by Hazel Kelly
“Was that a proposition?” I asked, leaning back on my hands.
“That depends,” he said.
“On what?”
“Whether that was a yes?”
I smiled. “I think I can manage being on time,” I said, keeping my cards close to my chest. As much as I liked his flirtatious attention, I didn’t want him to know he’d already won me over.
“Good,” he said, letting the question of sex linger in the air. “I promise you’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Hopefully not. I didn’t come here to do things I can do in Seattle.”
He smiled at me. “I’ll do my best not to disappoint you then.”
I swallowed.
“Speaking of home,” he said, facing the water again. “The relentless sunshine here must be a nice change from all the gray you’re probably used to?”
“It is now that my skin’s gotten past its initial shock.” I pursed my lips. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Shoot.”
“Of all the amazing places in Thailand, why are you hiding out in this seedy city that’s rampant with sex tourism?”
“It helps me unwind occasionally.”
My lips fell apart.
“I’m kidding, Audrey. Jesus. I’m not a sex tourist.”
I shook my head. “Not funny.”
“I had enough problems with women at home trying to date me because they thought I had money,” he said. “That’s the last thing I want here.”
“And are you?” I asked.
“Am I what?”
“Filthy rich.”
Jack laughed. “No. I’m comfortable, but I’m not rich.”
I wanted to believe him, but he’d been so humble about everything else. Plus, in my experience, only rich people described themselves as “comfortable.” I moved to get up. “Well, it’s been a pleasure meeting you,” I said, pretending to leave.
His face dropped.
“Kidding,” I said, sitting back down. “I’m kidding.”
Jack rolled his eyes. “Good one.”
“To be honest, I totally get it,” I said. “Guys are always after my severance pay.”
“Sounds tough.”
I nodded. “Oh it is. It is.”
He smiled.
“Seriously, though? Why this place?”
Jack sighed. “Well for one thing, my Dad lives in the area now.”
“Oh.”
“So it’s good to be near him. And really, there’s no better place to keep a low profile and get away for a while than a place where a bunch of other people are doing the exact same thing.”
“That makes sense,” I said, shaking my hair so it fell behind me.
“What the heck you’re doing here is the real question,” he said. “No offense, but I didn’t have you pegged for having a lady boy fetish.”
“What can I say? I can’t resist a man in drag.”
“Duly noted. I suppose I should’ve worn a dress then?”
“And makeup. I love a full face of makeup on a man.”
He laughed. “That’s a shame. I thought things had been going so well, but a pink shirt is about as far as I can push it.”
“Are you saying you don’t want to share clothes?” I asked. “Cause that’s what I’m really looking for- a man I can share a closet with.”
Jack shrugged. “I’m afraid not. When I said I liked your dress, I didn’t mean I wanted to try it on.”
“Honestly?” I asked.
“Please.”
“Megan booked it,” I said. “The whole trip was her idea.”
Jack nodded.
“And the price was right so I didn’t even think about it,” I said. “And since neither of us had ever been here before, it didn’t occur to us to check and see if there were more activities on offer than the ones listed in the brochure.”
“You must have been surprised when you arrived.”
“Very,” I said. “And Megan feels bad about it, but I’ve actually had a really relaxing time which is exactly what I needed.”
“Good.”
“Though I have to admit that when I spotted you on the beach today, I was thrilled to finally have a bit of eye candy.”
Tiny lines sprang up around Jack’s eyes as he smiled. “There are some impressive specimens in the area.”
“That’s putting it mildly. Seriously, though, how are you in such good shape? I practically get heatstroke from applying my sunscreen out here.”
Jack shrugged. “I’m probably a bit compulsive about it.”
“I figured.”
“But once I find the right woman, I’m going to let myself go.”
“I don’t believe that for a second, but if the time comes, I’ve got some tips for you. Fatty snacks are a specialty of mine.”
“Good to know.”
I stole a glance at Jack’s profile as he looked out towards the fishing boats. Then I looked back down at my feet dangling over the shiny water, watching as the soft waves lapped against the wooden dock under me and listening to the wooden boats knock together as they bobbed on the water’s surface.
“So where are you from originally?” I asked, noticing his big feet.
“Southern California.”
“So you’re used to the nice weather then?”
“Yeah, I tend to get cranky when I don’t have a tan.”
