Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 45996 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45996 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Jace grabs a towel from the back of the couch and wipes his face. His chest still rises and falls with the effort of his training. “Great. I’ll join you. I can’t let you go anywhere without me. Part of the deal, remember?”
I open my mouth to argue that I can handle a simple beach run, but the serious look in his eyes stops me. He’s right. The threats are real. I nod instead. “Fine. Give me ten minutes to change.”
I retreat to my room and close the door behind me. My heart still races. I pull on running shorts and a sports bra, then tug a loose tank top over it. I tie my hair back into a ponytail and splash cold water on my face. The blush refuses to fade completely. When I step back into the living room, Jace waits by the door in a fresh T-shirt and shorts. He looks just as good covered up. Maybe even better now that I’ve seen what lies underneath.
We head out together. The morning air feels crisp and salty. We cross the dunes and hit the packed sand near the waterline. Our feet strike the beach in unison as we start to run. The ocean sparkles to our right, waves rolling in with gentle crashes. Seagulls cry overhead and dive for their breakfast. The rhythm of our strides falls into sync without effort. We don’t talk much. The silence feels comfortable, broken only by our breathing and the sound of the surf.
Jace stays close on my left, his presence steady and protective. Every so often his arm brushes mine when the path narrows. I focus on the burn in my legs and the clean air filling my lungs. For the first time since this whole mess started, the run feels freeing instead of confining. We cover a good distance down the beach, turn around at a rocky outcrop, and head back. Sweat cools on my skin as the sun climbs higher.
Back at the bungalow we step inside and head straight for the kitchen. I pull out two bowls while Jace grabs the yogurt and a container of fresh berries from the fridge. We move around each other easily. I spoon yogurt into both bowls and top them with strawberries and blueberries. Jace hands me a spoon and takes his own bowl to the small table on the porch.
We eat in companionable silence for a few minutes. The berries burst sweet and tart on my tongue. The ocean breeze drifts across the porch and cools my skin. Jace finishes his bowl first and leans back in his chair, watching me with that familiar spark in his eyes.
“So,” he says, stretching his arms overhead, “how do you feel about a little day drinking? Nothing crazy. Maybe a couple of beers or a frozen drink on the beach later.”
I raise an eyebrow and take another bite of yogurt. The idea sounds tempting after the tension of the past few days. Part of me wants to say yes to see where the afternoon takes us. The other part remembers why we’re really here. I set my spoon down and meet his gaze. “Day drinking, huh? You really commit to the cover story.”
Jace grins. “What can I say? I’m dedicated to my work.”
The easy banter flows between us again, but underneath it all lingers the memory of his shirtless form in the living room and the way his words on the boardwalk still echo in my head. I push the thoughts aside and focus on the moment. For now, the yogurt tastes sweet, the breeze feels perfect, and the man across from me keeps surprising me in ways I do not know how to handle.
9
Jace
“Banks, was wondering if Sadie could talk to her sister,” I say into my phone.
“She’s in Valor Springs with Delaney, Indigo, Riley, and Rowan. They’re all holed up together to keep them safe. We’ve got Lone Star Security checking in on them while we’re away.”
I glance at Sadie who waits beside me with wide eyes. “Right. I’ll call Delaney. Thanks.” I’m about to hang up when Banks interrupts.
“Everything okay?”
I don’t know if he can hear it in my voice or if Mack may have mentioned something to him about catching feelings. I glance once more over at Sadie. “Everything’s fine. Why?”
“You just sound funny.”
Ugh. Leave it to my brother to state the obvious. Bank’s and I are closest in age. “All’s good.” I’m hoping he drops the subject because I don’t really want to have this conversation with Sadie sitting on the couch next to me, smelling like sunshine and something tropical that makes me dizzy.
“Okay. Call me back,” he says, knowing full well I’m full of shit.
“Yep.” I hang up before he can say anything else. I pull up Delaney Coleman from my contacts and put the call through. Delaney grew up with us in Valor Springs and her and Nash were as thick as thieves when they were younger. It’s fitting how they’ve made their way back to each other.