The Billionaire's Temporary Bride (Scandal, Inc #3)(64)
"Jack, this is really too much," Charlotte said. "Its incredibly sweet, but you really don't have to get me anything."
"No, this is right up your alley."
"His and hers sunscreen?" Charlotte suggested.
Jack laughed. "That would actually go quite well with it."
"If you bought matching bathing suits, I might die of embarrassment, even if there's no one else around to see."
Jack nodded toward his bag. "I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Go look. They're tucked away at the bottom. Come on. I already know you'll love them."
"Is that right?" Jack had piqued her interest.
Charlotte pulled on a t-shirt and crossed the room to the bag. The floor felt cool against her bare feet. She reached into the bag and pushed her hand down through the clothes until she felt wrapping paper and the hard edge of something. It was small, about the size and weight of two paperback books stacked on top of each other. Charlotte looked at Jack as she tore the paper off. It was two paperback books stacked on top of each other, two identical copies of Pride and Prejudice. Charlotte smiled.
"One of my favorites," she said.
Jack grinned. "I thought maybe we could read it together. Think of them as his and her copies. I figured since I've dragged you into my world, I might as well take a shot at least spending some time in yours."
"Are you saying my world is 19th century England?"
"I'm saying I'll read the book. I even brought a couple of pens so we can make notes in the margins. I thought you'd like that."
"I do," Charlotte said. She tossed one of the paperbacks to Jack and hopped back into bed.
"I didn't mean right now," he said. "Right now all I want to do is wrap my arms around you and sleep. There's a spot on the far side of the island, almost exactly opposite the dock, where there's a cabana and a few chaise longues where we can kick back and read."
"Alright," Charlotte said, propping her elbows up on Jack's chest and thumbing the smell of freshly printed pages at herself, "this is officially paradise."
Chapter 24
After eating breakfast in bed the next morning, Charlotte and Jack headed down to the beach. A few feet away from the house, the path to the beach narrowed, and the rocks and grass that surrounded the villa gave way to tall trees and lush green vegetation.
As she walked, Charlotte listened to the wind rustle the leaves and vines overhead. It was cooler in the grove. The ocean sounded far off, and Charlotte felt like she and Jack were somehow more alone now than they had been even at the villa. She held Jack's hand as he led her forward, carefully stepping over the small rocks as they started to make their way out of the grove.
Ahead, Charlotte could see the canopy thin and the trail widen again. Before they left the grove, the path forked, one route led down to the beach, while the other led deeper into the grove. From their vantage point, the trees stretched far down to the other side of the island.
Charlotte half wanted Jack to turn to the right and stay on the trail, just the two of them walking back in time not even talking. Holding his hand and being with him would have been enough. It seemed like there was so much to discover, so much to see. She worried that going down to the beach would somehow break the spell of the moment.
The white sand of the beach was warm from the morning sun, but not yet hot enough to be uncomfortable. The beach curved along the side of the island, reaching the cliffs below the villa on one end and turning in at the edge of a small bay on the other.
While the water crashed against the cliffs in a rhythmic dance, the beach was sheltered, and the small swells murmured and lulled against the soft sand. The water was clear and calm, any rough water broke against by a reef that stretched far out beyond this side of the island.
Charlotte dug her toes into the sand and took a deep breath of the salty air. Maybe the beach wouldn't interrupt the magic of this place after all. Jack pulled off his shirt, tossed it onto one of the two chaise longues, and headed for the water.
"I thought we were reading!" Charlotte called after him.
"Come on, it's beautiful out. Come for a swim, then we can read. I hear the water's—" Jack stopped talking as soon as his foot touched the water. He turned around. "It's as warm as the air. I think I just might wade in and spend the rest of my life here."
"Told you, you should have bought the island," Charlotte said.
Jack dove underwater and slicked back his hair as he surfaced.
"Come on in. It's beautiful," he said. "We can read after we dry off."
"I'm already dry," Charlotte said. She looked at him and then down at her bag. She had prepared herself for a relaxing day of reading. She had her book, her sunscreen, a bottle of water and assorted snacks. She hadn't really planned on going swimming, but the water did look nice. She pulled off her sundress and felt the warm sun on her stomach. A few minutes in the water couldn't hurt.
An hour and a half later, she was still in the water, leaning back against Jack and enjoying the warm glow of the sun. The water was so warm that Charlotte felt like she could close her eyes and fall asleep. A deep relaxation permeated every inch of her body. Jack held her in his arms, running his fingers through her hair and kissing the top of her head every now and then.