Page 68 of The Sandover Beach Billionaire

“Jax, we’re all a little broken. I know that I am. I come with a laundry list of issues. The first of which is feeling like I’m going to be abandoned. When you left that day—” He opened his mouth like he was going to apologize again. She quickly pressed a finger to his lips. She could read the pain in his eyes. “When you left, I curled around myself. I didn’t want to get hurt again. Especially not by you. I feel … very strongly about you. That terrified me. Falling for someone has historically always ended with me hurt and alone.”

“I’m so sorry I hurt you.” He spoke around her finger. She dropped her hand and joined it with his.

“I’m sorry that I hurt you too. Even though I didn’t mean to. It was my fault you went off like that. I should have explained.”

“I doubt I would have heard you. I was too angry.”

For a moment they simply sat, hands clasped together and the ocean crashing behind them. Jenna felt a peace that she hadn’t in a long time. “We both messed up. So … what now?”

Jackson untangled the fingers of one hand from hers and brushed the hair back from her cheek. She wanted to lean into his touch but kept herself still, waiting. He could still break her heart, right now. If he said that he didn’t feel strongly toward her. If he said he just wanted to be friends.

“I think I pushed you too fast before. I’ve liked you for so long. Getting to really know you made me like you even more. You went through a lot this year and even before and I should have slowed down. I just couldn’t resist you. I thought maybe we could start again and I could take things slow. But I don’t think that’s going to work.”

Jenna dropped her gaze. He didn’t want to be with her. The pain of his words moved through her like poison and she tried to hold it together. When he put his fingers under her chin and tried to lift her face, she resisted at first. But when he said her name, softly, she let him tilt her head up to look at him. His eyes were soft and full of tenderness.

“Jenna, it’s not that I don’t want a relationship with you. I absolutely do. And I hope you want one with me. I’m not sure it’s going to work for me to take things slow. I’m trying. I will try. I don’t want to rush you.”

“We don’t need to take things slow. I mean, I don’t want to take things slow. I’ve let so much of my life just go by when I was miserable and lonely. I don’t want to waste any more time. I want you, Jackson. If you still want me.”

“There’s no question. You’re it for me, Monroe.”

His words nestled down into her heart. Jenna felt at once breathless and calm, as though an inexplicable peace had settled like a blanket over the surge of nervous excitement and joy. Words came back to her suddenly: The peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The passage in Philippians had been about taking worries to God in prayer, not romantic relationships, but Jenna felt sure that the peace she felt now could only have come from God.

Despite her worries and her past hurts and the fears and even the conflict she and Jackson just talked through, peace fell over her. Even with the nervous excitement and the way her heart wanted to fly out of her chest as Jackson leaned toward her.

His lips found hers. He brushed them over hers in a featherlight kiss. As Jenna responded, tracing her hand up his neck to tangle in his hair, Jackson deepened the kiss. He released her hand and gripped her waist, pulling her closer, as though he couldn’t stand even the smallest distance between them. His lips swept over hers and Jenna felt like he was assuring her of his feelings. His kisses felt like safety and warmth, but also sparked desire that had answered his.

He pulled back suddenly, moving his hands to her shoulders, holding her close to him, but keeping her back too. They were both breathless and he smiled at her with a brilliance that lit up the darkest corners of her soul.

“Wow,” he said.

“Wow is right.”

“So we’re clear, when I said I didn’t want to slow down, I wasn’t talking about this. I definitely feel like this shouldn’t speed up. Not unless we want Beau and Jimmy to have to put out a fire.”

Jenna giggled. “Agreed. But I don’t want you to hold back. That kiss was …”

“I agree. And don’t have a word either. That kiss was.” He pressed a tender kiss to the apple of her cheek and it was all Jenna could do not to turn her head and start up the kissing again. As though he could read her thoughts, he tapped her nose. “Let’s get you back up to the house. You look freezing.”

“I am?” Jenna hadn’t noticed the way a chill had entered the air. The heat from their kiss had kept her from feeling the full effects of the wind. But now that he mentioned it, goosebumps popped up on her arms and she shivered.

Jackson stood quickly and held out a hand to pull her up. He put his arm around her shoulders, tucking her close to him. When they got back to the house, Jenna moved to clear the table, but he waved a hand at her. “Leave the dishes. I’ll clear them later. I have one more surprise for you.”

He led her to the fireplace. It had a mantle made of rough wood that looked custom-built. Jackson turned and took both of her hands. “I designed the inside of this house just for you. But in truth, I hope you don’t live here forever. I’ve got another house I’d love to decorate just for you. It’s got too much of a bachelor vibe going on right now.”

She laughed. “Your beach house is incredible. But yeah, it’s a little empty.”

He looked suddenly nervous. “It is, but it’s also about to be more full. Jenna, you should know that Megan is coming to live with me full-time, starting this summer. Things weren’t working out with her mother. We’re going to see if this is a better fit for her. If that’s something you don’t feel ready for, I understand.”

“I actually feel okay about that. I mean, I have no illusions that it would be easy to just suddenly be involved in the life of an almost-teenager. But I like Megan. I’ve always wanted kids. Not a deal-breaker, Jax.”

“I love it when you say my name like that. Okay, last thing. Did you see what was on the mantel?” He looked nervous again.

Jenna’s eyes went to the weathered wood. When she walked over she had missed a small box that looked like—no, it couldn’t be. A ring box? Jenna’s entire body threatened to shut down when she saw it.

“Hey.” Jackson tugged her hand and pulled her closer, forcing her to meet his eyes. “I’m not proposing right now. I know you said you don’t want to take things slow, but that look—that panic right there—that’s the thing I’m watching for. I can see that you aren’t ready for that step. I want to go your speed. Even if you aren’t sure what that is or if it changes. Fast, slow, whatever. But that box right there is my commitment to you: I’m in this for forever. I will not walk away from you or cheat on you. I will not leave you. I feel one-hundred percent sure right now, and it’s okay if you don’t. Yet.”

“Jackson, I don’t know what to say.”

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