Read Online Playing it Kale (The McCain Saga Book 4) by Keary Taylor - Free Book Online Page B

hundreds of islands that surround
us.
    “Isn’t this kind of upending your life
right now, too?” I ask.   “You’re running
away with me and you barely know me.”
    He looks over at me.   It’s hard to tell what he’s thinking behind
those shades.   “I want to come.   I like being with you, Whitney Ford.”
    “I hope you’re not just feeling
obligated to take care of me because you set all this in motion,” I say and the
statement sends a sinking rock into the pit of my stomach.   Cause that has to be
the reason why he’s doing all this.   Guilt is a heavy motivator.   Look
at how I got talked into singing at his brother’s wedding.
    Kale takes his sunglasses off and looks
at me.   “Whit, you’ve shown me more of
your real self in the past four days than I’ve seen in any of the girls I’ve
dated for months at a time.   And I like
it.   I’m not going to lie, you’re the damn most exciting, fun person I’ve been around in years.   So maybe I’m not ready to say goodbye to that
yet.”
    My expression has to be shocked.   Cause that was the
last thing I expected him to say.
    “Is that okay with you?” he asks.   And it doesn’t sound annoyed like I’d have
thought.   It sounds hopeful.  
    And a slow, hesitant smile creeps onto
my face.   Color rises back into my
cheeks.   “Yeah,” I say. “That’s okay with
me.”
    He smiles in return.   And in this moment, it feels like the two of
us are rising up and up in a hot air balloon.   I’ll never touch the ground again.   “Good.   Because I’m pretty sure
I’m never going to get enough of you.”
    My smile grows, and I have to look away
from him before I turn into a Fourth of July firework.   “You know, you’re not what I would have
expected.”   I meet his eyes shyly again.
    “I’ll take that as a compliment,” he
says as he closes the distance between us and wraps his arms around me.
    He holds me for the rest of the ferry
ride, the two of us making quiet comments about the things happening around
us.   Those that are going on in this
moment, the moment of two people being on a ferry, in one of the most beautiful
places in the world; not the surreal world we just left behind.
    I am devastated when he has to let me go
so we can get back to our car when the ferry arrives at Orcas Island.

 
    Calvin had called ahead and found us a
place to stay.   Apparently he has no
problem spending Kale’s money.   It’s a
cabin on the way far end of the island.   Three bedrooms, secluded out in the woods.   And it overlooks the ocean.   When we roll up to it, it feels surreal, like
we’re stepping into a Grimm fairy tale.
    It’s so quiet.   There’s no traffic sounds.   No boats honking.   Nothing but the soft breeze
shifting through the trees above.   It’s gorgeous.   And just what I
need right now.
    Just like a gentleman, Kale grabs my bag
and we walk into the cabin.   After Tony checks our surroundings out.   It’s kind of funny.   Who the heck would ever look for us out here?   He’s like a real deal bodyguard.   He even wears a suit.   He just looks like he’s missing an ear piece
and a gun.   Who knows, maybe he’s got a
concealed weapon.
    And how scary is it that he’s here
because of me?
    The entire inside of the house is
finished with wood walls, much like log cabin.   A large kitchen is off to the right, a dining area, and just beyond
that, a living room with couches that look like they would swallow you in their
comfort.
    “It’s so cozy,” I say with a smile as I
notice the fireplace that takes up the majority of one wall.   We won’t be needing it in the warm late August air, but it’s perfect nonetheless.
    “Yeah, not bad,” Kale says with a smile
as he looks back at me.   I can’t help but
return it.   I follow him back down the
hall.
    Three bedrooms.   There’s one for Tony.   Calvin’s arriving in just an hour or
two.   I’m pretty sure he’s not the type
to be