Perfect Strangers

“I thought you’d be livid, I wanted to get back here before poison ivy got to you first.”

“Hell no. I’m annoyed I wasn’t there to see him go down. Poison ivy? That’s a… new way to describe… my mother, I like… it,” she stuttered through a wild laugh that had consumed her body.

“I’m not going to the dinner rehearsal tonight,” he said, his face suddenly turning serious, “there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

Myla’s laugh died instantly as she looked at him. His eyes twitched when he moved his gaze from her to the floor. He sighed, running a hand across the back of his neck and then shifted his weight on the chair.

“Is it anything I need to be worried about?” She asked. Her voice coming out shaky and sounding like gravel.

“No, Myla. No,” he replied gently shaking his head. He swung his body around on the seat to face her. His hand reached out and his fingers entwined themselves in her hair, “we are going home tomorrow night and Uhm…you know…I Uhm…” He stopped talking as he tried hard to find the right words to say. He didn’t want to come on too strong and scare the crap out of her.

“Say it, whatever you want to say, just say it,” she whispered.

Blowing out a huge breath, he nodded and smiled. “Myla, I like you. I like you a lot and I want to tell you that I feel like I’m, no scrap that, I am fall-”

“How’s the dress coming along?” Snapped Grace cutting him off from his declaration. Myla watched him with a quizzical stare, his jaw went rigid and a twitch appeared in his cheek. He was clearly annoyed.

“Uhm, yes good. Another few hours and it will be ready for another fitting, if my measurements are correct then it will just be a case of the details to be added,” she replied, her eyes still poised on Kai.

“Well, that’s great. You’ll have to call me when it’s ready for a fitting and I’ll come back from the rehearsal to try it on.”

Myla nodded without looking at Grace. “Sure thing.”

“Right, well I’ll leave you to it,” replied Grace, as she turned and headed back out the summer house.

“Fancy a break?” He finally asked. Unclenching his jaw he threw her a dazzling smile.

“Wait, you were in the middle of telling me something.” Moving Grace’s dress, she slid closer to him.

“It doesn’t matter, the moment has passed. Fancy some ice cream? I see there is an ice cream parlor not far from here,” he said standing up and holding out his hand to her.

“I can’t, Kai. I’ve got to get this dress finished.”

“You can take an hour off. Come on, you need a break,” he replied as he took her hands and pulled her to her feet. “I promise you an hour tops, then I’ll make sure you’re back to finish the dress.”

“On one condition,” she stated causing him to roll his eyes.

“Now, what would that be?”

“You tell me what you were going to say.” She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“How about we compromise. Come for ice cream, and I’ll tell you later, in bed, when I’m seducing this sexy fucking body of yours,” he purred in her ear. His teeth grazed her lobe, then he nipped her neck and he heard a small moan rumble from her mouth.

“Okay,” she whispered, “deal.”

“Myla, I get the impression you will agree to anything when I’m attacking your neck,” he whispered whilst seductively trailing kisses down towards her collarbone.

“I think you could be right,” she chuckled pushing him away. “Let’s go before I change my mind.”

Throwing his arm around her shoulder they walked across the garden and through the gate. She could hear Grace yelling her name as they headed down the driveway towards the main gates. “Are you not going to tell her where you’re going?” Kai asked.

“Nope, I’ll let her stew.” She laughed loudly, slamming the gates behind her.

“Have you missed home?” She asked, his arm fell loose from her shoulder and he took her hand as they walked.

“No, I haven’t, but then I’ve had you to keep me occupied,” he replied, suddenly coming to a standstill. Turning to face him, he took her other hand and glanced down at the fake engagement ring sat on her finger. His thumb brushed lightly over it and he smiled briefly before clearing his throat. “Will I still have you to keep me occupied when we go back home?”

She sighed and pursed her lips, briefly glancing down to her hands held in his, “Why do you ask that?”