Barefoot in Pearls (Barefoot Bay Brides Book 3)

  “Yet?” Like him being meaningless was inevitable? “Not sure I want to know that yet, either,” he admitted as that possibility crushed his chest a little.

  She closed her eyes and puffed out a breath. “I need something sweet,” she sighed.

  “Then close your eyes.” He got up enough to reach into his pocket, making her brows lift in surprise.

  “You have something sweet in your pants?” she teased.

  “Of course I do.” Laughing with her, he pulled out a cardboard package of wax bottles full of sugar juice.

  “Nik-L-Nips!” She reached for them. “How did you get them? They’re impossible to find.”

  “Nothing’s impossible, Arielle.”

  Her shoulders softened as she looked at him. “’Bout time you figured that out, McBain.” She nodded toward the candy. “I’ll share the blue one.”

  “You have to teach me how to open it.”

  She slipped the little wax bottle from the case and held it to her mouth. “Put it right here, between your teeth.”

  Everything, every cell in his body, tightened and squeezed.

  “And”—she bit down—“snap it off.” She popped the wax top out of her mouth so it bounced on the blanket. “And spit it out.”

  “That was pretty sexy, Arielle. Except for the snapping-it-off part.”

  She gave him a slow, sly smile. “Don’t worry, I don’t bite.”

  His hormones went wild. Wilder. Wild enough that it took a moment for him to notice the playfulness disappearing from her expression. “What’s wrong, Arielle?”

  “Look at you, getting all in tune with the feels again. You spend too much time with me, Luke, and you’ll be the one communing with nature. Would you like me to teach you how to listen to what the wind says?”

  “I’d like you to teach me how to read your expression, which changed a second ago while you were looking at me.”

  She averted her eyes, as if she’d been caught and couldn’t deny it. “Okay,” she agreed. “I was thinking, right then when you said wax-bottle biting was sexy, that…”

  “That what?”

  “That I wish sex with you hadn’t taken on all this magnitude because I really want to…” She laughed again, unable to find the word. “I really want to,” she finally said.

  Thank God, because he really wanted to, too.

  “We could…” With a gentle nudge, he eased her to her back, leaning over her. “Let go of the magnitude.”

  “We could,” she agreed on a shudder as his fingers found their way to the bare skin exposed between her T-shirt and jeans.

  “What’s the worst that could happen?” he asked, stroking the satin of her stomach.

  “It could change everything.”

  “Yeah, we could go from being the world’s two horniest people to the most satisfied. That would suck.”

  “Or we could go from being new friends with a strong attraction to each other to lovers with thoughts of ‘forever’ dancing in their heads.”

  And that would suck, too.

  Wouldn’t it? Every cell—even the ones lining up for a party in his pants—stilled at the unanswered question.

  She laughed softly. “And he panics.”

  “No, not panic.” Yes, panic. “Is that what would happen? I mean, is that like a definite possibility if two people are…” He couldn’t even say it. But he had to. “Meant for each other?”

  She lifted one shoulder. “I don’t know. I’ve never taken on the universe in a full-blown fight. Wouldn’t expect to win, though.”

  For a long time, neither of them spoke. They looked into each other’s eyes while Luke’s hand spread flat on her stomach to absorb some of her infallible “gut” instinct.

  Barely breathing, he leaned closer, letting their mouths lightly brush, feeling her pulse thrum through her body.

  There’s no going back. There’s no going back.

  He closed his eyes, not sure if she said that or he heard it or…it was the wind. Either way, right then, he didn’t care about anything except how much he had to have Arielle Chandler’s body become one with his.

  There’s no going back.

  “I don’t care.” He murmured the words into a kiss, completely lost under her spell.

  * * *

  “I do.” Ari rolled out from under the weight of Luke’s body—a move that took superhuman strength, because all she wanted in the whole world was him—and sat up, ending all body contact. “I care very much.”

  He was next to her in a flash. “I didn’t mean I don’t care about you. I don’t care about…the wind and the woo-woo and The One. I want—”

  “I know what you want.”

