15

“It really is a pretty lake,” Emily stated as she laid down on her stomach and faced the water. Kian laid next to her on his side. His eyes weren’t on the water. He was looking at Emily. 

“How’d I get so lucky?” Kian asked Emily. She took her eyes off the water and looked at him.

“Lucky about what?” 

“Finding you.” He smiled genuinely. Emily felt her cheeks warming. “Why are you blushing, sweetheart?” 

“Hush,” Emily teased and put her head down into the blanket. Kian laughed. 

“Don’t believe me,” he asked trying to peek under her arm. She laughed and turned her head. “Maybe I should say it every day so you get used to it. Hmm? I don’t think that will work.” Emily lifted her head, faced Kian and rested her head on one of her arms.

“Why wouldn’t it work?” 

“Because then you might get tired of hearing it.” Emily smiled.

“This is true.” Kian frowned. Emily leaned up and kissed him on his cheek. “But, thank you for being sweet.” 

“It’s what you deserve. I’m sorry I haven’t shown you more of my gentleman side. I apologize.” 

“I think we both have been a bit... um ...” She searched for the right word. Hormonal seemed like a word that should only be used for adolescents, pregnant women, and women going through menopause. Plus she didn’t want to ruin the mood by saying horny.

“Hormonal,” Kian offered. Emily laughed and nodded. 

“I was just thinking that word, but thought it related to too many other things.” Kian smiled and placed his hand on her hip. 

“I think it fits.” He chuckled. The sun was hitting him just right. It made his great features stand out even more, especially his smile. Emily loved his smile. It had been hard earlier at the diner to stay mad at him. Every time he smiled at her, she had melted. His smile was her kryptonite. Hell. Every inch of him was her kryptonite.

Emily looked around again taking in the breathtaking scenery. The cool breeze against her face was welcoming. The sun was beaming down and warming her. The breeze and sun were the perfect combination. 

“The weather is perfect,” Emily sighed pleasantly. “Everything is perfect here. Is it always like this?” Kian looked around. 

“For the most part. Occasionally, there are get-togethers. Not a lot of them though.” Emily propped her head up on her elbow and faced him.

“Why not? Everyone seems friendly in Camden,” she teased. Kian smiled briefly.

“Long story, but most want to just stick to themselves or their family.” 

“And what about you?” His body tensed. “You don’t have to answer. I was just curious.” 

“No. It’s okay,” he smiled. “I’ve always been a loner. I talk to everyone I pass out of courtesy. Going out of my way to say, ‘hi’ or visit them is rare. I prefer my space.”

“Am I intruding in your space?” Kian shook his head. 

“No. You are far from intruding. You are putting my life back together.”

Emily melted in that moment. She felt the same way about him. Sure. She had been on an emotional rollercoaster since arriving at Camden; however, Kian made it all worth it. Even when she was mad at him, just having him close to her was comforting. She felt safe. It was a feeling she had grown to appreciate and love. 

“What about you,” he asked. 

“Hmm... outside of animals I prefer to be alone.” He gave her a funny look which made her laugh. “I’m a vet tech.”

“What’s that?” 

“You really do need to get out of this town more often,” she grinned. “I assist a veterinarian. So I’m around animals all day. Cats, dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits. We also do house calls out on farms. On those days I get to play with cows, pigs, and horses. Sometimes chickens.” Kian threw his head back and laughed. It was a whole-hearted laugh. When he was done laughing, he looked at her and smiled.

“You like working with animals?” Emily nodded without thought. Being around four-legged animals and such calmed her. It was the two legged animal that got on her nerves. Especially Dr. Hemington, who was going to have her ass when she got back to work. She couldn’t even send him a text telling him that she'd be back in a week or so. Although, she hadn’t plugged in her phone to charge it since arriving in Camden. The thought of life and her responsibilities had completely slipped her mind.

Emily groaned. 

“What’s wrong,” Kian asked concerned.

“Dr. Hemington is going to kill me.” Kian’s jaw tightened. 

“Who is Dr. Hemington? And why would he kill you? He better not go anywhere near you if he doesn’t want to be the one being killed,” he growled making Emily laugh.

“Relax killer. He’s my boss. A very angry boss I’m sure,” she sighed. “How long was I out of it after the accident any way.” Kian’s lips twisted in thought. 

“Almost two days.”

“What,” she gasped. “Including that day?” He shook his head.

“What’s wrong?” 

“I should have been back to work by... Is today Tuesday?” Kian nodded. 

