Chapter Six
Jess’s phone
rang the following morning startling her from an erotic dream of Sean, his
enormous bed, and mutual exhaustion. Shaking off arousal, she fumbled to find
her cell and hit connect. “Hello?”
“Mom? I can’t
believe you finally answered. I’ve been trying to reach you for days. What
happened to calling me with your itinerary?”
Sean happened. “I’m sorry,
Mel. I’ve been distracted and service at sea sucks.”
“So where are
you?”
“Nassau. We
docked late last night.”
“Perfect. I’m
here, too. Can you meet me, or are you working?”
“I’m not
really needed when we’re in port. I could slip away for a while. Where do you
want to meet?”
“The Ardastra
Gardens?”
“Sounds
perfect.”
“Oh, and
bring the cutie. I could use the eye candy even if you’re still resisting.”
No way in
hell.
She had no business wanting Sean, but she didn’t intend to give him away to her
daughter either. Not after touching him.
“Mom? Did I
lose you?”
“I’m here,
but I don’t think Sean will join us.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m
not going to ask him. Technically, he’s my boss. I’d rather spend the day with
you alone.”
Melanie didn’t
answer right away. “On second thought, that might be for the best anyway.”
Unease echoed
in her daughter’s voice. “What are you up to?”
“Nothing. It
wasn’t my idea.”
“What wasn’t?”
“Dad’s here.”
“What?”
“He showed up
at my hotel last night, claiming that he wanted to spend time with me.”
“Maybe he
does.”
Mel snorted. “If
so, I guess there really is a first time for everything. He said he had
business in the area so that’s my bet. Anyway, I forgot he was around for a
minute. I can’t very well leave him behind. I’ll understand if you want to skip
today.”
“Forget that.
I’m not going to pass up time with you because you’re father horned in.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive. What
time?”
“Ten?”
“Sounds great.
I’ll see you then.”
“′Kay. Love
ya, Mom.”
“I love you,
too, Mel, and quit worrying about your father. It’ll be fine.”
“All right. See
you later.”
Jess
disconnected and set her phone on the nightstand with a sigh. Spending the day
with her ex sounded nauseating at best. She stripped off her sleep shirt and
stepped into the tiny shower stall for a quick rinse. The tepid water failed to
wash away her trepidation but it cleared her head.
She dried her
hair and automatically reached for a hair tie before she stopped herself. Mel’s
father had messed with her head half her life. He deserved to see what he’d
tossed aside. She plugged in her flat iron to heat while she searched for
something to wear.
The closet
didn’t hold much and half of it belonged to Mel. A bright jewel toned tank caught
her eye. Turquoises, blues, and greens, accented with tiny random touches of
deep coral, swirled together in a lighthearted pattern. She couldn’t remember
having thrown the top in. It wasn’t what she’d normally wear but it drew her
anyway. Further rummaging unveiled a pair of short denim shorts with a wide
woven belt and a coral studded buckle.
A light layer
of sunscreen soothed her unease as it moisturized her skin. A pale blue push-up
bra paired with low-riding, boy shorts in the same color accented her subtle
curves and offered a sense of power. Next came the spaghetti strap tank. The
finely woven material kissed her body gently as it settled into place. The
square neckline and empire waist offered a hint of cleavage but nothing
indecent or inappropriate for the outing. The shorts were another story. They
hugged her ass like a lover’s hands, dropping only a couple inches below her
butt and riding no more than an inch above her crack.
She started
to unbuckle the belt to change, but thoughts of Sean’s reaction stayed her hand.
She felt hot and Sean’s stormy eyes would confirm it. Screw the rest of the
world. She laughed at herself as she hurried to the bathroom. She slapped on a little
make-up and ran the flat iron over her curls until her hair lay smooth on her
shoulders. She caught the crown back in a clip and left the rest down. If she
got too hot later, she could always twist it all into a knot with the same
clip.
A knock
sounded on her door as she finished brushing her teeth. She swiped a towel over
the counter and tucked her lip gloss in her pocket before answering. “Coming!
Hold on.” She opened the door with an automatic grin. “Sorry, I was getting
dressed.”
Sean’s
grey-green eyes traveled from her hair to her bare feet and back to meet her
eyes. Desire radiated in his gaze. “Is that for me?”
“No.” She
turned away to hide her smile and motioned him in. She stowed her pistol,
knife, and wallet in a lightweight canvas shoulder bag before rummaging in the
closet for shoes. If she looked at him, she’d pull him into the room and forget
about the rest of the day. “I’m meeting Mel at Ardastra Gardens.”
“Who’s Mel?”
His tone made
her look up. Was he jealous? Jess stepped into tan sandals and faced him fully.
“My secret lover.”
“That’s my
job.”
She had to chuckle
at the cocky comment in contrast to the bit of insecurity clouding his gorgeous
eyes. “Says who?”
