Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 102071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Three glorious words, and they felt like sunshine. I drank her in, the golden-blonde hair, the ocean-blue gaze, the adorable constellation of freckles on her nose. I wanted to kiss them all.
Most of all, I wanted to earn her.
“Give me another chance,” I urged, gentle but firm.
She closed the remaining few inches between us, uncrossed her arms, and cupped my cheeks in her hands. “I love you too,” she whispered.
Then nothing else mattered in the world but her.
I reached for her, unable to resist touching her warm skin. “I’m so in love with you.”
In seconds, her arms were around my neck, and her lips were on mine, and all the past was erased in a kiss that marked this starting over. Tender and warm, it melted my heart.
She broke the kiss and pressed her forehead to mine, keeping her arms laced around me. “I’m so glad you’re here, and I can’t wait to see you back home in Florida. And maybe to see you again in your room tonight?” She lifted a naughty brow.
“Makeup sex is a promise,” I said.
Then her gaze drifted to my hand holding the bag. Curiosity sparked and spread across her face. Right. Yes. My plan for the day.
I’d realized from the start that if my words didn’t win her back, this gift wouldn’t win her over either. I would have given it to her anyway, but now we could both enjoy it.
I offered it to her. “You left this in my room,” I said. “But I made a small addition.”
Her eyes widened, and she eagerly reached into the bag and pulled out a chocolate bar, laughing. “I left a chocolate bar in the room?”
I shrugged with a sheepish smile. “I’ve heard that chocolate goes well with apologies.”
“And remembered that Ghirardelli is my favorite.”
I grinned at her delight. “The real gift is in the little bag.”
“Oh?” Her tone turned serious as she fished inside the canvas tote and pulled out a blue velvet pouch.
“I had this made for you. Today,” I said, nerves racing, worried I’d overstepped.
Ruby tugged on the bag’s drawstring, dipped two fingers inside, and pulled out a silver necklace with a small charm.
Her charm.
“You said you thought it would look good with your birthstone,” I said.
She held it up to the sun, her lips parting in awe as she gently opened the treasure chest pendant, then gasped. “Jake,” she whispered reverently. “It’s gorgeous.”
Finding the necklace on the nightstand had seemed like the universe handing me an ace that I’d better not waste. I’d hustled over to Wayboard Street and bought a ruby from Montez, my favorite gemstone salesman. He’d set the stone quickly, with expert fingers.
So Ruby had her buried treasure after all.
The brilliant red gem sparkled, lit up from the sun.
“I love it,” she said.
Pride and happiness fought for dominance inside me. “Let me put it on you,” I said, and she lifted her hair. I unhooked the necklace then clasped it around her neck, letting it fall to her chest where I ran my fingers along the charm.
“Beautiful. Like you, sweetheart. Now, what do you say we spend the evening on the water? Charter a boat. Go for a sunset sail.” I lifted my brow suggestively, and she took the bait.
She ran her hand up my chest, grabbing the neck of my shirt. “Makeup sex on the boat?”
“What a brilliant idea,” I said.
“I’m all in,” she said, then came close for another kiss—a hot, deep kiss that sent a bolt of lust through my body, right there on the beach. I broke the kiss. Grinned. “Or maybe makeup sex now in the hotel room?”
In an instant, she was rushing to my car.
Screw diamonds. I had my Ruby.
57
SWEET DIRTY THINGS
Ruby
The second the hotel room door snicked shut, I backed up to the wall and yanked Jake against me. All the softness of our reunion vanished in this greedy kiss. Twenty-four hours without him was too much. I’d missed him. I’d missed this too—this connection I’d only ever felt with him.
Frenzied, desperate, and hungry.
This was the way it should be. The best lovers might hurt each other, but they’d find ways to move past it…together.
I was so glad he’d come back to me because I wanted the chance to explore all we could have. I’d been wary from the start, reluctant to give my heart. Jake wasn’t perfect, but I wasn’t either. What he was, though, was real, true, and committed. He was trustworthy. He was protective. He fought for what was right.
And he showed up for me.
“Show me,” he said as he pushed up the skirt of my sundress and tugged down my bikini bottoms. “Show me how much you’ve missed me,” he rasped in my ear, his fingers sliding between my legs.
I gasped, crying out from his fevered touch, savoring it. I indulged in his wicked fingers for a few delicious minutes.