“Ugh. And it’s Mr. Jingles allergy shots day.” 

“Mr. Jingles?” Emily laughed. 

“Sorry. I forget you don’t know him.”

“A friend of yours,” he growled softly. Emily hit his chest and laughed.

“Kian! It’s a damn cat. Are you jealous?” He smirked.

“Anyone who gets your time makes me jealous.”

“Greedy,” she mused. He leaned over and kissed her gently. Leaving her starstruck. 

“When it comes to you, yes. I am very greedy and jealous. I can’t seem to help it.” He shrugged. Emily found it hard to believe that Kian had never been the jealous type before her. Then again, she hadn’t been the jealous type either until him. 

“Not usually the jealous type?”

“No. I usually don’t plan on keeping someone around so there’s no reason to see someone else as a threat.” 

“That’s true.” 

“With you, I want to be the only man you think about.” He leaned his forehead against hers. “I want to be the only man you wake up next to. The only man who gets your kisses.”

Emily felt like she was dreaming. All the romance books she had written, the male character had always swooped the female character off her feet with his looks, touch, and words. Kian had the looks. Had given her the touch. And now, he was giving her the words. Kian was above and beyond any male character she had ever created. He was too good to be true.

“What are you thinking about, sweetheart,” Kian asked stroking a finger down her cheek. Emily leaned into his touch. He cupped the side of her face. 

“Are you a dream?” She breathed. He shook his head and laughed. 

“I could ask you the same thing, sweetheart. Are you a dream?” 

“Maybe a nightmare, but not a dream.” She slid over to him and he wrapped his arms around her. She laid her head on his chest. 

“You are far from a nightmare, Emily.” He kissed the side of her head. “You’re the best thing to happen to me.”

“Even though I’ve been an emotional wreck?” 

“You’ve gone through a lot. Who wouldn’t be emotional?” His words sent a calm sensation through Emily. They were just the words she needed to hear. He was right. She had gone through a lot since coming to Camden. At least that’s what she would tell herself from now on. No more thoughts of her being crazy. No more thoughts of how she was dreaming. She would live in the now. 

“So not once have you thought I was crazy?” Emily asked pulling her head back and looking up at him with an eyebrow raised. “Careful how you answer this, Mr. Nordin,” she warned playfully. Kian kissed her softly. 

“Nope...” Emily gave him a firm look. “Okay, maybe a few times,” he admitted laughing. 

“I told you!” She hit his chest jokingly then snuggled against it. 

“I like you just the way you are, Emily.” His hand rubbed up and down her back. “There is nothing I would change about you.” 

“You say that now but what about years from...” Emily’s words trailed off. Her cheeks began to warm from embarrassment. She hadn’t meant to say years but it rolled off her tongue naturally. 

“Yes, in years, I still won’t want to change anything about you,” Kian said without missing a beat. “You can relax around me, sweetheart.” Emily relaxed in his arms. 

“Just feels weird but...” she hesitated.

“But what, sweetheart.”

“It feels natural,” she whispered. Kian pulled her in closer to his body and held her.

“You have no idea how happy those words make me.” He let out a breath. 

“Really?” She felt him nod against her. “Why?”

“It’s hard to explain really. I just know that ever since you walked into my life, everything feels right. I feel like for once in my life I’m me. Not what the world wants me to be.” He shrugged. 

“I want you to be yourself around me. Okay?” He nodded. 

“What about my past? Can you handle that?” 

“Yes. That was before me. So I forgive you for being a manwhore.” He squeezed her.

“Will you always forgive me?” 

“As long as you never lie to me. Yes.” Emily felt his body tense up immediately, but it relaxed just as fast. “There’s something you haven’t told me, huh?”

“Yes,” he breathed. 

“Are you going to tell me what you lied about?” She was scared to death of what he could have lied about. “Are you lying to me about how you feel about me,” she asked in a forced breath. Kian pulled his head away and looked down at her. She wasn’t brave enough to face the truth. She kept her eyes focused on his shirt. 

“Emily. Sweetheart. Look at me,” he said softly. Emily shook her head. “Why would I lie about how I feel about you? Have you lied to me about your feelings?”

Emily yanked back and glared up at him. “No! Why would I lie about my feelings,” she growled. Kian was smirking.

“Was it that hard to show me your beautiful face?” He ran a finger down her cheek. “I haven’t and won’t ever lie to you about my feelings towards you. Okay?” 

“Okay,” she nodded with her eyes closed. “Will you tell me the lie eventually?” 

