by Cyndi Raye
“I told you I want it all. The marriage, the house with a picket fence, babies and a man who sweeps me off my feet so hard he’s in every move I make and every breath I take. I thought it was you. It is you. But you can’t take a girl like me to Vegas and dump me back home when it’s over. I need more. I won’t settle for less Jake.”
He stood there, his eyes intense as he stared at her. His silence disarmed Maggie. She waited to see if he would say anything and when he didn’t, she clutched the suitcase and walked out the door.
<><>
Jake didn’t move. He stood there as she walked out the door with her overstuffed suitcase. Why didn’t he stop her? He could have forced her to stay, promised her the moon. He could give her the biggest and baddest wedding the Florida coast has ever seen. Is that what she wanted? Somehow Jake didn’t think so.
He loved her like he never loved anyone before. She loved him too, he knew. Yet she walked out of his house because he offered to take her to Vegas for a quick wedding. He moaned. Perhaps he shouldn’t have offered quick. Didn’t she realize Vegas would solve their problems? At least it was the way he looked at things. They would both get what they wanted. He wouldn’t have to deal with frilly wedding stuff and she could have her wedding, oh shit!
Jake hung his head in his hands. He made her feel as if she wasn’t worth the effort. He kicked his foot against the kitchen cabinets. She was fragile at times and yet so strong and independent. It was the reason he fell in love with her. An idea came to Jake so strong, he realized he needed to show her how much she meant to him because she was worth going all out. She was his every breath, the beat of his heart, the air he breathed. Even if she didn’t think so he would prove it to her.
He had to prove it to her without using his fortune because that was too easy. He could hire anyone to do his bidding.
Jake walked out on to the balcony. He raced down the steps and stopped at the screened in porch. He strolled over to his boat and started the engine. Before he took off, he took one last look. “Get ready, Maggie McCoy. Because you’re about to go on the ride of a lifetime.”
Chapter 7
Maggie left the bungalow after she spent two days organizing her new business. The idea of self-publishing her own books took on a new challenge. No agents to warn her about approaching deadlines and no more doing what anyone else wanted. She became the final decision maker at last.
Yesterday she down-loaded everything she needed to begin. She had a few books already on-line. She published the ones her publisher rejected. Those were the ones that tugged at Maggie’s heart and she was hoping her readers as well. She was about to find out because she hit the publish button twenty minutes ago.
This was a whole new way as a writer and she loved every single minute. To have control over what she created was bliss. Before she headed out for some sunshine she looked around and took a deep breath. Jake fixed up this little bungalow so perfect. She had everything she needed. If it weren’t for wanting to catch a glimpse of him, she may stay in this room forever, but she heard the bike a little while ago pull in to the garage.
She hadn’t seen him in days and she ached inside.
Maggie strolled outside towards the dock. She sat down and hung her feet over the edge. Her toes didn’t quite touch the water. She leaned back and placed the palms of her hands behind her on the ground and looked up in the sky. It was a beautiful evening. Perfect for lovers. Except her lover was upstairs at his place and she was in her little bungalow missing him like crazy. Her choice.
She had to get her point across, didn’t she? Maggie sighed and stared at his boat, tied to the dock. The memory of him as he drove that boat so long ago in a bad storm to rescue her on the deserted island made her shiver. She kicked her foot back and forth.
He didn’t care what he had to do, or how hurt he was, he came for her that night because all he wanted was to make sure she was safe. Her hero, her rock. He was the Jake she knew, the one that would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.
“A penny for your thoughts?”
Maggie, startled for a moment, looked up at him through her dark sunglasses. He wore a pair of cut off jeans and no shirt. She never heard him come outside because he didn’t have Jax beside him. Jax must be at Abby’s, she thought. Abby was training Jax so he could be a part of her entourage as she took her act to children’s hospitals. Abby put on a show for the less fortunate and was happy to include the spunky dog.
She stared at his chest and didn’t realize she licked her lips until he chuckled. His soft husky voice made her breath hitch. He held out a single flower, one he picked from the garden.
She reached out her hand and tried to take the flower by it’s stem but his hand covered most of it. When she felt the warm skin as they brushed fingers she jerked back. Stay calm, be strong. There was no way she could give in to him now, not yet. Not when she was the one who walked away, to prove a point.
What was the point she was trying to prove?
Jake pushed away her hand and knelt down on one knee, like he did the day they met. He broke off the stem and placed it behind her ear. His eyes, intense, dark and full of need, looked in to her own. How was she going to hold out? He licked his lips as his dark eyes delved in to her own, his tongue slaked out and ran across his mouth. That was so unfair even if it did make Maggie shiver.
Then he pulled his hand away and sat down beside her, far enough away where she couldn’t touch him.
“I miss you. It’s not the same without you.” His words were simple and honest. He gazed at the water, unlike Maggie, who stared at his profile.
“I miss you too and yet I think this is good for us to be apart. I need to think.”
