Page 12 of Prospect Year

No! He can’t see me this way. She jerked away.

“Just helping,” he said and slowly tugged the edge of the towel lower to fully cover her breast.

Mia sucked in a breath. She had covered her throat, not her front. The marathon in her chest slowed. Maybe that’s it. Men like boobs, right? Maybe that’s all he noticed.

“You’re covered now. Take a deep breath and relax.”

Her eyes darted toward him, then away, occasionally closing only to pop open again and dart around. What to do? Had he actually seen her? He wasn’t running or making fun of her deformity.

His hand cupped her cheek before she knew he had reached for her. It was warm and gentle and filled with a magic that rendered her helpless to move.

“Listen to me,” he told her as he lifted her head. The instant his warm hickory eyes locked with hers, he smiled. “You know you can trust me.”

She could, she felt it deep inside. She nodded slowly.

“No one is here but the two of us.” He paused. His palm still on her cheek, he held her gaze toward him as he slid his free fingers underneath the top of the towel. “Let’s see.”

No, no no, she screamed inside, her fingers white from the force of her grip twisted in the terry cloth material. But her strength was no match for his when he tugged the towel lower, exposing her neck but leaving her breasts hidden. She squeezed her eyes tight against his repulsion. She didn’t need to see his disapproval. She held her breath. Once he got his fill of the true her, she’d have more time to focus on healing instead of thinking of him and discovering ways to spend time with him.

“Is this what frightens you?”

No disdain? No ridicule? Her eyelids popped open. His touch sent a surge of hope through her when his fingertip traced along the edge of the uneven patch of skin covering part of her throat.

“This is what you’ve been hiding? Scars? We all have scars, darling. They’re a part of life. Whether they’re here.” He slid his fingertip down the raised line from her collar bone until it disappeared under her arm. “Or here.” Tapping her head. “Or here.” He touched his hand above her heart. “Everyone has scars. These scars don’t change who you are, or how beautiful you are.”

Finally, she forced herself to look up.

“See here?” He angled his head, running a finger from above the corner of his eye down his cheek. “Does this affect how you think of me?”

Slowly, she shook her head.

“Just like these doesn’t change how I look at you.”

She nodded. She knew these scars did change her. They had changed her entire life.

“Why? Because this took your voice?” he asked.

She nodded again.

“Will it come back?”

Both of her shoulders lifted in uncertainty.

“I see no reason for you to hide. You’re beautiful. These scars you’re afraid of don’t put a dent in that beauty.” He ran his fingers along the rough, pale skin again. And again, locking his gaze on hers.

Another pass of his touch over the mangled area and Mia relaxed and melted into his touch.

She watched Lola’s features shift from the caring sweetness to something else. Leaning close, he suggested, “I can cover them with kisses until you forget they’re even there.”

Mia sucked in a breath and shoved against him. Heat filled her face, burning as it traveled down her chest.

“Not letting you go,” he told her. “We can make fireworks of our own right here.” He bounced his brows.

She fell flat on her back, laughing inside, wishing it could be heard.

“Are you laughing at me?”

She bit her lips together, nodding.