Chapter 13
Kissing. Kat mused there was nothing like it. Even if it was in a dream.
And as her new husband’s mouth took hers in a long, passionate kiss, a deep and longing ache consumed her; as real as the simulation might be, Kat was inwardly aware that the moment wasn’t real.
Still, she tilted her head, fisted the back of his hair, and gave into one of the most glorious kisses she’d ever known. Slow, smooth, and so very sweet. “Duke.”
A sudden clank sounded, tearing the vision out of her head in a flash. Her eyes fluttered open, but she was quick to clench them shut once more.
She groaned. Go back to sleep. Go back to sleep. Please please please go back to sleep.
But it was already too late. More senses were waking as the savory aroma of bacon wafted into the room for the second morning in a row.
Kat propped herself onto her elbows, puffed out a sigh, and forced her eyes to flutter back open. It took a moment for them to adjust to the brightness, but soon she was focused on the sight through the wall-sized windows surrounding the room.
It was hard to complain about waking up to an endless view of the Maldives. The gorgeous sight provided an ocean of endorphins to rush in. It was a wonder anyone could sleep past sunrise with a view like that.
A quick glance at the nearby couch said Duke hadn’t bothered to fold up the blanket he’d used last night.
He probably had some sort of cleaning service at home.
His pillow lay crumpled on the floor beside it, and Kat couldn’t help but wonder if the bungalow-provided luxury—made with real down feathers—hadn’t been flat enough for him.
She chuckled to herself, recalling their conversation that night at the buffet.
He was so…adorable. And handsome. And wonderful in a whole lot of ways.
Kat had been surprised to discover—on their first morning at the bungalow—that her groom liked to cook.
Only morning foods, he’d stipulated while gliding an omelet gracefully onto her plate. He was good at it too.
She was certain he was good at other things as well, like the kisses he gave her in her dreams, but he hadn’t put those skills to use since their wedding day.
And while Kat had wanted to keep a slow pace during the honeymoon—they were just getting to know each other, after all—she was ready for more.
In fact, she had been ready for more since they’d arrived.
Another day had come and gone since their arrival.
And what a beautiful day it had been. Yesterday, she and her new groom had gone snorkeling along the coral reef, picnicking on the glistening white sand, and watching a school of stingray swim right beneath their bungalow while they enjoyed drinks on the patio at sunset. All while the cameras rolled.
And though the day had—in a lot of ways—been like a dream of its own, there had been one thing missing: his kiss. Kat wasn’t sure if her groom was camera shy or simply concerned about being a gentleman, but she was determined to find out.
A third option had come to mind on more than one occasion, one that said he might not be interested in her romantically. But if that were the case, Kat would have sensed it, right?
Despite her limited relationship experience, she knew what chemistry felt like. And when it came to her and the man cooking breakfast for her in the other room, the chemistry was like a life force of its own. Urging them to explore it.
Maybe today they would.
With that thought, Kat climbed out of bed, pulled the sheets tight, and smoothed the ivory comforter over top.
A quick toss of the colorful throw pillows she’d removed last night, and the bed was picture perfect.
Her mind drifted back to the moment she’d removed those pillows.
She’d been nursing a pretty big disappointment, one that explained the dream she’d just had.
It was just that, after flirting the entire day, and sharing a few almost-kisses as well, Kat had been certain Duke would kiss her goodnight. Instead, he’d ended the evening with a friendly embrace and headed over to his couch for the night.
The incident breathed life into that third option she didn’t want to believe was really an option—that perhaps the chemistry really was one-sided.
The thought was a very dark cloud in her head, a stark contrast to the brightness illuminating the bedroom. Don’t focus on that, Kat. Your intuition could be right. He’s probably just being polite. She tried to focus on the view once more.
Such beauty. Turquoise water that glowed like crystal against the white, sandy beach. A magnificent sun in the cloudless sky, shining its glorious, faithful rays. Warmth. Promise. Paradise.
“Thank you, Lord,” she said under her breath. “Help me make the most of this day.”
A round of taps sounded at the glass, and Kat spun to see Marsha standing outside the patio door. “We’d like to get a video diary in the next ten minutes or so. You up for it?”
Kat glanced down at her PJs—a silk camisole and matching shorts. “Sure. Just let me get dressed real quick.”
“Okay,” the producer said. “We’ll pull Duke out of the kitchen for a bit and get his first.”
“Sounds good.” With that, Kat hurried into the restroom, snatched her toothbrush, and squeezed a dab of minty toothpaste on top. And as she hurried to get ready, several questions invaded her mind.
Did Duke like her as much as she liked him?
And if it weren’t for the cameras and the crew that ran them, would he have kissed her by now?
And what would he do if she made the first move?
For now, she didn’t have the answers she wanted. Hopefully after today, she would.
Zander dabbed the freshly cooked bacon strips with a paper towel, wondering if it would look too obvious if he disappeared from sight suddenly.
