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In this darkness, I’m seeing it all again: how I batted my lashes at him. Pouted my lips. I remember the feel of my hand sliding up the cotton of his Hawaiian shirt, running over all those long, taut back muscles of his.
Ugh.
I just had the best kiss of my life… And it was with a man I can’t stand.
I’m going to have to deal with the repercussions of this.
That kiss will haunt me.
Slowly, sadly, I peel myself off the door.
I need a shower and my comfy pajamas. A bed, a pillow, and a life that doesn’t include deep shame over a stupidly passionate, moonlit kiss.
Chapter 9
Jack
My brother is trying not to laugh. “Wait—I thought you said she was a librarian type in her sixties?”
“It’s not funny, man,” I growl.
We’re seated under a white awning that flaps whenever the sea breeze comes in off the beach. The white sand beach and blue-green ocean stretch out before us. Morning sunlight twinkles off the terracotta tiles of the outdoor terrace.
I ordered some fresh-squeezed juice concoction called the 'Ula 'Ula in hopes it might provide the ‘mood boost’ the menu promised.
So far, my sips of beet, green apple, fennel, and ginger haven’t boosted my state at all.
I’m hoping my brother can.
“No—right—no, it’s not.” He presses his fist into his mouth and pretends to clear his throat. But I see the smile he’s hiding. “You made out with your competition without knowing it. Your work drama just took on a whole new flavor… but it’s not funny.”
“It sucks,” I grumble. “I mean, I have to fix this. Make it right somehow. I just can’t believe…”
I scrub my hand down my face, trying to figure out where I went wrong. Waves lap at the shore. The tide’s low, the surf not as rowdy as yesterday.
As I watch the water, my thoughts wander over the events of the day before. It all felt so fun. So pleasurable. How did I screw up so badly?
It’s pretty tough to think straight.
I barely slept last night. My body tossed and turned, and my mind did the same. Back and forth. Flipping, flopping.
One minute, I’d be stuck on how good it felt to kiss her. The next, I’d be getting worked up about some email she sent weeks ago, some underhanded jab she snuck in.
I think it was about four o’clock when I finally drifted into dreamland.
I definitely didn’t wake up feeling refreshed. Right now, my eyes feel sticky, and my head is stuffed with cotton.
My brother is much more perky than me. “It’s not that bad, bro. I mean, look at the upside. You said it was a great kiss, right?”
“That’s not an upside. That kiss is going to be major trouble. I have to work with this woman.” I groan, thinking about it.
Brett sips his coffee. “I don’t get how in all that time… hanging in the hot tub, dinner together… work never came up.”
“It did, dude. She said something about how she works from home, writing or something. She definitely didn’t say ‘sales.’ We talked about how we both have tough managers. Then we moved on to other stuff.”
“Hm.” He sips his coffee quietly.
“Come on, man. Give me some of that wisdom I always count on you for. I could really use some direction.”
