He chuckled, placing a mug of what smelled like coffee down on my bedside table. “You have fifteen minutes, otherwise we’ll miss it.”
“Fifteen minutes for what? What time is it?”
“5.45.”
“In the morning?”
“Yes, in the morning, but the sunrise won’t wait, young lady. So, get your backside out of bed, get dressed, pack some comfy, warm clothes, a swimsuit, towel and—”
“I didn’t hear a word after you confirmed it was 5.45 in theam.”
“I thought you’d be happy. You told me the beach was your happy place.”
I buried my face in my pillow, mumbling, “Only in the afternoons.”
Suddenly, the warm cocoon of my thick duvet was gone as Jackson yanked it off me. I screamed because I was only wearing panties and a nightshirt, which, from how cold my stomach was, had ridden up in the night.
“Shit, Helen. Sorry. I didn’t realise… I’ll go, but I’m leaving in fifteen.”
I pulled down my nightwear frantically before looking up at Jackson as he walked out of my room. “I’m coming. I warn you, though, I’m not a morning person.” He turned around, running his fingers through his hair, showing off his corded, beautifully tattooed forearm.
“That’s okay. You can nap on the way and then hopefully you’ll be back to your usual happy self soon.”
Jackson took the bag I’d packed and placed it in the boot, along with the others he’d apparently packed earlier. I climbed into the passenger seat while he ran back inside to lock up.
“For you,” he announced as he got in the car, handing me a to-go mug along with a blueberry muffin that I’d made earlier in the week. “You’re going to need your energy today.” He winked, making me feel nervous as hell.
“I’m not great at surprises,” I admitted.
He started the engine. “Because you genuinely don’t like them or because no one has ever bothered to plan one for you?”
I thought about his words, realising no one had ever planned me one. “Shut up,” I muttered, hating that he saw through me so easily.
“You shut up,” he joked. “Now eat your muffin, you grump.”
“Wake up, sleepy, we’re here.”
I lifted my head, stretching my arms, my body aching from the strange position I’d fallen asleep in. “Oh, God. Did I snore?”
“No, there was drooling, but no snoring.”
I wiped my mouth, and Jackson laughed.
“Cruel… so cruel,” I declared.
“Come on, we don’t have long.”
I stepped out of the car, looking around so I could work out where we were, but all I could tell was we were in a dimly lit car park, which had a few cars in it already as well as a food truck and a surf shack.
I took in a deep breath. The familiar salty smell filled my nose.
“Come on.” He held out his hand, and I stared at it like he’d lost his mind. “Okay, there are some rules today. I’m in charge, so you have to say yes to whatever I ask of you until midnight tonight.”
I furrowed my brow, unconvinced by where this was going.
“There is to be no overthinking, no worrying, no putting yourself down. All that matters is having fun and seeing how big I can make that smile, because…” He dropped his eyes before he looked up at me again. “I like making you happy, Helen, and I want to show you how well youshouldbe treated by any man you invite into your life.”
This man is too good to be true.
