His Personal Relationship Manager (Dating by Design Book 1)

by Jennifer Peel

  I playfully pushed on his chest and laughed.

  “I love the sound of your laugh.”

  “Thanks,” I responded shyly.

  “I hope to hear it a lot this weekend.”

  “Me, too.”

  “I guess I know what my point in being here is then.”

  That was it. I was a goner. Head over heels.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  It was more fun crab hunting with Jason as an adult than it ever was as a kid, I thought as I soaked in the tub late that night. Jason really got into it. By the time we were done, we had a bucket full of the little creatures. They were crawling all over each other, desperate to escape. I think my favorite part was Jason interacting with the children who were out crab hunting. If a child was nearby, he always pointed out the crabs for them and made sure they caught one. He was great like that.

  I laughed at him, though, as he tried to catch a real crab that kept running back into the water. Jason was determined to catch the thing. I teased him that they could make a documentary about him and call it, “Man vs. Crab.” He didn’t find that very manly. He suggested, “Man vs. Giant Mutant Crab.”

  “Sounds like a hit,” I mocked.

  “You know you would watch it,” he responded.

  If he was the main character, yes, I would definitely tune in.

  I sighed as I slid my hands up my silky bare legs. I really should get out of the tub, I thought, but the water was helping calm my nerves. I had lots of pent up energy. Jason consumed my every thought. To think, he was in the room next to me. It was driving me crazy. I kept thinking, should I decide to go home? But I knew I wouldn't. I craved Jason’s company and I was going to take what I could get, even if it hurt worse in the end, and I knew it would. And I knew there would be an end, because he was dating someone else—several someone elses—that weren’t me.

  I managed to get in a few winks of sleep, but I woke up early on purpose. This would be the last day the beach wouldn’t be overly crowded, and I wanted to enjoy the sunrise in solitude, or as close to it as I could get. I threw on my black swim shorts and the red halter-top that belonged with them. I brushed my hair and pinned my bangs back. There was no need for make-up when your plan was to soak in as much water, sun, and sand as you could in a day.

  I quietly put together a day bag with some snacks, water, and sunscreen. I was sure I was the only one up. I grabbed my lounge chair, book, and towel and made my way to the beach.

  It was a little on the cool side with the morning breeze coming off the ocean, but it was pleasant, and I knew before too long it would be plenty warm. I set up my chair, situated my towel, and settled in to watch Mother Nature do her thing. My reward was not only the sunrise, but the dolphins playing in the distance. The sun peeked over the horizon and broke through the low-lying clouds. It was the perfect setup to what was waiting for me in the distance. The beach was all but empty except for me and a runner off in the distance. I admired people that ran on vacation, or basically ran at all. It was not for me. I especially admired this runner.

  Jason sauntered toward me in all of his glory. The sun illuminated him from behind. He was wearing running shorts and no shirt. Yep, his bare chest looked as good as I had imagined. I needed help, serious help.

  He grinned from ear to ear when he approached and recognized me. The sweat was dripping off of him, but sweat never looked so good. He threw himself down next to me in the sand.

  I looked down at his prostrate body. He was breathing heavily, with his eyes closed, which worked out well for me. It meant I could soak him in without him noticing. All I could think was, wow. Actually, I thought some other things, too, but they weren’t very appropriate. “You’re up early this morning,” I said to him after I came to my senses . . . the senses that said this man is off limits to you.

  He opened his eyes and smiled up at me. “I couldn’t sleep. I thought maybe a run would help.”

  “Everything okay?”

  “I’ve got a lot on my mind.”

  “I can relate. Anything I can help with?”

  He sat up until we were almost eye level. “Definitely,” he responded.

  “Are you going to elaborate?”

  “Don’t worry. I will when the time is right.”

  “I’m not following you.”

  “I don’t suppose you are.”

  I shook my head in confusion.

  He still didn’t explain. “I’m going to run in and change. Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back,” he said instead.

  “You might want to wash the sand off first.”

  He stood up. “Good thinking.” He waded out into ocean and dove in. When he came up out of the water and walked out looking like a scene from Hawaii Five-0, I almost threw decorum out the window. I had never wanted someone more in my life than at that moment.

  “Better?” He grinned seductively.

  Oh, yeah. Much better. I was speechless, so I nodded.

  He ran toward the house and I watched him. His backside looked as good as the front.

  I leaned back against my chair and closed my eyes. I was in over my head.

  I tried reading my novel, but I couldn’t focus. Either that, or the book was about someone named Jason, because that was all I could see and feel. I felt like maybe I should take a dip in the cool morning water, too.

  Jason was true to his word; he was back in no time. This time in red, white, and blue swim trunks and a chair of his own. He placed his chair as close to mine as possible and made himself comfortable. At least he looked at ease.

  We both leaned back, but turned our heads so we could converse.

  “So you didn’t tell me why you couldn’t sleep,” he said.

  “You didn’t ask.”

  He chuckled. “You’re right. So what is keeping you up?”

  “I’ll tell you when you tell me.”

  “Deal.” His smile lit up those beautiful eyes. “Moving on then.”

