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I’d never let that happen.
Stella melts in my arms, panting.
I kiss her softly on the jaw. “So good. You’re so good.”
Stella merely smiles. Entirely spent.
I turn around and take her limp arms over her shoulders. “Hold onto me. I’ll take you back.”
We swim back to the dock and spend the rest of our time in the grotto with our legs intertwined as we devour every last bite of the picnic. Brie, a French baguette, chocolate-covered strawberries, honey wine... all so delicious. In between conversation and laughter, I can’t help but glance her way with all the longing in my heart. It’s a longing that has existed without me knowing for a long time.
The truth is becoming clear. Now that I have Stella Banks, I’m not sure I’m going to be able to let her go.
Chapter 12
Stella
WhenFlynntoldmethe group was touring the Kotor for the day, I mistakenly imagined a historical tour. I had read in my googling about beautiful, unsung churches and fortresses dating back hundreds of years.
Silly me, thinking my cruise companions want anything to do with historical tours. No, very much the opposite.
Today, we’re shopping. To hell with the beautiful scenery and all the history. We’ve opted for a “tour” of the premier Porto Montenegro, which boasts luxury shops that all these gals can easily find walking down Fifth Avenue.
I can’treallycomplain. I get to walk around on Flynn’s arm the entire day, watching everyone go gaga for Dior purses and Rolex watches.
Flynn is really a man after my own heart. The two of us hang back at every store, merely taking a gander around and then finding the nearest place to sit where we can chat and idly touch each other’s hands.
It’s gushy, I know. I can’t explain it, but for the past three days, I’ve been over the moon about our “fake” affair.
Although, it’s starting to rub people the wrong way. Namely, Adelaide.
“If you two are just going to sit there with bedroom eyes, I think you should go back to the boat,” she says, walking past us with her nose in the air.
Flynn and I exchange a look. Neither of us is going to mention that Flynn mentionedthat to Adelaide before we left the boat, andsheexplicitly said no. “Sorry, would you rather me save them for someone else?” I ask with a tone naïve enough she just might think I’m an idiot.
She throws her hands up in the air and walks through the racks of clothes to find Theo, glomming onto him immediately and moping into his shoulder.
“Remind me what you saw in her?” I ask Flynn.
“If I’m entirely honest, it’s probably not what I saw in her, but on her if you catch my drift.”
And do I ever. Adelaide is picture-perfect. No wonder she’s a model. Why would he settle for me and my Birkenstocks when he can have nearly six feet of pure goddess?
“I’ve matured quite a bit since then,” Flynn adds.
“Oh, have you?”
“Yes.”
I give him a sneaking smile. “Are you saying that you don’t think I’m cute?”
“When did I say that?!” Flynn gapes.
“Just that you see what’s on the inside rather than what’s on the outside,” I say, gesturing to my outfit. Khaki shorts and a crop top. Not exactly luxury.
“Now, you’re just putting words in my mouth, Stella.” He leans toward me, mouth to my ear. “Youare the full package.”
If we’re still playing pretend, we don’t need to compliment each other or exchange sweet nothings. And he certainly doesn’t need to kiss me when no one is looking. And yet here we are. Three days deep into our real affair, nine into our “fake” one.
