Part 17 (1/2)
”Didn't realize you were ready to ride the horse again, so to speak.” She giggled.
”Maybe I've changed my mind.”
”But seriously, this is like the hottest thing I've ever seen.”
We both looked at each other, and then screamed and cheered for our respective guys.
Joey reached the end of the first sprint and turned the horse into the water. It waded into the surf. On the turn, however, Joey had slipped down the side of the horse and was now battling to get himself righted. Jack came in after him. They made it around the buoy, the horses almost to their flanks. I don't know why I hadn't taken a picture before now, but I slid my phone out of my back pocket and aimed it at Jack, taking a shot just as he pulled into the lead ahead of Joey.
He leaned down close to the horse and dipped his head in the water wetting it. And then stayed down urging the horse on as it emerged out into the shallow surf and then the sand. With a squeeze of Jack's now waterlogged and dark blue thighs, the horse took off again as soon as it hit dry sand.
Joey was out of the water too now, and his horse was gaining. Joined by a couple of spectators from the stable and Devon, who'd just sauntered up, Jazz and I yelled and jumped up and down.
I was impressed with Joey's riding actually, he'd done some growing up and had a job at a stable one summer, but I didn't think he'd actually be able to pull off bareback racing.
And Jack? There were no words for how I felt about what I was witnessing. It was a purely physical reaction.
Joey got within a head of Jack, and I screamed louder, my voice breaking as I jumped up and down. They crossed the finish line in front of us, Jack narrowly keeping his lead.
A cheer went up from everyone just from the sheer joy of the spectacle.
Both Jack and Joey slowed their horses a ways further down the beach and slid from their mounts, panting and grinning as they grabbed each other in a hand shake, and then b.u.mped shoulders with a back slap.
Their joy and exhilaration was written all over their faces. All wagers and tensions forgotten.
As I watched, grinning like an idiot, they sauntered back, talking. Jack grabbed Joey's hand again, and as the stable hand led the horses away, pulled him in, saying something in his ear. Joey nodded, flicking his eyes to me, before shaking Jack's hand and clapping his shoulder again.
Then Jack turned to me and just pointed. His eyes were dancing, his dimples fully deployed, and I ran. I ran to the sound of catcalls and whistles and launched into Jack's arms.
”Oof,” he croaked then groaned as my legs wrapped around him and I hugged him tight. We hugged like that for several long minutes, the briny smell of surf and Jack's warm body permeating all my thoughts.
”That was incredible,” I said finally. ”It's safe here right? To hug you? I mean this place is isolated, and I'm not sure the locals are going to be posting pictures to the Web.”
”Yeah,” he murmured in my ear. ”That's why I want to stay here with you tonight. That okay?”
”I suppose,” I said coyly. He pulled back to look at me and I quickly added, ”Yes.”
”We don't have to do anything.” He b.u.mped his nose against mine. ”I just want to be with you for a night and not have you worried about anyone seeing us. The boat can take everyone back, and return in the morning to get us back before your lunch s.h.i.+ft.”
I hugged him tight again and unwrapped my legs. He lowered me to the ground, and we headed back to join the others. None of us raced like the boys had, but we all took turns riding along the beach and walking in the waves. Jazz and I agreed it was without a doubt the coolest day ever. Jazz looked like a gypsy princess with her long print s.h.i.+rt hiked up to her thighs as she rode and colorful bands around her ankles and wrists. To my satisfaction, Joey couldn't keep his eyes off her. I looked up from the horse I was riding in the surf with a huge grin and caught Jack taking a picture of me with his phone.
All was fair I supposed.
After the horses, we went back out on the boat. Changing into swimsuits, we ate our sandwiches and explored the perimeter of the island. We stopped as close as the boat could get to a small sand bar that had emerged with the low tide, and after much persuading and cajoling from every one else who'd already jumped over board into the frigid water, I did the same.
”You realize there are tons of bull sharks around here, right?” I said, my voice all wobbly as we made it to the sand.
”All kinds of sharks,” Joey said, shaking his head. ”And dolphins and stingrays and whales.”
”And snapper and cobia and flounder,” added Jazz, cuffing Joey on the knee. ”Doesn't stop her being afraid of sharks. Idiot.”
