Page 23 of The Devil's Detail
I gasp, “No way.”
She laughs. “Yep, he’s a dark horse. Seen and done lots of things.” She grimaces at that. “I begged him not to re-enlist. It was killing his soul.” I watch as she looks out over the mountain, pain etched across her face. Love in her eyes. “So be gentle with him, Carter.”
She turns her beautifully haunting grey eyes on me. I’m in shock. I thought she was going to give me a grilling, warn me off. But all she’s done is kick my protective instincts into gear. I seeher feelings for her brother on her face. She will definitely see mine, laid bare for him.
“I will. I’ll take the best care of him, sugar.” My voice is not much above a whisper, but I hope she hears the power in that statement.
She smiles gently. “That’s all we can ask of each other.”
When we reach the workshop, both Marcus and Xander are there. Marcus is cleaning fishing gear, while Xander’s working inside. We hear a boat approach, and we all stand and shade our eyes.
“Is that the twins driving the boat?” I can hardly get the words out. Jackson sits at the helm, both the boys on his lap, their hands on the wheel, his on his head. And Ash is waterskiing behind the boat.
“Honestly, if my kids get out of childhood in one piece, it’ll be a fucking miracle. Jackson’s bad, but Marshall is the worst,” Marcus states, waving crazily at them.
The boat turns and heads towards us, Ash trying to stay upright on his skis behind as the boat slows towards a small dock and beach area.
“Ahoy, are you coming in, Carter? I got you a wet suit.” Jackson is waving at me. “They don’t drive very fast, do you boys?” They’re waving at their dad, and they try to climb out when the boat pulls up to the jetty. Both the twins have tiny wet suits on. It is the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.
Jackson helps the boys, then drops his wet suit top.Good lord. I flinch physically, and see Marcus catch the motion.
He just starts to grin. “Put it away, Jax, you’re scaring the birds.” Marcus side-eyes me and then points to the trees. I shake my head, trying to curb my embarrassment, but it doesn’t last long, my attention once again pulled to the twins. Both boys are trying to tell the tale of their boat ride at once. And yep, it’s adorable.
Just then, Xander comes out with sweets, and they rush inside the building, abandoning their tale mid-sentence.
“That’ll be them, they like the sofas in there. The fire’s on and Xan has marshmallows and chocolate for them,” Evie states. “You might as well go on the boat. Get changed in there, Carter.” She points to another building that looks more like a little house.
“I don’t think you can ski, Carter.” Ash has pulled himself out of the water. He’s dripping and Marcus fetches him a towel. “Insurance. And you need both legs fully working next week.” He gives me a look, as I lazily watch him dry his uber fit body. But my eyes are a tractor beam on one body and one body only—Jackson’s. Nobody eclipses him.
“Well, damn. Yep. Sorry sugar, I’d love to, but I can’t.” I look longingly at the boat. Yet again my job is getting in my way of me having a good time. With a good time.
“Well, we’ll do jet skis. Get the suit on and we’ll go fetch them. I’ll do you a jet ski safari instead. We’ll go slow, no rush. The weather is set fair this afternoon.”
I cave. He’s got his brown eyes on me, his gorgeous torso on display, front and centre. How can I say no to the man?
I feellike I’m in one of my movies. I’ve jet skied and now we’re cruising the loch. I lounge in the boat as the most glorious man on this planet stands and drives it. Even the most divine scenery I’ve ever seen can’t drag my eyes from him. I’m not sure how I’m going to last without saying a word.
At the jetty nearest the house, he hops out of the boat to grab some beverages, his wet suit hugging every aspect of him. I don’t know where to look. Well, I do, but I think I’m going to get punched.
“I think you need sunglasses, Carter.” Ash holds some out for me. “At least try and hide where you’re looking.”
Oh my God, another one who has got to the end of their tether.
“Does it bother you that I think your boss is the cat’s meow?” I bat my eyes at him. Playing up my diva side. I don’t want him to be offended by it.
“Nope, just…be careful.” I think he’s going to say something else, but Jackson comes back. Another shock. I thought I would be warned off. Told to back off and remember the client-bodyguard relationship in play. But he never does.
“I’m just looking, honey. I may be on a diet, but I still like to peruse the menu,” I whisper at him.
He grins at me, shaking his head. I know I can trust Ash, he won’t out me to Jackson. But as everyone else seems to notice it, I’m sure Jackson has as well. I actually feel lighter for everyone knowing. I know it probably won’t get me anywhere, but I feel better for it being out there just the same.
The next dayI reflect on yesterday's entertainment—boat rides, jet ski safaris, with me on the back of Jackson’s at one point. It was a dream come true. Today we’re looking around an old Highland Lodge. Evie has helped renovate it and I am in lurve.
I’m gushing over the high ceilings, the plaster work. The furnishings. I sit in a chair and refuse to move. The whole back of the house has been opened up, revealing a view of the hills and mountains in the background. This view has no houses, or people, for miles. The sky is the entertainment, the flowers icing on the cake.
“We can stay if you like.” His low voice hits me in the stomach and keeps travelling downwards. “Walk back later. It’ll take a couple of hours, but I’m happy to if you are.”
“Will they mind?” I nod towards Evie and Tarron Barclay, standing outside looking at brickwork.
