Page 147 of His Secret Gift

“Please, dig in.”

We all sit around and take turns with the dishes.

Of course, I have to dip both breads into the caffeinated beverage, as we were instructed to do. Turns out, Leander was absolutely right, and both are incredibly tasty.

Following my lead, Jack does the same.

“Good, right?”

His eyes bug out a little. “Very!”

“Anyway.” I put my finger over my mouth as I swallow my latest bite. “All of this is our way of thanking you for everything you did for us last night.”

Jack speaks up, “Well, thank you. Although that wasn’t necessary.”

“Not at all,” Captain Bryant agrees.

“Agree to disagree then,” I say. But I can’t bring myself to get more into it. It’s too humiliating.

Jack just grabs my hand and squeezes.

I then distract myself by finally filling a bowl with yogurt and mixing in all the toppings, as Leander also suggested.

He was absolutely right about that too. It’s heavenly.

“So, your friend Molly is getting in today?” Bryant asks out of nowhere.

That makes Jack and I exchange a naughty look. “Uh-huh.” I check my watch. “In a few hours.”

Callie claps. “I’m excited to meet her! Do you think she’ll want to go out with us tonight? Or maybe she’ll be too tired.”

“Knowing Molly, she’ll push through any sleepiness to have a good time.”

“My kind of girl!”

Jack bends over and whispers, “I’m going with you tonight.”

I was hoping he’d say that. I didn’t really want to go out in the first place, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to convince Molly to go without me, so having him with me would make things more fun… and secure. I’m still a little frazzled from last night.

After eating andcleaning up, we go to the beach.

Jack is in the same short, black swimming trunks as before, but I’m in a black bikini with a white collared shirt over it.

Denver, Gwen, and the others have joined us, but when they’re far enough away or distracted with something else, he smacks my ass.

“Very sexy,” he mutters, glaring at my chest. “I can see little whispers of your swimming suit, but not everything.” He grazes his finger along my exposed collarbone.

But then a loud exclaim coming from the water interrupts the tender moment.

Fortunately, it was one made out of fun, as Callie attempted to stand up on a large floatie, but she fell off.

“Wait! Wait! Let me try again!” she yells after popping out of the water.

Instead of joining, Jack and I just sit down on a towel, not too close of course, and watch the others as they continue their antics. Captain Bryant similarly chooses to stay dry, but he’s in a nearby chair and reading a book.

“So, what’s the play?” I ask, gesturing to him with my head.

Jack’s eyes narrow. “Play? What do you mean?”

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