have a double date in an hour.â
With that, he stalked out the back door to the hammock and relaxed as if he didnât have a care in the world, as if he was oblivious to the turmoil that raged within her. Heâd delivered that emotionally packed speech, got her hormones good and jumbled then just turned to leave?
And she was his for the week? As in... his ?
Both fear and excitement coursed through her. What type of beast had she unleashed?
Six
M ac pulled out the chair for Jenna. Once she was seated, he moved her hair from her shoulder and placed a kiss on her bare, sun-kissed skin. Her familiar floral scent mocked him. He knew firsthand that she dabbed her favorite perfume beneath her ears and put a dot between her breasts. Not only had he seen her do it a time or two, but when heâd been making a path from her neck to her chest, heâd inhaled that scent and heâd wanted more.
âThis is so exciting.â Amy beamed from the other side of the table. âIâm so happy for you guys and Iâm really glad we could carve out this time to spend together. After all, weâll all be family soon enough.â
Family? No. His family was his brother, sister, Ryker and Jenna. That was all. Small, simple, effective in making his life complete.
âI finished one of the small bouquets today,â Jenna stated, as if she wanted this conversation to take another path, too. âItâs even more beautiful than I thought it would be.â
Yeah, instead of taking hours to get ready like most women he knew, Jenna had opted to work on an arrangement, then had showered and transformed into evening-ready in minutes. She was stunning tonight with her bare shoulders exposed. Her dress hugged those curves he was dying to get back beneath his hands.
Amy reached across the table and patted Jennaâs arm. âI didnât ask you to do the flowers because youâre my sister. I asked because youâre the best.â
Settling back in his seat, Mac could relax a bit more now that the sisters had fallen into their easy chatter. The waitress popped over to their table to take their drink orders. Mac and Nathan ordered the local beer on tap, while the ladies ordered a house wine and slid right back into all things wedding.
âDonât look so glum,â Nathan stated with a laugh. âItâs not that bad. And if sheâs happy, then thatâs all that matters.â
Mac grunted. âI think eloping would be the easiest.â
Amy gasped, focusing her attention on Mac. âYou donât mean that. Jenna has always dreamed of a big wedding. She even has our motherâs wedding gown in storage because she wants that vintage feel.â
Apparently word traveled fast and Jenna had already discussed the âengagementâ with her sister. Mac glanced at Jenna who was waving her hand in the air. âIâll be happy with any wedding, Amy. So long as itâs to the man I love. Iâll get my happily-ever-after,â she assured her sister.
Jenna didnât meet Macâs stare. When he reached beneath the table to slide his hand over her leg, she shifted away just enough so that no one could see, but her silent message delivered a blow.
Heâd hurt her earlier. Heâd hurt her with his own selfishness and lack of control. But when that bastard Martin had spouted off about Macâs family...well, heâd been looking for an excuse to punch the guy since he found out Martin had cheated on Jenna.
The waitress brought their drinks and took their orders. The open restaurant provided a view of the crystalline ocean, which glowed even more in the moonlight, palm trees swaying in the gentle breeze and couples strolling around hand in hand. The carefree lifestyle here would be so easy to get lost in; it was the perfect romantic setting, but he wasnât here for romance and his plan of seduction was backfiring in a major way.
Jenna deserved more than a
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