She shrugged. “I don’t know. I was getting restless and figured I come see this great walk you go on everyday. I can leave if you want to be alone.”
I shook my head. “No. You can stay. The beach is a public space, after all.”
“Si, it is. But do youwantme to stay?”
She was really going to make me say it, wasn’t she? She was so difficult sometimes with getting me to admit things I didn’t want to. I rolled my eyes. “Yes, Vera. I want you to stay. Happy?”
“When it comes to you? Always. Okay, lead the way, ma’am.”
I took a sip of my coffee and turned back around towards the opposite side of the villa. I guess I could’ve walked for a little longer.
We walked along the beach and talked about life. She brought up the day I saw her at the gym when I was with Drea and I was so embarrassed. Obviously I knew she saw me bolt out of there with Drea, but I hadn’t expected her to bring it up.
I admitted I panicked and may have freaked out a little at seeing her at the gym. I didn’t tell her that seeing her working out had done something to me and I couldn’t concentrate on my workout anymore. She already knew how she affected me. She left it alone after that and I finished my coffee.
Without thinking, I linked our hands together. Our fingers kept brushing against each other with every step we took, so it made sense to just join them together. I tried not to look at her for a reaction, but I couldn’t help myself. In the corner of my eye,I could see her shit-eating grin. She knew she was winning me over.
Whatever. She kept brushing my thumb with hers and it was making me feel a little light-headed. So what if she was wearing me down? I was slowly learning that I didn’t stand a chance, anyway.
“Don’t read too much into it,” I said, rolling my eyes when she bumped her shoulder with mine.
“You’re falling for me, aren’t you, princesa? My plan is working, I know it!”
Instead of answering with the truth, I created a distraction. “Hey, look! The sun’s coming up. Isn’t it beautiful?” I asked, untangling our fingers and pointing to the gorgeous view just past the water.
She smiled. “Si, it is, but it’s not as beautiful as you, Cara. There isn’t a view in this universe that compares to you.” She took a step closer to me and grabbed my hand, twisting our fingers together.
I rolled my eyes, hoping she ignored the blush that found its way onto my skin. “You’re very charming.”
“I’m serious, Cara. You know how I feel about you. Just say the word, and I’m yours.”
I groaned, our hands still connected to each other’s. “Vera. Please. You know I like you, but?—”
Any protests died off when her lips found mine. That wasn’t fair. I couldn’t think properly when her tongue was surveying my mouth. I couldn’t breathe when one hand rested on my lower back while the other cupped the side of my face, thumb delicately brushing my cheek.
I deepened the kiss, not caring about anything else. The Bali air with her proximity was making me feel dizzy, and I wanted her to lift me up and carry me back to our room.
After what felt like an eternity of touches and kisses, she stepped back with a grin. “I’m so sorry. I cut you off. What were you saying?”
She knew what she was doing. I let her kiss me once, and now she thought she owned my lips. I hated that shedidown them. I gave her a look that said I knew what she was doing and smiled, unable to hide it. “Can I buy you breakfast?”
She grabbed my hand and kissed my knuckles, like freaking royalty. “You can try, princesa, but I can’t promise I’ll let you.” She winked before heading towards the waterfront cafe I’d been dying to try.
Chapter Twenty-Two
CARA
We still hadn’t talked about the kiss at her grandmother’s house. Or any of the ones since then. Every time I wanted to, Vera would change the subject, or someone would interrupt us. I wondered why the universe was so against us talking about it. I also wondered if we even needed to at this point.
We already knew how we felt about each other, but what happens now? What happens after the wedding when we aren’t pretending anymore? The more time we spent together, the more I wanted to get to know her and see what could actually happen between us. I was scared, but weren’t all the best things in life scary?
I’d asked Vera if she wanted to come on my walk with me this morning. Of course, she went, and I had to admit I enjoyed her company more than being alone.
I liked my time alone to think about things, but it was nice to have someone to talk to. She was so easy to talk to and get along with. And the makeout sessions as the sun came up didn’t hurt. It was oddly romantic but I tried not to let myself think thoughts like that. We were just enjoying ourselves. Putting on a show no matter where we were, just in case one of my friends happened to show up.
We had just finished breakfast and needed to get ready. We were all meeting in the lobby of our resort for our Balinese cooking class. Drea had prepared a car to take us to another resort where the class was being held, and she said the route was supposed to be absolutely stunning.
I was super excited to try some new cuisine. We were ending the night after the class with a bonfire on the beach set up by the resort. It sounded like a perfect day to me.
