“Holy fuck.” I almost trip over a pile of clothes trying to get to my phone on the bed. Jesus, my hands are shaking as I start to text.

ME: Are you free?

Exhaling, I wait.

JETT: Only for you.

My mouth twitches as I type.

ME: I need to talk

JETT: I’ll be there in ten.

Chapter Thirty-Four

JETT

I knock on her door. It’s been a week since the hotel room incident. I left her alone, gave her space, and waited for this very text.

Not gonna lie; it hasn’t been easy, but I knew if I was ever going to get her to actually hear me, I needed to give her space.

I’ve thought about myself a lot, trying to figure why I am the way I am. Which is bullshit at the end of the day. We can’t change the past, but we can change the future.

And my future is her. Do I delude myself thinking everything is going to be easy and perfect? No, but that’s okay, because that’s our journey.

“Coming,” she calls out and swings the door open. Seeing her stand there in a pale-yellow dress, her wet hair pushed back from her exquisite face and hanging long down her back, my heart aches.

But it’s her eyes that capture me, rendering me speechless as she looks up at me and I know she’s ready.

“Hi,” she says on an exhale. Her cherry red lips curve into a smile.

“Let’s take a walk on the beach. I have something for you.” My eyes caress her face, and I barely notice my choker on her neck. It seems almost dull compared to her.

“Okay.” Nodding, she steps out.

I hold out my hand. Only this time, she doesn’t hesitate. This time she takes it, and that electric charge that is just us—our energy—zings through the tips of our fingers up my arm.

“Jett,” she whispers.

Smiling, I shake my head and lead us down the hallway and out into the sunny day.

I dip my head as we walk hand in hand in silence, enjoying her nearness. And I let myself have this.

This moment.

This woman.

This is all I will ever need. Yes, money helps, but it did me no good without her. As I stop at the beach, her eyes search my face, then travel down to the box under my arm.

“I’m not sure I should leave or stay with you when you open this.” I grin at her, handing her the box. She cocks her head. I gaze out at the ocean rolling in and out.

“You need to stay with me,” she says.

Reaching up, I brush off a strand of hair that has decided to caress her face.

“What’s in there, is…”

“You?” she finishes for me.

Putting my hands in the pockets of my jeans, I nod.