by C. R. Ellis
Twenty-four hours. No strings. No tomorrow.
I didn’t need Jas to tell me I wasn’t crazy; I already knew I was crazy. There was no way I’d be happy walking away from Emmett after twenty-four hours. Wanting more than a day with him didn’t make me crazy; entertaining the possibility of changing Emmett’s mind about walking away did. He’d been resolute in his conviction of today being all we’d share. But, if anything, those convictions only made me more determined to understand him, to find out what made him tick.
And if he spent a day with me and still decided he didn’t want more?
Well, my current dating habits were doing me no favors.
I’d deal with the blow to my self-esteem when the time came.
Maybe I’d discover he was on to something and realize twenty-four hours with the right person would be better than wondering what if while going on date after date with the wrong person.
Chapter 5
Emmett
Saying yes to Jade’s proposition was absolutely, one-hundred percent selfish of me. Because, underneath everything—the spark, the easy conversation, the way her smile chipped away at the armor around my heart—I knew any relationship with her couldn’t go beyond today. As much as she’d drawn me in with her megawatt smile and the sexy rasp of her voice that would undoubtedly be haunting my dreams, there was no way I’d let a physical attraction turn into something we’d both come to regret.
After today, I’d file every memory of Jade away in a desolate corner of my mind where I kept other fleeting happy memories, memories I revisited only when I felt myself slipping back into the darkness from the wreckage of my past.
Today was perfect, without a cloud in the sky, full of late-summer sunshine, soft breezes, and promise. The temperature was semi-tolerable for the time being, hovering somewhere around eighty.
I smiled absently at a family running up ahead on the trail. The father pushed a stroller with a smiling toddler inside who was spouting unintelligible words of encouragement. A blonde little boy ran alongside his parents, completely comfortable with the pace they’d set. The mom and dad switched roles, and the dad started playfully racing his son. They picked up the pace and soon the little boy was barreling toward me with a fierce determination I had to admire. The father let his son pull ahead, and the little boy crossed the imaginary threshold of a finish line, squealing with glee for besting his dad. One look at the kid’s face, filled with awe and innocent delight at having achieved victory, answered the question I’d been unable to prevent from forming in my mind about why the father let his son win.
The sight brought upon a wave of unexpected memories from my tumultuous childhood. Having Senator William Sinclair, cut-throat attorney-turned-politician by day and callous, competitive family man by night, as my father pretty much ensured I’d have a dysfunctional upbringing. He’d been obsessively competitive since childhood, always striving to outdo his brother, my uncle John, in everything—sports, academics, relationships, and eventually in their respective careers. While John strived to build a successful corporation that was simultaneously philanthropic and cutting-edge in the booming technology industry, William lined his own pockets and lapped up his status as a public figure, defending the mega-rich and elite families of Boston.
My father relished having twin sons of his own; not because he considered himself lucky to have multiples, but because he saw it as a perfect opportunity to instill his competitive nature within a relationship bound to be competitive anyway.
My mother didn’t share my father’s propensity for competitiveness, but she’d always bent to his will and turned a blind eye to his indiscretions. On her list of priorities, being a loving mother fell miles below being a polished, pampered puppet of a wife. I learned at a young age to look elsewhere if I wanted motherly affection; Katherine Sinclair was too busy maintaining her social calendar and fulfilling her role as Mrs. William Sinclair to be bothered by her role as Mom.
My father was only fifty percent successful in his quest to produce two power-hungry, ruthlessly competitive sons. My brother had embraced the same mannerisms, the same attitude, the very same all-consuming drive to succeed as our father. I considered myself lucky that William took one look at me after I was born and declared I wasn’t ‘suited to be the next William Sinclair.’
Will was always eager to earn our father’s praise, and he did anything to get it—lie to cover up his mistakes, cheat off my test when he’d failed to study, manipulate a situation to make himself look better—he didn’t care, as long as the end result pleased William.
