feel guilty about going after what she desired. At least that was what she told herself. She’d never asked a guy out, let alone to go away with her on vacation.
Most of her sexual relationships in college were with bored fellow classmen who were as drunk as she was on Saturday night. None of them had come close to Jackson. The way he looked at her sometimes sent her into a spin, twirling so fast she couldn’t stop. Crazy girl that she was, she didn’t want it to end.
There was also something dark and dangerous about him. Yet, he was compassionate in the way he dealt with Gladstone, knowing exactly what to say to the other man. If she were really honest she had to know more about Jackson. The man was the biggest mystery she’d ever come across, one she desperately wanted to solve.
She took a deep breath. “Uh, I’m heading out to a beach resort and—I, um. This is stupid. Never mind.” Mariska couldn’t go through with it.
Worry furrowed his brow and he leaned toward her. “What is it? Do you need help with something? I may have some free time in the next couple of days if you have another case, but then I’m traveling again.”
You. I need you. She couldn’t tell him that.
Now she really felt like an idiot. “Oh, no. Sorry. It has absolutely nothing to do with work.” She bit her lip again. “I was wondering if you might like to come with me for a couple of days. I could—” She started to say pay for his expenses, which would make him sound like a man whore. This was not going the way she wanted.
Her hands twisted with anxiety. “Sorry. I—You’re. Gawd. No. Uh. Never mind. Please forget I said anything. I mean we worked so well together. It’s not like any of that was real. The kissing and the way you touched me. Um. Chalk it up to the excitement of the job.”
What the hell are you doing?
“I’m so embarrassed. I don’t know why I can’t shut up. This is one of the most horrifying moments of my life. Well, except when we faced those guards back at the club and there was that time freshman year with the granny panties. See—oh. Gawd. Make me stop.” She threw a hand over her mouth. Mortified beyond belief.
Jackson grinned, before glancing out the rear window, then back at her. “Yes, I’ll go with you.” Taking her left hand from her mouth, he ran his thumb across her fingers and then kissed them.
For a moment she couldn’t breathe, and she was fairly certain her body had turned into a puddle of melted butter. Then she wasn’t sure if she’d heard him correctly. Say something.
“Really?”
He chuckled. “Yes. A few days at the beach sounds like a good time to me, especially if I’m with you.”
Okay, this time her heart really did stop.
“Wow. Okay. Cool.” Der. Now she couldn’t form sentences. The hunk of gorgeousness across from her wanted to spend the weekend with her. She wouldn’t question the gods. She’d be grateful. Score!
Breathe deep. “When do you want to leave? I thought the case might take a few days, but my reservation is open-ended at the resort from today to the end of the month.” There, she sounded quite cosmopolitan, like she had weekend flings all the time.
“Why don’t we go tonight? It’s the weekend and there’s nothing on my agenda that I can’t set aside for a few days.” Jackson’s eyes lingered on her mouth. “I need to run some errands, which will give you time to pack up some of your things. Then we can head out.”
Mariska couldn’t believe it. In a few hours she’d be alone with Jackson on a remote beach. Her body trembled with need. Down, girl. We’ll be there soon enough.
7
T HE SUN CRESTED THE waves as they pulled up in front of the resort. It had been a long time since Jackson had stopped to watch a sunrise, but he’d promised Mariska so he parked the bike in the small lot to the right of the hotel.
It was more like a large tropical mansion with a few suites for exclusive guests. Several small villas dotted
Most of her sexual relationships in college were with bored fellow classmen who were as drunk as she was on Saturday night. None of them had come close to Jackson. The way he looked at her sometimes sent her into a spin, twirling so fast she couldn’t stop. Crazy girl that she was, she didn’t want it to end.
There was also something dark and dangerous about him. Yet, he was compassionate in the way he dealt with Gladstone, knowing exactly what to say to the other man. If she were really honest she had to know more about Jackson. The man was the biggest mystery she’d ever come across, one she desperately wanted to solve.
She took a deep breath. “Uh, I’m heading out to a beach resort and—I, um. This is stupid. Never mind.” Mariska couldn’t go through with it.
Worry furrowed his brow and he leaned toward her. “What is it? Do you need help with something? I may have some free time in the next couple of days if you have another case, but then I’m traveling again.”
You. I need you. She couldn’t tell him that.
Now she really felt like an idiot. “Oh, no. Sorry. It has absolutely nothing to do with work.” She bit her lip again. “I was wondering if you might like to come with me for a couple of days. I could—” She started to say pay for his expenses, which would make him sound like a man whore. This was not going the way she wanted.
Her hands twisted with anxiety. “Sorry. I—You’re. Gawd. No. Uh. Never mind. Please forget I said anything. I mean we worked so well together. It’s not like any of that was real. The kissing and the way you touched me. Um. Chalk it up to the excitement of the job.”
What the hell are you doing?
“I’m so embarrassed. I don’t know why I can’t shut up. This is one of the most horrifying moments of my life. Well, except when we faced those guards back at the club and there was that time freshman year with the granny panties. See—oh. Gawd. Make me stop.” She threw a hand over her mouth. Mortified beyond belief.
Jackson grinned, before glancing out the rear window, then back at her. “Yes, I’ll go with you.” Taking her left hand from her mouth, he ran his thumb across her fingers and then kissed them.
For a moment she couldn’t breathe, and she was fairly certain her body had turned into a puddle of melted butter. Then she wasn’t sure if she’d heard him correctly. Say something.
“Really?”
He chuckled. “Yes. A few days at the beach sounds like a good time to me, especially if I’m with you.”
Okay, this time her heart really did stop.
“Wow. Okay. Cool.” Der. Now she couldn’t form sentences. The hunk of gorgeousness across from her wanted to spend the weekend with her. She wouldn’t question the gods. She’d be grateful. Score!
Breathe deep. “When do you want to leave? I thought the case might take a few days, but my reservation is open-ended at the resort from today to the end of the month.” There, she sounded quite cosmopolitan, like she had weekend flings all the time.
“Why don’t we go tonight? It’s the weekend and there’s nothing on my agenda that I can’t set aside for a few days.” Jackson’s eyes lingered on her mouth. “I need to run some errands, which will give you time to pack up some of your things. Then we can head out.”
Mariska couldn’t believe it. In a few hours she’d be alone with Jackson on a remote beach. Her body trembled with need. Down, girl. We’ll be there soon enough.
7
T HE SUN CRESTED THE waves as they pulled up in front of the resort. It had been a long time since Jackson had stopped to watch a sunrise, but he’d promised Mariska so he parked the bike in the small lot to the right of the hotel.
It was more like a large tropical mansion with a few suites for exclusive guests. Several small villas dotted
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