  “Did Zander ever make it home?” I asked.

  “Yes, but you don’t want to know when.”

  “Thanks for sparing me any gory details.”

  “Believe me, I didn’t ask or want to know either. But now that you know Zander is alive, the question is, what are we going to do today?”

  I pulled up my book and snacks. “I’m all set.”

  He shook his head vehemently. “Oh, no. I want the fun girl from last night, the one who cruelly hunts innocent creatures.”

  “Are you telling me I’m cruel and boring?”

  “No. I’m suggesting that you accept that my plans for our day are better than your plans.”

  “And what are your plans?”

  He grabbed my bag. “First of all, you’re going to share your food because I’m starving.” He helped himself to one of my bananas. “Next is stimulating conversation, with yours truly, until the rental place opens.”

  “What are we renting?”

  “I like the way you said we,” he said with a smile.

  I shook my head at his nonsense.

  “We are renting a paddle board, but I’m paying, no arguments.” He paused, just in case I decided to argue.

  I was too amused to say anything.

  His grin was misdemeanor-worthy. “After paddle boarding, we’ll be starving, so we’ll break for food. Once that has settled, it’s time for some beach volleyball.”

  “Wait a minute, I haven’t played volleyball in years and I’m not all that good at it.”

  “Not a problem, Zander and I are, so you’ll be the eye candy to distract the other team.”

  “Eye candy?”

  “Is that offensive?”

  “Maybe?”

  “Beach babe?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Moving on.”

  “No, I have to get this right.”

  “I think maybe you should stop while you’re ahead.”

  He thought while he grinned wickedly at me. “How does lovely lady work?”

  “I like that.�
�

  He wiped his brow. “Phew.”

  I laughed at him. “What’s gotten into you this morning?”

  “I’m just happy.”

  “I’m glad.”

  He paused for a moment. His intense gaze had me feeling undone. “Are you happy, Kenadie?”

  “That’s a complicated question.”

  “Well, you are a complicated woman.”

  “I don’t try to be.”

  “It was a compliment.”

  “How do you do that?”

  “What’s that?”

  “You always know what to say to make me feel better about myself.”

  “Well, that’s easy. You give me good material to work with.”

  “Jason … Today, I’m happy.”

  “You don’t know how happy I am to hear that,” he said smoothly.

  The conversation was definitely stimulating something. I was a goner. Stick a fork in me. I was done.

  My saving grace came in the form of Zander’s mom running toward us. Don’t forget, she was a sans bra kind of woman, so it was quite the sight to behold. Poor Jason’s eyes bugged out before he quickly adverted them. She was carrying two paper lunch sacks.

  “I woke up and you kids were already gone. You can’t leave without eating breakfast first.” She handed over the paper bags.

  I stood up and hugged her. “You didn’t need to do that.” And I was pretty sure Jason was wishing she wouldn’t have. He couldn’t even look at her.

  She touched my cheek with the palm of her hand. “Of course I do. What kind of hostess would I be if I didn’t feed you?”

  I noticed that her algae-green eyes that had been just like Zander’s were beginning to fade a little. Maybe it was the alcohol, or perhaps age. “Thank you.”

  “You kids have fun today, and make sure you wear sunscreen. You don’t want to end up looking like an old worn out hag, like me.” And without letting us reply, she took off back toward the house.

  I sat back down next to Jason, who was still looking a tad red. “Are you okay, there?”

  “I think I may need to bleach my eyes, but other than that, perfect.”

  “Zander is her child.”

  “Let’s not talk about it,” he suggested.

  We opened up our sacks to find mini orange juice bottles and baggies full of cereal. We both laughed.

  “Bon appetite.”

  “Yeah, something like that,” Jason responded.

  As we munched on our cold cereal, we watched as the beach slowly filled up around us. It was also starting to warm up as the sun rose higher in the sky.

  “Time for sunscreen,” Jason announced. “We don’t want you turning into an old hag.”

  “I think she was referring to you,” I replied, affronted.

  He laughed loudly while I pulled out my spray sunscreen, one of the better inventions of mankind.

  Jason pulled out his regular lotion-based sunscreen and began to liberally apply it. I thought, I wouldn’t mind getting some of that action. I silently berated myself for the thought and began coating my body with SPF 50. It smelled like coconuts. I loved that smell.

  Jason turned to me and handed me his bottle. “Will you get my back and shoulders?”

  I looked down at the bottle and didn’t take it. Oh, I wanted to. I wanted nothing more at that moment than to get my hands on his smooth, muscled back. Someone get me a cold drink, or a lobotomy. Jason looked at me like, what was my issue? I was always such an idiot around him.

  “I’ll use mine,” I finally said. “It goes on easier.”

  “I don’t want to smell like coconut.”

  “Are you saying you don’t like how I smell?”

  He leaned closer and breathed me in, which in turn made me stop breathing.

  “I love the way you smell, but it’s not for me,” he said quietly, and close to my face.

  “Fine,” I said through a shudder of induced shivers, “give me your dang bottle.”

  “You are a difficult woman, Kenadie.”

  “You keep saying that.”

