Finding her footing on the slick surface, she stood shakily and wiped at her nose and eyes. She probably looked a sight. She was grateful to be wearing a one-piece, as at least there were no wardrobe malfunctions to worry about. She pushed her hair back out of her face.
Joshua had a board in hand and the instructor was talking to him, but he was watching her. When he met her gaze, he gave her a thumbs-up and she thought he mouthed, “Good job.”
“Thanks.” She smiled at him and walked out of the water, handing her board off to the next young kid in line. She went to the walkway below so she could watch Joshua.
He set the board down, pulled his shirt off, and dropped it on the side before picking up the board again. All Jade could do was gape at him. He was Jesse. He had to be. It was the same lean, tough chest she’d seen just yesterday. The same beautiful biceps and rounded shoulder muscles. Ithadto be him.
He lay down on the board and only went up a little ways of the incline before he was turning the board back and forth, cutting through the water with the board. The instructor didn’t even have to tell him before he was to his knees and then easily spinning a three-sixty.
Jade clapped and cheered for him, not sure if he could hear her over the flow of the water.
He looked at her and gave her that partial grin, then tilted up his chin to acknowledge her. Heat flowed over her again. That man was lethal with his looks. My, oh my. Was he Jesse or Joshua or both?
He did two more three-sixties, then lay back down on the board, held on to it, and did a complete roll. Jade whooped and heard others cheering with her. He was good. He did a couple more body rolls and then pulled himself back onto his knees. People in line and on the seats were clapping and hooting louder. He raised a hand in acknowledgment, and then he put both hands on the board and flipped just the board around as he sort of hopped on his knees and landed on the board after it completed its circle.
More people were cheering, but Jade was still the loudest. He did the same move again, but this time only one of his knees landed on the board, while one splashed into the water. The wave caught him and flung him up and off the wave into the mat at the back. Joshua stood quickly, pushing the water out of his hair and grinning as the crowd cheered.
Jade’s heart seemed to stop and then race like mad to catch up. The dimple. It was clear as the sparkling water and just as beautiful. That smile. He was … “Jesse!”
His eyes widened and his smile slipped.
In her rush to get to him, Jade didn’t even look where she was going as she ran over the front of the Flow Rider and hit the water. The slick slope flung her feet out from under her. Her back hit the plastic underside, and the wave threw her up the incline. She thought she heard Jesse calling her name.
She slammed into the mat at the back and bounced back slightly. Jesse was right there, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her to her feet.
Jade pushed her hair out of the way, wiped her face clean, and flung her arms around his neck. His firm body against hers felt amazing. This was it. This man was it. She’d found her spot, and nothing and nobody was going to tear her away. Just as soon as Joshua Jewel explained why he’d hidden from her and used an assumed name. At the moment, all she cared about was savoring the feel of him close. Joshua was Jesse. They were both fabulous. She loved Joshua’s name, Joshua’s eyes, Jesse’s dimple—her pulse raced faster—Jesse’s body.
Jesse held her against his side and escorted her out of the water.
“You okay?” one of the surf instructors asked.
“Yes,” she assured him. She turned to Jesse and exclaimed, “Jesse! I can’t believe it’s you.”
Joshua, or Jesse, stared at her with those too-blue eyes, but his smile was gone and his face gave nothing away. He could be Poker Peter for all she knew. What the heck?
“Jesse?” she asked tentatively.
“You’ll have to forgive me,” he said, all stiff and formal. “I have no idea who ‘Jesse’ is.” Joshua released her and stepped away.
Jade’s gaze studied each inch of him carefully as anger and frustration raced through her. She leaned toward him and poked her finger into his cheek where that once-irresistible dimple appeared. “Don’t you lie to me,” she hurled at him. “The dimple, your body, your lips. I know you! YouareJesse James.”
He gently took her hand, pulled it away from his face, and then released it. “Jesse James?” He gave her a mocking smile that didn’t show off his dimple. “Like the outlaw?”
“Don’t mock me,” she growled. “I know you’re Jesse. I know you are.” Her voice trembled, and she cleared her throat. She touched his arm, that beautiful, firm arm. Jesse’s arm. That arm had pulled her close last night. Those lips had changed her future. “Please, tell me the truth. Why didn’t you tell me you were Jesse?”
He was staring at her like she’d grown two heads. Her pleas were falling on deaf ears. “I apologize, Miss Jardine, that I look like someone you know,” he said. “I’m sorry that I have no idea who your ‘Jesse’ is.” With that, he turned and walked away. He didn’t turn back to look at her. He didn’t come back for his T-shirt and shoes. He didn’t seem to care at all.
Jade watched him go in disbelief, but then the anger rolled in, pushing everything else out of the way. If that wasn’t Jesse, she was going insane. Yet maybe they just looked an awful lot alike. She’d heard that everybody had a clone, and truthfully, she’d never seen much of Jesse’s face beyond his nose and lips; his beard covered his cheeks and jaw, and his hat and sunglasses covered his eyes, forehead, and hair.
She had no idea what to think. Had she offended Joshua by calling him Jesse? It sure seemed like it, and maybe she’d lost her chance to plead her case about the embezzlement. She was confused and sad and lonelier than ever, thinking she’d found Jesse again, and losing him just as quickly. Hugging herself, she went to retrieve her coverup. Kids lining up for the Flow Rider, the spectators watching, and the instructors all looked at her as if she were Jilted Jade or maybe Crazy Callie.
She tilted her chin up, anger surfacing again. Joshua had made her feel like an idiot. All her dreams of meeting him before had been dashed. Joshua Jewel was a jerk. There was no way he could be her Jesse.