Kisses From Jack (The Kisses 1.5)

Jack beamed with pride. It wasn't often he got to make someone happy, and making Emma happy was all he wanted. He couldn't understand why she was frowning as they exited the tent to continue their walk.

It was as if the sale had triggered a feeding frenzy in the other shops. Every single one of them called out in sweet voices, trying to coax us like sirens to their wares. One store owner even had the audacity to grab at Emma's arm to forcibly pull her into his tent. Jack was not pleased.

Jack grabbed her hand, ready to punch the shopkeeper out if he didn't let go. He pulled her out into the water and away from the greedy fingers of the tents.

“I buy one thing and they all go crazy,” he said, looking back at the tents like they might follow him out into the ocean.

“That’s because you paid full price,” she said with a giggle. He frowned, his dark brows knitting together. She shook her head at him. “I willingly admit that I am not the best haggler, but I could have gotten him down to at least thirty dollars. You flashed your money and now they know you don’t haggle.”

“Oh, come on, eighty-five dollars isn’t that much! It isn’t something to justify the feeding frenzy of salesmen.” He looked back at the shops in disbelief. “Now I know how chum feels when the sharks gather.”

It hadn't been like that in Iraq. Granted, his interpreter had done the negotiation and it had taken longer. Jack considered himself an excellent negotiator. He had certainly made enough million dollar contracts that others said couldn't be done at that price.

“Eighty-five dollars is a lot of money to spend on a necklace, no matter how pretty it is,” Emma chastised him gently.

“It isn't that much,” he said, feeling put out. The necklace was supposed to have been a gift, something to make her smile and now it was turning into something else. He didn't like being told he had done something wrong.

“It is to them. It certainly is to me. Eighty-five dollars is almost a full day's pay.” She shrugged as though it was nothing, but it hit him like a punch in the gut and he dropped her hand. A full day's pay? No wonder the shopkeepers had swarmed. Eighty-five dollars didn't even buy him lunch, but it was a lot of money to her. He hadn't thought about just how different their economic situations were until just that moment.

“Thank you for the necklace, though. I really do like it, even if it is a little extravagant,” she told him, smiling up at him. He didn't want to appear like a billionaire to her. He wanted to be someone she could relate to. He smiled, trying to relax. He would have to be more careful about money or he would give himself away.

He reached out his hand, waiting for her to take him back despite his faux pas. “You deserve even more. The charm suits you,” he said, smiling. “I like it on you.”

She played with the charm for a moment before reaching for him, her eyes sparkling with the gift. “It does look good, doesn’t it?”

He grinned. It certainly did. He squeezed her hand and together they kept walking. He wished he could buy her everything her heart desired. Not just to impress or buy her heart, but to make her happy. It was a small but important difference from his previous affairs.

Kisses From Jack: Chapter 7

Jack couldn't remember a more pleasant afternoon. Emma had him laughing as she recalled nearly getting caught skinny dipping. The innocence and honesty of her stories made him want to wrap her up in his arms and never let her go. She was a breath of fresh air in his stagnant, money-filled world.

White gauze streamers fluttered on a gazebo, catching his attention. He had heard of the booths being set up on the beach for weddings, but had never seen one. He stared at it for a moment, feeling the weight of his business responsibilities crash back onto his shoulders.

Her eyes followed his gaze, and he nodded to the decorated awning, the wedding already set up as if waiting for them. “You ever think you'll get married?”

“At the rate I’m going?” she asked. “No. You don’t even want to know the last time I went on a date. I want to, but, no one seems interested. I’ve kind of come to accept that I will be a crazy old cat lady someday.” Her voice was light, as if it were a joke only she got. It squeezed at Jack's heart and made him ache. He wanted her. He squeezed her hand. “What about you? You

think you'll ever marry?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. I would love a family. I want a wife and kids with a dog in a white picket fenced yard, but I don’t think that will ever happen because of my work and the obligations that come with it. The fact that I have money complicates things.” He sighed. Brandy had certainly proven that. He had yet to meet anyone other than Emma who made him feel as though his money didn't matter. “If I were to get married, it would have to be to someone who could see past my job and the income. Someone who wanted to be with me.”

“I’d marry you. Even if you didn’t have any money,” she blurted out. Jack stopped dead in his tracks. It was as if she could read his thoughts and give him his greatest wishes. She bit her lip, obviously flustered by his reaction. “I mean, I don’t know how much money you have, but I know that I like being around you. I think I like you more than anyone I have ever met.”

Jack put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her to face him. His heart was going a million miles per hour. He searched her face, looking for any hint of dishonesty or greed. All he saw was her wholesome warmth and genuine affection. It made him dizzy with joy. “You're serious,” he said, a smile filling his face. “You want to get married?”

She blushed a beautiful crimson that tugged at his heartstrings. “Sure, why not?” she asked bravely. The trembling under his fingertips told him that she was more nervous than she let on.

“Let’s do it, then,” he said with a wicked smile. He wasn't about to let her back out now.

“Are you serious?” Her smiled faltered for a moment as he called her bluff.

“Sure, why not?” he mimicked her words with a grin. He tugged at her hand, walking toward the awning.

“Wait a second,” she gasped.

“Oh, so you’re backing out?” Jack’s eyes twinkled with amusement. He was enjoying this far too much.

“No, I am not backing out. I said I would marry you and I will,” she responded, thrusting out her jaw. “I want to... ummm... clarify a couple of things.”