Kelsey mock-frowns at me.
“I don’t know if I can date someone involved in organized crime.”
I am momentarily struck speechless and confused. How did she get that from what I just told her? And then the curvy girl bursts out laughing. She’s teasing me and her laugh is as enchanting as a siren song. An image of her as a mermaid pops into my head, topless with those silky curls spilling over her amazing breasts, a shimmering tail, and pouty strawberry colored lips.
“We definitely need to teach you to swim so you can be my own personal mermaid.”
She smirks.
“Mermaid? You seem to have a rich fantasy life. But I’m still not sold on the swimming thing.”
“Oh honey, you’ll definitely learn more about my fantasy life as the week goes on but seriously, the swimming is a practical thing. You need to know how to swim to come out on the yacht with me. I need to know that I’m not risking your life if we decide to spend a weekend on the boat. If you’re not comfortable with me teaching you, I’m sure I can hire someone here to give you lessons.”
She blushes.
“It’s not that, Keith. I’m sure you’re a wonderful instructor. I’m just worried it’ll be embarrassing. I’m a big girl and I can probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve been in a bathing suit. I went to the Hamptons with my college roommate once because her family has a place there. She was nice enough but her mom made me feel really uncomfortable about the bikini I brought. She offered to take me shopping and insisted I try on all these full coverage one piece bathing suits. She said they were “more flattering” for my figure, but I think she was just embarrassed that her daughter was friends with a curvy girl.”
I’m astonished and outraged.
“What a fucking bitch.”
Kelsey nods.
“I know, right? I was basically a teenage girl, and that woman was so mean to me. But I’m over it, mostly. I just don’t wear swimsuits a lot, and I think the only time in recent memory was when Melissa convinced me to go to the Jersey Shore with her. I had a cover-up on the entire time though, so it doesn’t really count.”
I stare at her.
“Did you bring a bathing suit Kelsey?”
She smiles.
“I brought two. Melissa helped me pick them out.”
I shake my head.
“Remind me to give her a raise. I can’t wait to see how you look in those suits because I’m sure you’re beautiful, honey, despite what some bitchy college roommate’s mom says. Let’s shoot for the goal of snorkeling by the end of our trip. You’ll enjoy yourself and your inhibitions will float away, I promise.”
She nods hesitantly, and it makes me sad to see someone as amazing as Kelsey so insecure. It also makes me angry that so many people in her past have fed those insecurities. Who the fuck are these people? Our dessert has arrived and I’ve picked my favorite to share with her. Her eyes go wide.
“Tiramisu! My favorite. How did you know?”
I grin. “I didn’t know but it’s my favorite too. It’s a recipe from my time with the mafia, remember?”
Her laughter lights up her face and I know I’m falling for Kelsey. As my eyes run over that curvy figure, I see her swollen and heavy with my child. I see her feeding our baby from her breast while her belly fills up again with another baby.
What the hell? This is crazy, but for the first time ever, I see myself with a family. I desperately want to take her up to my room and make love to her again right now, to start that family tonight. But I don’t want her to feel like I’m only interested in sex. After all, I’ve already messed up by not telling her the truth about my real motivation for inviting her on this trip, and now I have to prove to her I’m interested in getting to know her.
After the meal, I escort her to her suite. I resist the temptation to re-enact Aerosmith’s Love in an Elevator video as the lift accelerates, and merely keep our good night kiss short and sweet.
“I’ll see you at nine a.m. for that bike ride,” I tell her as the key card unlocks her door. I’m a model of self-control, even if her expression is confused when I don’t step in.
“Good night, beautiful.” And then I force myself to leave, even if my body hums with longing for my gorgeous employee.8KelseyWhat just happened? Keith left and went back to his own room. I’m wearing the sexiest damn corset-bustier thing I have ever owned in my life and it’s going to be wasted. What a shame!
I pace back and forth wondering if I said or did something that took sex off the table for the evening. I have to admit to myself that after joining the Mile High Club with Keith the day before, my libido is in high gear. Every touch sends ropes of desire radiating from my center, and I desperately want to be touched by him. So what just happened?