Steele Family Romance Collection

by Cami Checketts

  She dipped her head. “The day I change my last name?”

  He grinned. “That’s the day I’m hoping for.”

  “No,” she said simply. “JoJo’s wasn’t that good.”

  The crowd tittered with laughter, but some booed their disapproval.

  “Ah, don’t diss on JoJo’s.” His grin faded, but he looked undeterred. “Please say the next question won’t be a no.”

  Pearl suddenly felt wobbly on her heels, even though they were sunken into the sand, as his hands cupped her hips and he stepped in closer. “Wh-what question is that?” she stammered out.

  Jex chuckled, and she was amazed that this never got old. Far from it. Each day seemed more exciting than the last, and this buildup to them finally kissing had her stirred up inside and panting for air.

  “Kiss for good luck?” he murmured, his eyes dipping to her lips, then back up to meet her eyes.

  Pearl pulled in a shaky breath. She’d make so many people happy if she kissed him, most of all herself. It was risky, though, giving her heart to this crazy, unpredictable man. He was a risk in so many ways.

  Jex watched her hopefully. Pearl rested her hands on his muscular arms. She slowly ran her hands up to his shoulders. Jex let out a soft moan that the crowd must’ve caught, as some excited chatter started. Pearl wished they’d all disappear. She encircled her arms around his neck and leaned against his broad chest. His hands tightened on her hips.

  Pearl wanted to kiss him so badly, but she was hesitant to place her heart in his thrill-seeking hands. His head lowered closer to hers and he searched her gaze with his deep, brown eyes. Pearl arched up closer to him, so tempted, so in love.

  “Kiss him!” someone yelled from the crowd, breaking her concentration on Jex. A loud wave crashed on the beach, and water rolled over their feet.

  Pearl stepped back from the receding wave and from him. The hope in Jex’s expression dimmed. She tried to tease and pushed at his chest. “Go surf, you crazy man.”

  Jex held up his hand. His smile was flirtatious and fun, but his dark eyes were troubled. “I’d rather kiss you.”

  Their gazes caught and held. Another large wave rolled in and covered her ankles. She shivered, though the water wasn’t really cold. Jex laughed and swept her off her feet, cradling her against his strong chest. Pearl had no problem cuddling into him and wrapping her arms tight around his neck. She wasn’t a daredevil like him and often wondered if his adventures were anywhere near as exciting as how she felt when he held her close. If so, she didn’t blame him for choosing a new thrill each day.

  Jex carried her easily to higher ground. The crowd was cheering like crazy, snapping pictures, and women screamed for Jex to hold them.

  He stopped and let her feet slide to the sand, but held her close to his body. His head lowered close to hers. Pearl could smell his minty breath and his musky cologne. Ah, Jex. How could she keep resisting him? Why had she fallen for a man who lived for his next adrenaline hit? Was it wrong to want him to settle down?

  Jex’s chest was rising and falling steadily as she ran her hands down from his neck to his muscular shoulders. “Please, Pearl,” he murmured, studying her so intently.

  Pearl wanted to kiss him, but she didn’t know if she was ready for that leap of faith. She took a deep breath and wimped out. “Ask again tomorrow,” she murmured.

  Jex studied her for a few more seconds and then seemed to sense that she wasn’t going to cave today. She hated that her indecision was probably written all over her face. Would she somehow overcome her fears and worries tomorrow? She doubted it, and she hated herself for it.

  “Tomorrow,” he said decisively, tilting his head toward her. “Is that a firm commitment?”

  Pearl laughed shakily. “I’d say … fifty-fifty chance.”

  Jex’s dark eyes were full of disappointment, but of course he didn’t show anyone else that. He broke his concentration and grip on her and shrugged easily for the crowd. “Fifty-fifty is better than nothing, right, friends?”

  Everyone cheered. Jex grinned at her, took the surfboard a tech put in his hands, and jogged into the water. Pearl felt like she was frozen as she watched him paddle through massive waves and then dive through them on his board. He was a fabulous surfer, and she shouldn’t have this knot of fear in her stomach, but she did. Every. Single. Day. Would kissing him make the knot go away or make it grow?

