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Jagger carried her out of the water’s spray. She blinked the moisture from her eyes and met his gaze. His dark brown eyes captured her completely. Did he love Mercedes Belle like a girlfriend or like a best friend? She wanted to clarify. Now. But this was no place to have that conversation.
Breaking from his gaze, she looked down at his shoulders and chest. Besides the enticing muscle and firm, tanned skin, there were bruises and scars. Multiple scars. She traced her finger over a ridge on his shoulder and was rewarded with him quivering from her touch. Emboldened, she touched scars on his chest, neck, and bicep.
“Where did you get all of these?” she asked.
“You want the story for each one?” He grinned.
“Maybe I do.” She tossed her wet hair.
“I could tell you, but then …”
“You’d have to kill me? Original, Jag.”
His grin widened. “I was going to say you’d have to kiss me.”
Belinda was hot all over despite being halfway submerged in cold water, her hair wet, the cool mist from the waterfall floating in the air. She wanted to kiss him. Horribly. But she had to know about Mercedes first.
She had a slew of other questions he needed to answer as well. If he wasn’t romantically in love with Mercedes, couldn’t she steal some kisses and then try to deal with all the rest? She didn’t know. It was a whole heap of pain and unanswered questions.
“Maybe I don’t need those stories,” she said.
Jagger looked disappointed. She pulled away from his arms, and he let her go. Now she was the disappointed one.
Even though they were back together, they would never be truly together.
Chapter
Nine
Jagger was impatient as they returned to the house, showered, ate dinner together, and walked down to the beach with the group. Belinda looked incredible in a long, blue fitted dress. With no shoes on, her small bare feet and red-painted toes sinking into the sand were as cute as anything he’d ever seen.
If only he could hold her in his arms like he had at the waterfall. Why hadn’t she risen to his tease about kissing him if he told her about his scars? He rubbed a hand over his short hair. He had no idea how to get her to drop her barriers, and he still felt she was partially at fault for their breakup, with most of the blame lying at her dad’s feet and on Jagger for not coming after her. But he’d never broken his word before.
Finally, Hays must’ve seen the desperation in his eyes and took mercy on him. “It’s too easy for us to find them with the head cams.”
“Don’t get too full of yourself,” Belinda shot at him.
Paul only smiled patiently.
“Don’t worry,” Jagger teased. “We’re already full of ourselves.”
“That was obvious.” She gave him a sassy flip of her blonde hair.
He winked at her. She glanced away, her cheeks reddening.
“I texted Shawn. He said Paul and I could go to the hardware store and figure out a way to mount the GoPros more discreetly,” Hays continued.
“That’s so nice of you,” Belinda exclaimed, clapping her hands and grinning at him. “Thank you.”
“Yes, thank you.” Jagger reached over and wrapped his hand around Belinda’s. “Do you want to keep walking on the beach while they run to the store?” He was giving her a chance to not be alone with him on the beach with no cameras around. Why had he phrased that like a question? Jagger was never indecisive, and Belinda was feisty enough she’d tell him no if she wanted to, even if he’d made it a statement.
“Yes, please.” She smiled sweetly up at him.
Her honey is so sweet. He almost kissed her right then and there.
“See you soon,” Paul said.
The two men walked back toward the beach house. Jagger directed Belinda in the other direction. Alone. Finally. Her hand in his. Fourteen years of longing to be in this spot and she wasn’t married to Mike anymore. Right? She couldn’t be, but he had to clarify. Why was it so terrifying to ask these questions? Jagger always pushed through his fears, and he and Belinda used to be able to talk about anything and everything.
