Her Forbidden Love (Indigo Island Book 2) (6 page)

“Hey, sorry I’m so late. How’s your foot?” he asked, touching the top of her foot tenderly, sending a bolt of electricity through her body.

“It’s getting better, thanks,” she said. She felt shy, and wrapped her arms around herself. She wore her favorite jeans and a comfortable light green t-shirt and she’d even managed to tame her hair a bit for him. She’d dreamed of this moment, but now that he was here with her she was nervous and hurried to sit up.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, reaching out and placing a firm hand on her shoulder, calming her, grounding her. He smelled like sea breeze and fresh cut grass from the golf course. She felt his breath on her hair. And his touch made her stomach flip.

“Nothing, it’s... I’m...well, it’s been a long time since I’ve had a man in my bedroom,” she said.

“Hey, I’m just here to get to know you. We could go for a walk, but your foot?” Jack said.

“No, this is great,” she said, resisting the urge to touch his leg so close to her own. Just the thought of it sent electricity ripping through her again, reaching deep inside, filling her with longing. They stared into each other’s eyes and Dorsey’s breathing grew shallow. She broke eye contact, looking down at the floor. She felt the bed dip as he sat down beside her.

“So, uh, Jack, tell me about yourself,” she said.

“Well, I like pina coladas and I’d love to get caught in the rain,” he said, dimples appearing with his white smile. “Seriously, though, I’m the only son of a single mom, who worked really hard to get me here, helped me pay for college, and so I can’t mess up this chance. But you really make me want to take the risk.”

Dorsey felt her cheeks turn red. “Well, no. That’s why we need to, um, you know just be like this,” she said, indicating the space between them on the bed. “I understand, I do. Tell me more.”

“You’re right, I got ahead of myself, it’s just you, well, you have that effect on me. I’m from Orlando, Florida. Only surviving child of Patricia Means. My little brother, Bobby, died when he was twelve, and my mom never got over it.”

Dorsey watched as Jack’s hands kneaded the side of the bed as he spoke about his brother, watched the light drain from his eyes.

“I’m so sorry,” she said.

“Thanks, it was a tough time. Guess it still is,” he said. “Anyway, after high school I went to UFC and majored in hospitality. I’m going to be a hotel tycoon. I’m going to run this club someday. I love this island; I’ve been working here for years.”

“Sounds like a plan,” she said, smiling. The light had come back into his eyes and he seemed to relax a bit. Finally, he turned toward her.

“Sorry, but I think you’re incredibly hot, I feel this overwhelming need to protect you. I’m drawn to you. God, I don’t even know if the feeling is mutual.” Jack shook his head, as if to clear a thought.

“It’s, yes, it is,” she managed to say, leaning back against the headboard.

She heard him release a breath. They sat in silence, both lost in thought. About what couldn’t be, she supposed. It was sad, but it was apropos of her life.

“Well, OK. Tell me something about you,” he said, finally.

“I’m an only child, too, and my mom is single now. She’s glad I’m here, moving on, so I guess we have similar stories, in a way,” she said, knowing their stories could never be the same. His could never be as horrific, although his brother had died.

“I guess so, although I doubt it,” he said. “My younger brother drowned. I’ve always felt like it was my fault, because I didn’t save him. That’s why today hit me so hard, I suppose. That boy looked just like Bobby.” Dorsey watched as he grabbed the edge of her bedspread again, gripping it tightly with both hands, kneading the soft cotton in his fingers.

“Oh, Jack,” Dorsey said, covering his right hand with hers. He was still holding on tight, rocking gently forward and back. “I’m so very sorry.”

“I don’t talk about it,” he said finally, still staring straight ahead. “He was a little older than the boy today. Just playing with his best friend in a crowded public pool. There were three lifeguards on duty but they didn’t see him until it was too late. I was asleep. I was supposed to work later that afternoon so I just crashed on my towel under a tree. My mom was at work. I was in charge of him, of Bobby. I’ve never forgiven myself for falling asleep.”

“Jack, it wasn’t your fault. You were a kid, too.”

“It was a really hot humid day. I woke up to screams and whistles being blown. I sat up fast, too fast, and I was dizzy. I looked around for Bobby, but he wasn’t next to me. His towel – it was light yellow – was on the grass next to mine, but it was dry. Our bag of Lays Potato chips was unopened on the grass between us. I stood up and hurried over to the pool in time to see the lifeguard pulling him up onto the pool deck. Bobby was blue.”

