Page 165 of Love Unwritten
WILLOW
Also, did you get a new tattoo on your hip bone? I don’t think I’ve seen that one before.
ME
Yes, and stop changing the subject.
WILLOW
Sorry, your boobs distracted me for a second.
I knew I shouldn’t have bought a few swimsuits from this one boutique in town that we love, but at the time, Willow’s endless compliments gave me enough confidence to buy three bathing suits from this year’s summer collection inspired by different sorbets.
That should have been my first clue that this was a terrible idea, but I couldn’t resist the pink one-piece with feminine sleeves. It was too cute to pass up on. I had intended to save it for a boat day on the lake with our friends, but Willow clearly had other plans.
ME
I look like a doll.
WILLOW
Hell yeah. Do you think Rafael will want to play with you?
She adds a winking emoji.
With a groan, I toss my phone on the bed. I wrap a sarong around my hips to give myself some coverage. The mesh see-through material doesn’t hide much, but it makes me feel more comfortable in my own skin, so it’s staying for now.
Do you trust me? Rafael’s question from earlier bounces around in my head.
Seeing as I’m about to step outside dressed like this, the answer is painfully obvious.
With one last glance in the mirror, I head to the living room with my head held high. Nico is distracted by whatever game he is playing on Rafael’s phone, but his father is completely, irrevocably focused on me.
His eyes darken as they slowly trail down my body. Not knowing his thoughts drives me mad, and I’m tempted to break the spell and ask him for his opinion.
When he gets to my legs, his hooded eyes flick back up to mine before he traces his bottom lip with the tip of his tongue.
For a brief moment, I wish we didn’t have to fight our attraction. That we could just exist without any kind of issue holding us back.
As much as I love Nico, I’m slowly developing serious feelings for his father that can’t be ignored, no matter how hard I try, which can only lead to one thing.
Trouble.
Rafael pauses our walk toward the beach to pluck a hibiscus flower from a bush. I’ve quickly grown to love Nico and him competing for the prettiest flower, although the one Rafael picked today may be the best yet. Not because it’s my favorite color—bright pink—but because of the way he looks at me while he tucks the flower behind my ear.
“Thank you for trusting me.” His finger grazes the shell of my ear before he pulls away.
Goose bumps spread across my skin. “I’m going to miss receiving all these flowers when we go back home.”
His head tilts. “You are?”
“Yeah. I’ve been saving them all.”
“Why?”
“Wanted to have something special to remember this vacation.”
He makes a face as if he wants to say something, but then Nico tugs on my hand.