The Sweetest Fling

by LJ Bradley

  Running.

  Running away.

  The first time she’d felt anything truly real and she wasn’t brave enough to fight for it.

  Disappointment crashed through her, nearly bringing her to her knees in the middle of the street. Meg tried to maintain the distance between her and Jack, but he was just too fast. He caught up to her in seconds, breathing hard and cursing even harder. He grabbed her arm and forced her to slow to a walk.

  She yanked her elbow free and glared at him. The urge to leap into his arms was so strong she couldn’t think straight. “Leave me alone. I don’t want to talk to you.” Oh, but she did. Standing this close, looking at her with all that longing mixed up with anger and frustration, he was so appealing she wanted him now more than ever.

  She was either the stupidest woman alive or her subconscious was trying to tell her something.

  His jaw clenched but he didn’t attempt to take hold of her again. “Fine. I won’t touch you, I won’t talk to you, but I’m walking you back to the hotel.”

  Irritation radiated off him but he kept to his word. The only sounds either of them made as they continued their journey were their harsh breaths and brisk footsteps.

  When they’d passed through the foyer and headed up the stairs to her room, Meg unlocked the door and pushed it inward. She lingered in the open space and turned to face Jack, taking in his tired blue eyes and the layer of scruff on his jaw.

  He stood there letting her look, letting the silence hang between them like a physical thing. Even after everything that had happened, she still didn’t want him to leave. Before she could stop it from happening, her lower lip trembled and a harsh sound came from her that might have been a sob or a cry of pain. Jack’s eyes softened and a tender look came over him, but he didn’t make a move toward her.

  Tears gathered in her eyes and her throat ached. She couldn’t bear the thought of him walking away without at least trying to make her understand. She’d conjured up enough details on her own after seeing the woman leave his room. Surely reality couldn’t be much worse. Her mouth opened, but rather than the questions she’d wanted to ask, Meg heard herself plead, “Choose me.”

  The words hovered between them, pitiful and soft in the quiet of the hallway. His jaw clenched and any trace of tenderness disappeared. Heat and desire rushed in to take its place, and she stumbled backward confused. Tense seconds passed by then Jack stepped into the room and kicked the door shut behind him.

  “I did choose you,” he said, moving in closer until his big, solid body loomed over. The intensity in his eyes sent little zings of pleasure through her. “When you left me in the bar on the night we met, another woman hit on me as soon as you walked out… but she couldn’t compete with my little firecracker.”

  A wave of warmth rushed over her. Meg wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. How could he make her feel this way after what he’d done? He only had to look at her or say a few well-chosen words and she was gone. She shuffled back a couple of steps to give herself some breathing room. Jack stepped into the space, bumping his chest against hers in a way that should have been intimidating. Meg felt so safe with him all it did was thrill her.

  “When I was at the beach with Anna the next day,” he continued, “You were sitting there trying to look like you didn’t give a shit, pretending you didn’t even know my name after you snuck out of my room without so much as a ‘Thanks for rocking my world, Jack’. I chose you then, too.”

  Meg couldn’t stand hearing him talk about the other woman. She squared her shoulders and glared at him.

  Jack shoved his hand under her hair. He dipped his head and pressed his temple to hers, his closeness sending goosebumps skittering over her skin. “I chose you at the pool today when she came on to me again,” he said, holding her firm when she cried out and tried to pull away. She was wrong before. She didn’t want to hear the sordid details. Not a one of them.

  Apparently on a mission to ruin them both, Jack kept going. “I chose you when I went up to my room and she followed me there.”

  No, no, no. She couldn’t do this anymore. Couldn’t listen to him talk about someone else while he set her senses on fire with his touch.

  He pulled back and turned his head, letting his lips hover over hers, tempting her, torturing her with his warm breath and the promise of his soft, skillful mouth. Her heart battered her ribcage. Her breath stuttered from her throat. His next words could break her in two.