Jack stopped and dropped his head into his hands. “I don’t know why I’m telling you all this. I don’t talk about this.”

“It’s OK, you don’t need to say more, not if it hurts too much,” she said, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. “I’m so sorry, so very sorry.”

Jack turned toward Dorsey and leaned forward, easing his lips onto hers. It was a soft, gentle kiss, and Dorsey’s body took over in response, pressing back into him, wanting more, wanting to comfort him, wanting him. His tongue was parting her lips and Dorsey heard herself moan.

Without breaking the kiss, Jack maneuvered Dorsey so they were lying down facing each other. He was so strong, his lips soft but insistent. His hand cupped the back of her head, her hair wrapped around his hand.

“Dorsey,” he said, pulling away from the kiss but staring deeply into her eyes. “You’re incredible.”

Her stomach fluttered, her head spun. This was what being kissed by a real man was like, she realized. Jack wasn’t embarrassed to be with her like Chad had been. And it wasn’t a pity date like the ones after college. He wanted to be with her. Their connection had been immediate, their embrace as natural as it was exciting. It all felt so good, so right, but it couldn’t happen. Not here. Not with Steve as their boss, not with her past. This was all going too fast.

“We can’t do this,” she said, suddenly, rolling away, turning her back to him.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, sounding hurt, placing his hand on her hip, sending shock waves through her body.

“It’s just that we can’t jeopardize our jobs, you need yours as much as I need mine, no matter how handsome you are. I’m sorry,” she said. She should never have invited him to her bedroom. What was she thinking? She’d been a tease, and she hadn’t meant to be. She forced herself to sit up, crossing her legs, trying to deaden the fire building there.

Jack sat up, too, his expression was kind, not angry. He scooped her up and pulled her into his lap. She relaxed into him, into his embrace, even as she wanted him to touch her everywhere, to fill her. She sighed.

“By the way, you’re a great kisser,” Jack said. “I’m so turned on.” Her face flushed as she burrowed into his chest. She could tell he enjoyed making her blush even as she enjoyed every minute of being with him. And she could feel him hard behind her. This was torture, for both of them. “So tell me more about you.”

“I’m not into yoga, and I have half a brain,” she said, but not finishing the rest of the lyrics even though she could vividly imagine making love in the moonlight on a dune with Jack. Her heart pumped and her stomach clenched.

“You just might be the love that I’ve looked for,” he said, gently lifting her chin, tilting her face up towards his. “It’s OK. You can trust me. Talk to me.”

She had to choose her words carefully. She never told the whole truth of her past, not to anyone, and she wasn’t going to start now, no matter how amazing he was. “My dad, ah, died when I was fourteen. My mom and I never got over it either. I went to Ohio State, majored in early childhood education but never knew what I wanted to do with it. I was a full-time nanny for four years, but I needed a fresh start. I was searching the Internet and found the ad for the Kids Club position and applied. Here I am,” she said. “And I haven’t had anyone protect or care about me for a very long time.” Dorsey couldn’t believe she was admitting this to Jack, even as tears welled up in her eyes.

“I’m here for you. I am,” Jack said, wrapping his arms around her tightly, his brown eyes dark and sparkling while he used a finger to gently brush a tear away from her cheek. “I know we have to be careful. I’ve been under Steve’s rule since last summer. We can outsmart him, outlast him, too.”

Dorsey’s teeth bit into her bottom lip as she thought about Jack’s implied proposal, unsure if she could stop herself from wanting more. Not sure she should allow herself to trust a man again after what happened with Chad. This could ruin everything she had come here for, even as it felt so good to be with him. But, what about the others?

“From what I hear, you didn’t play by the rules last year, either,” she said, and felt his hand tighten on her hip. He let out a sigh behind her.

“Last summer, I was summer staff. I was just goofing around. Nothing serious. This year, it’s different with the management position. It’s different with you.”

“What about Rebecca?” she asked, a question that had been pinging around her mind since she spotted them together at orientation. “It seemed like there was more to it than just goofing around. She was really upset after you yelled at her.”

