Page 25 of Kane

“Kane?” Her voice is low.

“Yeah, babe. Right here.”

“I do not know if I can wear this in public.”

“So don’t.”

“I want to, but I am afraid.”

“Of?”

A sigh. “I do not know. Embarrassment, perhaps? I have never worn anything so revealing in my life, not around anyone, not even Mamma. And my bathing suit at home is a one-piece, with long sleeves.”

“You feel comfortable showing me?” I ask.

I hear her take a deep breath. The changing room door opens, and I’m struck dumb.

Breath is socked out of my lungs.

She stands in front of me, in a bright yellow bikini. Halter top, regular brief-style bottoms, nothing string, nothing crazy. Butfuck. The way she wears it?

“Kane?”

I have to stare.

Just take her in, all that she is. Miles of leg, long and shapely and smooth. Curvy hips, tight stomach, and those small-ish but high, firm tits. Even her shoulders and neck are elegant and sexy.

“Kane?” she repeats; her voice is nervous, uncomfortable. “What do you think?”

“What do I think?” I step closer, wanting to touch her, but I stop short. “Who gives a shit whatIthink, Anjalee? What doyouthink?”

She plucks at the bottoms, then tugs the halter higher. “I wish to know what you think.”

I shake my head—my hand seems to have a mind of its own, rising to rest on her waist. She shivers, her breath halting. “I think you’re fuckin’ perfect, Anjalee. I think that bikini is hot, elegant, and sexy on you. I think…” I step away, removing my hand before it starts wandering. “I think you’re so goddamn gorgeous it hurts to look at you.”

Her hands drop, no longer fidgeting. She steps into me, now, one hand resting ever so gently on the center of my chest. “You think this? Truly?”

“I’ll never lie to you, Anjalee.” I cradle that hand in mine. “Now, I want to know whatyouthink of it.”

“I like it. It is not too revealing, I do not believe. It is comfortable, although I am still wearing my underwear, because I do not think it is sanitary to try a bathing suit on otherwise.”

“No, probably not.”

I can’t think about her underwear. I’ll go crazy. Or, crazy-er.

“You wanna get it?”

“Could I?”

“Of course.”

She swallows hard. “Kane, I am realizing that…you are not my father, or my family. This is not what I realized, however. What I realized is that I am letting you buy things for me as if you are. You are taking care of me, but you barely know me.”

I shake my head. “Darlin’, it’s absolutely my pleasure. And I mean that. I’ve worked a lot, made a good bit of money, and never spent much of it.” I rub my thumb over her knuckles, and I notice her eyes following that movement, then looking at me again. “You’re with me, Anjalee, you’ll never have to worry about a thing.”

“I have never had to worry about a thing.” A frown, a pause. “I’ve never beenallowedto worry about a thing.”

“I think that’s a different conversation, honey. You want to take control of your life and find your own path and earn your own money, I think you oughta be able to do that. But right now, I don’t even know who or what you’re runnin’ from. So that’s later. For right now, we’re ahead of the bad guys, you’re safe, and we’re goin’ swimming.”