The slight arch in her brow as she packed up their things was about as subtle as one of Lucie’s snorts. He felt like she’d just insulted his work ethic, which didn’t make any damn sense. Jackson was always the first person to joke about how easy and carefree his life was. If his life had shampoo-bottle instructions they’d be: fight, surf, relax, repeat. So why was it suddenly so important to him to prove to her that he wasn’t just some lazy half-asser going through the motions?
“Tell you what,” he said as they shook out the blankets and folded them, “I’m going into the gym tomorrow morning. Why don’t you come with and see for yourself? That way, Counselor, you can make your ruling once you have all the evidence.”
“Hmm,” she began, making a face like she was really mulling it over. “You make a good case, but I thought you weren’t doing a camp right now.”
“I’m not, but that doesn’t mean I never train.” When Vanessa bent down to grab the picnic basket and her purse, he added, “Gotta stay in shape for the ladies, you know.”
That had her head snapping up as she straightened, and a competitive spark lit her green eyes for a split second before she could douse it. Gesturing to his waist, she said, “You call those love handles staying in shape?”
“What?” Shit, he knew he’d had too many burgers this last week. Holding his arms out, Jax glared at his sides…and found nothing.
A peel of laughter came from a doubled-over Vanessa. “Oh my God, that was too easy! You’re worse than a girl!”
“A girl?” he said, raising his voice and enjoying the fake melodrama. She nodded emphatically with a hand muffling her giggles. “I’ll show you who’s the girl.”
As soon as he took a menacing step in her direction, she squealed his name in protest, dropped the folded blankets, and took off at a dead run over the white sand.
And he was more than happy to chase her.
“I want to propose something to you.”
Jackson looked up from where he was waxing his board by their private pool. As soon as they’d gotten back from the beach, they’d ordered in room service for dinner, and then she’d worked while he went for an evening run. Since she was still engrossed in her files after his shower, he settled himself by the pool and started waxing his board, listening to the waves hit the sand and the sounds of distant music and laughter coming from the beach bar on the other side of the resort.
“Have a seat,” he said, gesturing to the spot next to him. She was wearing a pair of cut-off sweatpants that barely covered her ass and a tank top. Proper island loungewear. Also proper make-his-cock-stand-up-and-say-aloha wear. Christ. Trying to take his mind off his dick, he refocused on his task at hand.
Once seated with the lower half of her legs dangling in the pool, she tucked her hands under her thighs and let out a deep breath.
“Hmm,” he mused with a small grin. “Sounds serious. I’m not as clear on the law as you, but can you divorce me before we’re even married?”
“I’ll get back to you on that,” she answered wryly. “Is that pineapple I smell?”
He held up the bar. “Sex wax. Not to be confused with wax you can actually use during sex.”
“Have you used wax during sex?”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Are you asking if I’ve ever tried wax play?”
She hesitated…then nodded.
“Not yet.” Images of dripping wax on her creamy skin assaulted him. “But something tells me I wouldn’t mind experimenting with lots of new things with the right person.”
“Oh,” she said, her voice taking on a husky tone that warmed his balls. Subject change was in order if he didn’t want to maul her without provocation in the next thirty seconds. Which, sadly, was debatable.
“So are you going to tell me what’s on your mind?” He glanced down at her breasts and saw her hardened nipples straining against her tank. No bra. Fuck! She was trying to kill him. “Or would you rather I guess?” he offered, his voice dropping in pitch as well.
“Uh, well,” she started before clearing her throat. “I came to Hawaii with the intention of letting loose, so to speak. You know, maybe finding a guy I could shake things up with. But, since you’ve put me in this crazy predicament where we’re pretending to be our engaged friends, I can’t very well go around flirting and carrying on with anyone I happen to meet.”
“Uh-huh.” He liked where this was going.
“So since I have no other choice, you understand, I propose you be the one I…let loose with,” she finished lamely.
“In plain English, V.”
“Oh, for shit’s sake, you know what I’m saying. I want a vacation fling.”
“Which means what exactly?” He understood her proposal, but he wanted to hear her say the words. He leaned in closer until their breath mingled. “Say it,” he ordered softly.
She took a deep breath and bravely looked him in the eyes. “I want to have sex with you.”
“There. Was that so hard?” He smiled. “Speaking of hard…” He grabbed her hand and showed her exactly what he thought of her proposal.
“Jesus,” she gasped.
Even with the material of his shorts as a buffer, the feel of her palm against his hardening cock sent shockwaves through his veins. “I accept your proposal.”