He laughs. God help me, he laughs, and then he runs a hand through his thick, sun-streaked hair. The shirtsleeve falls back and there’s a bicep, and it’s big, hard, cut, and I can see the tattoo running around the arm, and it’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.

When did I start lusting after younger men? And when did tattoos turn me on?

I guess since meeting Kai.

“Yeah, you could say I’ve been with a few women.”

“So you’re really comfortable with women’s bodies?”

He’s laughing again, and he’s standing with his legs apart. He rocks back on his heels and his shirt opens and his chest is broad and tan and muscles, muscles everywhere.

Christ. What’s a woman to do?

“You’re comfortable with me?” I manage. It’s almost a stammer, and my foolish quotient has just shot to an all-new high.

“Shouldn’t I be?”

“Kai—I’ve had kids.”

“Uh-huh.”

“And I’m older than you.”

“So you keep reminding me.”

“That doesn’t bother you?”

“Jackie… I find you very sexy.”

“Why?” Honestly, I’m not digging for compliments, and to Butch at the pool with his big developer business in Vegas and his talks of building casinos and extravagant swimming pools, and the four wives who all got remade by the finest plastic surgeon in Nevada, okay, I could see how I might be attractive to Rich Developer but Superficial Butch, who hasn’t been with a nonplastic woman in years. But Kai?

Kai?

“Because you are.”

In the hotel room, I shut the door and look behind me to discover Kai opening the sliding door to the balcony, where he’s now standing outside.

“You have a killer view,” he says.

I nod and move to stand behind him where a warm wind blows. I lift my face to the wind, letting it pull my hair apart. “It’s nice.”

“Nice?” Kai shoots me a mocking glance. “This is the best hotel with the best view on the best part of the beach.”

He comes to me, saves me from having to make the first move again. And when he kisses me, all thought, all doubt, all insecurity, goes. I don’t care about anything or want anything but this. This, right now.

It’s been too long since I’ve been kissed properly, kissed where you feel it all the way on the inside, where you feel wanted—desired—and it’s heady, exciting, and calming, too.

Suddenly it all seems right, and I just give in. Let whatever happen.