  He blinked at her. “Do you?”

  Very much. So much she would have forgotten every promise she ever made to anyone just to let him take off her clothes and…get inside. But the look on his face, the uncertainty and confusion, even his jokes, not to mention the voice in her head… There’s no going back.

  She didn’t want to lose him. She didn’t want to lose the chance of him. And she was absolutely terrified that doing more of what they both wanted to do really would crush the possibility of forever. Or it might seal the deal and make her love him forever, even though he didn’t “do” love.

  She snatched her water bottle, twisted the cap, and took a long drink, aware that he stayed very close, staring at her. She threw a glance sideways, nearly melting at the look in his eyes and the way his lips were slightly parted, his teeth visible. Teeth she wanted to flipping eat her.

  Oh, man. Why couldn’t sex simply be fun, like it was for everyone else? Why did it have to now come with such baggage?

  Because he is The One.

  “Shut up!”

  “I didn’t say a word.”

  She slid him another look. “Not you.”

  “Oh, you’re hearing voices,” he said. “Well, so am I.”

  “I don’t think they’re saying the same thing.”

  “Don’t be so sure.” He reached under her hair, turning her to him, his hand strong and sure on her cheek. “Let’s just kiss,” he said, pulling her back next to him. “Lie down, and we’ll take it slow. Nothing too serious.”

  But every kiss was serious. How did he not see that?

  Because maybe it was all in her head.

  The truth was, she still didn’t know if he was her one true love or just some crazy-hot, cute, and wonderful guy she wanted to…

  His hand stroked her stomach, hot, searingly hot and big and strong against her skin. “Kiss.”

  Yeah, that.

  He covered her mouth, and they were lost again. Blood pumped through her, the beat and heat escalating with each passing second. A minute more, and his rough hands scraped her waist and ribs. She arched to invite his hand higher, his thumb grazing under her bra, making her hiss a breath.

  With every kiss, his mouth sought and found hot spots that made her want to writhe and whimper and press harder against an erection growing sizable against her belly.

  After a moment, Luke lifted up, searching her face as if he needed to make sure she was okay. “This is not just kissing.”

  “Says Captain Obvious.”

  “You okay?”

  She was now. Later? Who knew? But now… “I’m good.”

  “So good.” He underscored the compliment with another kiss.

  “Don’t stop,” she whispered.

  Taking the cue, he tugged at the hem of her shirt. “Can I?” he asked.

  She answered by helping him get it over her head, barely free of it before she gave his T-shirt a yank. With just that much encouragement, he had it off in seconds.

  She sighed as he braced himself on one arm and looked down at her, his hungry gaze making her breasts ache and bud even more. “Kiss me again, Luke.” She pulled him down, and he covered her mouth, his incredible bare chest pressed against hers, that erection growing even more demanding. He smothered her mouth and tickled her throat and licked her bare breasts, w
hile she did essentially the same, exploring his chest, his abs, the tendrils of hair and cuts of muscle on his incredible body.

  Her hands slipped lower, tense with the desire to touch more. To unbutton his jeans and…

  His head shot up like a whip, his hand over her mouth as his whole body went taut in a different way.

  “What—”

  “Shh!” Frowning, he scanned the area, a muscle in his neck pulsing. His eyes narrowed, and his shoulders squared. Ari couldn’t look at anything but him. She was almost scared to chance a glance left or right.

  “Here,” he whispered, closing his hands over her T-shirt and bra without taking his eyes off their surroundings. “We’re not alone.”

  They weren’t? Suddenly more embarrassed than scared, she sat up and pulled the T-shirt over her head, forgoing the bra.

  Luke stood, his bare chest rising and falling with careful breaths as he scoped the area.

  “Were you expecting a sub today?” She hadn’t heard a truck and didn’t see one, but she’d been pretty distracted.

  “No, but…stay there.” Still shirtless, he walked across to the opposite side of the hill, toward the bay. Who would come up from that direction?