“Sorry you had to see that. She’s a little crazy, but I promise you, there’s nothing there,” Jack said, pulling her back into his chest, gently lifting her chin so their eyes locked. “Give me a chance.”

“I’ll try, I really will,” she said, as Jack hugged her tightly. She loved being in his lap, feeling taken care of and protected. The way his arms felt around her, so strong, so grounding. She wanted to believe him, to believe that the most gorgeous guy on the island really did like her, that this deep emotional connection she felt went both ways. Could it be true?

Jack lifted her up and slid them down the headboard until they were lying next to each other on their right sides, his strong arms holding her tight, his body behind her, curled around hers. He held her until they both fell asleep, Dorsey comforted by the sound of Jack’s heart.

Chapter 8

Jack

J
ack didn’t know what had come over him as he woke up, fully dressed, in Dorsey’s room. This had to be a first. He cuddled a girl all night.
What was wrong with him?

He was surrounded by gorgeous girls, every summer, all summer long, and if he wanted one, had actually been invited to crawl through her window at night, he’d have sex with her. Every one of them, until now. But until now, none of them had made him feel like Dorsey did. Sure, Dorsey was hot, sexy in an all-natural way, and she always seemed to need his help, his care. And he liked that. When they’d kissed he’d felt things stir inside he hadn’t felt in a long time, maybe never. He loved the way she blushed every time they flirted, the way her eyes crinkled at the corners when she laughed. There was intense chemistry between them. It had taken every ounce of his willpower to fall asleep next to her. He had already pictured his hands on her breasts, her soft skin in the moonlight. But now, he’d just take it slowly. They had both had trauma in their past, he was sure of it even though she hadn’t been forthcoming. He was surprised he’d told her about Bobby. The near-drowning had weakened his typical walls, he supposed.

Or maybe, she had.

He looked over to where she was sleeping peacefully on her side, knees curled up, a faint smile on her face. One arm was tossed lazily in his direction, palm up. Her hair was a wild tangle covering the pillow, illuminated like a halo by the sunlight sneaking in through the slats of the blinds. She looked like an angel.

The sun was up, Jack suddenly realized, reluctantly pulling his attention from Dorsey to the fact he was still in her room. And it was daylight. He climbed carefully out of her bed. He’d need to get out of there before anyone discovered them. Even the cleaning crew reported directly to Steve, he knew. Everybody would and could run straight to Steve, and be rewarded for ratting out fellow employees. That was the type of culture Steve had created, one of tattletales and mistrust. It would be a problem. Steve’s world was emotionless and orderly, asexual.

The opposite of everything Jack saw and felt when he looked down again at Dorsey, sleeping soundly. He fought the overwhelming urge to leap back in bed with her, fighting the urge to wake her up with an urgent, hard kiss, fighting the urge to touch her. He backed away, reluctantly, hoping nothing was ruined last night, believing it was just a start.

Jack pushed up the window and climbed out, closing it silently behind him. A quick jog to his cottage in the fresh morning sea air reminded him he needed to focus on his job. He couldn’t allow himself to get sidetracked by Dorsey, no matter how much he wanted her. Remember the goal, Jack told himself. He was going to make his mom proud, he was going to see his mom smile again.

Jack was in his lifeguard chair, eyes scanning the crowded swimming pool when Steve appeared next to him.

“Have you seen that little kid, Tade, around?” Steve asked, anger in his voice. “The little bastard seems to have run off again.”

“He’s a pistol. He’s the one who put the blue crabs in the pool last summer, remember?” Jack said, remembering the sight of panicked vacationers mobbing out of the pool. He struggled to swallow a laugh. It had been a funny prank.

“That’s him. He’s supposed to be in the Kids Cottage, but he’s not there. Would you mind looking for him? I’ll get another guard to cover for you,” Steve said, smiling his fake smile, sun bouncing off his over-sized sunglasses.

“I’m not good at kid finding,” Jack said, turning away, scanning the crowded pool.

“It’s not really a request, son,” Steve said as another lifeguard appeared. “We will have order here on Indigo Island. Get going.”

Power play perfected, Steve, Jack thought. Jack dove into the water from the chair, anxious to cool off and to get away from Steve. He swam under water to the other side of the pool, climbed out, grabbed a towel from Sabrina at the pool hut and set out to find the kid.