Her Accidental Boyfriend: A Secret Wishes Novel (Entangled Bliss) (11 page)

The same could be said for his personal life, he realized.

Until now. Now with Kagan, he wasn’t sure he knew the score. She messed with his head.

Keep your shit together, dude.

“Shane?”

“Yeah?”

“I asked if we could make one more?” Her eyes twinkled, and he wondered where she put all the calories she consumed.

“Sure.” Truth was, he’d do whatever she asked.

…

Kagan dangled her sandals in her hand as she walked to her mailbox. The late afternoon sun warmed her bare shoulders. The breeze carried a flower scent along with something sweet and spicy. A neighbor must be barbecuing.

She’d had the best time at the Sullivans’. Couldn’t remember the last time she’d been made a part of something where she could just be herself. Laughing and talking for
real
and not faking her joy, she’d felt like a person, not an object. The blog stuff had rattled her, but besides that, she’d been teased, complimented and asked for her opinion on baby names. Baby names! How perfectly normal that had made her feel.

Shane’s contribution—first name Tad, middle name Biff—had cracked everyone up. He’d gotten more serious with a girl’s name—Amanda Rose—and she’d wondered if he’d given thought to having a daughter. Then she gave herself a mental slap for speculating. When and if Shane ever married and had a child didn’t concern her.

Only the next week or two did.

Okay, his hotness did too. And his charm. And his blasted smile and magical touch. She didn’t normally swoon over a guy, but when they’d been alone in the kitchen he’d had her so affected by his tongue on her finger, she’d wanted him to use it all over her body. Right then. Right there.

Reminding herself he was a wham-bam-thank you-ma’am kind of guy had cured her of her lust.

The fact that he’d driven her home and stood waiting for her at her doorstep now with some surprise up his sleeve didn’t mean he’d changed his tune. He might appear to be wrapping his kindness in romantic colors, but Kagan had no delusions. He took this boyfriend thing seriously, just like any other job.

She opened her mailbox hoping the silver flower charms she’d ordered had arrived. But no, the only thing inside was a letter.

From her father.

Kagan shuddered, her jaw clenched. She contemplated ripping the envelope in two and tossing it, but took a deep breath instead.

“Get what you were waiting for?” Shane asked as she walked toward him.

“No.” She unlocked the door without sparing him a glance. If she did, she’d probably blather about her father some more and she didn’t want to do that.

Shane closed the door behind them. “Talk.”

“About?” She went to the small desk in her living room and tucked the letter underneath the smooth rock paperweight with
Believe
written across it that Charlotte had given her.

“Whatever’s eating you.”

“Nothing’s bothering me.” She dropped her sandals and curled one leg underneath her bottom as she sat on the couch.

“Liar.” Shane took the spot next her. “Come on, what gives? I can’t tell you your surprise until you tell me. Who was the letter from?”

Did he have to be so perceptive? And a million miles off the cute-chart when he studied her like he had the right answers? “My dad.” That took all of three seconds. Shane asks. Kagan answers.

“You’re not going to read it?”

“Nope.”

“Okay. But can I ask you one more question?” He drew her arm away from her side and rubbed his thumb along the underside of her wrist with gentle strokes.

“All right.” Her hand went limp. Other parts of her stood at attention. Twin parts. God, she hoped he didn’t look at her chest.

“What else is keeping you away from New York? I get your desire for independence. I get that you don’t want your dad controlling you anymore. But he’s the only family you have. Why not stay and try to work things out? Make them different?”

Kagan had hoped to avoid this topic, but she supposed she owed it to Shane to tell him the whole truth, as much as it pained her to do so. Would he forgive her lie?

“My father is insisting I marry a man I don’t want to.”

Shane’s hand froze. Everything about him froze. Kagan thought he might have even stopped breathing, as if someone had paused time and only she had awareness of her surroundings. A moment later he clicked back into motion.

“Why?”

“Brett is successful, rich, comes from the right family, and has the right connections.”

“Your, uh, ex, Brett?”

