12
The Truth
It waspast three in the morning when Jagger returned to the hotel. After getting Robby settled, he strode through the quiet lobby toward the back of the property. Once outside, he hurried down the beach, quickly passing theboulders.
Taylor was staring at the ocean, wrapped in a blanket, and surrounded by faux candles. His heart beat faster. He loved her so much, and for so manyreasons.
Sinking down, he greeted her with a kiss. “Hello,beautiful.”
Her smile set his heart afire and the happiness in her eyes settled his soul. He framed her face with his hands and dropped several worshipful kisses on her mouth. “Your lips are cold. Have you been outsidelong?”
She draped a blanket around his back and he pulled her flush against him. “Long enough to calm down. Before we get into all of that, I owe you anapology.”
“For what?” he asked, furrowing hisbrow.
“I got weird when you gave me back my shoes and I’m verysorry.”
His eyes softened. “It’sokay.”
She kissed his cheek. “Thank you. So, what happened to Robby? Is heokay?”
“Kate gave him shellfish. I hate to think she did that onpurpose.”
“I wouldn’t put it past her.” Breaking eye contact, Taylor shifted her sights toward the never-ending ocean. “That’s not all she’sdone.”
After she explained how Kate had attempted to sabotage their relationship, Jagger’s eyes grew cold. “She sickens me. How’d you know those were oldphotos?”
“Your hair was shorter and I noticed a mole on your chest that’s not therenow.”
“Nice catch. I had a precancerous growth removed.” He shifted his sights toward the shoreline. “I’m sorry you had to see those pictures. That was me hitting rockbottom.”
She rose on her knees and faced him. “Was, as in, pasttense.”
Her sweet expression grounded him. “Your trust means everything to me.” Before she could reply, he stole another kiss. “I thought you and Kate were oldfriends.”
“Total frenemies.” She shivered. “She was counting on my running scared. But you changed me,Jagger.”
“No, babe.Youchanged you,” Jagger said before cloaking her in a blanket. “All I did was help you realize thetruth.”
“I want to tell you something,” she whispered. “It sounds stupid when compared withyour—”
“Taylor.” He cupped her chin. “Nocomparing.”
“Okay.” She cleared her throat. “I was a skinny kid. Super skinny. Dorky and uncoordinated, too. I was always the last one to get picked for a team sport. Mean girls poked fun at me.A lot.In high school, several boys commented on my flatchest.”
He grimaced. “That’s harsh. They’d regret their words if they saw younow.”
“Thank you,” she said. “Seeing Kate stirred up my insecurities. But I’m determined to move beyond them and accept myself the way Iam.”
Her inner strength tugged at his heart. But his happiness was overshadowed by the damage Kate had caused. She had to be dealt with. Anger clouded his thoughts and he shoved off the ground. “I’m going to fire her, but not before I talk to Robby about pressingcharges.”
“All of that can wait.” Taylor patted the empty spot. “C’mon back down here and stay with me awhile.” Her voice turned playful. “Time for amassage. I picked up some pointers earlier and want to try themout.”
She’s right.He exhaled a huff as he eased back down and scooped her onto his lap. With a lighthearted laugh, she wrapped her arms around his neck. For now, he’d focus on what really mattered. And that wasTaylor.
“Good show?” heasked.
“I’ll reenact it and let youdecide.”
