Jesse easily caught her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and twirled her in against him. Jade’s hands ended up on his chest, and she relished the feel of being close to him, almost forgetting that she was annoyed with him. “Forgive me again,” Jesse said in a low growl. “I seem to be apologizing to you a lot tonight.”
“Well then, stop messing up.”
Jesse chuckled and that dimple appeared in his cheek, visible even through his short beard. “You are a feisty and extremely beautiful woman.”
Jade let out a sigh and ran her hands up around his neck. “Good thing you included ‘beautiful,’ or I might have ripped your head off.”
Jesse laughed again. He turned, wrapping one arm around her waist and exerting just the right amount of pressure on her hip. “Walk on the beach with me?” he asked softly.
“Yes.” She had little power to resist him.
They strolled through the gorgeous resort, past water fountains, statutes, and vases that were dozens of feet tall. They made it outside and wandered past the numerous pools, the blue water glowing in the night.
When they stepped onto the sand, Jade stopped, slid out of her heels, and picked them up. There were a few couples walking or sitting in lounge chairs, but it was pretty quiet.
Jesse took her free hand, and they strolled along the beach. As they walked away from the music coming from the resort’s swimming areas and patios, the only sounds were the waves breaking along the shore. It was dark out, with only the sliver of the moon reflecting on the water and the distant lights from the resort. They walked for a while, saying nothing, but Jade liked being with him and the warm pressure of his hand gripping hers.
As they hit the north end of the beach, they turned and headed back. Before they got too close to the resort, lights, people, and soft music, Jesse tugged her to a stop. Jade turned to face him, hoping he’d express … something. What he’d express, she didn’t know, but she’d never felt connected to and intrigued by someone like this.
“Jade.” His voice was a low murmur. “I would like to see you again.”
Well, it was something. “When?” she questioned.
He smiled, his dimple deepening. “What time do you fly home next Sunday?”
“Eleven a.m.” Disappointment sliced through her. “I have to go straight from the ship to the airport to make my flight.”
He paused, then said huskily, “Would you be willing to miss that flight?”
Jade’s heart thumped, and she found herself trying to catch her breath. He wanted her to miss her flight … for him. “I guess I could,” she managed. “It’s not like I have a job to rush home to.”
Jesse eased in closer and tenderly tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’ll reserve a room for you here. Could you stay the week?”
“Th-thank you. Sure.” The way he said that struck her as a bit odd. Did he have an in to make certain she got a room? Was he paying for her room, or simply reserving it and expecting her to pay? Did he expect her to share a room? But he’d said a room forher, right?
Jesse bent down low and brushed his lips across hers. An ache rose within her at his tender touch and the pressure of his mouth on hers. Jade dropped her shoes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and tugged him down to her. Their mouths met, and the connection Jade had felt to him earlier only grew. The kiss grew warmer and hungrier. Jade didn’t know who Jesse James truly was, and she didn’t know if they had any future, at least not until he took the hat and sunglasses off, but she knew one thing for certain: he sure could kiss, and it felt like their mouths were meant to be tangled up with each other.
Jade pulled back, gasping for air. Jesse ran his palms along her shoulders, and the delicious tingles that had been overtaking her mouth erupted on her skin as well. Tantalizingly working his hands down to her lower back, he pulled her up onto tiptoes and claimed her mouth again. Time meant nothing; to Jade, all that mattered was Jesse’s strong body and his mouth and hands making her tingle from head to toe.
When a crowd of teenagers came by, whistling and laughing at them, they finally pulled their mouths apart, but Jesse kept her cuddled close to his chest. She ran her hands up his neck and touched the soft curls at the nape, touching the bottom of his hat. “Can I … take these off?” she asked.
Jesse pulled back with a groan. “I need some time, Jade. After your cruise.”
Jade wanted to groan herself. She wanted to see him, all of him. “After the cruise, you promise?”
He paused, and she waited impatiently. A horrible thought struck her. What if he was missing an eye, or deformed, or burned? Yet as soon as the possibility occurred to her, she dismissed it from mattering to her at all. Jesse was incredibly handsome from the nose and cheeks down. If the parts she hadn’t seen weren’t whole she didn’t care.
“Yes,” he finally said.
“Thank you.”
Jesse nodded and took her hand. He walked her into the resort and up to her room. Giving her a tender kiss outside the door, he whispered, “I’ll see you in a week.” Then he stepped back.
Jade forced a smile and opened the door with a key card. She lifted a hand in farewell before slipping inside. Shutting the door, she leaned against it. A week. She was going to miss him. If only he could come with her. If only she could know everything about him. Suddenly, this cruise she’d dreamed about seemed a very lonely prospect indeed.
* * *
Joshua strode to the elevator and went down to the first floor, then walked across the resort and behind the Italian restaurant to his private elevator. As he reached his suite, he made a decision. Pulling out his phone, he called one of his assistants. “Laney?”