  “I chose you when I threw her out on her ass.”

  The moment his meaning sank in tears leaked from her eyes. Jack didn’t gloat or try to make her feel any worse than she already did. He merely stayed with her while she cried, offering no comfort other than the closeness of his body. Inundated with shame and relief, Meg couldn’t speak, couldn’t move. She’d believed the other woman’s lies over trusting a man who hadn’t given her a single reason to think the worst of him.

  He wasn’t done yet, though. Jack grabbed her upper arms, gave her a gentle shake. He waited until she’d tipped her head back and met his eyes. “You want to know the saddest part?” he said with a humorless smile. “You weren’t even a choice I had to consciously make. When you were looking down at me from that balcony the very first time I saw you, something in me knew you were a forgone conclusion right from the start.”

  Meg made a strangled sound and shrugged off his hold. She threw her arms around his neck and dragged him against her, clutching him tight, unwilling to let him go now that she had him. Now that she knew she’d never really lost him. When his arms encircled her waist and he buried his face against her throat, she sobbed. “I’m so sorry.” Emotion slurred her words, but he must have understood because he gave her a squeeze and kissed her neck.

  “I’m sorry,” she said again, wondering if she could ever say it enough. He’d made all those phone calls, texts, and visits to her room because he cared about her. The entire time her focus had been on punishing him for something he hadn’t done.

  “It’s all right.” He held her against him, sliding his hand up and down her back. “We’re good. It’s okay.”

  His deep voice soothed her, the warmth of his palm calmed her ragged breaths. When her tears eventually stopped she still couldn’t make herself let go of him. She kept her arms wrapped around his neck, hugging him close until his own hold on her loosened. When she finally moved back, Meg looked up at him to find the familiar warmth had returned to his eyes. He’d forgiven her so quickly it would have been easy to move on and focus on more important things, but she had to explain herself.

  “Anna told me,” she said, reaching for his hand. Meg swept her thumb over the broken skin on his knuckles, mentally kicking herself for the trouble she’d caused him. “I was out in the hallway when she left your room. She said the two of you had just slept together.” When she lifted her eyes again, Jack’s expression had darkened. He shook his head and directed his gaze somewhere over her shoulder.

  “I didn’t want to believe her,” she went on, “but she was acting so smug it was like she’d just got everything she wanted. I reacted before I had the chance to think it through.”

  Jack’s attention flicked back to her. “She must have been trying to get you back for being able to go where she couldn’t.”

  Meg fought a smile, almost at the point now where she could see the funny side. “She said I could have a turn with you if I wanted, like you were a toy she was generous enough to share—but you’re my toy, not hers, and I don’t share.”

  Jack snorted. He gave her a long look and asked, “You still want to play with me?”

  “God, yes.” A breath left her and her body felt lighter for the first time that day. She reached up to touch the dried blood at the corner of his mouth and her smile faltered. “I was scared tonight,” she said, remembering what the man at the club had said to her, the way he’d looked at her, as if he could do whatever he wanted without worrying about something so trivial as permission. “I don’t even want to think
about what would have happened if you hadn’t shown up. Thank you—and I’m sorry you hurt your hand.”

  “I’m sure his face hurts more.” Jack swept his thumb across her cheek. “I wanted to beat the shit out of him when I saw the way he grabbed you.”

  “I could tell.”

  “Do me a favor,” he said, any trace of humor gone now. “Don’t walk alone at night like that again. The bouncers would have helped you if I hadn’t been there, but when you took off on your own anything could have happened.”

  Meg saw the concern in his eyes and knew his request had come from a place of caring rather than any kind of need to control her. Instead of arguing, she nodded. “I won’t. I promise.”

  A flicker of surprise passed over his features. “That was way too easy.”

  She didn’t want to waste any more of her limited time rehashing what they’d been through over the last few hours, not when she could end her holiday in a much more enjoyable way. “There’s no point arguing with you if I agree—and it’s my last night here so I’d rather be doing other things.”

