Bonnie didn’t seem to notice my strange hot-then-cold behavior. She just kept staring up at me with the brightest eyes.
And then the corners of her mouth turned up and she laughed out loud.
“I had a fish. In my bra. There was afishin mybra.”
“Lucky fish,” I quipped, and she laughed again.
“That waswild! Have you ever seen a wave jump onshore like that? I’ve never seen anything like it.”
And I’ve never seen anything quite likethis.
Bonnie with bedraggled hair, half-dressed, and laughing with the unselfconscious glee of a child, was more captivating than Claudia had been on her best salon-perfect day.
“Rogue wave. They happen here in this rocky area all the time. I should have warned you.”
She didn’t seem bothered in the least. “You should have warned Mr. Fishy he was about to go swimming in my cleavage.”
I laughed and waggled my eyebrows. “If I had, he would have told all his fishy friends, and they’d havejoinedhim. You would have had a whole school down your dress. Come on, let’s get to shore before another wave comes and we end up in the cleavage of a Great White.”
As Bonnie and I walked back toward the sand, she finished pulling on her dress and secured it—somewhat—with the wrap-belt.
“Sorry about your dress. I’m afraid those buttons are on their way to Davy Jones’ locker.”
“It’s no big deal. I’ll just sew on some replacements,” she said in a casual tone.
It was refreshing to be around such a carefree soul. If it had been Claudia, she would have pitched a fit over the destruction of her carefully styled hair and makeup and her “irreplaceable” designer outfit.
That’s assuming she’d everwantedto join me for a walk out here in the wind and salty air. It was one of my favorite pastimes, but it wasn’t Claudia’s “thing.”
Once we were back on shore, Bonnie turned back to look at the ocean. “Amazing. Jack, you live in the most amazing spot. I can’t imagine havingthisas a backyard. I might never go inside the house if it were me.”
I grinned, enjoying her appreciation for something I loved as well. “I guess weshouldgo inside, though. You must be getting cold. You’re soaked.”
She nodded and attempted to blow a wet lock of hair from in front of one eye. “Not too beautiful, now, huh?”
“I wouldn’t say that.” I reached out to help, tucking the tendril behind her ear. “Seaweed in your hair is a good look for you.”
Bonnie automatically reached up to her head but then recognized that I was kidding. She laughed and wagged her finger in a you-got-me gesture. “I like you, Jack.”
A zing of delight shot down my spine and around to the tip of my still-present hard-on. She’d only said it because I’d made her laugh, but those words coming out of her mouthdidsomething to me.
And she did look gorgeous, even dripping wet—especially dripping wet. Now that it was back on, her thin, cotton dress was every bit as alluring as bare skin, clinging to every curve, outlining the tempting feminine shape I now knew lurked beneath it.
Down boy. Let’s stop ogling the nice reporter, shall we?
“Well, you can’t be too comfortable like that.” Adopting a sarcastic tone, I gestured to my wet jeans. “As for myself, I love nothing better than the feel of cold, wet denim sticking to my ass. But I can find you some dry clothes to put on for the drive back to the hotel, if you’d like.”
“Thanks. That would be nice.”
As we walked back to the house, I realized I didn’t really want her to return to the hotel—not quite yet.
There was something different about this woman. Being around her mademefeel different, as if I wasenough. As if what I already had was pretty darned great.
I wanted more of that feeling.
“Hey… would you want to maybe stick around a little longer? Monsieur Laplume is still living off the high of preparing your lunch yesterday. You’d really make his week if you stayed for dinner.”
She beamed at me. “That would be nice. I’d love to.”
