Damn if her having a hearty appetite isn't the hottest thing ever.

Damn if her blushing because of me isn't sexier than hell.

I watch as she finishes off the plate of food, trying not to laugh. I've never seen a girl capable of consuming so much food. And, on top of that, it definitely does not suit her. She's tiny, but her muscles and curves are as toned as any athlete's.

"You're such a wimp," she says through a mouthful of food. "How can you not eat the rest of this?"

"Not hungry anymore," I shrug.

All she does is look at me, and then go back to eating.

After Nova is finished, leaving only a few crumbs behind, we dispose of the trash and walk down the boardwalk. Masstown Market is a single destination that has many things to do and see. I've been visiting it since I was a kid, but never once have I enjoyed it the way I have today.

Nova can be an expert at hiding emotions, but I can tell she's excited to be here. She was innocently amazed at the view of the forest and the ocean when we climbed to the top of the red-and-white lighthouse, staring and reading every information board. In fact, Nova was so ecstatic about being here she even asked if we could take some pictures...together. She said it would be a great contribution to our act, but I could read between the lines. I know she legitimately wanted to take some pictures with me.

And how could I deny her the privilege?

Now, as we walk in the cooling air, Nova's eyes are still filled with wonder. And I can't blame her for that. Though I haven't lived here for almost four years now, the East Coast of Canada never fails to leave me feeling serene. There's just something about the salty air, dusky summer nights, and humidity that makes it better.

The market is not as busy as I thought it would be. Which is surprising considering we're here during tourist season.

I glance at Nova as we enter the produce area. She's grabbed a basket to carry around whatever we decide to buy for breakfast and lunch tomorrow. The place she booked is a cabin in Shortts Lake. It has its own kitchen, so we decided it would be better to buy the food and cook than continue to eat out. To be honest, I think we're both getting sick of it.

"What do you like to eat?" Nova asks as we pass a stand of watermelons.

"I'm not a picky eater," I shrug.

"Yes, I understand that, but what meals do you like? For example, on cheat days I like waffles with apricot syrup for breakfast. On normal days, I prefer avocado-and-tomato sandwiches."

I smile to myself. I think, somehow, this is her subtle way of thanking me.

I run a hand through my hair. "Seriously, Nova. I don't really care – you're the one that's vegetarian. You decide."

She stops, turns around, and looks at me like I've gone insane. And I gotta admit, I'm pretty damn surprised with what I've said as well. I usually don't take what another girl wants into consideration. Where the hell this is coming from, I'm not exactly sure. Maybe it's the calming effects of the East Coast screwing with my mind.

"Why are you so shocked?" I chuckle.

Nova shakes her head and turns back to the stand of apples. "You just, um, rarely use my real name. It sounds foreign."

"Yeah, well, don't get used to it," I tease, throwing her own words back at her.

She casts me a playful glare over her shoulder, and then we're back to business. For the next half hour, we load up on various types of fruits and vegetables. We also argue over which syrup is better: maple or apricot. In the end, we buy the apricot shit. But, because of that, Nova allows me to pick out which waffle mix we buy.

When we're all paid for, we hit the road. The drive to Shortts Lake is only twenty-five minutes, so there's still some light on the horizon when we arrive.

The place we're staying at is outstanding – it's a lakefront cabin that's surrounded by pine trees, giving us tons of privacy; has unparalleled scenery; and a dock that stretches out a fair distance. As for the cabin itself, it's a fair size and painted a dark green that almost matches the trees surrounding it.

Nova hauls in the suitcase, and I haul in the numerous bags of groceries. She heads right for the bedroom she's going to be sleeping in, while I situate myself in the kitchen and begin unpacking the groceries.

Five minutes later, Nova enters the kitchen, where I'm currently staring out the window above the sink and eating an apple.

She walks over and stands beside me. "I never knew this side of Canada was so beautiful. I mean, I've seen pictures, but they don't compare to the real view."

I look at Nova. "Where have you been?"

"High River, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, and Disneyland."

"That's it?"

"Shut up," she mutters, elbowing me in the ribs. "I've never been much of a traveller."

I raise my hands. "Wasn't judging – I know plenty of people who've never left their province."

We lapse into silence again, both of us staring out at the view of the lake. It's darker now, and small lights are illuminating the dock. Across the water, I can see the lights of other cabins.

To my right, Nova moves and begins walking to the back door.

"Where are you going?" I ask.

"To get a better look at the view," she replies, opening the door.

A gust of warm summer night air rushes in. It's cooled down considerably, but it's still warm, and there's a sweet-pungent smell of roses and musky lake water. Nova flicks on the outdoor light, and I get a full-on view of the wooden patio furniture and small barbeque. To the left, there are several rose bushes.

I follow Nova as she walks out to the end of the dock. Her face is barely lit by the lights that line the splintering wooden dock, but there's just enough to see the look of wonder. And I suppose it is pretty amazing – we're far enough away from any big cities that the stars are visible against the clear night sky; it's quiet enough that I can hear the crickets and the water lapping against the shore. It's surprisingly relaxing, to stand here and stare out in silence.

"Let's go for a swim," I finally say.

Nova blinks and stares at me with a blatant look of shock. "Are you crazy?" she asks. "There could be fish!"

