Saltwater Kisses (The Kisses 1)

“I called it. I heard her screaming and then you took off like a bat out of hell,” he said nonchalantly as he gently took the glass from my hand and took another sip.

“You have a phone that works out here? That must cost an arm and a leg. My phone company said mine wouldn’t work on the island,” I said. He handed me the drink and I took a big sip this time. My nerves still felt frayed, but with him sitting next to me, it still felt too dream-like for me to worry about it.

“The downside of my business; even on vacation, I have to carry a phone.” He took the drink back and took another swallow. It was almost half gone at this point.

“What do you do?”

“I work for my father’s company. What do you do?” he said, dodging my actual question. He looked at me like I should know who he was, but I didn’t press him for more. He was on vacation and didn’t want to talk about work. I could understand that.

“I'm a vet tech,” I answered and reached for the drink.

“So, you work with animals?” He asked, waiting for me to finish swallowing so I could answer.

“Yup. I love it. I'm

actually in the process of applying for Veterinary School,” I said proudly.

“So you want to be a vet? That sounds like a great job. I wanted to be a doctor when I was a kid,” he finished off the last of the drink and set the glass in the sand. “But with my dad’s business, that was never really an option. I hope you do it though. If you can save animals like you save people, you’ll be great.”

“Thanks. I sure hope so,” I said with a smile. He glanced over at me, his brows darkening slightly as he thought of something.

“If you don’t mind me asking, how can you afford this vacation? I can’t imagine vet techs make enough to go on vacations to an exclusive resort very often,” he said. His outward appearance never changed, but a current of tension wound through him, as though he suspected something.

“You want to know my age and weight too?" I asked with a smirk. He managed to look slightly abashed, but obviously still wanted an answer. It seemed strange, but it was a question I would ask if I were on a super expensive resort too. I was an interloper on this island.

"I actually won this trip — a radio station call in thing. My sister was supposed to come with me, but she got sick at the last minute. There is no way I would ever be able to afford anything like this otherwise,” I said before realizing I had just told him I was poor and very alone here. I smiled nervously and hoped he didn’t notice.

“So you’re here alone?” he asked, raising his eyebrows. No such luck there.

“Um, well, the resort is keeping track of me, so I’m not really alone,” I tried to backpedal. A quick pulse of terror pushed through me, but I fought it down. Telling things like that to a complete stranger, no matter how good looking, was not a good way to stay safe. My dad would have killed me if he knew I was telling people I was here by myself.

“No, no, that’s good. I was afraid you were here with a husband or boyfriend.”

“Husband? No. With work and applying to vet schools, I haven’t even had time to go on a date in months,” I said. I hoped he didn’t think I sounded pathetic. He laughed and leaned back on his elbows, the tension gone from him again.

“I hear you on the too busy thing. Why do you think I came with my secretary? She's the only person I see on a daily basis I felt like I could ask,” he laughed and then scowled at the thought of his secretary. “I thought there would be more to her away from work, but she is so boring. She's almost too perfect if you know what I mean.”

I laughed and nodded. “I’m sorry she is ruining your vacation.”

“Well, suddenly I don’t feel like it is ruined.” He smiled and I doubted it was possible for him to be more handsome. “Especially now that we have another drink,” he said with a wink as the resort waiter appeared with a fresh piña colada. He thanked the waiter and handed him a couple of dollar bills. The waiter smiled and promised to bring more whenever we buzzed again. I waited for him to leave before turning to Jack.

“I didn’t know we were supposed to tip them. When they said ‘all expenses paid’ I thought that included tips,” I said, mortified. My face felt on fire with my blush. Jack laughed and handed me the drink.

“You don’t have to tip them. I did because I’m not a guest here and I would like him to keep bringing us drinks,” he said with a tilt of his head.

“That’s good. For a minute there, I was thinking I was the worst guest ever. So, you wanted to be a doctor?” I asked, changing the subject and hoping my blush would fade.

“Yeah. I liked the idea of helping people and really making a difference in someone’s life. Like what you did for the guy on the beach. I would do that every day if I could,” he said.

“I just realized I never got his name. I hope he is alright,” I said playing with the edge of my towel. “So what stopped you from following your dream?”

“My parents. Specifically, my dad’s company,” he sighed. “I am their oldest child, so it was made pretty clear that I would someday take over the company. I don’t really have the option not to at this point.”

“That’s too bad. Maybe you could find a way to combine it? I don’t know what your dad’s company does, but maybe there is a way to help people with it. Or, you could always volunteer or donate to something that does,” I sipped the drink before handing it back to Jack.

“No one has ever made it sound so easy. You are the first person to actually make me believe I could do something like that,” he said softly. He smiled, his eyes lighting up. They were a combination of green and brown, a hazel that couldn’t decide what color it wanted to be. A girl could lose herself in those eyes.

“Anytime,” I said with a smile. He handed me the cold glass and I sipped on the sweet liquid. “You said you were the oldest? How many siblings do you have?”