She pulled her leg out from under her and slouched down, letting her head fall back against the couch cushion. “We’ve never dated. I told you that to get you to agree to this boyfriend thing. At the time I didn’t think who I was or who my father is would come up. I thought it would get Brett to leave. He works tirelessly for my father and they’re very close and we were friends once, but we’re not anymore. I’m sorry I lied to you.”

Shane let go of her. “Your father wants you to marry Brett.” Statement, not a question.

“More like demanding. And when he did, I snapped. Something inside me finally said enough was enough and I couldn’t take one more second of it. If I’d thought I could ignore my dad and stay in New York, I would have. But he’d never leave me alone and honestly, I needed a break. I wanted to get far away so I could think without interference. I’m hoping by the time I go back this absurd idea of his has passed, and my father realizes how much his control is hurting me.”

“What does Brett think?”

“He agreed with my father.”

“He’s got feelings for you.” Kagan wasn’t sure if Shane was asking or stating a fact, his voice indifferent.

She shrank into the couch at his impartial attitude. His stiff posture. “I don’t know. I guess. But he just wants to please my dad and hopes one day we might feel differently about each other.” She covered her face with her hands. “I hate him for going along with my father’s request. I lost all respect for him the day he and my dad cornered me at the office and my dad told me what he expected before the year was out.”

Shane gently pulled her hands down and inched closer. His eyed had darkened with concern, friendship, and maybe even affection. He made a low, growly sound. Something deep in her belly reacted. A butterfly bonanza that took her thoughts to dangerous places—places like kissing. “The guy’s an ass.”

Kagan scooted back until her butt pressed against the couch arm. Kissing? Bad idea. Touching? Bad idea. Thinking? Bad idea.
Best bad ideas ever, though.
“My dad or Brett?”

A lazy smile crept across his handsome face. “You’re funny, Jelly Belly.” He rubbed his thumb across her knuckles. “Both.”

“I’m sorry for dragging you into my problems.”

He moved his gaze around the room. Kagan couldn’t be sure, but he seemed to stop at the picture of her and her mom on the mantle. “You can’t marry Brett.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

“Like that you made the right choice coming here?” His knee brushed hers and stupid flutters sprang back to life. “Like you fit in here and make Cascade a better place?” He fixed warm eyes on her. She’d never noticed the tiny flecks of brilliance in their blue-gray color before.

“Go on,” she said, poking fun. Otherwise she’d melt.

Dumb move. He smiled again—the one where his sexy lips stayed pressed together but spread so wide, a girl wanted to drop her inhibitions and do naughty things with him.

“Your dad’s an idiot. Parents aren’t supposed to dictate. They’re supposed to guide. Lose sight of that, you lose your kid.” His gaze slipped down. “How’d you get this?” He lifted his hand and grazed her cheek with his thumb.

She wanted to lean her cheek into his hand, but before she had the chance he pulled it away, gave a small shake of his head, as if reminding himself they weren’t on display here. “It’s a Chickenpox scar. I got them just before I was one.”

“I had Fifths Disease when I was three.”

Kagan scrunched up her nose.

“Figured we were swapping disease stories. It’s some contagious rash that was all over my body. The worst part was my mom and dad got it too. Mom had no symptoms, but was pregnant with Sela and had to go through a bunch of tests. My dad was sick as a dog. Fever, rash, joint pain.”

“That’s awful.”

Shane shrugged. “So, you have any other tiny scars? Maybe in places only a boyfriend would know about?” He reached for the hem of her dress like he wanted to take a peek underneath.

She swatted his hand away. “No! But I do have…”

His eyes widened. “Yeah?”

What was she doing?
Danger, Kagan Owens!
Flirting with Shane when her fortitude was already caught in his too-likeable presence like a bear’s paw in honey meant trouble deeper than the sea.

“Kay?” he said when she hadn’t continued.

“Nothing.” She popped to her feet. “So what’s this surprise you have for me? It must be something really big since you’ve got nothing on you.” She stretched her neck in a gesture to look around him.

He took hold of her waist, brought her close. She loved that he liked to touch her, that he couldn’t seem to help himself. It was foolish, but true. His muscled chest brushed her soft one and her legs went a little limp. Good thing he held her.

“I’m going to discover that
nothing
before this week is over,” he said, his voice husky.

