I’d heard he surfed a lot during summer…but that he hadn’t gone this year. After meeting Nigel, I understood why. Like Mom had for me, his grandfather’s health kept him close to home.
Jack pulled on his jeans, and my gaze lowered to the five-inch welt low on his left abs.
“What happened? The scar on your stomach,” I asked.
“Surfing accident in Hawaii. I got caught in a wipeout. It didn’t go well.” He shrugged as he zipped up.
“Wipeout?” I repeated, frowning, not sure what that was.
“Yeah. Attempted a huge wave. Maybe its rhythm changed, maybe it was me, I don’t know. But I took a tumble, my surfboard broke and rammed into me—”
“Are you crazy?” I jumped to my feet. “Why would you do that? You could have died!”
“At the time, I doubted anyone would have cared if I did.” He grabbed the rest of his stuff and his scuffed boots. “Max and some others dragged me out, and I ended up in the hospital.”
I stood there, too shocked to move. Why would he say that? “Please tell me you don’t still do dangerous things like that.”
He exhaled roughly, looking out at the ocean. “It’s in the past.”
So, he didn’t want to talk about it? My stomach heaved. God. He could have died! “Jack, if you’re going to take risks with your life, then tell me now. I’m not getting involved with someone who has a death wish.”
“I’m careful now.” He swung his stare back to me. “But I’m sure you’ll let me know when you don’t like something.”
At his teasing tone, I sighed. “You bet your sexy butt, I will.”
Smiling, he grabbed my hand, and we made our way back to the looming, terraced mansion.
As we crossed the patio, Jack’s cell rang. He retrieved it from his jeans’ pocket and glanced at the display. “I have to take this. Go shower. I’ll be there in a little while.”
“You haven’t shown me my room yet,” I reminded him.
He stared at me, then groaned. “Why do you want to give the staff more work?”
My usual rock-solid resistance wasn’t my best protection right now, not with him slaying me with those gorgeous, amused, ice-gray eyes. Much as I wanted this relationship with Jack, I couldn’t do the room-sharing thing yet. It was all too new for me. And overwhelming. Besides, this was his grandfather’s house. Once I accepted the job, yeah, no, it just wasn’t right.
So, I cocked an eyebrow. His ringing cell stopped.
“You’re hard work, Bug, you know that?”
“It’s why you want me,” I shot back.
“True. Very well, use my bathroom. I’ll show you to your room when I come up.”
JACK
My mind still spun. Even as I worried about Pops in the hospital, another part of me lightened. Hell, not even my strenuous swim had doused the joy I felt. Because of her.
She’d agreed to be with me—to try this relationship thing. Yeah, it would be hard work to win her completely, but I wasn’t going to let her slip away.
I called Max, knowing shit was about to hit the fan. He answered on the first ring. “How’s Nigel?”
“Resting. It was a mild attack.” Grandfather hadn’t mentioned anything, but Cliff had told me he’d gotten a phone call, and the attack had followed soon after. There was only one person who could do that. Margo. She was still pissed about the resort project.
“And Ray?”
I knew what he was asking. “She’s safe, and with me.”
A long silence followed, and I could almost hear him say,“is she?”
