Honest? Check. Caring? Check. Chemistry? Double check. Easy to talk to? Check. Gives me butterflies and makes me forget how to breathe? Check. Could turn me on with a smirk? Check. Would fight for me? Check.
She checked it all. So why was I still hesitating? In the moment, there was no hesitation, but if I sat and thought about it, I’d step back. Everything was easy when it was just the two of us. But what would happen if we continued things after Bali? Would it still be easy?
I gave in and scooted closer to her, laying my head on her chest and wrapping my arms around her, letting out a deep sigh when she put the blanket over us and rested her hands on my back, bringing us closer together. I’d forgotten how good it felt just to be held by someone else.
“Are you comfortable?” she asked, drawing circles along my back, making me shiver.
I wanted to tell her I was. That I was always comfortable around her, but I didn’t. Instead, I looked up at her. “We need to talk about what we’re doing, Vera.”
“Okay, well, right now, you’re laying your head on my chest and making me feel all warm and fuzzy.”
I rolled my eyes and squeezed her side, causing a half-giggle, half-moan to slip out from her mouth. I didn’t want to examine how that sound made me feel. “You know what I’m talking about. What happened at your abuela’s.”
She smiled. “I love it when you speak Spanish. Tomorrow. Tonight, we sleep. No decisions should be made after the sun goes down.”
I groaned in protest, but the idea of snuggling up to Vera and sleeping instead of talking about us, sounded a hell of a lot better to me. “Fine. Tomorrow," I said through a yawn. We’d talk about it tomorrow.
Chapter Twenty-One
CARA
We’d been in Bali for three days, and I never wanted to leave. The place was fucking incredible, the food was amazing, and the views were just stunning. My favorite part of the day was when I took my walks in the morning.
There was nothing that compared to walking on a cold sandy beach, right before sunrise, seeing all the sea life waking up, and smelling the fresh salty water. It was truly my happy place. I loved walking alone, with nothing but my thoughts and the ocean to keep me company.
It didn’t matter that as soon as I was alone my thoughts headed straight toward Vera. I tried to think of work. How much I’d have to catch up on when I got back. How I’d set up my new home office. I’d thought about calling Eloise to check in, but every morning she’d send me an email with every possible update and response, so I had nothing to respond with. Things were not falling apart without me, so I had nothing left to think about besides Vera.
She’d been very respectful with her flirting and touching, keeping it only around my friends. When we’d get back to the room, she left our fake relationship at the door and would return to platonic Vera. No flirting and no touching except at night when she’d hold me until I fell asleep.
I’d never needed to cuddle to fall asleep until Bali. Maybe it was just because I wasn’t in the comfort of my own bed. Maybe it was because my body was getting used to feeling Vera, and it needed her close. Maybe it wasn’t just my body that felt that way.
“Damnit! How did I let this happen?” I groaned to myself. Things were not supposed to be like this.
It was supposed to be one night of letting go in another city. One night of fun and back to focusing on work and the real world. Then, Vera came back into my life and threw everything around. When I’d agreed to let her be my date to the wedding, I was confident I could put that night behind us and treat it like a business transaction. We’d enjoy the wedding and then go back to forgetting each other existed. But it didn’t really work out that way.
Along the way, things changed. The feelings I’d tried to pretend weren’t there, were getting stronger. I was finding it harder to hide how I felt about her. I didn’t want to want her. I didn’t want to be attracted to her, but I was. I was finding myself wanting to be around her. Wanting her to touch me, or kiss me. Wanting her to want me.
I rolled my shoulders, forcing myself to think about anything else in the world besides Vera Rojas. Thinking anything could happen between us was ridiculous and a waste of my time.
The sun was beginning to come up, so I started making my way back to the villa for my morning cup of coffee.
“Buenos días, princesa. I thought I’d find you here.”
As soon as I turned around, Vera was standing there with the biggest smile on her face holding two cups of what I hoped was coffee.
“Good morning. Is that coffee?” I asked.
She raised an eyebrow. “So youdoknow Spanish?”
“I know very few things.”
“Well, It’s still hot. And yes, coffee. Two cream and two sugar, just the way you like it.” She winked and it sent my heart stuttering.
“You’re so good to me.” I smiled and accepted the coffee. It tasted like hot heaven and I couldn’t hide the small moan that fell from my lips. “Perfect,” I whispered.
“Si, perfecta,” Vera replied, staring right at me.
“What brings you out here this early?” I asked. She’d never accompanied me on my walks before, so I wasn’t sure why today.
