AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Penny dog paddles over to us and throws her arms around both our shoulders. “It was a tie,” she says. “Try again.”
Connor laughs, scoops Penny up in his arms, and tosses her into the air. She cackles with delight when she hits the water. “Do it again,” she begs, paddling back toward him.
He tosses her up into the air a few more times, and somehow we end up playing tag after that.
We play in the water for a half-hour or so, until Skye comes down to the dock.
“Hi, Mommy!” Penny calls, waving madly. “We’re swimming.”
“I see that,” Skye says. “Are you ready to get out now, before you turn into a prune?”
Reluctantly, Penny climbs up the ladder attached to the dock, followed by Connor. I’m left treading water.
“Aren’t you coming out, Ken?” Connor asks, grinning at me.
I have nothing to cover up with. My wet clothes will showeverything. “I didn’t bring a towel.”
Taking pity on me, Connor holds out his discarded shirt. “Here you go, Ken. You can use my shirt.”
Realizing I don’t have much of a choice, I climb the ladder. When I reach the top, Connor offers me his hand and pulls me up onto the dock. He hands me his shirt, and I pull it over top my wet one. Immediately, I realize this was a mistake because the shirt smells like him—faintly of cologne and man—teasing my senses. My belly clenches as my body responds. “Thanks,” I mutter, trying to hide my reaction.
He smiles. “You’re quite welcome.”
After our swim, I return to the cottage so I can shower and dress. My heart is racing after our outing, and it has nothing to do with the exertion of swimming. No, my heart is all aflutter because something has changed between us.
The problem is, I don’t know why.
Chapter 12
Kennedy Takahashi
Back in the cottage, I stop in my room to grab a clean change of clothes, then head to the bathroom so I can strip off my wet clothes and hop in a nice hot shower. Just as I’m getting out, wearing only a bath towel wrapped around my torso, the door connecting the bathroom to Connor’s bedroom opens, and in he walks. As soon as he spots me, he freezes. We both do.
His eyes widen as he skims me from head to toe. Finally, he recovers from the shock of seeing me half-naked and grins. “We’ve got to stop meeting like this.” His gaze skates once more over my bare shoulders and arms, as if he can’t help himself, then down to my toes.
“Eyes up here, buster,” I say, pointing at my face as I try not to laugh. The look on his face is comical.
His gaze darts back up to mine. “Sorry. The temptation was too great. Thank god for the towel, right, or this would be really awkward.”
I’m still fighting a grin. “Oh, I think it’s definitely gone way beyond awkward. Knock next time, will you? This is asharedbathroom.”
He nods. “Right. Knock.” Still, he just stands there looking at me. “I wasn’t dreaming. You’re just as lovely as I remember.”
I can feel my face heat as he continues to stare. I point toward his bedroom door. “Do you mind? I’m trying to get dressed.”
Now he’s grinning, clearly enjoying himself. “I don’t mind at all. Please, carry on. I’ll be quiet as a mouse. You won’t even know I’m here.”
When I snort out a laugh, he smiles. “That’s my girl.”
I try to look stern. “I meant, Do you mind leaving so I can finish up?”
“Oh…” He points to the door behind him. “You want me to leave?”
I’m trying to be serious, but he’s making it hard. “Yes.”
“Okay, I’m going. But first, one thing.” He takes three steps forward until he’s directly in front of me.
My breath catches in my chest, and I have to look up to meet his gaze. “What are you doing?”
