“Well, I fully support your decisions and I just want you to be happy. And it seems like Vera is doing very well in that department. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this happy. I fully support dating outside your normal comfort zone.”
I was so far out of my comfort zone, but at least I was trying. I’d rather try and fail than regret not trying at all and always wonder what could’ve happened. It didn’t hurt that she could work magic with any part of her body.
“Enough about me, let’s talk about you and Drea. You’re really getting married!”
She laughed. “I know! How crazy is that? I mean, I’ve always wanted to be a wife, and I knew I would be someday.”
“But to Drea? Who the hell would’ve ever thought that would’ve happened?!”
“I know, right? Life is crazy sometimes. But have you to thank for all of this.”
“Me? Why?”
“Because, if it weren’t for your meddling and forcing us to work together, we wouldn’t be here. You and your successful business kept you away more this time, and it forced us to work alone together. Forced me to see what we had in front of us all along. That is the greatest gift you could’ve given me, and I don’t know how to ever repay you, or tell you I’m sorry enough for what we put you through.”
I smiled, hoping if I crinkled my eyes enough, the tears wouldn’t come out. “Babe, we’ve been over this. All is forgiven, I promise. I understand why you guys hid it from me. And with the way I reacted, you made the smart choice. I don’t do well with mixing business with pleasure, but you guys are so in love that I realized how small-minded I was being. I love you both so much.”
“We love you, too. And from the way Vera looks at you, it seems you two are handling your pleasure and business very well.” She winked and the blush that crept up was unmistakable.
We had only kissed a few times since her grandmother’s house, and we hadn’t done more than that since we first met. That didn’t mean I didn’t want to, I just didn’t know what would happen after. I was scared, to be honest. Of what I wanted, and whether or not it aligned with what she wanted. Who knew what would happen once we got back to the real world.
Chapter Twenty-Three
VERA
Cara had left for her morning walk about two hours ago, and still hadn’t returned. Every morning since we’d arrived, she’d woken up well before me and walked on the beach until the sunrise, then she’d come back and we’d go downstairs for breakfast together. The first night we all ate together. Yesterday we had breakfast with Kaia and Daisy. And today we were having breakfast with Fallon and Mackenzie, which I wasn’t looking forward to for many reasons.
One being the fact that, even though I told Cara I’d be nicer to Mackenzie, I was still finding it very difficult when we were around each other for a long period of time. If other people were around us, I could avoid her without seeming rude, but when it was just the four of us, It was a struggle.
I had found myself being very protective of Cara, and thinking back to what she told me about Mackenzie, and what she had said to her about Fallon, angered me all over again. Being young was not an excuse for being an asshole, and I planned to tell her that if I ever got the chance.
The second reason I was not excited for our breakfast together, was because we hadn’t talked about the kiss, and I didn’t know how to act around her friends. I didn’t know what was okay and what wasn’t. I’d been just letting her take the lead in the moment.
Yesterday had been the closest we’d gotten to anything more than a kiss. I had to take a little longer in the shower to finish what she’d started. I couldn’t help myself. If I would’ve had heragainst the wall any longer, or if she would’ve taken one article of clothing off, I probably could’ve come right there.
She was just so incredibly perfect in every way and I could hardly control myself around her. I knew she liked me, so that was a plus, but I also knew I wasn’t her type and physical attraction was one thing but emotional was another.
I didn’t want to wake up the next morning and find her gone again. I wanted to wake up every morning next to her. Feel her next to me every night. I wanted everything with her, and I wanted her to give me a chance. So that’s what I’d been doing. Following her lead, but showing her what she’d been missing since the masquerade ball.
As if my thoughts summoned her, Cara walked in with a wide smile on her face. “You’ve got to get out there with me at least once more before we leave. It’s absolutely breathtaking to watch the sunrise.”
She bounced around the room as if the sun had given her a shot of energy. I smiled, watching her walk around, skin getting a golden glow from the sun, and a happiness about her that was contagious.
“Bali looks good on you, princesa. You’re glowing. I’m a little jealous that your smile isn’t from me.”
She turned around and looked at me, frowning. “You’re in there, don’t worry. I’m in Bali. My friends are getting married tomorrow, and I have some pretty amazing company.”
She walked over and planted a kiss on my cheek. “I’m going to get ready and then we can head down for breakfast?”
“Sounds good,” I lied. “Do you need any help? I know it can be very stressful taking a shower by yourself,” I added in a mock-serious tone.
She rolled her eyes, but the blush still appeared. “I think I’ll manage.”
Unfortunately for me, she did manage to get ready without any help. However, if I had to look at her all day in that dress, I’d be the one needing help getting my oxygen levels back to normal. She wore an emerald green spaghetti-strap dress that was so short I prayed she dropped something and needed to bend over to pick it up. She’d worn it before, but I’d get turned on seeing it on her every damn time.
Hey, I may have been chivalrous as hell, but I did have eyes, too. I was only human, after all, and Cara showing any sort of skin was my weakness. Especially those damn calves. They were the sexiest calves I’d ever seen.
“Ready?” she asked. For what? To take her to bed? Hell yeah, I was ready.
