“Want to share? Sometimes talking through the issue out loud can help find the solution. At least, that’s my experience,” he says. “And to be fair, at this point, I’m eager to talk about anything that doesn’t concern love or romantic relationships.”
His smile is empathetic, so I give him the nutshell version of my plans for The Open Door and then tell him about Martin’s email and the problem finding a contractor to do the renovations. He asks a bunch of specific questions, and before I know it, I'm thinking about things differently and I've got a couple of new ideas on how we might move forward.
“Thanks, Jesse. You’re right, that did help!” I give him a huge grin.
“Happy to be of service,” he says, his smile matching my own.
Chapter sixteen
Hunter
After Penn goes back to the beach, I float on my back for a while as warm water cradles my body like the softest, most perfect cocoon. Thoughts of Penn Thompson fill every corner of my mind. I always thought he was hot, but I had no idea the chemistry between us would be so intense. It was incredible, and I want more of it. A lot more.
But is it smart to get into awhatever this iswith Penn? It’s not really a relationship. Entanglement? Situationship? Whatever it is, I’m not sure continuing it is a good idea. But the truth is that I’ve played it smart and cautious my entire life. I’m happy with where I’m at, that’s true, but for once in my life, I feel like I want to take my chances and roll the goddamn dice. The problem is, if things were to get messy between us, it could put a strain on our friendships with the others. And that’s not something I can risk. As I told Penn when we talked about our families, I’m more or less alone in this world, and this little group of found family I’ve managed to cling to for all these years is precious, especially since I don't find it easy to make friends. But I wonder if there'sany way to have our cake and eat it too. I don't know. Maybe we could make something work.
Part of me wants to kick my own ass when I think about all the time I could have spent hanging out with Penn over the years, getting to know this sweet man, but I didn’t because I never bothered to look beyond my own prejudices. I'm glad that’s changing now because he’s worth getting to know.
Blinking my eyes open, I finally get to my feet, standing in the chest-deep water. When I look back to where Penn’s sitting on our brightly colored beach towels, I see he’s been joined by the family we met last night at the Sail Away Party. The older couple looks like they’re lying on their towels, snoozing, but Penn and Jesse are having some kind of intense conversation.
My gut twists with ugly jealousy again. I don’t like it one single fucking bit. Unable to deal with the feeling sitting low down in my gut, I head back toward the shoreline. I have to stop myself from running over and demanding to know what they’re talking about.Jesus Christ, possessive asshole much?Penn’s allowed to talk to whoever the hell he wants. And why I’m even noticing who he talks to is a mystery. Whatever this is that’s going on between us is sex. Nothing more. Yes, he’s a sweetheart and a lovely guy, but we could never be anything more than friends. I need to remember that.
The problem is, I have never felt jealousy this intense in my entire life. I’ve had a couple of relationships, but calling them serious would be a stretch. And I sure as fuck never gave a shit who they chose to spend time having perfectly innocent conversations with. But watching Penn and Jesse talk is causing my chest to burn and my jaw to ache from clenching it so hard.
Whatever it is they’re talking about has them both so wrapped up in each other that they don’t even notice my approach.
“Wow, you guys look like you’re over here solving world hunger or something,” I say, unsuccessfully trying to keep thesnark out of my voice. I snag my towel off the sand and shake it out before wrapping it snugly around my waist.
They both turn to look at me in surprise, shading their eyes from the sunshine that suddenly feels much too bright.
“Oh, hey, Hunter.” Jesse’s smile is, of course, fucking gorgeous because the man looks like he literally just stepped off the silver screen onto this damn beach. “Penn was just telling me about his—”
“Oh dammit,” Danielle exclaims suddenly, hopping up and immediately beginning to stuff her towel into her beach bag. “I dozed off and didn’t notice the time. I have a spa appointment back on board the ship in fifteen minutes! Shit, I’m going to be late!”
“Oh, crap,” Jeff says, hauling himself up off the sand. “I’ll come with you, honey. Jesse, do you want to stay here or come back to the ship with us?"
“Um.” Jesse hesitates, looking between Penn and me. “You know what, I’ll come back with you guys,” he says to Jeff. “I’ve probably had enough sun for today anyhow.” He stands up and shakes out his beach towel. I don’t know if my scowly, jealous face has anything to do with him deciding to make a quick exit with the others, but I’m not going to complain about having Penn all to myself again.
“I bet you’ll make it on time or just be a couple minutes late,” Penn says to Danielle comfortingly. “There should be minibuses right up there waiting, and if you tell the driver there’s a big tip in it for him if he gets you back fast, I bet you’ll make it.”
“Yeah, I’m crazy about being late, though,” Danielle says, wincing. “I absolutely hate it.”
“I’m the same way.” I give her a sympathetic look. “Good luck.”
“Thanks,” she calls over her shoulder as she starts hurrying down the beach in the direction of the path back to the parking lot, Jeff following her closely.
“Okay, well, I guess we’ll see you guys a bit later, then,” Jesse says with a quick wave at both of us before he follows them.
I’m not even going to try and explain the feeling of relief that surges through my body as I watch him take off. Clearly, there’s some part of my brain that’s very serious about having Penn all to myself.
After the Greenwood family clears out, Penn and I snooze for a while, lazing on the beach without a care in the world, my ridiculous jealousy fading into the background as the cozy, happy feelings take back over. I wake up a while later to find him standing as he looks down the beach that had earlier been filled tourists and their brightly colored towels, but right now is strangely empty.
“Hmmm,” he hums thoughtfully.
“What?” The sun’s not right overhead anymore, and the shadows are beginning to get a little longer, but that pleasant, floaty feeling still clings to me. It's like my head is full of fluffy, white clouds, so I don’t concern myself with whatever he’s puzzling about.
“Huh. That’s weird,” he says to himself, not answering me.
I open my eyes, squinting against the sunlight, which is still strong, even through my sunglasses. Penn’s chewing on his lip as he gazes toward the far end of the beach, where we came in. “What is it?” I ask again.