  He grinned playfully. “And I mean every word of it.”

  I snatched his sunscreen out of his hand before I did something I really regretted, because I was already regretting that I had agreed to lather up his back. I was going to need therapy after this weekend, like the electrical shock kind.

  He turned his back to me and I slowly squeezed a good amount of sunscreen in my hand. I felt like I needed to psych myself up. I blew out a deep breath.

  “Don’t be shy back there,” Jason teased.

  I wasn’t being shy. I was trying to figure out how not to enjoy it. I decided I couldn’t stall any longer and just went for it. I started at his strong and steady shoulders and worked my way down.

  “Your hands feel good,” Jason remarked.

  Not as good as his skin felt beneath them. I wanted to rub his neck and run my fingers through his thick hair. And then maybe kiss my way over to his mouth and fall into his arms. So maybe I took longer than I needed to. You couldn’t be too careful, I rationalized, when it came to protecting yourself against the sun’s rays.

  “All done,” I announced.

  He was wearing a seductive grin when he turned around. “Your turn.”

  I handed him my spray sunscreen. He looked down at it. He almost looked disappointed.

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to use mine? I’ve heard this spray stuff isn’t as effective.”

  I didn’t care if I got burned, he was not rubbing my back. That would throw me right over the edge. “It’s always worked for me. Besides, I like the way it smells.”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “If you say so.”

  I slowly turned around and pulled my hair up out of the way.

  The spray felt cold at first and I tensed up.

  “See, if you would have let me use my lotion I would have warmed it up in my hands first.”

  Unbeknownst to him, that would have really had me tensing up.

  “You really think highly of your sunscreen.”

  “I love your sense of humor,” he responded.

  “You may be the only one. I think most people think I’m a smart aleck.”

  “What do they know?”

  I shrugged my shoulders, because I was a smart aleck.

  “Oops,” I heard before I felt the most magical touch upon my back. “I got a little over zealous, let me rub this in.”

  My body betrayed me and erupted in goosebumps. I prayed that he wouldn’t draw attention to it.

  He didn’t, but it wouldn’t have mattered anyway, his touch on the small of my back had my senses in complete overload.

  “Your skin is so soft,” he commented.

  I couldn’t take it anymore. I quickly turned around and grabbed my sunscreen from him. “Thank you.”

  We stared at one another for a moment. He wasn’t smiling. I could see in his eyes he was trying to figure me out. I prayed that he couldn’t see in my eyes how I really felt for him.

  “I think the rental place is open,” I said quietly, breaking the silence.

  “I’ll be right back,” he said, just as quietly in return.

  He had no idea how much I looked forward to that.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Rubbing in sunscreen on my back had nothing on what was to come. I found myself being manhandled by Jason—in the most appropriate way—but all the same, his hands found themselves on my body. At first it was all well and good. I sat in front of Jason on the board and we paddled out a good distance from the shore. That was where it got interesting.

  “Time to stand up,” he exclaimed.

  “You didn’t say anything about standing up.”

  “It’s not really paddle boarding if you sit down.”

  “It works for me.”

  “Come on, Kenadie, you can do it.”

  “I really can’t. I don’t have good balance. You should see me in Pilates.”

  “I will, but today you are go
ing to master the paddle board.”

  I wasn’t really inviting him to Pilates, and I really didn’t want to move from where I was. I could feel him standing up behind me and he did it fluidly.

  “Your turn,” he called down to me.

  “I’m good where I am.”

  “Here, take my paddle.” He handed it over to me. “I’ll help you.”

  “Then we’ll both fall off.”

  “Then we’ll try again. You can do this. Trust me.”

  “I’m not very good at that.” Why did I always blab things I shouldn’t to him?

  “I’ve noticed.”

  I carefully looked behind me and up at him.

  “Kenadie, trust me.”

  “Okay, but if we go over, you only have yourself to blame.”

  “Like I said, we’ll try again if that happens. That’s what life is all about.”

  “So this is a life lesson?”

  “Why not?” He smirked.

  “Tell me what to do.”

  “Lay the paddles in front you and get up on your knees.”

  “I don’t want to knock you off.”

  “Don’t worry about me. And it’s just water.”

  I took a deep breath and slowly did as he instructed. I tried hard not to rock the board. Jason kept teasing me that I was going to fall off.

  “Very good,” he complimented me after I made it to my knees. “When you’re ready, slowly stand up with the paddles in your hand.”

  “Don’t you want yours back?” I asked.

  “Not yet. I’m here to steady you or catch you if you fall.”

  “Promise?”

  “I’m here for you, Kenadie.”

  As always, I took comfort in his words, and in his mere presence. It wasn’t fair that I finally found someone I would hang up my running shoes for and he was dating someone else.

  The water chose to become a little choppier as soon as I had gained my courage to try and stand.

  “Relax, Kenadie,” Jason said soothingly.

  I don’t know what I was so afraid of. I was a good swimmer, though I didn’t usually go out this far from the shoreline. I attempted it again, one leg and then the next. In slow motion, I carefully stood up straight, although I was still a little wobbly.

  “You did it,” Jason said as he put his bare arms around me.