“How would it even work?” I asked. “I live in New York, my father lives with me. You live in Rhode Island.”
Jack gathered me in his arms, pulling me back against his body in a sandy, warm spoon and resting his chin on my shoulder.
“Like I said, it’s your choice. I have a place in Manhattan, remember? Or, if you decided you liked it better here, maybe you could arrange a more permanent remote work situation with your boss—or get a job at a different publication based in this area. There’s a bookstore for sale on Main Street here in Eastport Bay. I’ll buy it for you, and you can run it if you want to, call it Bonny Books. You said your father loves Rhode Island. My house is plenty big enough for everyone—he could have his own wing. I’ll add a whole bookcase to the library for Braille editions.”
He sounded like he was joking, but when I twisted back to look at his expression, I knew he meant every word of it.
In the course of a few minutes, he’d shifted from talking about going on glamorous dates to living together.
I wriggled, changing positions so I lay on my back looking up at him again. “Jack. This is pretty big. We’re not talking about a few dinners or lunch dates. This is people changing their lives.”
He stroked my hair back from my face then ran a finger softly down my cheek. His next words were quiet but distinct. “You’ve already changed my life. I want you, Bonnie. I don’t know how to say it anymore plainly than that.”
Pausing to study my expression, he added, “You don’t have to give me an answer now. Think about it. Meanwhile, I plan to spoil you rotten and stack the deck completely in my favor.”
We stayed at the beach a while longer, finishing lunch before packing up and heading back to the airfield where the helicopter waited. Thank God I’d brought the coverup since my bikini top had been destroyed.
The whole flight home, my heart flip-flopped from elation to doubt and back again. I wanted all the things Jack had talked about. I wanted more days like this one. Could we really have them?
We were from different worlds. We’d only known each other a few weeks and had gotten off to averyrocky start. But the fact was, in that short time he’d changed my life, too.
He’d restored something I thought I’d lost forever—a sense of optimism that thingscouldwork out, that therewassomeone for me in this world—someone wonderful who appreciated me for me, for who I was inside.
Someone to build a life with.
When we got back to the mansion, Jack suggested using the rear entrance and the elevator to avoid getting the foyer floor sandy. But before the elevator doors opened, Harrison appeared in the hallway wearing a very worried expression.
“Sir. There’s a visitor waiting.”
“A visitor? I wasn’t expecting anyone. Who is it?”
Harrison darted his eyes at me and then back to Jack. “It’s Claudia, sir.”
Jack’s face contracted into a scowl. “You let her in?”
“I did not.”
“Well, then how did she get in my house?”
“I believe you gave her a key, sir.”
“Fuck.That’s right. I did. I can’t believe I never got that back from her.”
He strode toward the foyer, and as our hands were still joined, pulled me with him. I was wearing only the swimsuit and a cover-up. My hair was no doubt a windblown mess from a day at the ocean followed by a helicopter ride, and I had no makeup on.
I didnotwant to make the acquaintance of Jack’s gorgeous ex-girlfriend looking like this.
“Jack—wait, stop.”
He halted and turned to me. “What?”
“Look at me,” I said. “I don’t want anyone to see me.”
“Why not? You look great.”
“Jack…” I widened my eyes in adon’t you get itstare. “I don’t wantherto see me.”
His hand tightened around mine, and he leaned in for a quick kiss. “Well, I do. Please? You’ll be doing me a favor.”
