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Kane set his laptop to the side and scooted closer to me. “Are you all right?”
I nodded. “Yes. Just happy.”
“It must be some show.”
I turned toward him. “It is. The power of science is a beautiful thing. Forensics is an unsung hero.”
Kane gave me a thoughtful smile. “You know, you could be that superhero, if you wanted to.”
Oh, I did. But . . . I couldn’t. I lowered my head and sighed.
Kane gently tipped my chin up with his finger. “What’s holding you back?”
“I told you already.”
He swiped my bangs. “I think there’s more to the story. You’re hiding more secrets behind those gorgeous eyes of yours.”
I went rigid, stunned that he could read me so well. How did he do that?
“Tell me,” he whispered in my ear.
A shiver ran deeply through me, and when I looked into his inviting eyes, I found words falling out of my mouth before I could stop them. “You’re right, it’s not only Auggie. I’ve never told anyone this, but my senior year in high school, I was on track to be the valedictorian.” I bit my lip, still ashamed. “The thought of having to give a speech with everyone looking at me was too much. So . . . I . . . uh . . . purposely got a C in Latin.”
Kane’s brows shot up.
“I know,” I answered the shock on his face. “Auggie was disappointed.” Disappointed was an understatement. It was as if I had failed him. “He even went to the school and demanded to see every test and assignment I’d turned in, knowing there had to be some mistake. He was upset I hadn’t come to him and told him I was struggling. How could I when my struggle wasn’t with Latin but with myself?” my voice cracked.
Kane cupped my cheek with his hand.
I leaned into his hand and soaked in the comfort he was silently giving me. “So, you see, as much as I would love to do what Naomi and people like Landon Drummond do, I’m afraid of being in the spotlight or taking the stand in a court case. I don’t want people looking at me.”
Kane leaned in and rested his forehead against mine. “Darlin’, I hate to tell you this, but it’s hard not to notice you. And it’s more than your physical beauty. I don’t know how to explain it, but I’ve never been so drawn to someone.”
I leaned away, unable to believe him. “That can’t be true. I’ve seen the pictures of your girlfriends on Facebook.” More like supermodels.
Kane chuckled. “Are you stalking me on Facebook?”
My face burned. “Yes,” I admitted quietly.
“Why didn’t you friend me?”
I shrugged. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted me to.”
He reached over to the side table and grabbed his phone, clicking on a few things with a wicked grin. “I believe you have a new friend request.”
I nudged him with my arm. “I don’t really use Facebook much.”
He nodded toward our list. “I have a feeling you’re about to be tagged in several posts.”
I stared at him, wondering if this was a dream. I brushed my fingers against his stubbled cheek to make sure he was real.
He caught my hand and held it between us. “Scarlett, promise me you won’t ever throw away your chance at being at the top again for fear you’ll be seen. You don’t have to struggle alone.”
Without thinking, for once, or worrying I was doing the wrong thing, my lips fell on his. It was the only thing I could think to do to convey how much his presence and encouragement meant to me. Not to mention how his touch made me want to be seen, and not only by him.
Kane didn’t hesitate to wrap me in his arms and press us closer together. My arms naturally wound around his neck. It was weird how it had become second nature to kiss Kane. I let instinct take over when Kane parted my lips and tasted me. When my hands wove through his hair, he groaned deeply and released my lips to trail kisses down my neck. He took his time brushing my skin with his lips and tongue. He had me shaking from the pleasure of it.
“Scarlett,” he whispered between kisses, but then his lips suddenly departed from my neck.
I leaned away and noticed his gaze was directed outside. I could see an idea forming in his head.
“What would you think of taking this out to the pool?” He seemed hesitant to ask.
I pulled away from him and blinked a million times. “You want to go swimming?”
He gave me a devilish grin. “We could swim, too, while we’re in the water,” he teased.
There was suddenly no air to breathe. All I could think about was being in the water with Kane and all the possibilities. But mainly, I was thinking that I would be in a swimming suit and unable to hide a thing from him.
