened I told her of my common love for the Outlander books. She squealed in excitement and agreed to join our book club during her stay.
Minutes later, Ian returned with a brand-new iPad with a bow on top.
Ella squealed with delight.
“I wanted you to have it while you were here. I loaded it with age-appropriate books. Do not even think about downloading that smut I caught you with last month.”
“Yes, sir! Thank you, Daddy!” She wrapped her arms around him tight as he hugged her with his whole being. Something about that had my emotion spilling over. I couldn’t get over the appeal of the several sides of Ian Kemp and I loved every single one of them.
Jesus, Koti, get a grip.
Excusing myself for the second time, I grabbed my book and made my way onto the porch. Lighting candles, I turned on my music, Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” and sank into my sanctuary. Minutes later, I looked up to see Ian on the porch staring at me with confusion.
“What are you doing?”
“Uh, reading?”
“Do you feel out of place?”
I sat up. “Not at all. I just wanted to give you time alone with her.”
“Okay.”
“I shouldn’t… we shouldn’t give her the wrong impression. We discussed this.”
He glanced at the front door. “I know, I just thought tonight you would hang out with us.”
“Ian Kemp, are you pouting?”
“I might be.”
“Get your ass in there and spend time with your kid.”
“Fine. But are you coming to the beach tomorrow?”
“Sure.”
“And tonight, when she goes to bed, I’m going to sneak into your room and lick—”
“You will do no such thing. There will be no licking of anything.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“I’m locking my door.”
“Don’t threaten me or every door in this house will be without locks within the hour.”
“Behave yourself.” I shooed him away as he glanced back at me from the front door.
“Koti, I don’t mind you spending time with us.”
But I mind, Ian, I’m falling for both of you.
“She already suspects foul play. Do you want to be the one to explain friends with benefits to her?”
“No.”
“There you go.”
“But that doesn’t mean I can’t discreetly lick things.”
“Go lick a banana pop.”
MAGENS BAY WAS A BEAUTIFUL horseshoe shaped beach with white sand and turquoise water. It was the most bustling tourist attraction of St. Thomas and one of the best spots for water play in the Virgin Islands. Ella had Disco clutched to her as she raced toward the sand while Ian and I set up a camp that consisted of an umbrella and a few foldable beach chairs we’d purchased from the store on the way over.
“Do you come here much?” Ian asked, tossing a towel on his chair.
“Not really. I mean, what’s the point? We do have a beach in our backyard.”
“True, but you hardly leave home. Don’t you get out at all?” His question was innocent, with an edge of curiosity mixed in.
“My first six months here I went hermit, but Jasmine helped me snap out of it a little. I went out a few times and will on occasion, but I’m to the point it doesn’t appeal to me.”
“Sign of old age, huh?”
“I turn thirty in a few weeks.”
“That would be what, twenty-four years ago that we met?”
His sentiment took me by surprise. “Wow, I didn’t think of that. That makes you the oldest friend I’ve ever had,” I teased before cowering under his glare. “I mean the longest friendship. Jasmine’s the oldest friend I have anyway.”
He looked down at the sand between us. “Too bad we didn’t keep in touch.”
“We might have been decent pen pals, but here we are anyway.”
“Here we are,” he said, his eyes meeting mine. “I had to stay away from you the last time I saw you.”
“What?”
“When you were seventeen. I was already married, and you were…”
I sat up in my chair. “I was, what?”
He glanced down at his lap, attempting to hide his smirk with a few of my favorite fingers covering his mouth. “Can I be perfectly honest without ruining whatever favorable opinion you may have of me?”
“You’re still so proper, crocky. Of course.”
He raked his teeth over his bottom lip sending a shiver down my spine regardless of the heat. “My whole body tensed when I saw you. I know it was wrong, but there was no way I could stand to be in the same room as you if I stayed. I left St. Thomas a day early and wanked that night thinking about you when I got home.”
“So that’s why you didn’t say hi. Professor! I was underage!”
“And I was married. Does it make a difference that my marriage was over for me by then?”
“Wait, you were only twenty-five, that was only a few years after you got married, right?”
“I’d just had my birthday and I needed a break from Tara, things were at their worst, so I’d flown in to check on the house for my parents. My mom was recovering from a minor surgery and there had been a storm. I made a few repairs and hired a contractor to take care of the rest. I was about ready to leave when you were coming in.”
“I wish you would have stayed.”
“Too dangerous for me. You were wearing your ridiculous gold sandals and a white sundress with tiny gold flowers all over it. Your hair was tied up, and you had on bright red lipstick.”
My mouth parted as he leaned in.
“I’ll never forget the way you looked that day, you took the breath right out of my body.”
“I can’t believe you remember what I was wearing.”
“I remember every detail including the swish of your skirt when you got out of the SUV. I thought about nothing but smearing that lipstick for months.”
“I remember feeling the same thing… I kind of had an instant crush on you the minute I saw you. I wish you would have talked to me.”
“I couldn’t. I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist temptation. And seeing you when I got here was much, much, worse.”
My heart lit up. “Well, I couldn’t tell by the warm reception you gave.”
“And I’ve apologized sincerely and repeatedly by mouth and orgasm.”
It was my turn to bite my lip. “Forgiven.”
“Fuck, I’m a lucky bastard to be able to touch you now. I mean it, Koti. I have no clue how you remained single all these years but am I damn glad you are at the moment.” Utterly turned on, his eyes rested on my lips before they trailed the length of my body. “Lucky. Fucking. Me.”
I didn’t know how it was possible, but his words managed to fill me up and sting all at the same time.
“Yeah, well you’re temporary,” I said nudging his arm. “Your bad.” I was only partially teasing.
He looked at me with unamused gray eyes. “I can’t believe you locked me out of your bedroom last night.”
I laughed as I lathered some oil on. “You checked?”
“Of course I checked. I had things I wanted to lick.”
“Serves you right with your daughter in the house, pervert.”
I looked over at Ella who looked adorable in her newly purchased pink bikini, her blonde hair soaked from the sea as she and Disco hurdled the incoming waves at the shore.
“This is nice.” Ian cracked a beer and held it out to me.
“Agreed,” I stood shaking my head at his offered beer. “No thanks, I’m going to go get in the water.”
He raised a wicked brow. “Going to put on a show for me?”
“Such a pervy professor.”
“I was just thinking about the last time you wore that bikini.” He playfully tugged at the string on my hip and slid his teeth over his lip.
“Maybe you should slow down yourself on that drinking. Pick out some music, I’ll be back, and we can make some sandwiches.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Damnit, stop with the bedroom eyes.”
“I have no clue what you’re talking about,” he teased as his darkening gaze smoldered me into a puddle.
“And don’t watch me as I walk away.”
“Not a snowball’s chance in hell.”
I ‘harrumphed’ as I walked toward the surf before I braved a quick glance over my shoulder. Ian had already zeroed in on my ass and I shook it a little before I gave him a wink.
Eat your heart out, professor.
Ella and I chased Disco through the waves until I was dying of thirst.
I waved to get her attention before I signed to her.
Thirsty?