After all, all’s fair in love and war.
And when it came to the Sinclair family, there was no line between love and war—they were one and the same.
Will took our sibling rivalry to a whole new level after college. We’d taken different career paths—Will following in our father’s footsteps, of course, and attending law school, followed by a swift rise to power in my father’s law firm after William left to become a senator. I chose to work for my uncle at J.S. Innovations, where John had managed to maintain his position at the top of the tech industry and incorporate philanthropic policies that provided technology and power to schools in remote areas of countries like Sudan, Haiti, and Nepal.
My father was unaccustomed to being told “no,” and occupying a seat in the Senate did nothing to change that. He realized my connections within the tech industry would directly benefit him if only I’d come work for him. So, he made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. Or so he thought. When I did, in fact, refuse his offer, he did what he did best: stoked the flames of Will’s underlying desire to please him.
He made things personal. Messy. Fatal.
William Sinclair proved just how vindictive he could be.
And it worked. In a way that ensured I’d never give them another opportunity to take away something or someone that mattered to me. Which was why, in twenty-four hours, I had to walk away from the woman who was bound to break all my rules.
Jade ambled slowly along the right side of the jogging path. She appeared deep in thought as she closed the distance between us, completely unaware of all the lingering glances she garnered from passersby. A couple of power-walking women stopped mid-conversation and eyed her with an air of subtle envy. Conversely, men’s eyes gravitated to Jade with the subtlety of a freight train. Their awed ogling wasn’t surprising to me, but the openly lustful leers of a couple men in particular stirred some dormant feelings of possessiveness within me. I shoved those feelings aside before they could make me do something crazy like march up to her, pull her into my arms, and kiss her senseless.
I tried to control my thoughts, but each time my eyes traveled back to her, every thought in my brain reverted back to focusing on how effortlessly sexy she was. We hardly knew each other, but I was already painfully aware that her exterior beauty was simply an extension of the undeniable warmth and goodness radiating from within her.
In her short-enough-to-drive-me-wild black shorts and a casual pink t-shirt hanging loosely off one shoulder, Jade looked nothing like she had last night.
She looked better.
She looked fucking perfect, actually.
Thin straps of a solid black bikini top traced a path up and around her neck and covered up the tan lines I’d practically memorized last night. Tan lines I’d imagined running my fingers over time after time. Her fingers combed their way through her silky, dark hair in an effort to keep it from dancing with the wind swirling around her. Her unadorned lips twitched into a broad grin when her eyes found me sitting in the same spot as yesterday.
I tried to tell myself the immediate fireworks show in my chest wasn’t a result of seeing her radiant smile again, the tsunami of warmth I suddenly felt wasn’t a product of being back in her presence.
That having her for a day wasn’t going to be my undoing.
But every step she took toward me put another crack in my armor of resolve.
Keeping my eyes trained on hers, I sto
od from my spot under a massive oak tree and walked toward her. I had wondered if she’d come, if maybe she’d wake up this morning regretting the whole crazy proposition, if she’d think the spark between us was just the booze talking on her part. I’d wondered if I had pushed her away when I told her things absolutely wouldn’t continue beyond today. Truthfully, a part of me knew we’d both be better off in the long run if she hadn’t come.
But the eagerness, the excitement etched into her features when she looked at me washed away any questions I had regarding how she felt about today. In an instant, she was there, a mere two feet in front of me, her head tilted up to meet my gaze.
I felt the subtle shift in the air around me as soon as I was back in Jade’s presence. I knew it was ludicrous; logic told me there was a reasonable explanation for the electric current buzzing between us.
“Love doesn’t play by logic’s rules, Emmett.”
My little sister’s words echoed in my head. Hope was the poster girl for romantics everywhere; she’d always believed in the power of love—true love, love at first sight, soul mates, the whole nine yards. I never drank the Kool-Aid, never considered the possibility of ‘soulmates’ even when I was in love. But then again, Hope frequently reminded me that she had fallen in love at first sight when she met her husband, Colby, five years ago. And, as hard as it was for me to admit, seeing Hope and Colby so blissfully happy occasionally made me contemplate the possibility of two people being made for each other.