“You surf?”
“Of course.”
“Cool.”
“Not well, but I can catch a wave. To be honest, my surfing isn’t much better than my dancing.”
“Thanks for the warning,” I said, though it was his horizontal dancing I was most interested in.
“Paddle boarding is my preferred way of standing on water.”
“Oh yeah, I guess that’s pretty big now.”
“For good reason,” he said. “I’m also working on getting my scuba license.”
I nodded. “Wow. Quite the overachiever.”
“It’s not that. I just figure if I’m spending all this time out here, I might as well have something to show for it.”
“Understandable,” I said. “I suppose my snorkeling catastrophe this afternoon disqualifies me from ever getting a chance to join you?”
“Not at all.” He leaned forward and pointed to the outside of his calf. “See that?” Jack tilted his leg so the moonlight hit a shiny scar as big as a Band-Aid.
I crinkled my nose. “That must have been nasty.”
“It was coral. Just like you.”
“How long did that take to heal?”
“Fully?” He looked up and squinted at the sky. “I can’t remember. Maybe six months.”
“Is mine going to take that long?” I asked, raising my bandaged foot.
“Maybe,” he said. “But not if you’re diligent about keeping it clean and dry.”
“Ugh.”
“On the bright side, you’ll have an excuse to remember me for a long time after your vacation.”
I pursed my lips and stole a glance at his smiling eyes. “I would’ve remembered you anyway.”
“That reminds me.” He turned his body and rested one of his hands behind me. “There was something I meant to do earlier to make it better.”
I swallowed. “What’s that?”
He leaned forward and pressed his lips against mine. His were slightly rough from so much wind and sun, but they were soft at the same time, and as he parted them, I gave in, letting his tongue tumble into my mouth.
He was a good kisser, deliberate but playful, and I felt my body burning for him as he sucked the breath from my lungs, drawing me into him and making me melt from the inside out.
I couldn’t help but think that his lips seemed even more eager to heal me than his hands had been earlier, and if there had been any doubt in my mind about where the night was headed, he’d erased it with a swirl of his tongue.
By the time he pulled away, my stomach was aflutter and my toes were splayed out wide.
“Wow,” I said, keeping my eyes closed for a second as the breeze dried my wet lips. I opened my eyes and beamed at him. “Thank you. That made me feel much better… And not just in my foot.”
Jack laughed. “Me too.”
“I have to say, I think your bedside manner is impeccable.”
“Thanks, but I’m obligated to warn you-”
I raised my eyebrows.
“It isn’t always so controlled I’m afraid.”
“I’m not,” I said, feeling brave. I knew if I kissed him again, all bets would be off. I wouldn’t be able to play it cool anymore. My patience was already spent, and I was becoming increasingly less interested in entertaining him with words.
“Would you like to go back to m-” Jack’s phone rang between us, lighting up the front pocket of his shorts. “Excuse me one second,” he said, jumping up to take the call and leaving me at the end of the pier wondering what he was about to ask and whether he already knew my answer.
A moment later, he came back to the end of the pier, but he wasn’t smiling anymore. In fact, his previously relaxed expression had been replaced by a stressful one unlike any I’d seen him make all night.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, reaching down to help me up.
I searched his face.
He bent over to put on his shoes. “Something has come up and I need to go.”
“Is everything okay?”
“It will be,” he said, straightening back up. “But only if I go right now.”
“I understand,” I lied.
“I’m so embarrassed to end our lovely evening this way. It’s not how I-”
“That’s okay,” I said, slipping my sandals back on. “I’m pretty tired. I was probably going to go back shortly anyway.”
“Oh.” His eyebrows gave away his surprise. “Okay. Well can I at least walk you back to your room?”
“No,” I said, waving him away with my hand. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll be fine. You go ahead.”
“I’ll still see you tomorrow though, right?”
“Sure,” I said, sobered by his abrupt departure.
Jack leaned in and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek.
I covered it with my hand as soon as he turned around.
But I couldn’t keep his kiss any more than I could keep him from hurrying down the pier and disappearing into the night.
Thanks
Thank you for taking the time to read this story.
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To find out what’s next for Jack and Audrey, check out the next book in the Craved Series, Claimed by a Stranger.
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Happy Reading,
Xo Hazel
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