Jack's Surrender (Holiday Cove 5)

She spun on her heels and gasped. “Jack! Shit! You trying to give me a heart attack?”

I grinned and went to gather her in my arms. “Not at all. I was just admiring the view.” To emphasize my point, I traced a finger along the rounded cup of her ass cheek that peeked out from under the ultra-short hem of her shorts. “I was waiting for you to bend over and check something in the oven. Give me a real show.”

Holly giggled and I kissed a trail along the side of her jaw and then down her neck. “You’re impossible, Jack McGuire.”

“That’s why you love me, though.”

She nodded and then leaned her head back so I could hit the little spot under her ear that always got her wet. The sound of a wooden spoon clattering to the counter made me smile as I traced the tip of my tongue along her ear. “What do you say we put dinner on ice and skip straight to dessert?” I asked, skimming my hands down her hips and then back up to her breasts that were sexier than ever.

Holly shuddered as I ran my fingers over her nipples that poked through her tank top. “I—I think that’s a good idea,” she panted.

“Turn off the stove and get this ass upstairs,” I said, giving her a playful swat.

Holly pulled out of my arms and killed the burners on the stove. As she reached forward, I managed to tear my eyes off her ass and caught a sparkle. “You’re wearing your ring,” I said.

Holly looked down at the gleaming diamond and smiled. “I am.”

Emotion swirled through me as I reached for her again. I held her eyes and smiled gently at the shimmering film over them as she held back tears. “I love you Holly. I’m happy to be home.”

Holly popped up on her toes and kissed me. “I love you too, Jack.”

I swept her into my arms and kissed her deep and slow on my way toward the stairs.

33

Holly

Jack returned from New York and moved back into the house. It was almost scary how quickly things fell back into place. Princess and Hunter immediately fell into their routine and were happier than ever to be reunited under one roof again. Jack worked almost as much as he had before but came home each night with a smile on his face, bursting to tell me about how things were progressing with the charter business. To my surprise, he and Aaron ended up approaching Noah with the proposal after meeting up at Carly’s. Once they had the funding, they were off and running and seeing Jack so full of light and energy was refreshing—not to mention sexy as hell.

The wedding plans were also put into fast forward since I didn’t want to walk down the aisle at nine months and worry about my water breaking on the minister’s loafers. Jack didn’t object to the speed of the plans and to my surprise, actually took over a good majority of the planning, offering to get the catering and flowers done—although I knew he had Gemma and Carly flanking him as he made those arrangements.

Eight weeks after the steamy night on the couch, we were set to make it official and after everything we’d been through, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that we were making the right decision.

“How ya doing?” Carly asked, sweeping into the guest bedroom of her house where Rachel and I had both stayed the night before—going against Jack’s objections that there was no such thing as bad luck. At least, not for us.

According to Jack, we’d paid our dues. We should be able to see each other the morning of the wedding, but tradition won out. I spent it with Carly, Rachel, and Gemma while Nick hightailed it to Aaron’s where the three amigos likely drank and watched sports all night.

To each their own.

“I’m good,” I answered, smiling at Carly who was already dressed in her soft lilac bridesmaid dress. “You look gorgeous, Carly.”

“Thank you, honey. The credit is all yours for picking out such a killer dress. Rachel, Gemma, and I all worship at your feet for not making us wear a Pepto pink atrocity with ruffles.”

I laughed. “Never!”

“Looks like the weather is going to cooperate with us,” she said, moving to the window that I’d opened upon waking. Carly and Nick’s house wasn’t as close to the beach as Jack’s and mine, but I could still hear the dull roar of the ocean and breathe in the salt air. It was its own kind of aromatherapy.

“It’s pretty perfect,” I agreed, standing beside her. “Thank you for all of your help with this. I know six weeks wasn’t a lot of time and you’ve helped me so much!”

Carly smiled. “Well it would have been easier if you hadn’t shredded all your marked up bridal magazines, but I think I remembered most of your preferences,” she teased, gently jabbing me with an elbow.