But maybe … just maybe … Jack’s kisses were well worth the grief her family would give her.
Nora stood on her toes to close her arms around Jack’s neck. He smiled at her, reading her intent. He met her halfway, capturing her lips in a kiss so powerful that her legs shook under her. Thankfully, Jack was holding her waist firmly against him.
“I want to say hi like that from now on,” he whispered between kisses.
“I’m okay with that,” she responded, breathless from his embrace.
“Good,” he said before diving for her mouth again.
The pair only parted when someone cleared their throat loudly. Nora gasped, but Jack didn’t let her let go.
Cassie stood there, her mouth agape. “What is this?”
Nora took a deep breath and held on to Jack with a little bit more strength. “Cassie, you know Jack, right?”
Her sister’s eyes cut to the man Nora had given her heart to a long time ago. Her confused gaze bounced between them before she was finally able to speak. “I know Jack, yes. What’s happening here?” Surely, Cassie had to remember the strange bet that they had the last time they fought in the restaurant.
Nora was slightly concerned that her sister would cause a scene, and even worse, she was terrified that Cassie would find a way to embarrass Nora in front of Jack.
Of course, Nora should’ve figured that Jack would sense her discomfort. The man was so in tune with her even though they had only recently gotten close, but Jack placed his arm around Nora’s shoulders, cupping one of them with his palm. His stance was casual, but the hold he had on Nora made it pretty damn obvious he was marking his territory.
Cassie’s eyes went wide at the physical contact, but it was probably the way Nora didn’t flinch when Jack touched her. If anything,thatspoke volumes over Jack’s embrace.
“Seriously,” Cassie said, shaking her head. “What is going on?”
“We’re a team,” Jack answered with a grin. “Best team in all of Half Moon Key too.”
Nora’s heart fluttered because he wanted to stake his claim, but he hadn’t done it for her, even though they were basically wrapped around each other for everyone in town to see. Nora waited for her usual panic whenever too much attention was on her, but it never came. She was able to remain calm, and it had everything to do with the man holding her. Nora looked at him and gave him her best and brightest smile.
“We do make a good team, huh?”
“The best,” he concurred as if Cassie wasn’t still standing there, gawking at them.
It wasn’t until Jade and Parker called for the town’s attention up on the small stage that Cassie finally looked away.
“I think we stunned her silent,” Jack chuckled.
“That’s probably the first time that has ever happened.” Nora joined in on the laugh. “My sister isn’t a bad person. She just knows exactly how to push my buttons.”
“Siblings know how to do that, yeah.”
For the first time that night, Nora frowned. “Why does it sound like you have personal experience?”
He winced, but it was barely noticeable. It was pretty damn clear he was used to hiding his emotions, and that’s something she was familiar with. Nora wanted to press him for details, but he was quicker than her.
Jack winked at her. “That’s a story for another time, love. Tonight, I want to focus on you and the race.”
She returned his smile, certain that whatever secrets Jack had, he would eventually share them with her.
Nora was sure of it.Jack Hayes, the man who had her heart, was trustworthy.
Exactly what a shy woman like her needed.
THIRTEEN
JACK
Jack held Nora’s hand as if his life depended on it as he led them to the stage where Jade and Parker were handing out the clues for the night’s scavenger hunt event.