Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 101254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
The water swirls around us, and I almost feel weightless, as if Hannibal were a mythical winged horse and we could fly over the vast Caribbean Sea, all the way to the horizon.
Serenity fills me, and I look over at Ben. He looks anything but serene, but I don’t laugh.
I simply gaze at him. At the man who planned something so special just for me.
The memories of my first communion that surfaced earlier are still there, but looking at the sheer magnificence of the natural world atop such a majestic creature puts things into perspective a bit.
And I feel okay.
I truly feel okay.
Chapter Thirty
Ben
When we returned to the resort, Tessa thanked me profusely and hugged me. Actually hugged me. It was quick, but it was still a hug. Then she excused herself to shower the horsy smell away and get ready for tonight—the big dinner with all of the attendees present is tonight.
From what I understand, the women had the same meal that we had last night—jerk chicken with all the sides. Tonight, the entrée is curried goat.
Yeah, goat.
With sides of rice and kidney beans cooked in coconut milk, callaloo—which looks like spinach and is sautéed with garlic, onions, tomatoes, and Scotch Bonnet peppers—and fried cornmeal dumplings that are called “festival” on the printed menu.
“Goat, Ben?” Braden says to me, holding out the menu while he takes a sip of bourbon. “Really?”
I grin. “When in Rome…”
He simply chuckles and walks away to join Skye, who’s with Betsy and Daniela.
Tessa stands by herself, nursing a sparkling water. She’s wearing a different black dress tonight and looks even sexier than last night.
Something is still eating at her. It could be the same trauma she’s been struggling with, but I have a feeling it’s something else. Something different.
Or I may be completely wrong. As much as I want to know Tessa, I really don’t. At least not yet.
I approach her. “Hey.”
“Hi, Ben. I can’t thank you enough for today. First the cold plunge, and especially the horseback riding. It was all so… Just thank you.”
“My pleasure.” I resist the urge to touch her. “You doing okay?”
She takes a sip of water. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
I shrug. “Just making sure.”
“I got back to my suite after our excursion and found a string of texts from Skye. She wanted me to go for a massage with her.”
“Sorry you missed it.” I stretch my arms over my head.
“Don’t be. I’m not.”
I rub the back of my neck. I’m a little stiff from the horseback ride. “I haven’t had time to get a massage here.”
“Didn’t you say you have a full-time massage therapist at home?”
I take a sip of bourbon. “Yeah.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’re so not the diva type.”
I laugh, then. Erupt into laughter, actually. “You know so little about me, Tessa, but you’re right. I’m not a diva. But do you know why I keep a full-time trainer and massage therapist at my home?”
“Because your life is so stressful?” she says, her tone a bit sardonic.
Oh, she has no idea. But that’s not the answer I’m going for. I got over apologizing for my good fortune years ago. So I shake my head. “Because I can.”
That actually gets a smile out of her. “I’ve had more massages this weekend than I’ve had in the last year.”
“You only had one massage in the last year?”
“Yeah. I won a raffle at work—my old work—for a massage and facial. It was heavenly.”
“Tell you what,” I say. “You can come to my place whenever you want and I’ll make sure you get a massage.”
She shakes her head. “Right.”
I gently touch her shoulder. “You’re going to find, Tessa, that I never say anything I don’t mean.”
She cocks her head, this time not smiling. “So you were serious when you said you wanted to kiss me?”
Is she kidding? “Of course I was serious. I still am. But I won’t until I’m certain you’re ready for it.”
She tilts her chin up slightly, moves a step closer. “What if I tell you I’m ready for it now?”
My cock reacts—whether to her nearness or to her words, I’m not sure. Probably both.
Her lips are pink and shiny and slightly parted. I could so easily slide my own over them, touch my tongue lightly to hers.
I lean toward her, licking my own bottom lip.
This is it. I’m going to kiss her. I’m going to kiss Tessa’s beautiful lips.
Her eyelids slide closed, and—
“Dinner is served!” Braden’s voice booms over a microphone.
Tessa’s eyes shoot open, and I jerk backward.
Talk about killing the moment.
But it wasn’t the right moment, anyway. The right moment will be when Tessa and I are alone somewhere. Maybe tonight under the moonlight on the beach as the waves crash to the shore.
I ache to grab her hand, but before I can, she walks past me and heads to the table under the cabana.