  Jex thoroughly enjoyed surfing and mostly enjoyed mingling with the crowd afterward. Tomorrow, tomorrow. He’d felt like he and Pearl were turning a corner, but it was probably because of talking to Lottie last night. His sister kept insisting that Pearl loved Jex. Yet Pearl simply flirted with him and kept making him wait for that kiss. Did she thrive on rejecting him? That didn’t really fit the Pearl he knew and loved. He thought it was more tied up in her fears of losing him, like she’d alluded to last night. But how to fix that?

  They returned to the rental house and ate a late lunch with the camera and safety crew guys. Jex liked all of them, but he wanted to be alone with Pearl. After lunch, he showered and then approached her bedroom door. Visions of her opening it yesterday in her bra and panties flooded his mind, and he had to bite down on the desire that flared in him. He’d lost all ability to speak or think rationally yesterday. He doubted he’d get another vision like that today.

  She opened the door, still in her fitted pink dress and silver heels. Her golden-brown hair was in long curls down her back, and her teal eyes drew him in. She was so beautiful. “Hey,” she said, her lips turning up as she ducked her head slightly.

  Jex wanted to grab and kiss her right then and there, but he definitely wasn’t as brave as he showed on his videos. “You up for an adventure?” He winked.

  Pearl laughed. “You just never get enough.”

  “Not of you.”

  “Aren’t you lucky you get to spend each day with me?”

  Her voice had a teasing lilt to it, but Jex hoped she knew that he really did feel lucky and grateful. “It’s my greatest blessing,” he murmured.

  Pearl’s eyes widened slightly and her mouth softened. Did she believe him, or think he was still teasing? When she spoke, he was disappointed yet again. “So, what’s the adventure?”

  “Get a swimsuit on and I’ll show you.”

  “Does anyone ever tell you no?” she asked, planting a hand on her hip.

  You, every single day, he wanted to say. Instead, he grinned and said, “Why would anyone want to?”

  She laughed and shut her door.

  Jex stood staring at the closed door. “Is that a yes?” he yelled through it.

  “I’ll see you downstairs in a few.”

  He headed back to his room to change, smothering his disappointment. He loved being around Pearl. He needed to put the constant desire to kiss and hold her and beg her to marry him from his mind and just enjoy being her friend.

  He claimed to specialize in miracles. Forgetting his desire for Pearl would definitely be a miracle.

  Pearl followed Jex down the steep, muddy trail. Part of the route had ropes or PVC pipes mounted to help navigate it. “Why exactly am I wearing a swimsuit?” she asked Jex’s back.

  He glanced over his shoulder and grinned. “Because you look so good in it.”

  Pearl rolled her eyes, feeling her cheeks flush. “Where are we going?”

  “Patience, my girl, patience.”

  “I’m not your girl,” she shot back.

  “Poor me.”

  Pearl changed the subject quickly. “Hiking a muddy trail in a swimsuit. Great idea.”

  He laughed. “Don’t worry. There’s a swimming hole at the end.”

  “Queen’s Bath?” she asked. Her friend Tracy had told her all about the natural swimming pool formed from lava rock on the edge of a rocky outcropping of ocean. Pearl had planned to come here last time they were in Kauai, but they’d run out of time between Jex’s stunts and the other hikes and adventures they wanted to do. Plus, some of the locals had told the
m it was a dangerous spot. Not that danger meant much to Jex.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He eased down the last steep muddy incline onto the firmer lava rock and then turned back and reached up for her.

  Pearl scrambled partway down, but he wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her down the rest of the way. “Thanks,” she said breathlessly, staring up into his dark eyes.

  “For the adventure, or saving you from breaking an ankle?”

  “Both.”

  “It’s weird seeing you without your high heels.”

  Pearl laughed. She liked being dolled up, but she also enjoyed wearing Tevas and embarking on adventures with Jex. Much milder adventures than Jex’s usual stunts but they were adventurous for her. “You like the heels better?”

  “You look amazing in anything.” His voice lowered. “Or next to nothing, like yesterday afternoon.”

  “You stop.” Pearl pushed halfheartedly at his chest, still humiliated that she’d answered her door half-clothed.

