* * **
Charli released a contented sigh and reclined on the blanket, tilting her face up. She closed her eyes luxuriating in the warm caress of the sun and the sound of waves gently lapping the shore. One of Dottie’s wishes had been fulfilled, she’d cried her heart out on Jack’s shoulder, and her belly was deliciously full—her body was overloaded on endorphins. The moment she’d been dreading since she’d read Dottie’s letter was now in the past, and she had absolutely no worries.
Well...maybe there was one small worry nagging at her, but it wasn’t anything an apology wouldn’t fix—at least she hoped anyway.
Opening her eyes, she stared up at the small, fluffy clouds and was amazed yet again at how incredibly blue the sky was here. If she hadn’t known better, she would think that Jack was wooing her because this was the ultimate romantic spot—an isolated island, white-sand beaches, palm trees blowing in the wind, a picnic, and wine. Really, really good wine, she mused as she sipped from her glass.
She glanced at Jack and mentally grimaced. He looked so relaxed and satisfied at that moment as he lay sprawled there staring off into the distance, that she hated to break the mood. But she wouldn’t feel better until she got this off her chest. Hopefully, hehadn’t been offended by her advances, but maybe he understood that it was just part of the grieving moment.
She took a deep, fortifying breath. “Jack?”
He lounged next to her on his right side, one arm braced on the ground as he stared out at the ocean. “Hmm?” he mumbled before sipping his wine.
“I just want to apologize for earlier.”
His brows dropped, and a frown marred his gorgeous features. “What are you talking about?”
She gestured toward the huge brick fortress. “You know, on the wall after we released her ashes. It was really forward of me and I hope I didn’t offend you.”
He barked out a laugh. “Why would anything you did offend me?” He chuckled again and then took a big gulp of his wine.
Charli scrunched her face up...was he really going to make her say it? “Well, I saw you and Gus yesterday, and I realized that you’re gay. The last thing in the world you must want is some crazy woman—Ahhhhhh!” she shrieked as Jack spewed his wine all over her.
She jumped up and pulled her wet shirt away from her chest. “What was that for?”
Jack scrambled to his feet, coughing and sputtering, and towered over her. His face was incredulous and Charli’s heart dropped thinking nowshe’d really upset him. “What did you just say?” he asked in a quiet voice. A shiver went down her spine at the intensity of his question.
Not about to be intimidated, Charli lifted her chin and met his gaze, holding out her hands placatingly. “That the last thing you want is some woman molesting you. I’m trying to say I’m sorry.” She bit her lip. “I mean, I even had my hands all over you in the plane. That’s a decent case for sexual harassment if I’ve ever seen one.”
He blinked rapidly several times, breathing hard. “No, the part just before that,” he clarified.
She released an incredulous breath. He was seriously going to make her say it again... “That you’re gay?” She cringed. “I hope it didn’t offend you that I said it out loud.” She shrugged nervously. “I mean, it took me a bit before I figured it out, and I just hope you’re not upset about what I did today,” she rambled.
Jack’s eyes bulged, and he took a step back, waving his hands in the air. “Wait a minute, wait a minute.” Placing his hands on his hips, he leaned his head toward her again. “You think I’m gay?”
Charli crossed her arms over her chest. “Well...yeah.” she answered, suddenly unsure and wondering if she had made a horrible mistake. Shefrowned. “Aren’t you?”
Jack began to laugh, a deep belly-aching laugh that bent him over. Bracing his hands on his knees, he released a loud torrent of amusement that instantly grated on Charli’s already frayed nerves.
“What the hell is so funny?” she shouted, becoming irrationally angry at his reaction.
“You!” he gasped. “Thought I was...” His face clenched as another spasm of laughter seized him.
Charli huffed. “Well, you clearly need a minute,” she muttered and turned to walk away. She got two steps before a hand on her elbow whipped her around.
She gasped as Jack whirled her to face him, an odd grin on his face. “How in the world could you think I was gay?” he asked again.
Charli bit her lip again and watched as his eyes dropped down to her mouth and darkened. “I...I saw you and Gus hugging and dancing around yesterday. You’ve been so nice and considerate, and I never saw or heard anything about a woman in your life. So after seeing you and Gus, I thought...” Jack’s sharp bark of laughter cut her off.
He slowly shook his head, still chuckling. “I’m not gay,” he replied huskily. “Gus was only goofing off and being a jackass, as usual. We were celebrating because all the permits came in.”
Charli squeezed her eyes shut, mortified.
Oh, god...please just let a hole swallow me up right now...
“I’m so sorry, Jack,” she whispered, her eyes still clenched tightly shut.
Jack’s chuckle was right next to her ear, his lips so close she could feel his breath on her skin. Goosebumps popped out on her arms and a chill went down her spine. “What I am,” he ground out, “is completely crazy about a beautiful blonde from Boston who clearly doesn’t have a clue.”