  Kneeling up but staying where he’d told her, she watched him until he stopped dead and looked up at the shadow of a big bird overhead. A vulture again, like she’d seen the day she’d met him.

  In fact, Luke was standing in the exact spot where she’d found the pearls. The weird letter she’d received flashed in her head. She wanted to call out or go with him, but waited for a signal from him.

  Luke kept going, not quite disappearing, but making his way down the other side of the hill toward the rocky shore. It wasn’t a beach you’d stroll, with sand and shells, so it wasn’t like someone would come up here from the water.

  So where was he going?

  While she waited, she stuffed their trash into the Super Min bag and folded the blanket, hyperaware of every sense and sound around her.

  “Arielle!”

  She startled at the sound of Luke’s voice, popping to her feet. “What?”

  “Come here.”

  Leaving the picnic, she followed the sound of his voice, spotting him almost instantly, on his knees at the easternmost side of the grade. “Is someone here?” she called out.

  “No, but you need to see this.”

  She picked up to a near run, and when she reached him, he took her hand and pulled her down near the ground. “Look at this.”

  Holes. Someone had been digging, and digging deep. There were five, six, no, seven tunnels burrowed well into the side of the hill, none deep, but all distinctly made by a shovel, not any kind of professional heavy equipment.

  “Is this where the core engineer dug for samples?” she asked.

  “No. That was about a hundred yards on the other side. This is…fresh. Like it was made today or maybe yesterday.”

  A chill pirouetted up her back, crawling slowly to settle at the base of her neck.

  “And I found this.” He held out a can wrapped in a newspaper.

  “Trash?”

  “Interesting trash.” He angled the can so she could see it was a Red Bull, and the newspaper was the Mimosa Gazette.

  “The guy who was in Charity’s store,” she said.

  He nodded. “Look.” A giant red circle had been drawn on the newspaper, highlighting a tiny ad in the classifieds under the label Lost and Found.

  Missing: pearl necklace, lost in Barefoot Bay, high sentimental value. $$$ Reward

  Chapter Nineteen

  Ari heard laughter from the Barefoot Brides offices and nearly broke into a joyous run when she realized that infectious sound of happiness belonged to Willow Ambrose. Well, Willow Hershey, now.

  “You’re back!” Ari exclaimed when she burst through the open door, arms outstretched. “I thought you had one more day on the yacht.”

  “Don’t worry.” Willow returned the hug and added a good squeeze. “The honeymoon will last a long, long time. But Nate and his partners are having some kind of important meeting on board. And that yacht, you guys!” She smacked her chest with a flat hand, dropping her head back with a grunt. “I cannot even describe the opulence of the N’Vidrio. I still can’t believe a billionaire gave it to us for the week.”

  “He didn’t exactly give it to you,” Gussie reminded her. “We’re doing his wedding to Liza, remember?”

  “Like that was a fair exchange,” Ari teased.

  “Really, a week on the yacht way outweighs whatever we can do for that wedding, which will have to be a-may-zing,” Willow said. “Think of what kind of clientele it will bring to us!”

  “Lacey is already salivating about the high-end guest list,” Ari added. “But why cut short the trip? Shouldn’t you be lounging naked with Nick on the upper deck having him feed you peeled grapes? Yet you’re in the office on a Sunday afternoon.”

  “Trust me, there’s been plenty of naked lounging. Nick ran out to stock the house with some food now that we’ll have to actually cook instead of having a personal chef, and he dropped me off here so I could dig through the mail and see what I’ve missed. I found Gussie in here.”

  “I was looking for you,” Gussie explained. “Where have you been, anyway?”

  “Up…in North Barefoot Bay.”

  “What were you doing up there?” Willow asked, pulling Ari toward the round table where they always gathered to chat.

  “With my brother,” Gussie added, slathering on all kinds of meaning to the last word as she joined them.

  Willow leaned back, surprised. “Oh? Have I missed something while on my honeymoon?”