“What’s there to think about? We love each other. Enough said.” She decided to change the subject. They wouldn’t get anywhere if they got in to an argument and she didn’t want to give up being beside him so soon.
Maggie tried to keep her eyes off his chest as he leaned back with his arms stretched behind him, his muscles stretched and taunting her. She turned her head, desperate to resist the pull of his hard, sexy body so close.
“I’m loving my new office, by the way. I have it all set up and published my first two novels this morning. Thank you.”
Jake nodded. “Great news. I’m glad.” He leaned back, leaning his body on his elbow and arm so he faced her. All she wanted to do was touch him. Yet she had to resist. What was the point of all of this if she fell under his spell whenever she saw him.
He began to speak as they watched the sun go down. “I didn’t bother you for a few days because I needed some time to think. I’ve had to take a good long look at the man I’ve become. Maggie, let me have two weeks to prove you’re important enough to me, that I care enough to put you first. The rest we can work out as we live our lives together. I don’t want to be without you.”
Maggie watched him, saw how difficult it was for him to admit this. “What happens after two weeks Jake? You’ve already proved you could be away from your job when we did the road trip. I know you can give me two weeks. I’m talking about a lifetime here. There were some nights when I didn’t see you at all. I woke up alone and found you asleep, the laptop in front of you. It began to happen more and more and I wondered what I was doing here because you didn’t need me at all.”
She wanted to reach out and touch him, touch the mouth that she missed so bad, but she didn’t dare. It would be all over. If she wanted Jake back, the love of her life, she needed to be strong to prove a point.
“Maggie, I can give you the rest of my life.”
She closed her eyes. He was so sexy and raw and honest. She didn’t want to be without him. “I’ll give you two weeks. We’re both busy, but I don’t ever want us not to take time for each other.”
“I know. It’s not you, it’s me. I need to learn to be more open and to stop working at a certain time. What I’ve planned for the two of us for the next two weeks will show you.”
She grinned. “Y
ou planned out the next two weeks?” She reached towards him and then pulled back.
He smiled. “Yes and we’ll start with tomorrow. I’ve taken the day off and we’re going to the beach. Will you go to the beach with me Maggie?” he asked, the innocent look on his face captivating her. He moved a bit closer and leaned towards her. They were inches apart. “Say yes.”
He was so close she could feel his breath on her skin. She closed her eyes because in the next moment, he would kiss her. She couldn’t let it happen and yet she needed his kiss. To seal the deal, of course.
He didn’t touch her lips with his own, but chuckled instead. “We’ll spend time together as friends, to get to know each other again. No sex. We’ll start fresh and take it from there. I want to woo you, Maggie McCoy, so you know I mean business.”
He wasn’t going to kiss her? She must look ridiculous with her heart on her sleeve, her face pointed towards his, her chin up and her eyes closed. Maggie’s eyes flew open as she realized he stood up and towered over her.
He waited for her reply. “Friends? Oh, okay then, we’ll hang out.” What did she say! How would she hang out with the love of her life and keep her hands to herself?
“Great! I’ll see you about eight in the morning baby, ah, friend.”
Jake took off for his place as Maggie stared at his back. Two weeks as friends to get to know each other? Maggie swallowed. She knew every single crevice of his body. How would she be able to not touch, not have sex and be within touching distance for two weeks? Impossible?
Yet Maggie McCoy was up to this challenge. She doubted that he could hold out as friends for two weeks. Her grin widened and a huge smile covered her face. While he struggled to be her friend for two weeks, she was going to do everything in her power to convince him they were way more than friends.
She ran to her bungalow so she could rummage through her outfits. There was no way Jake Hatfield would be able to resist a hot woman in tight shorts and a to-die for plunging neckline. Maybe this is what they needed, a bit of spice. No sex for two weeks! She wouldn’t tolerate such a thought.
<><>
It was almost eight in the morning and Maggie was almost ready to meet Jake at the boat dock. He said they were going to the beach, so she picked out the one sexy swim suit she would never wear in public. That is unless she wanted to make Jake aware of every single inch of her.
Maggie glanced in the mirror at the monokini wrap-around she wore. It was dramatic and perfect for sand and sea with a gold tone halter and no back closure. The lined top wrapped around the back and crossed at the halter neck in front with very minimal back coverage. The chain that held the halter around her neck was perfect gold that matched the leopard print material.
To set off the suit, wrapped a romantic, long white Bullet Blues Maryse skirt around her hips that reached to her mid calves. The ruffles on the front showed a low, sexy opening and even though the material wasn’t transparent, it hinted of secrets underneath. It showed enough skin when she moved to make him want to part the skirt and touch underneath the folds of the sexy ruffles. If this didn’t turn him on, she wasn’t sure what would.
