“Yes.” One word. The only one necessary, stark and uncompromising and honest.
Even Tess couldn’t misinterpret that answer, though she’d most likely try.
She was staring at him, unblinking, her lips parted.
Those lips barely moved as she spoke, her whisper almost inaudible. “How the hell can a twenty-six-year-old athlete be the perfect boyfriend for me? In what universe is that even possible?”
Boyfriend?Perfectboyfriend?
This was the greatest morning ever, bar none.
He straightened against the wall and beamed at her. “I’m your boyfriend?”
“Shit.” Her eyes squeezed shut, her brow wrinkling as she cringed. “Yes. No. Well, kind of. I mean, at least for now. I leave in a week, and—”
He was taking that as ayesin wary-Tess-speak. At least for now, as she’d said. And if that was the wrong interpretation, she’d no doubt tell him. Loudly, with one eyebrow raised to the heavens.
Changingfor nowinto something more long-term might prove challenging, but he still had a week to convince her. A lot could happen in seven days, as recent experience had taught him.
He planted a smacking kiss on her scrunched-up nose. “I accept the change in my status. Gladly.” Another kiss on her furrowed brow. “Wow. Boyfriend status: achieved. And after only a week of effort!”
Slowly, she began to uncurl from the human ball she’d made of herself.
Letting go of her hand, he adjusted an imaginary microphone. “This is an unexpected honor, but I’d like to thank my entire team—”
“Lucas,” she groaned. “Oh, my God.”
But her lips were twitching, and she was peeking at him through her lashes.
He raised an invisible trophy above his head with both hands. “And of course, I never anticipated reaching aperfectranking, but I can only bow to the judgment of others and accept the designation as accurate. My gratitude to—”
“Oh, myGod,” she repeated, full-on laughing now, her feigned ire entirely unconvincing. “Lucas, if you don’t shut up—”
This time, he kissed her mouth.
“Make me,” he said.
So she did.
Twenty-One
When Tess returnedto her hotel room later that morning, she found Belle’s suitcases splayed open on both beds, already half-packed.
“Belle…” Letting the door shut behind her, she tried to catch her friend’s eye, her stomach twisting in sudden nausea. “Are you okay? What’s going on?”
Had she abandoned Belle too many times, for too long? She’d been gone all night and most of the morning, true, but she’d spent the entire day with Belle beforehand, and she’d thought her friend understood the situation with Lucas. More than understood,approved. Of the sex, anyway, if not a potential long-distance relationship.
“I’m fine.” Belle flashed her a bright, unconvincing smile, her blond ponytail swinging as she emptied drawers and moved piles of clothing to the nearest suitcase. “And I’m packing, as you can see.”
“But…” Tess swallowed. “We don’t leave for another week.”
Still no eye contact. “I changed my reservations early this morning.”
Oh, God. She’d hurt her friend. Distanced herself in favor of work and Lucas, leaving Belle alone on a vacation they’d planned to spend tog—
Wait.
Belle had been happily spending all that free time with Brian, her designated island fling. What had changed?
