Page 10 of The Reluctant Billionaire

Jace nodded. A large part of the reason Hunter Enterprises had been allowed to redevelop Sunfish Island had been the huge marine biology research and education facility they’d agreed to build and permanently fund. One of the finest of its kind in the world, it had a team of four permanent research scientists and half a dozen assistants who came up on funded semester-long assignments from universities across Australia. Parts of the facility were open the the public; he’d been meaning to visit but hadn’t had the opportunity yet. “I’d love to.”

“I’ll take you,” Nessa said impulsively. “Laurie, one of the marine biologists, is a friend of mine. She’ll take you on a behind-the-scenes tour if you’re with me.”

It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her it wasn’t necessary, that Luke could arrange things, but he rethought the impulse. Nessa would want to know why Luke would be so willing to accommodate him, and that opened him up to questions he wasn’t ready to answer. Besides, Nessa taking him to the facility would definitely be a second date.

“Thanks,” he said, “that would be awesome.”

“We could go early, before I start work. I’ll catch up with her tomorrow and find out what day would suit.” Nessa was bubbling with excitement, too. She pulled her snorkel down to her mouth again. “Come on. I want to see if we can spot any clown fish!”

Grinning, Jace popped his mouthpiece back in and dived after her.

The water was warm and buoyant, and in the sheltered cove there was no current to speak of. It was like swimming through a warm bath, relaxing and easy. Everywhere Jace looked, there was something new and amazing to see: brightly colored corals, invertebrates, and fish. Nessa pointed out a starfish of such an intense blue, even underwater, Jace could hardly believe it was real. He swam on at her side, head turning every which way as he tried to take it all in.

A sharp whistle cut the air as he surfaced briefly to get a deep breath. Surprised, Jace checked his dive watch. Cory had told them they’d have fifty minutes at this stop. Startled to see their time was up, he reached out and tapped Nessa’s shoulder, then his watch.

She nodded and pulled her mouthpiece out. “That went quickly!”

“Certainly did,” he agreed, as they turned and began swimming back to the boat. They weren’t too far away; they’d been careful to reorient themselves on the boat each time they surfaced, swimming tracks parallel to their previous courses.

Cory leaned down to give them both a hand up. Jace waited for Nessa to go first, completely failing to keep his eyes off her beautiful butt as she climbed back aboard the boat. But then, it would have been most ungallant of him to make her wait in the water while he got out, and it would have taken a lot more discipline than he possessed not to look.

She looked over her shoulder at him and laughed.

He shrugged unapologetically. “I’m not dead.”

“Good thing, too.” Cory offered his hand but Jace waved him off, climbing the ladder back into the boat easily. Sitting back down beside Nessa, he accepted the bottle of water she handed him from the large cooler in the middle of the boat’s hull.

“You look a bit pale,” she noted, her eyes searching his face. “Are you feeling alright?”

“Yep.” He was grateful for the chance to sit down and rest, though, while the boat took them to their next location. Cursing the lingering weakness which still plagued his body after his illness, he cracked the top of the water and took a long drink.

“I brought snacks.” Nessa delved into the bag at her feet. “Healthy--” she held up a small bunch of ripe bananas, “--or not so healthy.” She waved a large bar of chocolate at him.

“Both?”

“Both is good. Fruit first?” Splitting a couple of bananas off the bunch, she handed one over. Jace peeled his and ate it with enjoyment, unable to keep his mind out of the gutter as he watched Nessa eat hers, her lips puckering around the fruit in an insanely erotic gesture. She knew exactly what she was doing to him, as well, her laughing eyes holding his as she ate.

Jace was glad his board shorts were loose.

***

Their second snorkeling location was at a platform anchored on an open-water coral reef. The water here was shallower than at the first site, so they just floated side by side, face down in the water, gazing with wonder at the natural beauties of the reef. Nessa got to see her clown fish and a couple of dozen other species besides.

“Next stop: Whitehaven Beach,” Cory said as they climbed back aboard once again. “You ever been there, Jace?”

He shook his head. “Looking forward to seeing it.”

“It’s one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Sand so white it looks like snow.” Nessa sounded like a tourist brochure, not that he minded in the slightest. She practically glowed with happiness, her smile wide and white, her dark skin glimmering with salt water.

Tentatively, Jace slipped his arm around her waist as they sat back down, leaning over to kiss the point of her shoulder lightly.

Nessa’s breath drew in softly as she looked at him. He’d been the perfect gentleman so far, gallant and charming, though his eyes had told a different story as he’d watched her. His lips were warm against her skin, his eyes questioning as he lifted his head to look at her.

Leaning in, Nessa put her hand to Jace’s cheek and brought her lips to his. He closed his eyes, she saw in the instant before she closed her own.

The first kiss was light, little more than a gentle press of lips. Jace didn’t push, didn’t try to pull her closer, and his reticence made Nessa want more. She kissed him with greater fervor, her lips parting, tongue flicking between them to trace over the seam of his. Then, at last, he kissed her back properly. His arm tightened around her waist as his tongue danced with hers, and Nessa slid her hand into his damp blond hair, grasping the wet locks.

“Ahem,” Cory’s not-at-all-subtle cough brought them back to awareness of their surroundings.

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