other man.
“Go home, Desmond. Tell your wife what you did, then go to a meeting. Those people can help salvage your life. It may feel like it’s too late, but it isn’t. It may take her a while for her to forgive you, but she will eventually.” Jackson stuck out his hand. “Whatever you do, take your ticket and get through security. I can’t promise that those guys won’t come after you as long as you are still in Thailand. Best if you go as fast as possible.”
They shook hands. “Thanks.” Gladstone glancedback at Mariska. “Can you get a message to my wife and let her know I’m on the way? I should do it myself, but I need some time to think. She’ll go ballistic no matter what, but I need some time. Um, maybe you could hold off on telling her everything.” He sighed. “I’d like to do that myself.”
Jackson climbed in the backseat with her.
“He’s really messed up,” she said. “I can’t believe what he’s done to his family, he could have put them in mortal danger. How could he think gambling his family’s finances away would solve his problems?”
Jackson had a guarded look on his face. “People do crazy things when they’re desperate.”
Wasn’t she going to do something desperate in a few minutes when her courage kicked in? “I guess you’re right.”
She crossed her hands against her chest to keep from hugging him, which, though she wanted to do it more than anything, was less than professional. “Thank you, Jackson, for your help with this.” Mariska suddenly felt awkward. “There’s no way I would have found him so quickly if you hadn’t helped me.”
Jackson gave her one of his devastating smiles and took her hand in his. Mariska’s heart pounded an extra beat. “You would have managed fine on your own. You are quite resourceful when you need to be, but it was my pleasure to help,” he said as he squeezed her hand gently. “I’m surprised it went as easily as it did. I figured we’d have to hit at least a few more casinos over the next few days before we found him.
“I understand how you feel about Gladstone. The guy needed some tough love. I hope we made it throughthat stubborn brain of his, but you never know with these guys. They’ll say almost anything to get out of a jam.”
Mariska noticed that he didn’t let go of her fingers, and she didn’t bother to mention it. “I sure as hell couldn’t have walked up to him like that in the casino. You freaked me out. Can I ask what made you suspect gambling in the first place?”
Jackson frowned for a second. “Instinct, I guess. If it were an affair he’d have no reason to leave the hotel. He’s thousands of miles from home, and the Four Seasons is no shack. There are only a few things that keep a man from sleeping for a few days, and gambling is number one on that list.”
“Huh. What are some of the others?”
Jackson laughed out loud. “A woman, drinking and there’s always death. I prefer the first two myself.” He gave her another wink.
Mariska gave a rather unladylike snort. “You crack me up.”
Biting her lip, she almost said something about the woman part of his comment, but chickened out. At first she thought she could segue into asking about him joining her in Phuket. She had to give up this craziness. There was no way she would get the courage to ask him.
But her vacation officially started when Gladstone walked into the airport and for once in her life she was ready to have some fun. Jackson made her feel so much more than any man she’d ever met. Even if it was a temporary heat, she needed to burn up in it.
That kiss in the club left her with one thought. If he’sthat good at kissing, what would the sex be like? The idea of sex with Jackson was the one thing that gave her courage. If he said no, she’d be embarrassed, but she’d survive. Once they left the car, she’d never have to see him again.
Do it.
She was a grown woman with needs. A strong, smart woman who shouldn’t
“Go home, Desmond. Tell your wife what you did, then go to a meeting. Those people can help salvage your life. It may feel like it’s too late, but it isn’t. It may take her a while for her to forgive you, but she will eventually.” Jackson stuck out his hand. “Whatever you do, take your ticket and get through security. I can’t promise that those guys won’t come after you as long as you are still in Thailand. Best if you go as fast as possible.”
They shook hands. “Thanks.” Gladstone glancedback at Mariska. “Can you get a message to my wife and let her know I’m on the way? I should do it myself, but I need some time to think. She’ll go ballistic no matter what, but I need some time. Um, maybe you could hold off on telling her everything.” He sighed. “I’d like to do that myself.”
Jackson climbed in the backseat with her.
“He’s really messed up,” she said. “I can’t believe what he’s done to his family, he could have put them in mortal danger. How could he think gambling his family’s finances away would solve his problems?”
Jackson had a guarded look on his face. “People do crazy things when they’re desperate.”
Wasn’t she going to do something desperate in a few minutes when her courage kicked in? “I guess you’re right.”
She crossed her hands against her chest to keep from hugging him, which, though she wanted to do it more than anything, was less than professional. “Thank you, Jackson, for your help with this.” Mariska suddenly felt awkward. “There’s no way I would have found him so quickly if you hadn’t helped me.”
Jackson gave her one of his devastating smiles and took her hand in his. Mariska’s heart pounded an extra beat. “You would have managed fine on your own. You are quite resourceful when you need to be, but it was my pleasure to help,” he said as he squeezed her hand gently. “I’m surprised it went as easily as it did. I figured we’d have to hit at least a few more casinos over the next few days before we found him.
“I understand how you feel about Gladstone. The guy needed some tough love. I hope we made it throughthat stubborn brain of his, but you never know with these guys. They’ll say almost anything to get out of a jam.”
Mariska noticed that he didn’t let go of her fingers, and she didn’t bother to mention it. “I sure as hell couldn’t have walked up to him like that in the casino. You freaked me out. Can I ask what made you suspect gambling in the first place?”
Jackson frowned for a second. “Instinct, I guess. If it were an affair he’d have no reason to leave the hotel. He’s thousands of miles from home, and the Four Seasons is no shack. There are only a few things that keep a man from sleeping for a few days, and gambling is number one on that list.”
“Huh. What are some of the others?”
Jackson laughed out loud. “A woman, drinking and there’s always death. I prefer the first two myself.” He gave her another wink.
Mariska gave a rather unladylike snort. “You crack me up.”
Biting her lip, she almost said something about the woman part of his comment, but chickened out. At first she thought she could segue into asking about him joining her in Phuket. She had to give up this craziness. There was no way she would get the courage to ask him.
But her vacation officially started when Gladstone walked into the airport and for once in her life she was ready to have some fun. Jackson made her feel so much more than any man she’d ever met. Even if it was a temporary heat, she needed to burn up in it.
That kiss in the club left her with one thought. If he’sthat good at kissing, what would the sex be like? The idea of sex with Jackson was the one thing that gave her courage. If he said no, she’d be embarrassed, but she’d survive. Once they left the car, she’d never have to see him again.
Do it.
She was a grown woman with needs. A strong, smart woman who shouldn’t
Similar Books