“Me.” He
plucked her bag from her hand and tossed it on the bed. “Who’s Mel?”
“My daughter.
Remember?”
“Ah, yes,
Melanie the beautiful. Do I get to meet her?”
“No.” She
turned to the small safe under her nightstand and spun the combination. Unexpected
irritation tightened her jaw.
“That’s it? Just
no?”
She jerked
the safe open and grabbed a couple traveler’s checks before slamming the door
and spinning the lock. “How about hell no. Is that better?”
Jess grabbed
her purse and stuffed the checks into her wallet. His hands closed over her
shoulders and turned her into his arms. “Why are you upset?”
Her bag
provided feeble armor between her and his sexy heat. “I’m not.”
He didn’t say
anything. Instead he pried the canvas strap from her fingers. The bag sailed
across the room and landed with a thud against the far wall. “Stop lying to me,
Jess. What did I do this time?”
Had she
become such a bitch as that? Self-disgust rose in her throat. “You didn’t do
anything. Not yet anyway.”
“What do you
expect I’ll do?”
“Hit on her.”
“And that
would be a bad thing?”
Was he
serious?
She jerked away from his hold and stormed toward the door. “Fuck you, Sean.”
He chuckled
and caught her in his arms, pulling her back against his chest. “Name the time
and place, sweetheart.”
She twisted
but he held her fast. “Release me.”
“So you can
use your karate tricks on me? I don’t think so. Besides, I like where you are.”
He let go with one hand long enough to pull her hair to the side. Firm, warm
lips nibbled at her bare shoulder.
She went
still. Every muscle poised for fight or flight. “Knock it off.”
His mouth
wandered higher, teasing the dip below her ear. His breath tickled the tender
skin and a delicious shiver danced down her spine. “Why can’t I flirt with your
daughter?”
She refused
to acknowledge his ignorant question.
“Maybe we
could have a three-way? That could be fun.”
Fight won. Her
elbow slammed into his ribs as she grabbed his wrist and twisted up and away
from her body. He flipped like a pancake. His back hit the floor with a dull
thud that knocked the wind from him. As he struggled for oxygen, she dropped a
knee to his throat, not pressing like she would against an assailant, merely in
warning. “Touch my girl and die.”
She shoved
away from him and stood to leave, but his hand closed around her ankle as he
sat up. She pulled but he would not let go. She couldn’t hurt him for real. He
caught her belt with his free hand and jerked her off balance. She landed in a
tangled heap on his lap. His arms pinned her against his chest while he drew
air into his lungs.
When she
continued to fight, he slapped her hard on the ass. “Sit until I can breathe right.”
The circle of
his embrace narrowed, inhibiting her own ability to inhale. “This is not a
topic I’m willing to discuss, Sean.”
“Too bad.”
He kept her
trapped a few moments longer, sucking oxygen deep into his lungs, then stood
and threw her on the bed. Quicker than his size implied possible, he pinned her
beneath him. His legs lay between hers, preventing her from groining him like she
wanted to. His hands imprisoned her wrists on either side of her shoulders.
She scowled. “This
is ridiculous.”
“I agree.” He
studied her face before he grinned. “I’d hoped you’d say something possessive,
give me a sign that you’re in this with me, not react like a mama bear. I
should have known better.” He dropped a quick yet tender kiss on her lips
before he smiled his cute melt her inhibitions smile. “I won’t hit on Melanie. I
promise.”
“You haven’t
seen her yet.”
“Doesn’t
matter.”
“Why’s that?”
“If I let you
move, are you going to attack me?”
“No.”
“Good.” He released
her arms, shifted to his elbow and draped a thigh across her hips. He caught
her hand and brought it to his lips before lacing his fingers between hers. “What
was the question again?”
“Why won’t
seeing her matter? She really is stunning.”
“You’re her
mother.”
“Okay, maybe
I’m a little biased, but most women would sell a kidney to look like Mel.”
“That’s not
what I meant.” He leaned in to feather a kiss over her lips before he looked in
her eyes. “I’m sure you’re completely accurate in your opinion, but it wouldn’t
matter if she were Athena herself. She’s your daughter. I respect you too much
to mess with that.”
“You say that
now, but—”
“No buts.”
“She’s closer
to your age, only twenty-one.”
“So? What do
I have to do to convince you I don’t care about the age difference? Young women
have no idea what they want in life and have no idea how to give and take in a
relationship. You set my blood on fire with a smart assed comment or a smile. I’ve
never had that before. After Gina left, I shut myself off from women, but I can’t
ignore the way you affect me.”
“You’re horny.
That’s all.”
With a groan,
he dropped his head against her shoulder.
“Seriously,
Sean. I understand. We’re on a boat in the middle of nowhere. I’m the only
woman in the vicinity except the cook who doesn’t speak English and your
mother.”