Maggie let her hair flow free, like a gypsy dancer. As she walked towards the dock, she noticed he was already on the boat. He turned and stared at her as she stood on the dock, the sea breeze ruffling the material of her skirt. She couldn’t tell his reaction because he wore dark shades, but she smiled at him and licked her lips, lined with glossy, luscious cherry gloss. She held a pair of walking shoes in one hand and her floppy hat in the other. As Maggie placed a bare foot on the boat, Jake was right there with an outstretched hand.
When their fingers touched, Maggie pulled back. It took her by surprise, the sudden bolt of electricity that shocked her from head to toe. She was the one who planned to entice and excite and instead he did it without any sexy clothes. He kept his hand out and she had no choice but to take it again. Maggie took a deep breath and clasped on to his hand as he pulled her on board.
At first he didn’t let her go. The warmth from his hand as it radiated into her being had her taking tiny little breaths of air. Jake lifted her hand and his mouth lingered close to her skin for longer than necessary. He placed a light kiss on the inside of her wrist and let it drop. Except the kiss burned deep in to her skin and made her want him more. Intense. Wicked.
“You’re doing this on purpose!” she accused.
“Doing what?” he asked, his face innocent and void of emotion.
She found it hard to breath when he stood so close. “You’re a tease Jake Hatfield and you know it!”
He grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer, looking her over in slow motion. “Like you, I plan to demolish my prey, and make her beg for mercy before the night is over.”
She swallowed. “Nonsense, I thought we were strict friends for the next two weeks?”
Jake’s chest rumbled when he laughed out loud. “Maggie McCoy, friends don’t dress like this.” He nodded to her body again.
She smiled a wicked smile and turned her back on him. “Oh Jake, you haven’t seen anything yet.”
<><>
He didn’t know how long he could last as friends with Maggie and her seductive outfit on. The leopard print top cris-crossed over the top of her breasts and pushed them up where all he could do was stare at her front. The top wrapped around low on her back and he wanted to drag the white frilly skirt off so he could see what was underneath. At each movement she made, little ruffles parted where a bit of skin peeked out but then the skirt went back in place and made him desperate to see more flesh.
Jake shook his head. Two could play this game. “Maggie, can you put some of this lotion on my back before we take off?” He grabbed a tube of suntan oil from the console of the boat and stripped off his sleeveless white tee shirt in a slow move that would make any male stripper proud. His back to her, he flexed a few muscles on purpose and then turned around and handed her the lotion. His brow shot up when she stood there speechless.
“Cat got your tongue?” he asked and winked. He grinned. It had been some time since he winked at her. He remembered when they first met he would do it often. This is what she wanted, he realized all of a sudden.
She took the tube from his outstretched hand and turned the lid in slow motion as she took slow, seductive steps towards him. “Turn around,” she whispered, her voice low in her throat. He felt the cool liquid on his back as she began to rub it in with both her hands. Jake closed his eyes.
“Maggie,” he groaned.
Her hands stilled. “That was easy,” she said, unaware she spoke out loud.
Jake turned and picked her up with one swoop, then threw her off the boat right in to the canal. He jumped in after her and waited in the water until she came up for air. After she sputtered and cursed him out, he helped her back in to the boat. “I thought you needed cooling off, Maggie,” he laughed.
She stood above him on the deck when he began to pull himself up. He looked up when she placed her foot on his chest and held him back from getting on board. “Now look what you did, Jake Hatfield. You soaked my skirt. Now I’m going to have to take it off to dry.”
He waited, her foot on his chest and his eyes on the flash of skin underneath the skirt. He’d wanted to do that since she showed up earlier. She took her hands and peeled the material away from her body. The barely there tiny leopard print stared him in the face. He reached out because he couldn’t help it until her foot pushed forward as Jake fell back in the water with a splash.
He went for a long swim while she stood on deck in her glorious leopard suit. Jake didn’t know if he could get back up there without ripping it off of her. How would they be able to spend the whole day together like this, they hadn’t left the property yet! “Maggie, I’m not coming out of this water until you put the skirt back on. It will dry on the ride to the beach.”
Maggie laughed out loud as he back-stroked through the water. “Ah Jake. You can look up now, it’s safe.”
When he got on board, he kept his eyes off Maggie and started the boat. He’d steer clear of her for now until he could get control of the emotions that flowed through him like a freight train on a downhill ride.
“It’s going to be a long two weeks like this,” he complained.
Chapter 8
By the time the boat pulled up to disembark, Jake thought he had everything under control. Maggie kept her skirt on and he began to wonder if going to a beach would be a disaster for them. This was a different type of beach, he told himself and he grabbed the thermal cooler before helping her out of the boat.
“Where are we?” Maggie asked as she gazed around the desolate area.
“This is Geiger Key’s abandoned beach. I thought it would be fun to explore. Did you want to put on your walking shoes?”
Maggie nodded and placed a hand on his shoulder to slip her shoes on, then balanced herself as she pulled her hair back and dropped the floppy hat over her head. She titled her head to him. “I’m sorry for teasing you. Forgive me?”