  The glint in his eye got her heart thumping a little harder. “And what’s at the top of your list?”

  Meg grabbed his shirtfront and backed up to the bed, dragging him with her as she went. She smiled and kicked off her shoes, letting go of him so she could put her hands to better use removing her dress.

  “You’re an intelligent man, Jack. I’m sure you can figure it out.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Meg: Just about on my way home

  Ally: Yay! I’ve missed you

  Are you coming home single?

  Meg: Sort of.

  Ally: What kind of answer is that?!

  Meg: The only kind you’re getting

  Ally: Not fair. You’re a big tease.

  Meg: That’s what HE says. ;)

  Meg ran the zip around the edges of her packed suitcase and glanced at the bedside clock. Only fifteen minutes to go until she left for the airport and began her journey back to the real world. She planted her hands on her hips and scanned the room one final time. It looked like she’d taken care of everything.

  She padded across the room to the open double doors and stepped out onto the balcony, resting her elbows on the railing just as she had all those days ago. The breeze ruffled her ponytail and molded her tank top to her chest, the air still warm even though the sun had almost set now. She swept her gaze over the gardens below as her mind slipped back to the afternoon she’d spotted Jack walking out from beneath the trees. The sight of him had taken her breath away then, and not a whole lot had changed since.

  Meg watched two kids race down the path, followed closely by a couple of harried looking parents. A Balinese man carried a tray of food toward one of the ground level rooms, while another led a group of new arrivals to their accommodation. Meg took in the comings and goings, realizing how much she’d miss this place. It was strange thinking that life would continue as normal after she’d gone, as if her incredible connection with Jack had never happened here.

  A knock sounded behind her. Meg turned and rushed inside, an expectant smile on her face as she flung open the door.

  She found Jack standing there in shorts and a fitted tee. When she looked him over, the familiar jump in her pulse still thrilled her. His dark hair was damp from a shower and he hadn’t shaved the couple days’ worth of stubble from his jaw. His rumpled look reminded her of warm beds and tangled sheets. Late mornings and lazy sex. She hoped it wouldn’t be long before they could experience that again back home.

  Meg smiled and moved aside to let him through. He grabbed her hand and pulled her against him so fast she would have stumbled if he hadn’t been there to catch her. She laughed when his hands curved over the rear of her white shorts, then sighed as his rough cheek pressed to hers.

  Jack gave a contented hum and kissed her temple. “Ready to go?”

  She’d been looking forward to going home and setting her plan for less-work-more-play in motion, but her heart thumped at the thought of leaving the hotel. It only took her one step closer to separating from Jack.

  Meg pulled back from him a fraction and nodded. “I think so.”

  “Cab’s waiting downstairs.”

  Meg stood outside the airport while the taxi idled at the curb beside her. Jack interlaced his fingers with hers, using their joined hands to draw her in close. She tilted her head and looked up at him in the darkness, wishing he was coming with her. His flight didn’t leave for another twenty-four hours.

  He pressed a kiss on her forehead and said quietly, “I’ll see you in a couple of days.”

  Her throat ached but she forced down the wave of emotion. They were meeting up again on Saturday night so she didn’t have long to wait until she saw him. Under normal circumstances it wouldn’t even rate a second thought, but they’d spent every day together since the moment they met. Time and distance now felt like a monumental thing. “I already miss you and I haven’t even left yet.”

  Jack let go of her hands and gave the ends of her hair an affectionate tug. People wandered by and the noise of the airport carried on in the background. She couldn’t pay attention to a single thing other than the weight of his gaze on her.

  “At least you’re going back to family and friends,” he said. “What am I supposed to do here on my own?”

  “Not her, that’s for sure.”

  He knew exactly who she was talking about. The smile that pulled the corner of his mouth upward gave him away. “Not my type. I need another feisty redhead. One who looks more like you so I can play pretend while you’re gone.”

