Page 11 of Bewitched By the Sea Monster
“I-I don’t…I might not be able to get that time off.”
“You’ve got PTO in the bank, right?”
“Of course, but?—”
“They’ve gotta give it to you then, babe. Just put the request in tomorrow.”
“And if it’s not approved? I just told you we’re dealing with a crisis.”
Jackson waved his hand dismissively. “It will be. It’s not like you’re the PM on the account. They’ll manage just fine without you. C’mon, babe! Don’t worry about it. ‘Don’t worry, be happy,’”he trilled in a Bob Marley impression.
I snorted.
He smirked, plonked his wine glass down on the island, and gave my butt a friendly pinch.
And my snort turned into a full-scale laugh. Because his giddiness had twined around my belly, twisting it into a spinning dance that left my whole body fluttering.
That was what it felt like, anyway.
But the apprehensive knot tying up my chest refused to loosen.
“I am still a little worried,” I started.
“Ugh,babe.”Jackson groaned.
“Just of…I mean…I have to get on aship?”
Jackson sighed gustily as he dropped to one knee in front of me—a very showboat move?—
and grabbed my free hand, pressing wet, open-mouthed kisses to it. “I know you had that incident when you were a kid?—”
“I almost drowned.”
“But the ocean is not some big bad out to get ya. Okay? And the ship has life preservers. You won’t drown, I promise.” He smooched the back of my knuckles, threw on his handsome boyish grin, and said, “Would you, Pippi Long?—”
Oh yeah.Dear old mom went there with my name.
“—do me thehonorof accompanying me on this grand excursion to Niverwick Isle?”
How could I tell this man no? When he was on his knees before me, looking so unbelievably, painfully,handsome?
When he was so excited?
I’d get over my fear of the ocean. I’d shove it aside, beat it with a stick, do whatever I had to do to get it out of my head, and make this vacation epic for him.
“Yes. Absolutely.” I tucked my wine glass more firmly against my chest. “I do have one condition, though.”
His blue eyes peered up at me inquisitively.
And stars above, if he wasn’t an exquisite sight, with the tight, form-fitting sleeves of his button-down rolled to his elbows, letting the veins and muscled definition of his forearms pop.
My belly somersaulted again.
An impish grin tilted up Jackson’s face. I wondered if he couldfeelmy arousal—the way my heart had quickened and the heavy heat that’d settled low,lowin my stomach.
Because the feverish desire pouring off him wasstaggering.Lovely.Hot. Goodness, it was hot. It overwhelmed me,consumedme, fanning the aching heat in my belly until I squirmed.
“Yes?” His eyes dragged along my body, savoring me. “Your condition is?”