Jack took my hand, and we all flopped on the sand. I s.h.i.+fted and laid my head on his leg. His fingers stoked my hair. I sighed contentedly.
I could feel Joey watching us, as he had all day, and wondered what he thought, and what exchange had taken place between him and Jack after the race. He also seemed perturbed that Jazz kept up constant conversation with Devon, asking all sorts of things about the movie business and the ins and outs of production and basically ignoring my brother.
”Are we staying in the hotel here?” I murmured to Jack, wis.h.i.+ng I could kiss his lips.
Jack shook his head. ”A cottage.”
”What do we do about food and overnight stuff?”
”That's all been taken care of by the company handling the resort cottage rentals. They brought stuff over this morning, I think. And I asked them to buy overnight stuff, too-toothbrushes and what not.”
”Wow, you thought of everything.” I smiled and closed my eyes. The thought of what lay ahead for us kept a steady drum beat of antic.i.p.ation in my veins as the afternoon slowly ticked by.
We all caught some sun as it lowered, and full bellies and the sea air made everyone sleepy. When the tide began encroaching on our borrowed strip of sand, it was time to get to the boat.
I couldn't wait to get everyone on their way so Jack and I could be alone. Back onboard, I pulled my white jean shorts on over my bikini, and then stared at Jack's face behind my mirrored gla.s.ses.
Sometimes to avoid the Jack Eversea, movie-star effect, I had to break his features down into individual aspects of beauty, just so I could see him. The angles of his cheekbones that sometimes seemed harsh, the small crease lines at his eyes, the full lips, and the tiny scar in his left eyebrow that I felt anch.o.r.ed to as a reminder he was a real guy beneath what he projected to everyone else.
We pulled up at a dock. I hugged Devon, Joey, and then Jazz, and Jack and I hopped onto dry land and waved them off.
I looked around the open piney area and saw a golf cart. ”That our ride?” I asked, keeping my voice steady through sheer force of will.
The golf cart had the keys in it and a map of the island with a marked trail. We got in and headed down the dirt path through the trees that seemed to run parallel to the water's edge, even as we got to a bend in the road, where the island jutted out then turned to face the open sound. Here, the trees stood closer together almost hiding a small cottage near the sh.o.r.e. ”This should be it,” I said, double-checking the map.
Painted white, and stunning in its simplicity, the board-and-batten cottage looked like a marketing tool for Southern Living Magazine. It had a seamed metal roof jutting over a deep front porch, complete with two rocking chairs facing the sound. A glossy gra.s.s lawn ran down to the sandy edge of the water. There were lanterns strung in one of the small, pink-flowered crepe myrtle trees near the house and some hurricane jars with candles set here and there.
”Wow,” I managed.
Up on the porch, we could see inside the gla.s.s French doors and the two windows on either side. There was a silver ice bucket with a bottle of champagne and two gla.s.s flutes set on a small bistro table by the window.
And I could see a bed. A huge bed. I glanced at Jack, who was wearing a lopsided grin, his eyes cutting away as he turned and knelt down, feeling underneath the mat for the key to the door.
He found the key and stood up, turning to me. The sun was low in the sky over the water, casting a golden glow.
I stepped forward and slid my hand up around the back of his neck and his eyes flickered closed. Pulling his face down, I gently touched my lips to his. My other hand ran down his arm until I reached his hand that held the key. I squeezed and urged his arm up, letting him know I was impatient to get inside with him.
He smiled against my lips and unlocked the door.
Stepping inside the open plan cottage, I breathed in the smell of clean laundry and cedar. A small kitchen area was tucked in the back corner behind the open living room with stone fireplace. The walls were cream painted s.h.i.+pboard siding, lending a casual feel to the elegantly decorated room.
The only windows were the ones facing out to the front porch and the sea beyond, dressed in elegant white ceiling to floor drapes.
I turned slowly and headed to the left side of the open s.p.a.ce where a low part.i.tion separated the bedroom area from where a large white Victorian clawfoot tub nestled, open to the view.
”Wow,” I said again, and then froze staring at the bedside table. ”Oh my G.o.d,” I squeaked when I recognized my driftwood lamp-base Faith had sold in her shop.
”What?”