Page 102 of A Real Good Bad Thing

When I woke the next morning, in the back of my mind—okay, not even that far back—I worried that stepping back from the diamond hunt meant stepping back from Jake and me. That he’d see it as an end to both partnerships, which was the opposite of what I wanted.

Tomorrow, my tour began. While I shepherded my group through their dive, he’d still be working the case, looking for defrauded funds, however they were hidden. He would make things right for the investors who had lost their money. And I would hold Eli to what he’d said at lunch about making things right with my mom.

Yes, stepping back was the best, safest choice. I’d have to leave everything to Jake when I started my tour, and this way I didn’t have to spend my last free day pulling my hair in frustration or looking over my shoulder to see who was following us. I could spend it with the guy I was coming to see as a big part of my future.

We waded out of the surf and flopped beside each other on the blanket I’d spread on the white, sugary sand. Jake and I had claimed our space early this morning, but the beach was filling up with towels, buckets, shovels, and more, all staking out people’s territory. Jake laid on his side, tracing his fingers from my starfish belly ring to my neck. It was bare today. I’d left the treasure chest necklace on the nightstand when I’d taken it off the night before. “You know what would look good in your necklace?”

“What?”

“A topaz,” he declared, then shook his head. “Wait. No. A peridot.”

“My, my. Don’t you know your birthstones.”

“Have I mentioned I have two sisters?”

“And they were into birthstones?”

“Of course. Kylie is August and Kate November. What are you?”

“July,” I said with a challenging lift of my eyebrow.

“I know what July is.”

“And I like that it’s not a diamond at all,” I said, then I sighed happily. “You’re right. My necklace would look good with my birthstone.”

“It’d be perfect. How happy are you to be done with diamonds?”

“I’m happy to be done with diamonds, but not with you,” I said. It was time to share the truth I’d been holding onto since talking to my mother last night. Since he’d said such sweet and sexy words when we cuddled together on the hotel bed, wrapped up in each other’s arms. “I’m going to miss you, Jake Hawkins.”

He smiled like he had a secret. “Yeah, about that…”

50

THE REAL PRIZE

Jake

If you’d asked me seven days ago if I could have imagined falling for a woman this quickly, I’d have scoffed.

But everything about this job had surprised me—Ruby most of all. I’d tried to fight against this attraction, against my feelings, against everything about her that was irresistible. I didn’t let anything get in the way of work, especially romance. But I was no longer working with her, so I was free to proceed.

No, that was a lie. I’d been game to move forward with Ruby regardless, hunting treasure together or not. I wanted her, and I didn’t want to fight that desire any longer.

“So, about this elephant in the room,” I said, brushing my fingers across her soft thigh.

Ruby scanned the beach. “I don’t believe elephants are native to Flamingo Key.”

“No. The elephant is the rest of Florida.”

“Ah, I see.” She smirked. “And what exactly about Florida is elephantine?”

I laughed, loving her sense of humor. “This. Us. The fact you and I just fit.”

A smile spread across her face as she shifted closer to me. “How do we fit?”

I pulled her snug against my side. “I like to think we fit in Florida.”

The look in her eyes said,Go on.

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