“Nah, they’re all busy.” When her forehead wrinkled, he regretted making the flippant comment. He played his trump card to distract her. “Esther wanted you to come.”
“How do you know that?” she asked, still frowning.
“She left a note with her attorney, asking me to ask you.”
“How very random.”
“That was my thought.”Well, one of them, at least. “But you wouldn’t want to disappoint her.”
She was quiet for almost another minute and he began to feel exposed, more naked than he was already. He wasn’t asking for Esther; he was asking because he wanted her to be there with him.
“I believe I’m free,” Leah said at last.
Jackson pressed his lips to the inside of her wrist, relief dancing in his veins. “Good.” It was more than good. “And if we grab an early start tomorrow, we’ll get to the beach house by mid-morning. The weather’s looking perfect.”
Chapter 33
Leah
From the second-floor balcony of the Hales’ pretty beach house, Leah gazed over the expanse of golden sand as Jackson dumped their bags on the bedroom floor. With the clearest of June skies providing a backdrop suitable for an ad campaign, Lake Michigan stretched before her.
“Oh, Jax,” she murmured, eyes huge. “I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.”
He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s nice, isn’t it?”
“Nice?” She couldn’t think of a less adequate word. “It’s glorious.”
The house itself wasn’t huge: a living room and open-plan kitchen made up the first floor, with two bedrooms and a shower room upstairs, the inside space an oasis of classic blue and beige. Outside, the sultry weather painted South Haven’s lakeshore in the best possible light, bathing the sand and the water beyond in a haze of shimmering sunshine.
“Why is the beach so empty?” Leah asked. “Why doesn’t everyone want to be out there?”
“Well, it is pretty early in the season but this small section is private.” Jackson looked even more sheepish. She couldn’t stop thegiggle escaping and he held up a hand. “Don’t. Just don’t.” His voice was gruff but amused.
“What shall we do first?” Leah bounced with excitement. A trip to the beach had always been a rare treat for her. Who wasted money going somewhere to get wet and dirty, was how Matt put it. But they were here now and she wanted to do it all!
He grinned. “What would you like to do first?”
“Are you kidding? I want to go to the beach!”
“Then let’s go.” Jackson rummaged in his bag and pulled out a handful of black and purple. “Here, I bought you something.”
Leah caught the bundle when he threw it over, unfolding a thin wetsuit with cut-off arms and legs, and a zip that ran the length of the front.
“It might be hot outside but the water will be chilly.” He shrugged off his thoughtfulness. “You’ll need it if we take the bodyboards.”
“Thanks, Jax.” Leah clutched the wetsuit to her chest. Her nose prickled and she swallowed past the emotion bubbling in her throat. “I’ve never tried bodyboarding before.”
“You’ll pick it up.” He unstrapped his watch. “Let’s get ready.”
He didn’t need to ask twice. Leah kicked off her sandals and whipped her sundress over her head. When she reached for the wetsuit, Jackson hadn’t moved. Utterly still in the middle of the bedroom floor, his eyes were fixed on her bikini, his face fierce.
“What?” she asked, her stomach dropping. The top didn’t match the bottoms because the side ties had broken on the original pair. But they wouldn’t be seen under the wetsuit and she didn’t own another set anyway. Leah lifted her chin. She liked the combination of colors—floral bottoms, with a bright yellow top. They made her think of summer, whatever the time of year.
“My little hot mess.” Matt would have turned away with a smirk.
Jackson dragged his gaze back to her face. “Sorry.” He cleared his throat. “I think you short-circuited my brain. Watching you undress is turning out to be my favorite thing.”
Two long strides brought him within touching distance, and he lifted a hand to run his index finger along the top edge of her bikini bottoms. An exhale escaped her lips. Jackson’s eyes flicked upward as if he could see it leave her mouth. Leah’s core sighed in pleasure. The stroke of his finger, the watchful need on his face, was enough to steal the strength from her knees. He bent his head and she reached for him at the same time.