  “Have you ever, Willow.” Gussie pressed both hands on the table, leaning in for dramatic effect. “Luke’s The One.”

  “Gussie.” Ari ground out her friend’s name and narrowed her eyes.

  “What?” Willow practically jumped out of her chair. Maybe her skin. Her blue eyes grew wide as she looked at Ari in shock. “The One? Your The One that you’re always talking about? Luke McBain?”

  Why had she ever confided her beliefs to her best friends? Because they were her best friends, that’s why. Ari shook her head, laughing and sighing at the same time. “You want to know the truth?”

  They both gave her their versions of a get real look. As if they wanted anything but the truth.

  “I don’t know,” she said on a slow exhale. “I honestly do not know. Sometimes I think he’s just a really sweet, funny, wonderful guy, and sometimes I think…” She paused, looking from one to the other. “He’s the really sweet, funny, wonderful guy. The one and only.”

  “Oooooh.” Willow and Gussie let out the musical exclamation and shared a knowing look and that smug smile that women in love had when they thought their circle was about to get bigger.

  “Guys, we’re not…nothing’s been…anything could…” Ari closed her eyes and sighed.

  “Words fail her,” Gussie said.

  “She’s speechless,” Willow agreed.

  “It’s love,” they sang in perfect harmony.

  Ari opened her mouth, then shut it. Then bit her lip. “Maybe it could be at some point,” she whispered, wanting them to be right. “But I really don’t know, and that’s the hardest part. I thought it would be more obvious, but I’m worried that I’m talking myself into something because…” She looked at their permanent smiles of contentment, their big ol’ left-hand jewelry. “Maybe I’m envious of you two, and I want something so much, I wished it into existence.”

  “You didn’t wish Luke into existence!” Gussie said. “And you don’t have a jealous bone in your body.”

  “Does he feel the same way about you?” Willow asked, putting her hand over Ari’s.

  “He doesn’t want to feel anything,” she admitted glumly, then looked at Gussie. “He had his heart broken pretty bad. Did you know that?”

  She shook her head. “No, he avoids the subject of women when I bring it up. Can I ask him about it,
or would that be breaking a confidence?”

  Ari gave her a grateful smile for asking. “I’d let it go unless he brings it up.”

  “Has he talked to you about Ari?” Willow asked Gussie.

  “Only enough that I get the impression he’s crazy about you, Ari. Which a blind man could see.”

  “So he feels it, but doesn’t say it,” Willow surmised. “Which makes him a guy, through and through.”

  “He’s not like most guys, though,” Ari said. Most guys wouldn’t go four years without sex. “Which is the problem. He’s not like any guy I’ve ever met, so…” She slipped into a loopy grin. “We’re back to is he or isn’t he The One?”

  “Are you seeing him tonight?” Gussie asked.

  “No, he’s having dinner with Cutter Valentine, and I have a ton of work to do, since we have a couple of major weddings on the docket. Which reminds me, I need to send an e-mail.”

  She pushed up and went to her own desk, tapping the computer mouse to bring it to life, the address listed with the classified ad still fresh in her brain. She’d promised Luke she’d contact the person looking for the necklace. It was critical to learn where those pearls had come from.

  Because if the necklace hadn’t been unearthed from the hill, then maybe her whole theory about a burial ground there was all wrong and he really should get on with the building. As Ari slipped into her desk chair, Willow’s hand landed on her shoulder.

  “What does it feel like?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

  She turned in her chair to meet Willow’s gaze, and Gussie came right up to join them.

  “Yeah,” Gussie added. “What does it feel like?”

  “I’m pretty sure you two already know,” she said.

  “Well, if you think Nick and I were meant for each other, and Gussie and Tom, then you know it isn’t always super easy in the beginning. Sometimes you have to fight a little for love. And make concessions and compromises.”

  Gussie stepped closer, her hands on her hips. “And you don’t ruin his plans, cost him his job, and send him packing across the Atlantic.”

  “What?” Willow demanded, spinning around. “He’s leaving?”