  Jex grinned. He stepped in closer and trailed a hand along her cheek. Pearl felt tingly from his touch but also felt something cold and wet smear across her face. Jex’s eyes widened as he looked at her. “Sorry.” Then he started laughing.

  Pearl reached up to her cheek and wiped. Her fingers came away covered in reddish-brown mud. “You did that on purpose,” she said.

  “No, I promise, I was trying to … have a romantic moment with you, not smear mud on your face.” He tilted his head. “Though it looks really cute on you.”

  “I’ll show you a romantic moment.” She turned and rubbed her dirty cheek against his white T-shirt.

  “Hey!” Jex grabbed her shoulders and held her back. “That’s my favorite shirt.”

  Pearl looked over the brown stain on his O’Neil T-shirt. “Well, you got mud on my favorite cheek.”

  He laughed but then sobered, staring intently at her. “My favorite cheek as well.”

  Pearl smiled, then looked around as she heard footsteps. Some people were approaching from across the lava.

  The two of them broke apart, but Jex took her hand. He greeted the people, then asked, “This the way to Queen’s Bath?”

  “Yeah, but be careful,” the man said. “Tide’s coming in and the waves are getting vicious. More than one person has been ripped out to sea and drowned this time of year.”

  “Thanks.” Jex squeezed Pearl’s hand, and they started walking across the lava. They navigated toward the well-known, somewhat forbidden swimming hole. When they reached it, there were a couple of teenagers down in the frothing blue water, and a warning placard close by showed how many people had died here.

  “Well, that’s morbid,” Pearl said.

  “Yeah. Who knew swimming was so dangerous?”

  A wave crested over the pool and smacked into the boys. They yelled in surprise. The wave rushed back out to the ocean. The boys screamed in horror as the wave pulled them toward the ledge and the angry ocean and vicious rocks forty feet below.

  Jex sprang away from Pearl and dove into the pool.

  “Jex!” Pearl screamed, rushing to the edge and looking down. It was probably about ten feet to the water. Jex’s shallow dive took him quickly across the pool toward where the water was rushing out and the boys were grappling for something to hold on to.

  Pearl held her breath and prayed desperately that Jex and those boys wouldn’t be another notch on the death board behind her.

  Jex surfaced, screamed, “Dive!” and grabbed the boys by an arm and a leg to drag them back under the water. The boys luckily caught on, and Pearl could see through the clear, though turbulent blue water as they all dove down to the bottom of the pool, protected for a second while the tow from the wave finally slowed and then stopped flowing out to sea.

  When they surfaced, Jex pushed the boys in front of him toward the lower rock ledge to the right of where Pearl waited. Another large wave was rolling in.

  “Jex!” Pearl yelled, pointing behind him at the wave cresting.

  The wave slammed into them from behind, lifting them up toward the rock ledge. Jex shoved the boys to safety, but as Pearl watched in horror, the swell crested and then rushed back toward the open ocean, dragging Jex with it before he could climb onto the ledge.

  Instead of resisting, Jex turned and swam with the current, and then he angled his body down and swam toward the deep bottom of the pool. Pearl’s hands were clammy and her heart was racing out of control. She finally caught a breath as the wave receded.

  Jex popped up to the surface, swimming to the rock ledge and flinging himself out of the water. He and the boys picked their way along the lava as Pearl hurried down toward them. More loud waves crashed into the pool, but luckily no one was in danger of getting tugged to their death.

  “Thanks, man,” one of the boys was saying. “My mom would’ve killed me if I went over that ledge.”

  Jex chuckled. “The ocean or the fall would’ve killed you first.”

  The kid’s eyes widened. “Oh, you’re right!”

  Pearl reached them. Jex’s shirt was clinging to his muscular body, and his face lit up when he saw her. “You okay, love?”

  “Am I okay? Am I okay?” Her voice was reaching a feverish pitch. She flung herself against his chest and hugged him fiercely. “Stop risking your life, you idiot!”

  Jex simply laughed and held her close. “I had to save these idiots’ lives.”

  Pearl pulled back and turned to scold them. “What were you thinking, jumping in when you saw how big those waves were?” She flung her hand at the board counting the deaths created by this deceptively beautiful spot. “And after seeing that sign?”

