Page 76 of Faith

“Thank you.”

“Happy Birthday,” her mother said.

“Thank you. Love you two.”

“Love you, little girl,” her father said. Then he hung up. Before she could get her thoughts together, the door opened. Jensen was there, dressed in a pair of shorts and a Hawaiian shirt. But not an outlandish Magnum PI kind of shirt. It was red, with just one palm tree embroidered on it.

“Good morning, birthday girl. How are you feeling?” He leaned over her and gave her a loud smacking kiss.

She blinked, unused to this behavior. It wasn’t that they didn’t kiss, but…it was more intimate as if they were long time lovers.

“I’m fine. My folks just called. They asked when I was going to be able to come visit them.”

He chuckled. “They are constantly asking you that. We could stop on the way back. We have absolutely nothing pressing.”

“You don’t mind?” she asked.

He sat down beside her. “No. You know I like your parents, and I want to go to that Mexican all-you-can-eat restaurant.”

Of course he did. Last time they were there, he ate so much food, she was surprised they didn’t have to roll him out of the place.

“Well, I will tell them after we close the deal here. I want to make sure everything is in order.”

He gave her another of those lopsided smiles that made her heart skip a beat. It was corny to think that, but there was no other way to describe the way her heart seemed to stop for just a second every time it happened.

“Sounds good. Now, time to get out of bed and into the shower. I have plans for you today.”

“I thought we were just going to Serenity’s tonight. I was promised shrimp truck shrimp.”

“Yes, but I have stuff for us to do today.”

She sighed. “I thought about just laying by the pool all day.”

“While I would not mind seeing you in a bikini again, I have something very special for you this afternoon. Knowing my family, the calls will start soon, so I thought to get you up and out of bed early.”

She frowned.

“Oh, don’t do that. It’s your birthday and you should be happy. Marta is making you one of your favorite breakfasts, and —”

“What?”

“Take a shower and you will see. Lots of surprises today. It isn’t every day that a girl has a birthday and is in Hawaii.”

“Fine.” Then what he said hit her. “Marta’s here? Good Lord.”

“Oh, just let it go. If she doesn’t already know something is going on, she is never going to know. Go take a shower.”

She slipped out of bed and he whistled. “You do look beautiful in the morning, Ms. McCann. Of course, you’re pretty much beautiful all the time.”

He stood and slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. He kissed her, his tongue slipping between her lips for just a second. He ended the kiss long before she was ready for him to stop.

“Now, love, go take a shower. I’ll get you something to wear.”

She gave him a suspicious eye. “I can get my own clothes.”

He sighed. “Just go take a shower, woman. Truthfully, if we were staying longer, I would have you move your clothes in here.”

Then, he left her in the room staring after him. The man was in the oddest of moods.

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