I shook off Hope’s words and brought my thoughts back to the present.
“You’re here,” I whispered, shaking my head.
“You weren’t expecting me to show?”
“I just…I thought maybe you’d decide it wasn’t fair for me to only offer you today.”
She took my hand, and I nearly collapsed at the tenderness of her touch. “Emmett, I couldn’t not come. I need adventure in my life, and you…you feel like the greatest adventure I could have.”
I didn’t know why she needed adventure, but fuck if I didn’t need an adventure too. I’d lived my life on autopilot for the last four years, going from work to home and back without time for much else; which was exactly why this weekend with Lance and Damon was supposed to be a no fucks given weekend of fun. Only, twenty-four hours ago I had no idea I would, in fact, give many fucks, and need Jade in my life, if only for a little while.
“Adventure, huh?” I ran my fingers over my jaw, letting the two-day-old stubble scratch roughly against my fingertips. “You trust me?” I asked.
She grinned, and I almost pulled her lips to mine on the spot. “Wouldn't be here if I didn’t.”
“Good. Let’s go,” I replied, leading her toward my car.
“Wait, am I dressed appropriately? I wasn’t sure what to wear. I brought other clothes I can change into.” She laced her fingers together nervously. Nervous Jade was just as adorable as confident Jade.
“You’re perfect,” I declared, grinning. I didn’t care how she took the statement, because as far as I was concerned she was perfect in every way.
Today’s going to be perfect.
The thought was unexpected, but not untrue. Optimism had eluded me for the last few years, but I wasn’t surprised Jade brought out the optimist in me.
She eyed me and realized I was wearing swim trunks and a Red Sox tee, an ensemble matching the casualness of her own. “Okay, good.”
We walked a few steps in silence before she turned to me and eyed my shirt once again. “I get it now, the accent. You’re from Boston?”
I inhaled sharply.
I was in dangerous territory. Should I tell her now?
No. It didn’t matter since we’d be going our separate ways after today.
“I am. Born and raised. I still live in Boston, actually.”
“Oh.” She stopped and let her eyes roam my face, searching for answers to questions I wasn’t sure I’d like to hear. “Is that why you’re so sure things can’t go beyond today with us?”
Just say yes.
Yes was the easier answer.
I hesitated a beat before responding. “Something like that.”
A question hung between us. She opened her mouth to ask, and I held my breath, knowing it would kill me to have to lie outright about why I insisted on a no-strings, one-day adventure with her and nothing more. Bright green eyes burned into me, stripping away my defenses. But then she snapped her mouth closed and broke her gaze away from mine.
“Okay,” she offered simply, turning her attention to a group of standup paddle boarders gliding past us on the water. Her tone was deceptively apathetic about my cryptic response; I could tell she wanted answers, but she respected my privacy enough to let me get away with keeping her in the dark. I could’ve kissed her for being so patient and understanding.
But I didn’t. I wanted to find the right words to give her the answers she deserved without revealing too much, but they didn’t come. Instead, I found myself sneaking glances her way and vowing to make the most of today. For whatever reason, this gorgeous, captivating girl was willing to spend the day with me. I didn’t want to waste another minute thinking about my reality back in Boston.
“Jade,” I called, pulling her gaze back to me as we approached my rented Tahoe. She inhaled sharply and I tried really hard to be a gentleman and to not peek down her top. I failed miserably, following the black fabric of her bikini top down until it disappeared under her shirt. I slid my eyes back up to hers before she could start thinking I was a total creep, but not before silently thanking Damon for insisting I let him help me with plans for today. Plans that included Jade staying in a bikini. “You sure about wanting an adventure?”