Oh my.
Zings of pleasure wove a maze through her body.
You should go for it,
Charlotte had said. And more and more Kagan could see the value of benefits to their friendship. For one, it would ease the growing ache between her legs whenever he stood near. For two, she hadn’t had sex in way too long and who better to help her get back in the game than the sexiest guy she’d ever met? And third, if they really wanted to sell this relationship, the afterglow she was sure would flare like the North Star
for days
ought to do the trick.

“Umm…” Her brain cells had taken a vacation.

“You are damn cute when you’re flustered, Jelly Belly.”

She twisted out of his arms. “You’re infuriating.”

“And good-looking.”

“Maddening.”

“Hot.” He smirked.

Oh my God. How was it he could be so full of himself and humble at the same time? His teasing voice wiped out any ego.

“The surprise?” she asked, hands on her hips.

“Pack a bag. We’re going camping.”

Chapter Eight

Shane had camped a dozen or so times in his life, but this time he had a brand new challenge: surviving Kagan. He hadn’t exactly thought this plan through when he decided to head to Sandpiper today so they could camp overnight and then join Erin’s group tomorrow.

He hadn’t thought about how her blond hair smelled like heaven, how her long tan legs made him want to take her to heaven, or how her smile might be that of an angel, but on the tip of her shoulder sat a tantalizing devil.

He did know he’d thought about taking them away from prying eyes—from Brett’s specifically. He couldn’t explain why, but he wanted to get Kagan alone and keep pretending. Maybe act on his attraction because he
wanted
to, not because he had to. The little island a half-mile from shore offered privacy and escapism—a chance to swim, hike, and forget about real life for a little while.

Forget about his screw-ups, his boss, and her innuendo that he remain single if he wanted that promotion.

“This is harder than it looks,” Kagan called over her shoulder, paddling their inflatable kayak like a pro.

He’d watched her every paddle stroke as they’d rowed in perfect sync. The tiring sun bathed her in the perfect light from the get-go. “We’re almost there, but if you’re worn out, I can get us the rest of the way.”

“Who said anything about being worn out?” she tossed back.

Shane grinned. The woman wasn’t a quitter. When he’d told her he wanted to take her to Sandpiper, that they’d kayak and hike and swim and catch the biggest sand crabs she’d ever laid eyes on, her face had lit up with eagerness.

She’d never camped or kayaked before, and now that she knew how to swim she said she couldn’t think of anything more perfect.

“See that stretch of sand there, that’s where we’ll land,” he said. Despite the strong current, the kayak’s solid floor structure made it responsive to their paddle strokes and they hit their mark with relative ease moments later.

Ten minutes after that Shane had pulled the boat out of the water and unloaded their bags from the storage area underneath the stern. Kagan had grabbed the two tightly wound sleeping bags tucked under the rim at the bow. They unzipped their life vests and he secured them inside the kayak.

Saltwater coated his lips, sweat trickled down his back, and a sea goddess stood before him. In tiny, hot pink board shorts and a black tank top, Kagan stretched his already taut muscles even further. And once again Shane was reminded of his idiocy.

“Are we the only ones here?” she asked, surprised.

“Probably not. The current on this side of the island is a little more difficult to navigate so most visitors go ashore on the other side.”

Kagan used her hand as a visor and searched the beach area. Vegetation grew about fifty yards away behind them, but the sand hung on longer looking left and right. “How big is Sandpiper?”

“Two square miles. The highest peak is something like fifteen hundred feet.”

“You’ve stayed overnight before?”

“Yep.” He toed their belongings a little further away from the water’s edge.

“Are there any animals?”

He tugged her hand away from her forehead and brought her close. “None more dangerous than me.”

“So the sand crabs, that’s it?”

He threw his head back and laughed. She wiggled out of his hold. Good thing, because he seriously wanted to kiss those sharp lips of hers all the way until tomorrow.

“For real, though, Shane. Are there?” Worry crept into her voice and he immediately brushed aside his mirth.

Guess a city girl from New York didn’t spend a lot of time in the wild.