I turn to her, crossing my arms. "Since when do fish scare you?" I challenge.

She glares at me with such intensity that I get this strong feeling she wants to slap the grin off my face. "I'm not scared of fish."

Nova doesn't take her eyes off me as she removes her shirt and then her shorts, leaving her in nothing but her lacy black bra and matching underwear. It's shocking, but I have to admit she looks damn good. Her body is a work of art. She's tiny, lean, and pale, but also has curves in all the right places. And her auburn hair looks ten shades darker in the evening light.

My eyes widen the slightest bit when she looks directly, defiantly, at me, and nods her head in the direction of the water.

"Are you sure you're not the one who's scared?" she asks smoothly. "I'm ready to jump in. You, however, are still wearing clothes."

I don't waste another minute; my clothes are soon forgotten on the dock in a pile beside hers. Wearing nothing but my boxer briefs, I look up and catch Nova staring me down. I know I'm good-looking – the number of girls that throw themselves at me proves it – but there's something intriguing about Nova Elliot checking me out. She's always so ignorant and never bothers to cast more than a glance my way. This is something different. Something I like.

"Like what you see?" I tease.

If she blushes, I can't tell.

"Jump in on three?" I continue.

Nova looks at me for a moment before linking her arm through mine. "I don't trust you," she says, squinting at me. "I don't think you're going to jump in the water with me."

"Is that so?"

"Yes," she replies. "I think I'm going to end up jumping in alone if we count to three and I don't have some kind of leash on you."

"Smart girl," I grin, moving my gaze to the calm water. "Ready?"

"One," she says, taking a step forward.

'Two," I counter, following her lead.

We're both on the edge, our toes hanging off the dock.

"Three!"

I meant what I said about Nova being a smart girl – I hadn't been planning on jumping in because I wanted to know how cold the water was going to be. I wanted to see her reaction first so I could mentally prepare myself. But her actions nullified that plan.

The water is fucking freezing.

It's like rolling around in the snow in the middle of January. But instead of being with Easton and having access to a hot tub to scurry to after our bodies turn numb, I'm stuck in the water with Nova gripping my bare, wet shoulders as she shivers along with me.

"It's f-freezing," she stutters. "Water isn't s-supposed to b-be this cold during the summer."

I laugh, suppressing a shiver.

She's right, but I don't care because this is the closest I have ever been to her without her being repulsed. It's exhilarating, feeling her body pressed against mine; her arms wrapped around my shoulders as I tread water; her bare legs skimming mine.

"Does anything hurt?" I ask, effortlessly stroking her arm with my fingertips.

She looks at my hand and shakes her head. "No. The jump was fine."

"You're a wild girl, Nova Elliot."

Water trickles down her forehead, sliding between her eyebrows and dripping from the tip of her nose. "There's a lot you don't know about me," she replies.

I can admit to myself that Nova excites me. She's like a cove with hidden wonders – mysterious and adventurous. Maybe even slightly dangerous. And the closeness of our faces makes her even more tempting.

"Using my own words against me, are you now?" I tease, inching closer to her. My eyes flick down to her full lips.

I don't think she means to, but her hands slide up my neck to grip my face. I have to hold back a groan. I can't comprehend why her touch triggers something inside me, but I'm not complaining. This girl...she's different than the others. She's always cautious and calculating and boring. This side of her is completely the opposite.

"You want to know what I think, Warren?"

I nod, lost in her dark brown eyes.

Her thumb wipes away a drop of water on my cheekbone. "I think I could get used to this side of you. I think you have a soft side that you hide from everyone. I think –"

I slam my lips against hers.

It's in situations like these ones where I tend to forget how strong I am, meaning the force is so abrupt that Nova's hands fly to my shoulders for support. Because I can't continue treading water and kissing her at the same time, I swim forward until her back is pressed against the wooden post that supports the dock. With the post to keep her steady, I cup her face with one hand and slip the other beneath the water to hold her hip. I kiss her with an unyielding forcefulness, but she doesn't seem to mind; Nova kisses me back with the same level of intensity.

I press my body harder against hers, and she immediately relaxes against me, her arms wrapping around my neck and her fingers tugging my hair. Her entire body is trembling beneath my touch, but I can feel the urge through the movement of her lips. I don't know why she's not pulling away or what changed her opinion about me, but there's something so mesmerizing about her lips that the question falls to the wayside.

We eventually break apart, breathing heavily as we stare at each other in shock. I've kissed many girls, but no kiss has ever been filled with such passion and urgency.

"Shit," I breathe.

Nova's brown eyes widen, filling with something that resembles shame. Maybe regret. But more importantly, I can detect despair that goes so deep it's almost as if she's committed a felony or perhaps cheated on someone.

I'm about to ask her what's wrong when she shakes her head and pushes me away. "Practice makes perfect, right?" she mutters. "At least we now know that our kisses won't look fake to your family."

With that, she swims over to the green ladder that's attached to the dock. I watch, lost in questionable thought as she climbs it and heads back to the cabin.

A kiss like that...The emotion and the passion that was there...

It sure as hell wasn't something I'd consider practice for our fake relationship.

For some reason, I begin to think about what Easton said to me.

Oh, shit.