Chapter 9

Chapter

Nine

Jagger wasimpatient as they returned to the house, showered, ate dinner together, and walked down to the beach with the group. Belinda looked incredible in a long, blue fitted dress. With no shoes on, her small bare feet and red-painted toes sinking into the sand were as cute as anything he'd ever seen.

If only he could hold her in his arms like he had at the waterfall. Why hadn't she risen to his tease about kissing him if he told her about his scars? He rubbed a hand over his short hair. He had no idea how to get her to drop her barriers, and he still felt she was partially at fault for their breakup, with most of the blame lying at her dad's feet and on Jagger for not coming after her. But he'd never broken his word before.

Finally, Hays must've seen the desperation in his eyes and took mercy on him. "It's too easy for us to find them with the head cams."

"Don't get too full of yourself," Belinda shot at him.

Paul only smiled patiently.

"Don't worry," Jagger teased. "We're already full of ourselves."

"That was obvious." She gave him a sassy flip of her blonde hair.

He winked at her. She glanced away, her cheeks reddening.

"I texted Shawn. He said Paul and I could go to the hardware store and figure out a way to mount the GoPros more discreetly," Hays continued.

"That's so nice of you," Belinda exclaimed, clapping her hands and grinning at him. "Thank you."

"Yes, thank you." Jagger reached over and wrapped his hand around Belinda's. "Do you want to keep walking on the beach while they run to the store?" He was giving her a chance to not be alone with him on the beach with no cameras around. Why had he phrased that like a question? Jagger was never indecisive, and Belinda was feisty enough she'd tell him no if she wanted to, even if he'd made it a statement.

"Yes, please." She smiled sweetly up at him.

Her honey is so sweet. He almost kissed her right then and there.

"See you soon," Paul said.

The two men walked back toward the beach house. Jagger directed Belinda in the other direction. Alone. Finally. Her hand in his. Fourteen years of longing to be in this spot and she wasn't married to Mike anymore. Right? She couldn't be, but he had to clarify. Why was it so terrifying to ask these questions? Jagger always pushed through his fears, and he and Belinda used to be able to talk about anything and everything.

Stopping in the soft, warm sand, he inhaled the slight tang of salt in the breeze. He felt at home close to the ocean. He turned toward her and looked over her delicate features. She appeared petite and almost fragile, but his Bee was far from fragile—strong, brave, hilarious, a fighter. They'd probably have a battle tonight talking through their past. So be it. Jagger had never shied away from a battle. Especially if there was a chance the reward was sweet, honeyed kisses from his Bee.

"What happened with you and Mike?" he asked, realizing that was a very loaded question. Would she start with how she fell in love with the man or why they weren't together now or anything in between? Could he handle hearing about her marrying the man that had stolen her from him? Funny that he'd always wanted to fight her dad again but had never blamed Mike for stealing her, never wanted to hunt him down and dismember him.

"We lived separate lives with me traveling so much, and we could never have a baby. That hurt both of us." She shrugged and put a hand to her shirt, right below her neckline. He'd noticed her gold chain and a small pendant or something always under her T-shirt but couldn't determine what it was. "I can't say that I ever loved him like …" she trailed off and swallowed, focusing on the ocean.

Jagger watched her smooth neck bob. Hope filled him. Maybe this wouldn't be painful after all. If she still loved him. He wrapped his hands around her shoulders and turned her toward him. Her blue eyes were hopeful too.

"Loved him like …" Jagger was proceeding as cautiously as he ever had in his life. He wanted her to say she loved him first. He'd kiss her until he took the edge off the hunger he had for her, then they'd somehow talk through the pain and separation.

Instead of rising to the bait, Belinda put both hands on his chest and shoved at him. He released her and held his hands up. "What?"

"Do you love Mercedes Belle?"

His brow wrinkled. "What does that have to do with the price of eggs?"

"Don't be cute with me," she hurled at him. "You said you loved Mercedes, and Shawn said she loved you or maybe you loved her. I don't know." Her voice was full of exasperation and her blue eyes full of frustration. "And Mercedes said she loved you ‘desperately' on the video."

He nodded and pushed a hand over his hair. "Loves me like a brother."

She blinked up at him. "And you love her …"

"Like a sister. Did you honestly think Mercedes?—"

He didn't get any more out. Belinda gave a garbled yell and then launched herself at him. She wrapped her arms tight around his neck and pulled herself up onto tiptoes, pressing her body against his.

Jagger let out a groan and wasted no time wrapping her up tight and bowing his head to hers. He wanted to say so many things and still had loads of questions.

Bee apparently was done with conversation. She arched up and kissed him.

Jagger's lips fused with hers, and every part of him lit up with a warmth he had longed for these past fourteen years. Her kiss was intense and fiery, and he responded with all the passion he'd stored up for her.

Wrapping his hands around her lower back, he straightened and lifted her clean off her feet. He carried her down into the surf, the soft waves breaking against them. The rush of Bee and the ocean and their lips fusing together would never be equaled.

She clung to him, let out the most appealing laugh, and then she kissed him so forcefully he saw stars—or maybe they were wedding bells. All he could truly see was Bee. Her honeyed kisses were better than even his memories.

Everything in his world was instantly set right. The ocean ebbed and flowed against them, and heat swirled inside his chest. He was floating.

Sparks and joy and not one bit of anguish.

Bee was his. She was in his arms, and he would never let her go again.