  Meg gave his chest a half-hearted shove and bit back a smile. “Not even funny.”

  He let out a low laugh and drew her into a hug, surrounding her with his warmth. She tucked her face into the curve of his neck and held on a little tighter. The minutes ticked by too fast, the presence of the cab at the curb reminding her she needed to get moving so Jack could catch a ride back to the hotel.

  As if sensing her thoughts, he released her and rubbed her upper arms. “Better hurry or you’ll end up stuck here.”

  Meg sighed. “Don’t tempt me,” she said, bending to pick up her luggage. She slung her carry-on over her shoulder and gripped the extended handle of her suitcase.

  Jack looked her over and said in that low, deep voice she’d come to love, “Have a good flight, Meg.”

  “I’ll try.” She pressed her lips together to stop them from trembling. She was being ridiculous. They were catching up again in two days. It had taken her almost thirty years to find him, surely she could make it to the weekend without turning into an emotional wreck. “Bye, Jack.”

  Just as she made a move to turn away, he grabbed her elbow and dragged her back. Meg gasped as his hands flattened against her temples and his mouth pressed to hers for one final, breath-stealing kiss. He held her so close she could feel the groan that rumbled through him, his heat and desperation matching her own.

  When their mouths parted, she touched her fingers to her lip and stared up at him. Her legs were shaking, and she had to grip the handle of her suitcase for balance.

  Jack swept his thumb across her cheek and said softly, “’Bye, sweetheart.”

  Oh, God. Her heart couldn’t take any more of this. Meg sent him a wave with her fingertips, then glanced over her shoulder one last time as she made her way through the automatic doors.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Jack lowered himself to the sand and rested his elbows on his bent knees. He only had an hour to go until checkout, but he preferred spending it at the beach instead of holed up in his room.

  People were everywhere. Couples and families waded in the water close to shore, while surfers made the most of the waves farther out. Umbrellas and towels dotted the sand, the closest one occupied by a woman who lay on her back in a white bikini that reminded him of Meg.

  She’d been gone almost twenty-four hours and he’d barely stopped thinking about her. Jack kept
remembering the look she’d given him just before she turned and headed into the airport. She hadn’t been the only one struggling there either. His stomach had clenched as he watched her go, and the urge to find ways to make her late for her flight nearly got the better of him.

  He dug his phone from his pocket and browsed through the photos he’d taken, stopping on his favorite one of her from the butterfly park. Meg’s eyes were directed right at the camera, her mouth forming one of those playful smiles that always made him think not so playful thoughts. She’d acted all cute and cocky that afternoon, like she’d been proud of herself for talking him into her friends-with-benefits idea. He laughed, wondering if she’d guessed back then how things would turn out between them.

  Jack exited the album before he could get too sucked into the memories. He shifted his attention to his contacts list instead, his thumb hovering over the name he’d contemplated calling and half-convinced himself he shouldn’t. He went with his initial impulse and touched his thumb to the screen, feeling the rapid thud of his heart as he waited for her to answer.

  Catherine picked up after a few rings, her voice sounding rushed. “Jack! Hello.”

  He smiled and grabbed a handful of sand, letting the grains sift through his fingers as he stared out at the waves. “Kitty-Cat. How’s it going?”

  “Good, good. Just making the most of my last day off work. Aren’t you supposed to be on a flight?”

  “Just about,” he said. “I’ve got an hour to spare. Josh around?”

  “He’s playing golf.” A long beat passed then she asked, “Why did you call me if you wanted him?”

  He’d done the hard part by dialing her number. Now they were talking he wanted to tell her everything so he could know what it felt like to finally be free and move on with his life. “Do you have time to chat?”

  “Always—but why do I feel like I need to sit down?”

  Jack heard the whir of the sliding door in the background. She must have stepped outside onto the deck, a little oasis surrounded by ferns where she often went to think. “Don’t worry. It’s nothing bad.”