Page 78 of Fake it With Me

“Daisie, I think we should let the couple have the first voyage,” Liza said calmly.

Liza was always thinking about what was right. It was one of the things I loved about her.

“How about this?” I said to Daisie. “We’ll take you out on one of our other boats tomorrow. Just the three of us. Would that work?”

Daisie considered this, then nodded. “Okay. But can we see whales?”

“We can certainly try,” Liza said, smiling down at her.

The party continued for another few hours. I made my rounds, shaking hands with clients and potential customers, discussing future projects and timelines. Liza stayed close, sometimes with Daisie, sometimes on her own, but always within my line of sight. I kept finding myself looking for her in the crowd, needing to know where she was.

By the time the sun started to set, I was exhausted but happy. The launch had been a success. The Seraphina looked magnificent on the water. And I had my two favorite people by my side.

We drove home as dusk settled over Cloudhaven. Daisie chattered in the back seat about all the boats she’d seen and the food she had eaten. I was looking forward to spending another full day with them. Just them. I liked the idea of being far away from land so I could have them all to myself. That was probably just a little possessive, but it was the truth. I wanted my girls. I didn’t want to share with anyone.

They were mine.

“Okay?” Liza asked quietly from the passenger seat.

I looked over and reached for her hand. She quickly put hers in mine. “I’m good.”

“I really am sorry,” she whispered.

“Don’t be. I’m glad you don’t back down from her. That’s what she needs.”

“She” could be Sasha or Daisie. Sasha needed to see what it was like to protect a child. And Daisie needed to see a real mother would push back.

I wasn’t mad. I was so fucking proud and felt so grateful I had picked the right woman. Rather, Della had picked the right one for me.

27

LIZA

After Daisie had gone to sleep, Darek and I had tried to maintain some semblance of normalcy. We cleaned up after our dinner of leftovers and talked about mundane things like tomorrow’s plans and what to make for breakfast.

But the tension between us was electric. I was hyper-aware of every time he looked at me. It always felt like he was touching me. Undressing me.

The sexual connection between us was undeniable. I wondered if anyone else felt the sizzle in the air whenever we were within ten feet of each other. Hell, maybe our chemistry bubbled out over twenty feet. To me, it felt thick, like dragging your finger through honey. I hoped it was just the two of us that felt it. It would be a little embarrassing if others picked up on it.

“Come here,” he said, and that was all it took.

I crossed the kitchen to him, my heart already racing. The moment I was within reach, he pulled me against him, his mouth finding mine in a kiss that made my knees weak.

“I’ve been thinking about this all day,” he murmured against my lips. “Watching you in that dress, knowing I couldn’t touch you the way I wanted to.”

“Touch me now,” I whispered.

His hands slid down to cup my ass, lifting me onto the kitchen counter in one smooth motion. I gasped at the cold granite against the back of my thighs, but then his body was between my legs and I forgot about everything else.

He kissed me like he was starving for it, his tongue sliding against mine, his teeth nipping at my bottom lip. I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him closer, feeling his erection pressing against me through his slacks.

“Fuck, Liza,” he groaned, his hands sliding up my thighs, pushing my dress up. “You’re driving me insane.”

“Good,” I breathed, working at the buttons of his shirt. I needed to feel his skin, needed to touch him.

He helped me, shrugging out of the shirt and tossing it aside. Then his hands were back on me, sliding my dress up and over my head until I was sitting on his kitchen counter in just my bra and panties.

“Beautiful,” he said, his eyes roaming over me. “So fucking beautiful.”