Page 94 of Revenge Honeymoon

“Wow. Uh, okay.” He gazed into the jungle and rubbed at an eyebrow. “Thanks for the offer.”

“That was too much, wasn’t it?”

He let out a huge breath. “I don’t want to be ungrateful—”

“Sometimes I can blurt out dumb things. I mean, why would you want to live in their basement?” Quick, high pitched laughter tumbled out of her mouth. “You don’t even know them. You barely know me.” She sounded like a lunatic. Had this relationship ended before it had ever begun?

Max placed his hands on her shoulders and gently turned her toward him. “I know you, Emily. You are kind and genuine and loyal to your friends.”

“And I have a mouth that never shuts up.” She scanned his face.

He smiled. “That means I know everything you’re thinking.”

“Not everything.” Her face heated. If he only knew the things she’d been thinking about him and his body in particular since the first day she saw him.

He tipped her chin up with his finger. “I know everything.” His green eyes lit up with an inner fire.

Miguel/Mateo/Marco interrupted them, “Do you want me to escort you to the beach rendezvous point?”

The lovebirds stared into each other’s eyes and said simultaneously, “No!”

* * *

Not missing her chance to touch Max’s body, Emily chose to ride behind him on her unstuck ATV all the way to the end of the trail. They arrived at a secluded beach sprinkled with some lounge chairs and a few vendors hawking snacks and drinks. Standing in the surf, she’d been able to rinse off most of the mud, even though Max hadn’t seemed to mind her body being covered in brown gunk. The rest would have to wait until she could take a shower back on board the ship.

With the air cleared between them, she could somehow turn off her mind (how was that possible?) and focus purely on the pleasure of being close to him. The hardness of his body, the smell of his sweat mixed with sunscreen, the exhilaration of knowing he truly did like her—no, love her—even with all her weird quirks and soft body parts.

When she’d thought up the idea of embarking on Ruby and Tyler’s honeymoon cruise, she had no idea by the end of it all she would have found the man of her dreams. And she’d never thought Ruby would ever want to talk to Tyler again.

“Worried about Ruby?” Max handed her a lemonade after returning from one of the food stands.

She accepted the cup and took a sip of the refreshing drink. “How did you know?” He had been right: he knew what she was thinking.

He shrugged, sat in a beach chair next to her, and stared out at the ocean. “For you, this whole cruise has been about taking care of your best friend, which is admirable. But you have to trust she’ll do the right thing.”

She bit her lip. “I don’t want her to be hurt again.”

“I know you don’t.”

“She’s the sweetest, kindest person I know and didn’t deserve to be treated that way. I wanted to follow her today so I could punch Tyler in the nose and give him a piece of my mind.”

“I’m glad you didn’t follow through on that.”

“Oh?”

“Because then we wouldn’t be here.” He reached out and squeezed her hand.

He was right. The view was spectacular: blue ocean, vibrant jungle greenery, open sky with a few puffy white clouds. The whole trip she’d been so focused on Ruby, she’d barely paid attention to the gorgeous destinations and the entertainment on board the ship. If she hadn’t taken the ATV adventure, would she and Max be together? Her stomach turned rock hard at the thought.

She leaned over to kiss him lightly on the lips. Everything about him was comfortable. Now that she’d gotten past her fears about his feelings for her and her insecurities about herself, the whole world seemed so much brighter and more beautiful.

“I want the same joy for Ruby.” Her heart ached. It didn’t seem fair. Why should she end up with such a wonderful man while her friend was left with nothing?

“I know you do, sweetness.” He lightly stroked her forearm and his brows drew together, as if he were deep in thought.

“Unfortunately, I’m not a mind reader like you.” Emily shifted on her lounge chair so that she rested on one hip. “What are you thinking?”

His forehead relaxed, and he smiled. “Just an idea I have.”

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