“Lizards, salamanders, sparrows, meadowlarks, jackrabbits, skunks, and I think that’s it.” He put his arm around her shoulder, and they sat facing the ocean in the soft, pale sand. “Nothing to worry about. Occasionally a sea lion will wander onto shore, but they keep their distance.”

“Thank you.” She bumped his knee with hers. “I thought maybe there were wild boar or something.”

“You don’t like pigs?”

“Not even Mrs. Witt’s. Stupid, I know. But when I was seven my mom took me to the county fair and we were watching one of those pig races. You know, the one with the little pigs that weigh like twenty pounds? I guess maybe they were babies? We were standing right near the finish line and one of the pigs veered completely off track. It circled around my legs and squealed and wouldn’t stop until I fell and cut open the underside of my chin. It scared me. Then I was embarrassed because everyone was staring and kids were laughing. I had nightmares for weeks after that and woke up hearing the squealing in my ears.” She rested her cheek on her bent knees and looked up at him. “I needed six stitches too.”

“That’s not the—”

“No.” The corner of her mouth lifted.

Not the
nothing,
but something different. Something more. Another piece of her that she’d blessed him with.

“Let me see,” his said, gently pushing her shoulder until she fell back against the sand. He lay down beside her on his side, arm bent, head in his hand, and tilted her chin up.

“There’s only a faint tiny white line there now,” she breathed.

Shane angled his head for a closer look. He slid the tips of his fingers down her long, slim neck. Her eyelids closed.

He couldn’t help himself. He moved closer until his lips grazed the tiny reminder. To let her know he was grateful she’d shared the story with him? He didn’t have a clue. All he knew was that she had some sort of pull on him he couldn’t fight.

Her head fell to the side, an invitation, he decided, to keep going. He brushed his lips along her jaw. She tasted like coconut sunscreen and woman and his head spun in heady response.

“Every new thing you tell me makes me…” He reached that little spot just under her earlobe, and she shivered.

“Makes you…”

Want you more.
“Wonder what else I don’t know about you.”

“I think you know it all now.”

“We both know that’s not true.” He ran his finger over the curve of her shoulder and down her arm while his mouth moved back under her chin. Cashmere. Her skin felt as soft as cashmere.

She turned her head. He caught her lashes lifting. “Shane?” she whispered.

“Yeah?” he said from the base of her throat.

“What are we doing?”

He lifted up. Flushed cheeks and dewy-eyed, his Kagan gave new meaning to innocently sexy. And what a prick he’d be to take advantage of that.

His Kagan?

Sense hit him upside the head. The very last thing he wanted was to hurt her and if they had a fling or he let himself get too close, he would. Somehow he would. And that would kill him. She deserved more than he had to offer.

“
We
are going on a hike.” He jumped to his feet and put out a hand to help her up. “We’ve got about an hour of daylight left so let’s not waste it.”

She gripped his hand and yanked him back down. He straddled her hips, bracing his hands in the sand on either side of her head as she wrapped her arms around his neck and brought him closer. “I’ve got a better idea,” she murmured.

“Kagan,” he warned. What little self-control he had left was about to snap.

Moving both hands to his face now, she cradled his cheeks with more tenderness than he deserved. Girls looked at him all the time. But not like this. Not like she saw him as
human
, faults and all, and still liked him. Most women didn’t see much beyond the exterior. They wanted the spot next to him for bragging rights more than anything else. But Kagan pulled his legs out from under him and all the confidence and swagger he used to keep his heart safe was replaced by fear and humility.

“Shane,” she cooed back.

Then she kissed him.

And he was lost.

Lips sweeter than anything he’d ever tasted. Delicate but unyielding. Also trouble with a capital T.

He felt the kiss everywhere in the most hellish good way imaginable. He kissed her back, the thrill of connecting like this rousing his greed. He’d been aching for this moment since the second he’d met her and the fact that she took the initiative set his blood on fire.

The kiss started like they had all the time in the world. Slow. Sensual. Sincere. When he couldn’t take it anymore, he teased her lips open with his tongue. She let out a moan and allowed him inside.

The sexy sound, her surrender, took his pleasure and magnified it times a thousand. Better than his daydreams, better than his fantasies.

