Page 30 of Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds

“Go on,” Jason urged.

I shook my head. “It can’t happen.”

“Why?”

“Because I’d have to get a loan and deplete my savings, and the business would go under in three years. Then who would take

care of my grandmother? I’d have to start at the bottom, rebuild, and never come close to where I am now. I have a great offer

that ensures financial stability for the rest of my life. It would be irresponsible and foolish to turn that down on a whim

that is destined to fail.”

“Is it?”

Maybe not in Jason’s world of hang gliding and island living, but in the real world? “Of course,” I said.

“What if it’s a success?”

“It’s far more likely to fail than succeed. You don’t understand.”

He didn’t say anything at first, and I worried I’d hurt his feelings.

“I’m sorry,” I said, and meant it. “We’re people who see the world differently. You’re bold and brave and jump— glide —off mountains for the fun of it. You don’t have anyone you’re responsible for except you. I’m not brave. I’m—well, cautious.

And that’s okay. If I did something rash, I would be constantly worried, probably get an ulcer and start biting my nails.”

I tried to smile, but it felt lopsided.

Jason refilled our champagne flutes, then said, “I love that you’re responsible and you think about others, like your grandma.

I love that you take care of her and make sure she’s happy in her golden years. Family... well, it’s important, whether

it’s just one person or a huge extended family. But Mia, life is meant to be lived. There’s no one right way to do it. The

world needs people like you to keep the ship steered straight. And the world needs people like me to show people like you

the possibilities.”

He took my hand, kissed it. “What if you’re more like me than you realize, and that’s why your dream is so vivid? Maybe you

have two angels on your shoulders. We won’t call them an angel and a devil, because they’re both good. One is telling you

to stick with what you know, the tried and true, the security blanket. That you are damn good being the captain of your ship

and keeping the boat on course, moving ahead, vigilantly navigating any obstacles in order to dock at the end and be satisfied

with a life well lived. And the other is telling you to jump ship, take a sailboat through uncharted waters, the wind whipping

you this way and that, because maybe it’s the journey itself that makes life worth living.”

He leaned over, hesitated, as his lips were only an inch from mine. I held my breath, mesmerized by his speech, the way he

looked at me, his dark eyes on mine... then he kissed me, tasting faintly of chocolate and champagne. His lips warm and

confident and oh so yummy.

“Maybe,” he whispered into my lips, “your path doesn’t allow you to take a risk with someone like me.” He kissed me again.

“Or maybe,” I said, my voice hoarse, my body leaning toward him, “you’re the risk I need.”

I put my glass down in the sand; it fell over, but I didn’t care. He put his down too. Slowly, he pushed me onto the blanket,

his lips on mine, his hands skimming down the side of my sundress. He moved his hands lower, over my ass, making me moan in

anticipation of what I knew would be the best sex I had ever had in my life.

“You’re not wearing anything under your dress,” he said, sounding mildly surprised.

“You told me to be bold,” I whispered, reaching for his face, his cheeks rough with a day’s growth of beard.

This time when we kissed, something shifted inside, as if I had made a decision I didn’t know I was making. Every muscle relaxed

as I wrapped my arms around his neck, and his body molded across mine as if he had been created to fit right there with me.

The sensation was heady, intoxicating, both familiar and completely foreign.

Unrushed, Jason unbuttoned my dress, his hand cupping my breast, making me gasp, then sigh. He kissed my neck, down my throat,

until his mouth reached the other breast. The warmth of his breath, the moisture of his tongue, the sound of my own pulse

beating in my ears, had me whispering his name, surprising me. At my urging, Jason continued to pay homage to my breasts,

gently pulling down the straps of my dress until I was free. If I stood, my dress would fall, and I would be completely naked.

But he didn’t rush. His body was built with coiled, lean muscles, tense and hard, and as he explored, I explored. His skin,

his hair, his shoulders. He ran his tongue up my chest, to the sensitive skin under my neck, to behind my ear. He lightly

bit my lobe, and heat rushed to every limb in my body.

“Oh, God,” I gasped.

“We’re just getting started,” he said, a smile in his voice. He looked down at me, kissed me, watched me. “You’re beautiful

and you’re smart. My favorite combination.”

I blushed. Or maybe flushed, because if he had suggested we make love on the beach right then and there, I would have happily accommodated him.

“You’re blushing,” he said in awe. “You’re perfect.”

“Perfect?” I swallowed. “That sounds like a line.”

“No line.” He kissed my neck again. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I behold you to be perfect.” He put his lips

on mine, slipped his tongue inside just enough to tease. While his mouth occupied mine in a playful war, his hands ran down

my back to my ass and pushed me against his clothed body.