  The blond boy shrugged. “We’ve come before and it was fun. Today it wasn’t bad when we first got in. Just some waves coming in and out, giving us a ride, but not yanking us like that last one did. I think the tide is coming in.”

  Jex nodded. “Always be careful and research before you do something like this. We didn’t do our research today either. I never would’ve risked this pretty lady at an unpredictable spot like this.”

  The dark-haired kid whirled to stare at him with an open mouth and said with reverence, “You’re Jex Steele.”

  Jex smiled. “Yeah.”

  “I heard you were on the island. We’re coming to your stunt tomorrow.”

  “Thanks.” Jex shook both of their hands, chatted for a little while, and then they thanked him for saving their lives and headed for the trail. He pulled off his soaked shirt and then turned to her with a slight grin. He looked irresistibly good, and Pearl just wanted to hug him again.

  “You’re a hero today,” she said.

  Jex shook his head. “Don’t tell Gunner or Lily. Being the hero is their job.”

  “Don’t deflect, Jex. I’m super proud of you.” She put a hand to her chest. “I was so scared, though.”

  “Sorry I scared you, love.”

  “Did you mean what you said?”

  “Which part?” He tilted his head slightly.

  “You said you wouldn’t risk me in an unpredictable spot. What about risking yourself every day?”

  “But you, I, and the safety crew do our research every day, and I’m like Superman. You don’t have to worry about me, love.”

  Pearl stared at him for a few seconds, wishing she could really not worry about him. She turned and started walking to the trail. Jex shared many similarities with a superhero, but he was still mortal and could easily die at any moment.

  Chapter Four

  Pearl was on the edge of a rocky cliff. She stared down into the oblivion, searching, searching for Jex. She finally spotted him, flying alongside the cliff as if he were a bird. Realizing he was in a wingsuit, she calmed her racing heart. He was okay. Jex was brilliant in a wingsuit.

  Suddenly, the wingsuit disappeared and Jex’s fall went wild. He plummeted toward the ground far below. He looked up at her, reaching out a hand and calling, “Pearl!”

  “Jex!” she screamed in h
orror. “Jex!” His body slammed against the jagged rocks, and she flung herself off the cliff, desperate to reach him yet aware that she was sealing her own fate.

  “Pearl! Wake up, Pearl!”

  Pearl jerked upright, pulling in a loud breath. The room was lit only by a lamp, and she stared into Jex’s handsome face as he held on to her shoulders with both hands. He wasn’t shattered on some rocky cliff. He was safe.

  “It was a dream, love. Just a dream. You’re okay.”

  “Yeah, but are you?” she croaked out of a very dry throat.

  Jex grinned. “I’m always okay, love.”

  Pearl wrapped her hands around his bare back and clung to him, whimpering. “You’re not always going to be.”

  “Ah, love.” Jex cradled her close. “Don’t worry. I’ll be okay. For you, I’ll be okay.”

  Pearl leaned back and looked at him. “How can you say something like that? You risk your life every day.”

  Jex stared at her, more serious than she’d ever seen him. “Do you worry about me, then?”

  “Do I worry about you?” Pearl pulled from his grasp, pushed past him, and stood. “You’re going to drive me to an early grave, Jex Steele.”

  Jex eased to his feet. Just watching him move was irresistible and awe-inspiring, especially when he was only wearing some cotton shorts. “Pearl …” His voice was deep and throaty. “We’ve spent a lot of time together the past six years.”

  Pearl wrapped a hand around her throat. Where was he going with this? “Yes, we have.”

  “And in all that time, have you learned to trust me at all?”

  Pearl blinked. “What do you mean?”

  “Have I ever not followed through with something I’ve told you I’ll do?” He arched a challenging eyebrow.

  She thought about it. “No.”

  “Have I ever lied to you?”

  “No.”

  “Have I ever let you down?”

  Pearl pursed her lips. No, he hadn’t. He terrified her almost every day, but he’d never let her down. He always survived his stunts, specializing in his miracles; he always made her laugh and smile and want him; and he was there for her in every possible way. “No, Jex.”