Page 114 of That Island Feeling

He properly growls now. ‘You don’t want to know.’

‘Alright. But on one condition.’

‘What now, Andie?’

‘You’ll agree to come as my date to a wedding this weekend.’

‘Whose wedding?’ he asks, running a hand up my bare leg.

‘Ben the buck’s,’ I say, struggling to maintain focus. ‘A last-minute invitation was extended to us girls.’

‘Is my Milan suit appropriate?’

‘Of course.’

‘Shoes optional?’

‘Always.’

He flashes a wry smile before finally pulling me into his arms and kissing me hard. As our lips crash together, knocking every last puff of air out of my body, there’s warmth and softness and need.

‘Now, Ms Andrea Alcott,’ Jack breathes, as he reluctantly lets his tongue slip from my mouth and straightens up. ‘Can I interest you in a grilled cheese back at mine? Fair warning, it will definitely be too hot to eat. And by mine, I mean Hazel’s. But she’s on the mainland.’

‘I thought you’d never ask.’ I fling my arms around his neck and cover it in tiny kisses, then rise on my tiptoes to whisper in his ear. ‘But before we go, shouldn’t you double-check where your pearl is hiding?’

Jack steps back, shooting a puzzled glance from me to the open oyster on the bench.

‘There’s no pearl here, Andie.’

‘Are you sure?’ I tease.

Jack picks up the shell, looking it over. Before he starts digging into the flesh, I decide to put him out of his misery.

‘I’ve been keeping something from you,’ I confess, unable to contain my grin. ‘Ms Andrea Alcott isn’t my full name,’ I pause. ‘It’s Ms Andrea Pearl Alcott.’

I watch his face explode with joy.

‘I got it from my mamma,’ I finish.

‘You see, that is just like you, Andie,’ Jack says, his voice full of affection. ‘You make it impossible for me not to love you. And I love you, Andrea Pearl Alcott. I really love you.’

Through my tears, I beam at him. ‘You know Meg Ryan’s bit.’

He shrugs, like it’s nothing and not the sweetest thing in the world. ‘I told you I was learning Andinese.’

I feel my heart reverberate with a soul-bending thrum as he cradles my face. ‘Want to know something else?’ I murmur.

‘What?’ Jack asks, his eyes drifting to my lips as he pulls me to him again.

I look at him sincerely, tilting my face up to his, anticipating another kiss.

‘I think I’ve found that island feeling after all.’

LIFE

One Year After

PEARL ISLAND DECLARED

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