Her hands moved to his shoulder blades, stroked his back. He sank against her, careful to keep the majority of his weight on his arms. He licked and nibbled, their tongues mated, and he deepened the kiss. Tingles—he didn’t get tingles—went off where her fingers touched through his shirt. He’d never wanted someone more than he wanted Kagan, but he had to slow things back down. Savor this—whatever this was.

She groaned when he let up on the pressure. He echoed her sentiment and moved his lips against hers in careful abandon to take the edge off the strain in his shorts. He concentrated on her ripe mouth, on bringing
her
to the edge. It must have worked because she wanted no part of slow after he’d lingered for maybe half a minute. She squeezed his shoulders, curled her tongue around his and kissed him so thoroughly stars winked behind his eyelids.

Had he ever had a kiss this good? This mind-blowing?

No. And no.

The sound of birds chirping reminded him where they were. He opened his eyes and found her beautiful green gaze looking up at him. The high-pitched bird sounds must have caught her attention, too.

He straightened his arms, hating to break apart. Her swollen, well-kissed lips curved into a smile. He was pretty sure the corners of his mouth would remain upward until next year.

“Thank you,” she said.

Thank you? What did that mean? A guy didn’t want to be thanked for pouring his heart and soul into a kiss. He wanted to continue until they were both naked and shouting each other’s names.

“It’s just been a really long time since I’ve kissed someone like that and I wanted to break my dry spell with you.” She shifted up onto her elbows so he had no choice but to back away. “I mean, what are friends for, right?”

Jesus. Put a clamp on his heart why didn’t she? He got comfortable on his ass and dug his heels into the sand. Tried to ignore the tightness in his chest.

“Right,” he said.

“I didn’t think you’d mind.”

“I didn’t.”

“Want to take that hike now?” She wiped her hands of sand like she’d just finished building a sand castle, not almost kissed the pants off him.

“How about a quick swim first?” He needed to cool down. A dip in the Pacific might do the trick.

“Okay.” She jumped to her feet and went to one of the waterproof duffle bags. “The water looks a little calmer now,” she said over her shoulder as she retrieved their towels.

Shane wished the same could be said for him. He pulled his shirt over his head, slid off his old sneakers, and jogged down to the water. Small, even-tempered waves washed onto shore, making it easy to enter.

He ducked under for a moment before turning to look for Kagan.

Aw, hell. He’d forgotten swimming entailed getting undressed. She walked toward the water in a strapless pink and white striped bikini. The top did a twisty thing and the bottoms were barely there. He almost asked her to do a three-sixty, but thought better of it and gobbled up every inch of her instead, ending on the sparkle in her belly button.

She dove right in, coming up beside him a beat later. “Hey.”

“I like the piercing.”

“
Now
you know everything there is to know about me.” She bobbed up and down even though they weren’t that deep in the water.

“It would take a guy a lifetime to get to know all of you.” He clenched his fists thinking it would be some other guy. “I never would’ve thought you the kind of girl for a body piercing.”

“I’m not really. It was an act of rebellion.” She splashed him in the face. “Catch me and I’ll tell you the story.”

Fish swam slower than Kagan. She moved like one with water, and he damn near drowned trying to reach her. When he snatched her foot and tugged her close, she giggled and squirmed like a young girl. A wave of compassion rushed through him at the thought of her missing out on this growing up.

“Bet you a dollar I can beat you to shore,” she said.

“You’re on. But first you owe me an explanation.”

She put her hands on his shoulders, but otherwise kept her distance. “A few summers ago my dad insisted on us taking a cruise with some other business associates to the Mediterranean. My dad is all about appearances and keeping things proper. I know that sounds funny considering he was a big Hollywood actor, but that was thirty years ago.” Her fingers pressed into his back. “The weeks leading up to the trip were not fun. My dad was all over me about everything. Charlotte took me shopping one day and said I needed to do something to ruffle his feathers. I got the piercing, wore a bikini on the cruise, and he was appalled.

“Now race me back.” She pushed off and kicked her legs so water splashed in his face.

He didn’t move right away, stuck on the scrap of material that covered her very fine rear-end. He owed her a dollar when they got to shore.