Page 7 of Paradise Ties

“Why?” She stood and walked to the balcony to look out at the sea, her eyes adjusting to the harsh sunlight.

“You wanted to go paragliding with Jack and Liam. I talked you into a spa day with the girls instead.”

Yes, he had done that. It was all coming back to her now, and bless him, he’d talked her out of her idiocy. She tended to want to keep up with the boys. Like always, Jace knew what she needed even before she did, and knew paragliding today would’ve been a disaster.

God, she loved that man. The way he always put her first made her feel she was the centre of his world. He was one of a kind, and she’d get to call him husband in a few days. Something she’d given up hope of ever having. Her belly melted as she thought of their conversation the day before, of him saying how much he wanted her to have his baby. The idea of a little Jace made her warm inside.

She turned as he moved back into the room, the coffee already making her feel more human. “What time did we book it for?”

He dropped the towel, and her gaze hungrily ate up the sight of his gorgeous, hard body. He smirked as he slid swim shorts up his legs, hiding his semi-hard cock from her. “Eleven so you have time to get a shower and eat before you meet the girls.” He moved and took the now empty coffee cup from her and lifted her chin with his finger gently to look in her eyes. “Get showered, baby, and I’ll order us some breakfast.” He dropped a slow, deep kiss on her mouth that made her sway into him, drugged, before he pulled away.

“Okay,” she replied, not having it in her to argue.

Lucy moved to the shower and cautiously stepped under the lukewarm water, allowing it to wash away the cobwebs of her hangover. She knew her head would feel foggy for a while yet but her stomach would settle after some food. She’d feel much better in a few hours after a massage and spa with her friends.

She dressed in a simple pink triangle bikini, adding a sheer pink and orange palm leaf patterned cover-up that fell to mid-thigh. She towel-dried her hair and threw it into a bun on her head, not caring as she’d probably end up with massage oil in it anyway.

Making her way through the open plan living space of the suite, she saw Jace at the outside dining table with plates of food in front of him. She watched him for a few minutes as he gazed out to sea, his face in profile until he sensed her and turned, offering her a smile so big it seemed to block out the sun.

He smirked as she sat next to him and sipped the orange juice he’d poured for her. “You finished watching me like a stalker?”

“I wasn’t watching you like a stalker,” she said. “More like a woman who knows how lucky she is.”

“Luce.” His voice held a warning.

“What?”

“Don’t tempt me by being sweet or you’re going to be late meeting the girls.” His eyes were hooded with desire as he watched her.

“Is that so bad?” she asked, her voice husky.

“Yes, because I’ll have to deal with all the husbands bitching at me. Plus, I promised to help Drew take a jet ski out on the water.”

Lucy sobered. Drew seemed to have come to terms with losing his leg, but she and Jace knew he was struggling more than he wanted people to know. Going on a jet ski, something he would’ve done without thinking before the accident, would show Drew he was the same person and that losing his leg, though horrific and life-altering, was not the end of his life.

“Now who’s being sweet?” she asked as she poured herself more of the freshest orange juice she’d ever tasted. The table was loaded down with much food ranging from bacon and eggs, to exotic fresh fruit she was anxious to try.

They ate in silence, listening to the gentle sounds of voices from distance paddleboarders drifting on the air. The resort’s rooms were far enough apart that you couldn’t make out what people were saying but close enough to hear muffled sounds.

When she finished eating, she realised her hangover was almost gone, she just had the expected residual fogginess in her head. She followed Jace out their room and towards reception wearing flip flops and carrying her beach bag.

The sound of excited female voices hit her first, making her smile. Rounding the corner, she saw Lauren, Ava, Celeste, Skye, Lizzie, Roz, and Aubrey already waiting for her.

“Here she is,” Skye said, “the queen of the dance floor!”

Lucy vaguely remembered trying to teach the others how to floss and if she wasn’t mistaken, Jack had taken to it easier than the rest, prompting a whole host of innuendos about his hip action.

Lucy grinned. “How’re you all so chipper?”

Lauren looped an arm through hers and led her towards the seating area. Lucy accepted a tall glass of orange juice but as she took a sip, realised it was a mimosa.

“Because, my sweet, some of us know that getting up to kids in the middle of the night or at the ass crack of dawn isn’t possible when you have a hangover. So, we stop before it gets to that stage.”

“And on that note, I’ll love and leave you,” Jace said, bending to drop a kiss on Lucy’s upturned lips.

“Have fun on the jet ski.”

Jace waved and grinned as he walked away.