Page 37 of The Bombshell and the Bodyguard
Actually you look hot ashellwearing my shirt, but I’m not allowed to tell you that.
“Liar,” she said. “I look like one of thosedon’t be this personmemes. Thank God there’s not another human around for hundreds of miles—I mean, other than you, of course, but you don’t count. No offense.”
“None taken.”
“I mean, you don’t count because you’ve already seen it.” For a few minutes she was quiet, watching me cut up fresh fruit for her oatmeal bowl.
“I do appreciate your help. Sorry I’ve been sleeping so much and being such bad company.”
“That’s okay. Sleep was the best thing for you. As far as the company goes, I’m used to living alone, so I’m pretty good at entertaining myself.”
Or used to be before you came along.Belatedly I added, “I’m glad you’re feeling better though.”
“I really am. In fact, I may even leave the house today.” She laughed and wiggled her fingers in the air.
“Whoa now, don’t get crazy on me. No, really, that’s great. But I think you’d better lay off the sunbathing for a few days—for the sake of your skin.”And my sanity.
“You don’t have to tell me twice. I think I may become a vampire and go out only at night from now on.”
“That’s a good idea,” I said. “Not the vampire part—but you could wait until sunset to go out today, take a beach walk, swim if you want to, at least until it gets dark. I’ll go with you.”
“Really?” Jessica’s eyelids widened, making her resemble an eager little girl—except for the way she looked in my t-shirt. One look at that spectacular sight and there was no question she’d grownallthe way up.
Encouraged by her enthusiasm and happy to seeherhappy again, I followed my oh-so-wise suggestion with a truly stupid one.
“I could build a bonfire, and we can cook out for dinner.”
“I would love that.” Jessica beamed. “I’ve always loved beach bonfires. They’re so romantic.”
Shit.
When the sun dropped low in the sky, I kept my word and accompanied her to the beach, watching from the shore as she swam.
As usual when it came to Jessica, I kept my clothesonand my dick at a safe distance.
After a few minutes, she called to me, treading water with her face just above the surface.
“It’s so warm. You should come in. I mean, I know you don’t really like swimming, but it feels great tonight. You could stay in the shallow water.”
It took work to suppress a snort. As a Navy combat diver, swimming had been my life. During training, I’d swum for five and a half miles through Pacific Ocean waters that were literally shark-infested. I’d run missions where my team and I swam all night long. I’d dived to depths of 130 feet, dismantled underwater explosives, and held my breath for six minutes at a time.
Usually when I came to the island, I was half-dolphin, spending as much time in the water as out of it.
But swimming with Jessica would be more hazardous than any of my military missions.
“That’s okay. I’ve got to build the fire.”
As the sun set, Jessica’s graceful form became a silhouette against the color-changing sky. She slipped in and out of the waves, diving under and resurfacing.
She loved the water so much—and I loved watching her in it.
Too much.
When darkness fell, she got out of the water, walking toward me, smiling and pushing her long, dark hair back from her face. Her wet skin shined in the flickering light of the fire I’d built in a pit nearby.
“You look like a selkie.” The thought popped out of my mouth without any forewarning—andwithoutmy prior approval.
“What’s that?” Jessica took the towel I handed her and started drying off.