Sure, Marsha and the crew were busy filming Kat’s morning interview, but with all the glass walls in the bungalow, it’d be easy to see that Zander had snuck off.
Who cared? An entire day and a half had gone by with no sign of Duke. What there had been signs of was a chemistry more promising than Zander had ever known. It was like torture, having a glimpse into something that he’d never be able to have.
With another quick glance at the setup on the dock, Zander washed up, dried his hands, and bolted into their room. He was quick to rush over to the bedside, duck behind the massive bed, and grab the phone. He dialed, waited, and felt his muscles clench once Duke answered with a sleepy voice.
“Hello?”
“Please tell me that you are on your way. Or already here.”
Duke grunted, then yawned. “I’m not.”
“Why?” Zander clenched a tight fist as lava-like heat exploded in his chest.
“I was thinking about it,” Duke said. “And I don’t want to be married to some chick you have the hots for. Or one who has the hots for you. It’s awkward now.”
Zander felt his eyes double in size. His mouth dropped open, but shock stopped even one word from forming. So he repeated one of Duke’s instead. “Awkward?”
“Yes, awkward. It’s obvious that you’re into her, Zan. Don’t pretend otherwise. You should have heard yourself on that message.”
The message—the one he’d left after Kat flittered into the room in a bath robe. Zander had been pretty desperate when he’d made that plea.
“Just…get it out of your system,” Duke continued. “If you want to kiss her and see if there’s some connection, go for it. I don’t have any claim on her.”
Zander tipped his head. “You’re married to her.”
“That’s…c’mon, Zander. I haven’t even met her. I’m trying to do the right thing here.”
“So am I.” His mind was a disrupted hive of bees, buzzing crazily with possibilities he’d never imagined. But could he really accept his brother’s offer to test out the relationship?
“Then don’t hold back while you’re there. Not for my sake, anyway. Like I really want to be married to someone that you’re secretly pining away for.”
Zander’s jaw dropped anew. He wanted to accept Duke’s offer, but he couldn’t get over the idea that it would come at a cost. “Are you going to be mad at me now?”
“Tsk, I don’t know yet.”
“What do you mean you don’t know?”
“I mean, I’m pissed,” Duke admitted. “But I don’t see how I can blame you for it. It’s mostly my fault.”
Mostly? Zander resisted the urge to say it was all Duke’s fault, mainly because he felt guilty for liking Kat. “I can’t believe we’re having this conversation,” he said, more to himself than to Duke.
“Well, believe it. You better go before you get busted.”
“What are we supposed to do about the whole swap thing? And Kat? If I’m really pursuing her, I should tell her who I am.”
“No, don’t. That…that freaks me out.”
A vision of Kat floated to his mind. “I know. Me too.”
“I mean, I guess you can tell her,” Duke said, “but don’t do it unless you think she’s like, falling in love with you. Seriously.”
The idea of Kat falling in love with him caused the center of his chest to ache and thump. “Right,” Zander mumbled in reply. A nervous laugh sounded in his throat. “My mind is blown right now. I didn’t even think this was an option.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t think there’s a better one,” Duke said, “all things considered.”
It was like Zander had suddenly gained access to something he wanted more than anything in his life—a real chance with Kat. And Duke—of all people—had given it to him.
Now he could be himself. Now he could really get to know her. Get close when he wanted, and see if she felt the same.
He shook his head, loving that list of possibilities. “Thanks, man. I mean it.”
His brother performed a loud yawn. “Sure. Just…don’t blow it.” With that, he disconnected the line.
Zander reached back to place the phone on the cradle as well, trying to pull himself out of the shock and awe state. He was free to pursue Kat. Really pursue her. He tossed a triumphant fist into the air as he stood to his feet, wanting to break into a celebration strut across the room.
The water beyond the glass caught his eye then, sparking an urge Zander would not fight. Not now, with all the feels of potential coursing through him like a colossal current. At once, he shrugged out of his tee shirt, stripped down to his boxer shorts, and hurried out the sliding door.
One quick hoist got him onto the railing. Zander balanced on the bar just long enough to hurl himself over the edge and into the crystal ocean. Once the pressure of cool water surrounded him, Zander let out a celebratory shout. “Heck yeah! Wooh!”
He popped out of the water and shook the drops from his hair. A small round of applause gained his attention from the nearby dock. Kat stood up to the railing, shaking her head with a grin that revved a whole new kind of heat in his belly.
“Well done,” she said.
Zander grinned in return, eyeing Marsha and the camera crew who stood waiting.
He’d give just about anything to overhear what she was saying.
But perhaps now that he didn’t have to hold back, Zander would be able to find out—for himself—just where she stood.
That thought brought with it an idea Zander hadn’t considered.
What if she didn’t return his feelings? What if—for Kat—the chemistry just wasn’t there?
Zander sank beneath the water as the fear grew louder, hoping to drown out the noise in his head. It was possible she didn’t feel the same way. But at least now, he was ready to find out.