He lifted his
head and shifted closer. His mouth found hers, ignoring her feeble protests,
kissing her until her bones became butter. Her lips parted of their own accord
as his talented tongue slipped into her mouth. He explored the sensitive roof
of her mouth and gently stroked while his lips coaxed her to relax and accept
him. The minty toothpaste-taste of his mouth overwhelmed her need to keep him
at arms length. When he finally released her, she couldn’t remember what point
she had been trying to make.
“Listen to me
very carefully, Jess. I’m only going to say this once. Everywhere I go, women
my age and younger hit on me. Not because I’m all that handsome but because I
have a thick wallet.”
She shook her
head at him unable to fully control the smile that tugged at her lips. “I’m
pretty sure it’s the handsome part.”
“Shut up.” He
dropped another quick kiss over her mouth then grinned. “You seem to think I’m
God’s gift, which honestly turns me on to no end, but I’m no better or worse
than any other guy. The fact that you think differently revs me up and keeps me
there. Most women look at me and see only what I can buy them.”
He couldn’t
have been more wrong. His looks, personality, and sense of humor turned her
guts inside out and would do the same if he were dirt poor. “I’m sorry.”
He scowled. “For
what?”
She rubbed at
the crease between his brows with her finger then traced it down his nose and
over his full, tantalizing lips. “For not trusting you to be a good guy. My ex
chased anything in a skirt our entire married life.”
“Loser.” He
lifted their joined hands and pressed her palm over his heart. “I won’t hurt
you that way.”
“That’s what
Kurt used to say.”
“Yeah, well a
douche bag is a douche bag. Nothing you can do about that.”
A feeling she
didn’t recognize at first swelled her chest. Tenderness? Contentment? Was
that it? “You’re something else. Do you know that, brat?”
“If you say
so.”
His mouth silenced
her giggle. He tugged her hips closer and his hard cock pressed against her
thigh. Her entire being quivered.
“Sean, I
thought—”
The sound of
his mother’s voice sent him off the bed instantly. Jess rolled off the other
side to face the older woman.
Dale stood in
the doorway cheeks bright pink. “I’m so sorry. I’ll wait on deck. You two come up
whenever you’re ready.”
Sean looked
like a kid caught snitching cookies. Jess laughed. When he tossed an appalled
look her way, she laughed harder.
“This isn’t
funny. My mother thinks we were—” He gestured helplessly as if he could not say
the words.
She nodded
and hid her smile behind her hand. “I know.”
“Then stop laughing.”
“Yep. I’m
stopping.” Her shoulders continued to shake and tears welled in her eyes. The
repressed laugh escaped through her nose in a snort, destroying any hope of
dignity.
Sean’s shell
shocked expression dissolved into a grin as he dove across the narrow bed and
pulled her into his arms. His kiss drove off the last of her laughter. “I
should have realized she’d come looking for me. I was supposed to ask if you
wanted to go ashore with us.”
“Sorry, other
plans.”
“I know. Can’t
we go together? I’d like to meet, Melanie.”
“I’d rather
not.”
“I see.”
He let her go
and scooted toward the end of the bed. She jumped on his back, wrapping her
arms around his shoulders before he could stand. “It’s not what you think.”
He turned his
head to look at her. “No? Then what?”
“I…my…crap.”
He reached
back and tugged her around his shoulder and into his lap. “I’m waiting. Either
you don’t trust me around your daughter, or there’s something you haven’t told
me. Which is it?”
“My ex is
with her.”
“With whom?”
She shook her
head at him and smiled. “You don’t always follow along well.”
His hand slid
beneath her top, stopping below her breast. “What do you expect? You’re on my
lap in a pair of shorts that barely cover your ass, and your boobs are peeking
at me. I can only think with one head when you’re dressed like this so go slowly.”
His hand
inched higher and her own mental ability faltered. “Kurt, Mel’s father, decided
to surprise her and showed up last night.”
“So that’s
why you don’t want Mom and me to tag along? You want alone time with a cheating
bastard?”
Jess sighed. “Heaven
save me from the minds of men. I didn’t want you to know because I feel like an
idiot for having married him. I’m not sure I want to flaunt my ex-stupidity in
front of my current weakness.”
His grin said
he’d heard the last part loud and clear. “I’m your weakness?”
“Whether I
want you or not.”
He buried his
hand in her hair and pulled her up for a deep, slow kiss that dissolved all the
logical reasons she should go by herself. “I promise not to even hint that I
want to jump you—repeatedly and constantly by the way—as long as I can go along
and protect my interest from the lying ass. How’s that for compromise?”
She suddenly
couldn’t wait to introduce him and Dale to Mel. “Is that your best offer?”
“That’s my
only offer.”
The day
brightened. Kurt could screw off. “Then I don’t have a choice, do I?”
“Nope.”