Page 7 of Slow Burn (The Boston Beauties)

I’d already been a part of her greatest heartbreak when her brother died, but it was unavoidable after our cover was nearly blown by him. That’s when I had to pull away from Jessa. My family sat me down and in no simple terms read me the riot act.

I’d nearly gone off the rails after what happened to Josh, but I had to keep it together for my family’s sake—and to support Jessa through her grief. It was then that I started to distance myself from her emotionally, manipulating her more than ever while pretending to be falling in love with her, doting on her.

I was mad with my siblings and bitter with my circumstance. It all culminated in me taking it out on Jessa. I knew it wasn’t fair, but it helped my case. She always wanted to keep me happy, her insecurity was that I would leave her otherwise, or later, release the videos. God, the more the girl tried, the more it killed me.

As my family had pointed out, the ball was now in my court. I had her, and she needed a pick-me-up. I made it a point to post about our engagement almost as soon as she let me slide the engagement ring on her finger. I knew I had to make it public, the Cahills were very private people, and didn’t want any public scandals.

I knew all about Jessa’s insecurities, and I added to them. It was one of the only ways I knew how to keep her closer to me. I knew she wouldn't be breaking up with me. However, my brother insisted on an insurance policy, and that’s where the sex video came in.

It took a long-ass time, almost a year after we first met, and just before her brother died, but we finally had sex. From the start, I knew my bonus perks of the relationships were going to have to wait. But as I waited, I was able to gain her trust, and play the respectful boyfriend then-fiancé in public, and she lived up to her end—mostly.

The next morning, I awoke to a light knocking at my door. ‘Yeah?’ I said, lying on my stomach under some blankets.

‘Good morning,’ Jessa said in a low voice, as she walked in and sat at the end of the bed. ‘Do you still want to sleep?’

I shook my head and rolled over. ‘No, I can think of better things to do in this bed.’

She laughed as if to say,yeah right, fat chance. ‘I’m sure you can, but not this morning.’

‘Tonight?’ I raised an eyebrow.

She smiled, shyly. She always was shy when it came to sex, and I’d never really been able to get her to talk about it with me. She looked like she would die of mortification when I once suggested we watch a porn video. She shrugged her shoulders. ‘I’m not going to say no, but I can’t say yes right now either.’

‘It's a start.’ I smiled at her, sitting up and kissing her temple. ‘Shall we get ready for the day, see what they have prepared for breakfast, and head off the boat for a bit?’

We spent the day exploring the small island. After breakfast, we walked along a beach, where I had arranged for us to get a couple’s massage. We then had a late seafood lunch at a fishing village and visited a lighthouse. When we got back to the boat, the two Jet-Skis I had arranged were waiting for us. I told my sister she enjoyed them, and I suggested that it would be a fun activity where we could race around the small island.

It was a beautiful day, and while Jessa complained that the water wasn’t that warm, she was still game, changing into her swimsuit and shorts. It was great to see her laughing and playful, something I hadn’t seen from her in a long time.

When we got back, it was early evening, and we weren’t due to set sail until around eight that evening when dinner was being served so we could enjoy the sunset while eating. The chef was preparing a selection of Jessa’s favorites. Chicken and asparagus lasagna with hollandaise sauce, spinach strawberry and citrus salad, and focaccia bread with an artichoke-and-eggplant spread. For dessert, I had a chocolate fondue, with marshmallows, pound cake, strawberries, and pretzels.

She was reading her tablet on the top deck when I came up. She wore a pair of dark jeans, a long-sleeved sweater, and had a scarf next to her but hadn't put it on yet. She knew all about sailing, and how it could get really cool out on the open water at night.

‘The chef says about 5 minutes,’ I informed her, taking a seat next to her. ‘Do you want a drink in the meantime?’

She put her tablet down and shook her head. ‘I’ll just wait.’

We enjoyed our dinner, and I really appreciated talking to Jessa, hearing about her classes she was planning on taking in the fall, her trip to Madrid, and even about this new blog she was following, that recently started releasing a chapter every day or so on a really addicting story she was currently obsessed with.

'I really think we need to sort everything out,’ she said as Sonja was clearing away our dinner plates.

‘What do you mean?’ I asked, looking around, not able to see land. The plan was to sail west of the islands and up through the Cape Cod Canal and onwards to Boston, where we would arrive in the early morning.

She took in a breath and placed her hands on the table to steady herself. ‘Matt, come on, you know we need to sort out the prenup.’ I looked up, but neither Sonja nor the captain, who was doing rounds, looked back towards us. Either they didn't hear us, or they were professional enough to not let on they could.

‘You know I don’t want a prenup,’ I told her flatly.

‘And you know there’s no way my father will allow us to go through with the wedding this time next week if there is none,’ she spits out, frustrated.

‘And what do you want?’ I asked her as Sonja placed the chocolate fondue down between us before walking back to the kitchen.

‘I want to make everyone happy, but that seems to be impossible,’ she sighed, leaning back into her seat.

There was silence for some time, and Sonja returned with the items for the fondue. ‘What will it take for you to sign the prenup?’ she asked me in front of Sonja, but she acted as if she didn’t hear anything between us.

‘Nothing, that prenup doesn’t make us equals.’

‘We’re not equal now. That little movie you made without me knowing tilted the playing field, don’t you agree?’

---