“Yes. I promise. As soon as things are cleared up with Nik—” Emily opened her eyes.

“It involves that damn Nikki?” Kian looked like he was ready to run for the hills. Emily kept her glare locked on him. “Kian? Does it involve Nikki?” 

“Yes.” 

“And Jughead?” Kian gave her a weird look. “Dog boy.” His look continued. She groaned, “With Casper. Is Casper part of this, too? What about Vivek? Is he part of it, too?” 

“Emily, please? I promise I will tell you as soon as I can. It’s eating me up on the inside not telling you.” Emily looked at Kian’s eyes.   

“How long before you tell me? And I’m assuming Selma isn’t in on it either?” He shook his head.

“No. Casper hasn’t told her yet.”

“Kian, this better not be some sick twisted reality show,” she groaned. Kian was giving her one of his ‘I have no clue what you are talking about looks.’ “It just means that I hope this isn’t all a joke at Selma and my expense.” 

“Sweetheart. I swear on my life this isn’t a joke. I swear I will tell you the moment I can.” 

“Ugh.” 

Emily felt like every time she became happy with the way life was going that something drastic happened. Nothing in her life was normal. No emotion in her life stayed for more than a few hours. She was finally telling a man that she wanted a long-term commitment and he admits there is a big lie that sits between them. Lies were the one thing Emily hated most in the world outside of her parents.

“When we get back to town, I’ll go find Nikki and make her explain everything to you and Selma. How does that sound?” Kian asked cheerfully. 

“Kian,” Emily asked putting some space between them and laying on her side facing him. He looked scared. He looked as though he was about to receive his death sentence. 

“Yes,” he asked nervously. 

“Is life here in Camden always weird and emotional?” He smirked slightly and shook his head. “Am I just the crazy one?” 

“Emily, you aren’t crazy.” He ran a finger down her arm. “Things are just different here.” 

“How different,” she groaned.

“Very different. But safe. Camden is a safe place.” 

“But very different?” He nodded. “What if I ask you questions and you tell me yes or no?” 

“That’s cheating,” he chuckled. Emily pouted and began to lean her head back down on the blanket. Kian slipped his arm under her head cushioning it before it reached the blanket. “Do you trust me?” 

Not knowing how or why Emily knew she could trust Kian wholeheartedly. The more she looked in to his eyes, the more confident she became in her trust with him. He was a man who would do anything for her. He was a man who would never let her fall. She knew this when he took care of her after the car accident. He could have easily walked away. He could have left Nikki or someone else to take care of her. But he hadn’t. He had stayed and nursed her back to health. 

“Yes,” she whispered. 

“Can you trust me a little bit longer? And then I’ll tell you everything? Every last detail.”

“I’ll give you twenty-four hours, Mr. Nordin.” He pulled her against him. 

“That’s all I need, sweetheart!” Kian rocked her back and forth in his embrace. Emily could feel his happiness in his hug. She wrapped her free arm around him. 

She knew she was crazy to allow him twenty-four hours. She knew she should have walked away right then knowing that there was something he kept from her. However, Emily had a feeling that walking away from Kian would break her heart into a million pieces and leave her empty on the inside for the rest of her life. Feelings weren’t Emily’s forte. She had never been the mushy romantic type. Only her characters were like that. She was beginning to wonder if the mushy romantic characters were the inner her screaming to be loved. 

“You’re thinking inside your head again, sweetheart.” Kian snapped her back to reality. “What’s on your mind?” 

“Just wondering how Selma is doing.” 

That hadn’t been what she was thinking about. But now that she had said it she was wondering how Selma was doing on getting Emily’s car. At the diner, when Emily had been upset with Kian, all she could think about was leaving Camden. She would see Selma during meal times and try to sneak her off to the bathroom again. They needed to talk. Emily had a feeling the other woman was going through the same emotional dilemma as Emily. Kian and Casper had thrown a monkey wrench into their plans of getting to the book signing. 

“Didn’t you just see her at the diner a few hours ago,” Kian chuckled. 

“I know. But still. Jug... I mean, Casper is a brute. Not sure he’s to be trusted with her.” Kian laughed and squeezed her against him.

“The brute isn’t as bad as he seems. He’s gone through a lot, but I know he’d never hurt your friend. Never in a million years.” 

“If he does, I’m kicking his ass and then yours, for lying to me.” Kian once again laughed.

“Fair enough, sweetheart. You can hold me to that.”