She grimaced, knowing how he would probably react to her answer.
“Actually, don’t answer that. Not yet. There will be time to talk about all of that. For now . . . I just want to make sure you know that I love you.” He pulled her close against him. “It’s going to take me a while to get used to island time.”
“What?” she asked, surprised by the change in topic.
“I’m not used to relaxing. Everyone around here moves at a slower pace, that’s going to take some getting used to. I’ll jump out of a plane with you but I’m not getting a tattoo.”
“Jake what are you talking about?”
“Your bucket list. I don’t like the idea of putting your life in the hands of a stranger, but we’re going to do everything on that list. Only we’ll have to delay the last one for a bit. I’d move here now if I could, but I owe it to the people of Haven to give them notice. So we’ll go back. I’ll hand in my resignation and then when I’m free we’ll come back here.”
She felt a little numb with shock. “You’ve got it all worked out.”
He stared down at her. “I have. But the main thing to know is I’m not leaving you, Molly. I’m here for you. I’m going to take care of you.”
&nbs
p; “I don’t want to leave you.” Life was so fucking unfair sometimes. How could she have found him only to have such a short time with him?
“Oh, baby, I don’t want that either. But I also know that for whatever time you have left, I want to spend it with you. We might not have the future, but we have now.”
“Okay. Okay, we’ll go back to Haven. You’re not quitting your job though. I’m going to stay with you there.”
“But you wanted to live here, didn’t you?”
She waved a hand through the air. “Living on a tropical island ain’t as grand as it sounds. You know, all that sun and surf and hot guys wearing hardly anything at all—” she broke off, as he growled at her.
“Who are these hot guys and what were you doing looking at them?” he demanded.
“I only have eyes for one hot guy.” She cupped the side of his face. “Jake, are you sure?”
“You’re damn right I’m sure.”
She let out a deep breath, the tension in her stomach unraveling. She still wasn’t sure it was the right thing to do but she did know she couldn’t let him go. She was going to have to say goodbye to him eventually, but she’d take what time with him she could get.
“There’s going to be some conditions, though.”
“Conditions?” She gave him a wary look, but she knew she’d agree to anything.
“No more lies. No keeping stuff from each other. No holding back or saying things are fine when they aren’t.”
“That sounds fair enough.”
“If one of us is upset about something, we stay and fight it out.”
“All right.”
“And then we make up. No walking out or going to be angry with each other.”
She reached up and cupped the side of his face. “I’m looking forward to the making-up.”
She was exhausted from the emotional roller coaster she’d been on, yet her body was really enjoying being next to his. And if the hardness she could feel against her hip was any indication, he was feeling the same way.
Leaning in, she kissed her way down his neck. “You haven’t said anything about our contract.”
“You broke it.”
“I’m sorry.”