Page 60 of Capri

Jones reaches to twist my nipple, causing me to squirm. “Hey!”

“Steak.” My ears perk up at his answer.

“Steak?” I ask.

He grins and I can see his thoughts fantasizing the taste of it now. “Yep. Make it chargrilled and medium rare—I’m golden. Set for the rest of my life.”

I laugh. “Such a guy thing to say.”

He runs his hand through my hair. “What about you, Ms. Twenty Questions?”

I love the attention he shows me even while preoccupied in our conversations. “Easy. In-N-Out.”

“Seriously? It’s that simple?” he asks, making me question whyhewould question my answer.

“They’re the best,” I say with confidence. I’ll never back down from defending an In-N-Out burger.

“I wouldn’t know.”

The shock that escapes me throws him off for a moment. “No…and I thought I was deprived as a child. This takes the cake.” I shake my head, truly saddened by his admission.

He chuckles and it’s so fucking full I could drown in it. “You heard correctly, sweetheart. Never had the coveted In-N-Out burger.”

Groaning, I explain to him all the possibilities of burgers and my personal favorite. “Ugh. Jones, it’s so good. A double-double burger, animal style, whole grilled onion with chopped chilis. Extra sauce on the side. Mmm, I can taste it.”

He chuckles. “I never believed the hype could be that real, but you make me actually want to try it,” Jones admits. “I do love a woman who can eat.”

“Oh, I can put down some carbs, Captain. Where do you think my hips came from?”

He flips me over in an instant, hovering and grabbing my full hips. “I happen to adore your hips. We’ve established this already, sweetheart.”

I start to tell Jones we need to get a burger together but catch myself mid-breath, remembering this is the last time we’ll see each other.

There will be no future burger dates or a moment where I get to watch Jones experience an animal-style burger for the first time.

It’s a sad revelation to accept.

“I leave in the morning.” My tone is stagnant. Some would call it sad, even.

I didn’t want to bring it up, but we’ve been pretending this unspoken truth doesn’t exist, and it does.

“Fuck. I know.” My heart twinges at the falling of his face.

I knew I wasn’t capable of being casual with a man. I’m not built for a situationship without feelings.

“Is it wrong of me to say I’m sad?” My eyes search for the same feeling in him.

His head falls to my chest, letting out a long exhale. “No, Capri…it’s not wrong at all. I feel the same.”

He hasn’t come out and said it, but I can feel it—we’re on the same page.

Both put off by these quickly developed feelings and dread them coming to an end.

“In another life…another season?—”

He cuts me off with his lips. “I know, sweetheart. I know.”

His kiss is steady and unrushed. Like he’s got all the time in the world to savor the taste of my lips and the connection between us. Although it’s only been a week, being in Jones’ company has made it one of the happiest of my life.

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