“Absolutely.” A brow lifted and she tilted her head quizzically, holding up a hand in a wait-a-minute gesture. “As long as your definition of adventure doesn’t include drugging me and chaining me up in some sex dungeon where I have to live in perpetual darkness and I’m forced to make friends with my rodent roommates who would eventually probably eat my toes.”
I burst into laughter and stopped walking to catch my breath.
“I can honestly say the thought never crossed my mind. Though now I’m a little worried you’ve got such elaborate scenes playing out in your head. How do I know you’re not going to go all Kathy Bates on me?”
Admittedly, the thought of Jade handcuffing me to a bed didn’t so much worry me as turn me on.
She smirked, which did not help tame the lustful thoughts building in my head. “Guess that’s just a risk you’ll have to take, Boston,” she replied with a casual shrug, though the corners of her mouth tugged up into a small smile.
I just shook my head and smiled back at her.
A risk?
No.
A risk was telling this beautiful woman in front of me I’d only give her a day and still expecting her to show up. A risk was letting myself have this adventure with her, knowing I had no business bringing her into my batshit crazy life. A risk was hoping I’d be strong enough to walk away when the time came. But the biggest, scariest risk of all would’ve been letting her walk out of the bar last night without chasing after her.
Because, when you get the chance to fly among the clouds, to graze the surface of the sun, you risk it all.
I was the moon and the stars, bound to spend eternity surrounded by darkness holding me down like a lead weight. Jade was the sun, burning bright and shining the light inside her soul for all to feel. Today was a lunar eclipse, our lunar eclipse—my chance to soak up the light, the good Jade radiated.
I tugged open the passenger door and offered Jade my hand. “Never realized how high off the ground Tahoes are,” I teased, watching Jade haul herself up into the car.
She leveled a glare my way. “Was that a short joke?”
“Just an observation, but good to know it’s a touchy subject for you, Tiny,” I answered, full-on grinning now. “But, just so you know, I like your height. Just goes to show good things come in small packages.�
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Her eyes widened at the nickname, but then a sweet smile formed on her lips at my last comment. Before I could close the door, Jade pushed up from her seat and threw her arms around my neck.
“I want you to know, regardless of whatever happens after today, I’m happy our paths crossed when they did. And thank you for giving me this adventure,” she finished, bringing her lips to mine before I could beat her to the punch.
My senses were aflame, burning all at once from the feeling of her lips pressed against mine. At the time, I could tell she meant it to be a chaste, PG-rated kiss of gratitude. That went out the window as soon as our lips merged. She slid her hands up and wove her fingers through my hair, keeping me close even though I wouldn’t have moved if the Pope himself told me to step back and get going.
I knew her lips would be soft, perfect even.
I didn’t know how electric they’d feel moving against my own.
And when I leaned closer, bringing her flush against my chest, she let out some kind of soft groan-slash-moan from her throat, giving her approval. It was, without a doubt, the sexiest sound I’d ever heard. She deepened the kiss, and I felt her melt into me, tugging me closer until I was halfway inside the Tahoe. I didn’t know her favorite color, didn’t know if she preferred tea or coffee, or what she had studied in school, and yet, I couldn’t help thinking, for her, I’d risk everything.
Chapter 6
Jade
My jaw dropped as I stared at the freaking yacht docked in front of us. “Are you serious? How did you…? Whose is she?”
Emmett had insisted I close my eyes once we approached our destination, and because I love surprises, I agreed. I kept my eyes closed as he led me to this very spot.
He slipped my hand into his and walked me all the way to the deck, where a handful of million-dollar yachts were docked. The one we were stopped in front of had to be seventy feet long, and was the embodiment of the word sleek. A shiny black hull contrasted perfectly with the white cabin. I scanned the entire yacht carefully, imagining state-of-art features and amenities inside as I tried in vain to wrap my mind around what was happening. My eyes stopped when they came to the white script writing along the back of the hull.
