Page 80 of Jack of Hearts
He used the time to think about everything from her side, and in her place he’d want to get to know the real her, not the person he had thought she was. So he would give her that. The question he asked himself, would he still love her after everything? The answer was a resounding yes, and he counted on her feeling the same.
“Are we going all the way to Key West?”
“Nope, we’re going here,” he said as they drove off the causeway onto Little Torch Key. He’d done an Internet search for romantic getaways, and this one had caught his eye.
“Oh my God, are we going to Little Palm Island Resort?”
Surprised, he glanced at her. “You’ve been there?” He didn’t much like the idea of her being here with another man.
“No, but my dad brought my mom here for their anniversary one year, and she couldn’t stop talking about it.” She bounced in her seat like a kid about to get an ice cream cone, making him smile.
“You’re being kidnapped, woman. You’re supposed to be bargaining for your freedom.”
“I have no money, Mr.Kidnapper.”
He waggled his brows, giving her a lecherous smirk. “I’m sure you have something to offer that willsatisfyme.”
“Dirty old man.” She ruined her reprimand by giggling.
“You ain’t seen nothing yet, baby.” Her mood had definitely improved. Had she forgiven him?
He got them checked in, and when he led her by the hand into the thatched-roof suite and heard her gasp, he thought this might have been his best idea ever. The suites were detached and private, with a veranda that sat right on the Gulf of Mexico. Through the glass walls and doors, he could see the moonlight glistening on the water like a ribbon of diamonds.
A king-sized bed with butterfly netting took up the left side of the room, and on the right was a sitting area. On the coffee table were a complimentary bottle of champagne in ice and a platter of fresh fruit and assorted cheeses.
“This is amazing, Alex.” She lifted onto her toes and pressed her lips to his.
Coming here had definitely been a genius move on his part. “Am I forgiven?”
“I’m very close. The thing is, I never stopped loving you, even when I didn’t like you. I thought about everything you said, and I get why you couldn’t tell me who you were. Just don’t do something like that again, okay?”
“Never.” He dropped their bags at his feet, circled his arms around her waist, and lost himself in the taste of her. He had his girl back. Christ, he’d missed her. Her stomach growled, and he leaned back, peering down at her.
“Hungry?”
“Starving.” She eyed the feast laid out for them.
Right. Change of plans. Eat first, sex later. “Then let’s eat.”
She shook her head, the red hair that had captivated him from the moment he’d seen her catching his attention as it curled around her face. “Have I ever told you I love your hair?” He wrapped a strand around his hand. “You want a few minutes before we eat?”
“Yes.”
He gave her ass a light spank. “Go on and do whatever you need to. I’ll be waiting for you.”
She grabbed her bag, and at the bathroom door, she glanced over her shoulder. “I’m so happy to be here with you, Alex. Just want you to know that.”
Before he could answer, she shut the door behind her, and he stared at the space where she’d been. “No happier than me,” he said to no one.
He heard water running in the shower and decided to get comfortable. Since he’d showered before kidnapping her, he pulled out a pair of white silk lounge pants he’d gone and bought right after deciding to abduct her, putting them on and nothing else.
By the time she found him out on the veranda, he had set up a table with the champagne and food and was leaning against the railing. His heart figuratively—and almost literally—stopped. Right then and there at seeing her wearing nearly sheer green silk pajamas that were a perfect match to her green eyes.
“Wow,” he said, stupidly.
She ducked her head, but a smile curved her lips. “I didn’t buy this.”
“Lauren did.” He stalked toward her. “I asked her to find something that would make you feel sexy but not slutty.”