Now he moaned, and I smiled. I wasn’t the only one here who was ready for more than a make-out session.

He pulled his mouth from mine, but I urged him back, not ready to part.

“Mia,” he said, my name sounding like a melody.

I looked up. The moon was directly overhead, washing over our bodies as if it were daylight. I had never been an exhibitionist,

but at this moment, I didn’t want to leave. I definitely didn’t want to move away from Jason.

“I want you to know I don’t do this,” he said.

“Hmm?”

“I don’t get involved with guests.”

“Shh,” I said, suddenly dreading that he was going to retreat.

“But I want you.”

My heart skipped a beat.

“I just wanted you to know this is new to me.”

“You’re not a virgin, are you?”

He laughed, a deep, contagious laugh, and collapsed on top of me. “No, no, I’m not.” Then he rolled me on top of him and pulled

my mouth down to his.

I sat up and straddled him. The moonlight and sweat made Jason’s skin glow and look ten times sexier than when I’d first laid

eyes on him. My dress was bunched around my waist, and he still had on his shorts, but I hoped they wouldn’t be on for long.

His hands went to my breasts, and I leaned back to enjoy this moment in time.

I deserved to let go. To be free and not think about tomorrow or my job or decisions I needed to make. To enjoy being loved and pampered and...

And his fingers went under my dress and touched me between the legs, so intimate and daring.

“Oh. My. God.”

I didn’t remember ever feeling such overwhelming waves of lust. Every touch created a new sensation, and I wanted more.

“Can I—” Jason began.

“Yes. Anything. Now.”

Did I speak? I wasn’t sure. I hoped he could read my mind.

Jason rolled me back, his weight on top of me, his lips, his fingers making magic inside me to the point that I thought I’d

completely lose it before he had a chance to unsnap his shorts.

Then his fingers stopped.

“Don’t. Stop.”

I moved to regain the connection. Then his fingers were gone, and he put his mouth to my ear. “Someone is here.”

I froze.

Slowly, Jason pulled my skirt down and my dress up, secured my straps over my shoulders. He kissed me. “It’s okay,” he said.

“I’m not done with you, but we don’t need an audience.” He buttoned my dress, and I shivered. I didn’t know if it was from

residual lust, the promise of more, or the fear of getting caught.

Then I heard the voices, and recognized the man.

Nelson Stockton.

Jason pulled me to sitting as Nelson and his wife Anja walked from the trail into the clearing.

“We’re sorry,” Nelson said in a subdued voice that echoed lightly off the rocks. “We couldn’t sleep.”

“It’s fine.” Jason’s tone was rough around the edges.

I blushed. Yes, I was now dressed thanks to Jason, but it was clear what we had been doing and what we had been about to do.

How long had they been there?

“We’ll head back,” Nelson said.

Anja smiled at me. “We are very sorry to disturb you.”

“We’re just talking,” I said lamely. Jason put his arm around my waist, making it clear we weren’t just talking. I’m sure my hair was a mess. My dress felt funny as if the buttons were askew.

“Continue your conversation,” Anja said with humor. “Come, Nelson.” She took his hand, and they went back the way they’d come.

As soon as they were out of sight, Jason laughed and buried his face in my neck. “That was a close call.”

“What if we go back to my cottage?” I said, not laughing.

He stared at me. “Are you sure?”

“Stop asking me that. I’m sure. At least nobody will walk in on us there.”

He jumped up, pulled me to my feet, and quickly cleaned up the picnic, not caring if sand was loaded into his basket along

with the remnants of champagne and cupcake crumbs. With the basket in one hand, and my hand in his other, we hurried down

the path. Then he made a detour. “Faster this way,” he told me.

I didn’t object.

In minutes, we were at my cottage from the beachside.

“You don’t get lost, do you?” I said.

“Never,” he said. “I’ve tried, but my sense of direction never lets me.”

He sounded sad about that, as if he sometimes wanted to disappear.

“It’s fun,” he said.

“What is?” I asked as I reached into my beach bag to retrieve my key.

“Trying to get lost.”

“Are you serious?”

“I’ll drive someplace I’ve never been before, and just see things. No destination, no map. Take winding roads. I’ve gotten

stuck a couple times, but never lost.”

“But you could always pull out your phone and know where you are.”

“It takes discipline to resist. It’s part of the journey.”

I pushed open my door.

“I’ll admit,” Jason said, “I don’t have the discipline to resist you right now.” He kissed me as I shut the door.

“I’m glad,” I said, and led him from the sitting area into the main room.

I stifled a scream.

My room was a mess. The bed stripped, drawers opened, couch cushions askew. The glass slider was partly open. The mirror above

the dresser was shattered.

I ran to the dresser and looked behind it.

The book was gone.