Part 3 (1/2)
Grace. Of course. Who else but a young woman whose heart had been broken, yet again, and who believed (wrongly as Donovan tried to tell her many times over)that Donovan and Jack belonged together. She'd obviously set up this whole thing, thinking that a romantic getaway would somehow kickstart an affair that was long dead.
”s.h.i.+t,” she murmured, eyes moving to the small fleck on the horizon. Roger and Mary were so far out they'd disappear from view at any moment. She couldn't stay here with Jack. No way in h.e.l.l that was happening.
”Don't worry about it,” she said turning toward the guest house. It was perched higher up, among a stand of palm trees. ”I'll just pack my stuff and when Roger and Mary get back, I'll have him take me to the mainland.”
She started forward, marching up the small incline and ignoring the pain in her foot.
”Not gonna happen,” Jack said from somewhere behind her.
She froze but refused to turn around. ”What's that supposed to mean?”
”Roger told me that he and his wife had a family commitment and would be off the island for three or four days unless there was an emergency.”
Three days? No 'effing way.
”I don't care. I'm calling him right now.”
c.r.a.p. With what? She didn't have a cell and even if she did, she didn't have a phone number for Roger.
”Not gonna happen,” he repeated. ”Their daughter went into labor, and it's their first grandchild.”
”Are you kidding me?” Hands bunched at her side, she swore a blue streak that would make a sailor proud.
”Unbelievable,” Jack said. ”You haven't changed one bit. You're still a self-centered-”
”b.i.t.c.h,” she finished for him.
The thing of it was, he was right. She did sound like a spoiled rotten child, but this was all about self preservation. She couldn't stay here with him.
”Do you have the number?”
”I do.”
”Are you going to give it to me?”
”Depends.”
”On what?”
He arched an eyebrow and lord help her but she wanted to punch him in the throat.
”He was pretty clear, Donnie. Emergency only.”
”This is an emergency,” she said, taking another step, mind frantically thinking of a way out.
”Really. This should be good.”
She was nearly to the patio. ”You bet.” Man, her Arkansas tw.a.n.g was up front and center, which was a testament to just how upset and scared she was.
”Are you going to share what exactly const.i.tutes an emergency in the life of Donovan James these days?” The sarcasm, oh it was heavy, and Donovan made a face as she jumped up onto the top step, barely avoiding a yelp because her d.a.m.n foot was throbbing by this point.
Whirling around, she glared down at the only man who'd ever managed to press every single G.o.dd.a.m.n b.u.t.ton she owned. And Jesus. H. Christ, did he have to look so d.a.m.n s.e.xy gazing up at her?
”I can pretty much guaran-d.a.m.n-tee-ya that when they come back in three days, there will only be one of us left standing, and it sure as h.e.l.l won't be you. If you don't call that an emergency, I don't know what is.”
Chest heaving and mouth suddenly dry, she licked her lips and waited for him to respond. But seconds ticked by, and Jack did nothing but lean against the bottom rail and stare up at her, eyes so dark they looked like pools of slick oil.
Slowly they moved over her again and, oh G.o.d, her nipples thrust forward as if saying h.e.l.lo. Suddenly aware that she was practically naked standing there in her bikini, she crossed her arms across her chest and clutched her bag a little closer.
The air was alive with something. Something hot and thick and sinful. Let's not forget wanton and needful and sensual. And it was all of those things that she needed to stay the h.e.l.l away from.
Even if she wanted it so badly. The ache inside her expanded at the thought.
Trying like h.e.l.l to keep her breathing normal and struggling to keep her face neutral, Donovan almost didn't hear that little catch in his breath. The one that told her Jack was right there with her. He felt every little bit of that 'something' that she did, and he was just as affected.
Donovan thought of Cooper's ultimatum. How was she going to survive three days when the only thing she wanted was right here in front of her, and he happened to be the only thing she could never have?
”You're bleeding,” he said slowly.
”What?” Confused, she stared down at Jack, the sadness inside her near to bursting. That d.a.m.n lump was back, clogging her throat, and she had to clear it in order to speak. ”Bleeding?”
Jack took two steps up just as several big, fat drops of rain fell onto her face. He was eye to eye with her, and that male scent that was all him washed over her, infusing her cells with a need so great it was painful.
”Your foot.”
Donovan followed his gaze down and stared at the blood pooling underneath her arch. It was already dark, having lost its brightness as soon as the air hit it. Funny, the blood looked dull and lifeless, as if whatever it was that made blood life-giving was dead inside of her.
She had a feeling that if she didn't get this straightened out-if in fact she was stuck here with Jack Simon for three days-her heart would look exactly the same when it was all said and done.
Old. Dull.
And utterly crushed.
Chapter Five.
Jack decided exactly one second after locking his gaze onto Donovan that his sister had a death wish, because right about now, he wanted to wring Grace's neck. What the h.e.l.l had she been thinking?
His jaw clamped tight as he watched Donovan spin around and hobble the last few steps, throwing open the door of the luxurious guest house and then slamming it shut behind her.
It was raining pretty good now, and for a few seconds, he wasn't sure what to do. He tore off his ball cap because it did nothing to keep his head dry, and tossed it along with his bags onto the covered part of the porch.
He took the last couple of stairs and walked the length of the house, his eyes on the sea and horizon. There wasn't a trace left of blue sky, and the angry clouds that rolled overhead suited his mood. So much for a relaxing getaway.
p.i.s.sed off, he shoved his hands into the front pockets of his cargos, eyes narrowed, mouth tight. He didn't know who he was more angry with-Grace for tricking two adults into spending time together when clearly it was a bad choice for both of them, or himself for taking one look at Donovan and wanting her more than he could ever remember.
Pathetic.