Oh, crap.
My brain scrambles for an answer. “He makes the best hot chocolate.…He motivates me to push myself harder, especially when I’m working out. He understands when I need space and knows when I need a good laugh.” The more I talk, the more the words slip out without any thought. All genuine. “Just seeing him and the way he smiles at me when we’re in the same room…makes me feel all warm and tingly on the inside.”
My face heats up as the final words reveal themselves.
Gabrielle turns to Jayden. “What about you, Jayden? What do you love about Isabelle?”
He grins at me and my insides grow warmer and more tingly. “The way she blushes when she’s embarrassed.”
My face turns into a fiery inferno at that.
“I love how she gets excited at the sight of chocolate, and how she motives me to be a better person. And I love that she loves m…our dog, and Mojo loves her.”
“Great job, you two.” Gabrielle prompts the rest of the group to answer the question.
Jayden and I continue watching each person, waiting for them to let slip that they aren’t who they pretend to be.
But to my disappointment, that doesn’t happen.
So either they’re top-notch actors, or no one here is associated with the reason Bernard hired us.
“It’s time to wrap up our morning session,” she says after the last couple has finished sharing. “You guys all did a fantastic job. Just remember, when you have rough days, when your partner gets on your nerves, remind yourself of all the things you love about them that you shared with us. And practice your communications skills with each other regularly, and before you know it, being open with your partner will be like a second skin. Be patient and remember the long-term benefits.
“We’re going to meet up again at three p.m. for our cooking lesson with the resort’s world-renowned chef. He’s an incredible teacher, so we’re fortunate to have him with us. And for your homework assignment, I want you to keep practicing communicating with your partner about your sexual preferences and needs. Remember, when your partner gives you feedback, it’s not to be critical. It’s to benefit you both.
“The other assignment is for you to get naked. One of you will take a warm washcloth and gently rub your partner’s body, paying special attention to the erogenous zones. And I’m not talking only about the obvious ones. See if you can discover ones you didn’t know about.”
With that, she dismisses us.
Jayden and I push ourselves to our feet. “We should introduce ourselves to Caroline Bateman and her husband, like everyone else seems to be doing.” His breath lightly teases my ear, his body almost touching mine.
She does appear to have gained the attention of a few members of our group, including Blake and Virginia. Maybe they want to find out if Caroline and her husband would like to swing with them sometime…and I don’t mean at the playground.
“And after that, you and I need to talk.” Jayden traces his fingers down my arm, the gesture intimate.
I shiver at his touch. “About what?”
He shifts his head, his lips trailing against my jaw. Then his teeth gently capture my lower lip between them.
My heart rate spikes, racing like a kid chasing an ice cream truck. And I swear my breath is matching it, beat for beat.
He releases my lip. “About this chemistry between us that we’ve been pretending doesn’t exist.”
Ah, that.So I wasn’t the only one who had noticed it—or who was trying to pretend it wasn’t there.
“All right. First, we do our job. After which, we deal with the pink-and-white elephant in the room.” An idea takes shape in my head. It’s a gentle nudge at first, telling me it could work. Being at this resort doesn’t have to be an exercise in sexual frustration.
We join the group. Jayden’s hand rests against my lower back. There’s something possessive about it—although it might be more a warning for Blake that Jayden isn’t one to share his toys.
Or woman.
Caroline is explaining to the group why she and her husband are here in light of the fact that she’s running in the election. “There will be voters who believe the resort is the devil’s work…or some nonsense like that. Sex is supposed to stay in the bedroom and not be discussed. They’re the ones who are against sex education in our school systems.
“But I’m a strong advocate of a healthy marriage and doing whatever it takes to achieve that—as long as it’s moral and legal.”
“So you’re not worried about your opposition painting you and the resort in a negative light?” Anthony asks.
“If I worried about every little detail individuals dug up about me and spun into a negative light, I wouldn’t get up in the morning. Heck, I’d be disappointed if they didn’t try. It just means they don’t see me as a liable threat. I have more fun when I’m treated on equal ground, rather than someone who can be easily dismissed.”
