Chapter 7

Chapter

Seven

Jagger had spentmany a miserable night in the Navy. Many. Especially after he lost Bee and had to finish A school in the lowest funk of his life since losing his dad as a ten-year-old. He'd worked hard and focused on being the best and serving his country and developing close friendships with Hays, Shawn, and Grayson. Grayson's tragic death and then his mom's had resulted in absolutely horrible days and nights as well.

Somehow, last night ranked up there as one of the most miserable. He'd laid in bed, craving Bee more than he craved oxygen during a deep dive. She was all he'd ever needed and she still wouldn't give him a chance, wouldn't even talk things out.

He'd determined to fight through this pain and get answers, but what he wanted more than anything was to have her in his life again. He didn't know if that would ever happen.

He wanted to fight somebody, but Hays and Paul didn't deserve the thrashing he'd give them.

Instead, he woke early, headed to the home gym, and lifted heavy on chest, shoulders, and triceps for almost two hours. Then he didn't even bother returning to his room to find a swimsuit. He hurried up the stairs and out to the main level patio, down the trail to the beach, stripped off his shirt, socks, and shoes, and hit the ocean in his cotton workout shorts.

There was a strong current. He appreciated nature's tribulations. He swam and swam and swam.

The sun rose and his watch confirmed it was almost eight o'clock. He should just let Bee and Paul make their escape. He could shower and eat a big breakfast. Then he and Hays could go catch them and somehow he'd figure out how to get her to talk tonight.

Instead of letting her go this morning, he changed trajectories and swam furious strokes to the beach, swept up his shirt, socks, and shoes, and sprinted up to the house. Through the many windows, he could see Belinda, Paul, and Hays were in the kitchen area, packing a backpack and a small cooler for her and Paul to take with them.

He dropped his clothes on the patio, grabbed a beach towel from the stack, wrapped it around his waist, and burst through one of the French doors.

His gaze went straight to Belinda.

She gasped and jabbed a finger at him. She was bright and sunny-looking in a gray tank top and blue shorts. Okay, her clothes weren't sunny-looking, but her beautiful face and blonde hair lit up the morning for him.

"What are you doing?" she demanded in classic Bee style. She may be small, but her personality made her larger than life. "Put some clothes on right this minute."

Jagger laughed, leaned forward, and flexed. "Eat your heart out, Bee."

She dramatically covered her eyes as Paul and Hays both looked to be hiding smiles.

"You are indecent and have no shame. Oh, my, goodness gracious! ‘When you are tempted, He will provide a way out so that you can endure it.'" She nodded to herself. "I need a way out. Paul, let's go. Is it eight o'clock yet? I'll be waiting in the Jeep."

She uncovered her eyes, gave Jagger an impertinent glower, tilted her chin up regally, and swept from the kitchen, angling for the garage entrance.

Jagger dashed in front of her. She reared to a stop, her gaze focused on his chest. He held his hands up, knowing that would make his muscles engage. He was being a jerk, but she had started it. They were fire and fire. Never ice. Not with his Bee.

"I apologize, Miss Ralphs, if I offended you with my lack of apparel and my teasing line." He made an attempt to play for the cameras that they didn't know each other, but any idiot could see through the thin veneer. He couldn't believe she'd called him Satan last night. Might as well live up to the devil tempting her.

"You darn well should apologize." Her blue eyes rose to his face, and she shook her head. "You're far too handsome for anybody's heart health. Now shoo. Go take a shower and get dressed. I'm leaving to win my million dollars."

Jagger couldn't stop smiling. Things were a nightmare between them, but she was so much fun. He'd known fourteen years ago he could spend a lifetime laughing, teasing, fighting, and loving with her. It was still a hundred percent true. If only he could taste some of her sweet, honeyed lips.

Last night had shaken him to the core. He was putting on a tough show, but he was scared she'd never let him into her heart again. How could he break through to her?

"Good luck," he said, hiding his pain as he always did.

"You don't want to wish me luck," she hurled at him, but her voice wasn't angry; it was teasing. "Besides, I don't need your luck. I've got heaven's strength and blessings to guide and lift me. ‘Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it.'"

Jagger shook his head, cracking his knuckles. "That voice behind you today will be me, not your favorite scriptures."

"You wish, and don't you mock my scriptures." Her blue eyes flashed a warning at him.

"I wouldn't dare." Though he was annoyed with her ‘faith' and her father pulling them apart, it was only one of the many reasons they'd been separated. He wouldn't fight about it right now. Not when she was semi-teasing with him and at least responding to him.

He bowed to her. "Catch you soon."

She wrinkled her nose and shoved at his chest.

Jagger filled with joy and warmth at her touch, even though she wasn't trying to be soft and sweet with him. Not at all. But then his bee would always sting first; he knew that.

He wrapped his hands around hers and held them to his chest. He didn't pull her in, though he wanted to. He was face to face with a lioness, and she could devour him the way only Bee could. She could rip his old wound wide open, and the pain would be even more intense this time. But he wouldn't back down. That's who he was, the man who never backed down from a challenge, especially one as important as figuring out if he and Bee could ever bury their past and have a future.

Somehow this week he would break down all her barriers, find out why she cheated on him, and see if they stood a chance. Even if it ripped him apart.

Right now, he would be patient. He held her small, warm hands in his and smiled down at her.

"All right. I'm at your mercy," she gritted out. "You, Captain Jagger Lemuel, are beautifully muscled, at the top of your military world, and any woman would fall to her knees and beg you for a kiss. What do you want from me?"

"Any woman?" His entire body filled with hope. He lowered his voice, eased closer to her, and whispered for only her to hear, "You're the only woman I want begging for a kiss, Bee. Will you share sweet honey with me?"

Leaning back enough to see her gorgeous face, he prayed she'd admit she would, in fact, kiss him. He didn't care if Hays, Paul, and the cameras were watching. When he and Bee kissed, he'd be transported to another world and only the two of them would exist. That sweet honey would be worth the lioness ripping him apart, his Bee stinging him over and over again.

Her blue eyes suddenly widened and filled with indignation. She yanked her hands free and hollered at him, "Don't you try your sugary tricks on me." Then she dodged around him and ran for the garage, slamming the door after her.

Jagger couldn't quite figure out how that moment had imploded. He thought his line was tender, romantic, and telling. He hadn't tried his ‘sugary tricks' on any other woman, not since her.

He glanced over to where Hays was watching him with a perceptive stare and Paul was hurriedly shoving drinks into the cooler.

"I'm going to shower," he said.

Hays nodded.

Running up the stairs so he didn't have to talk to either of them, he mulled over the interaction with Bee.

He mulled it over while he and Hays ate breakfast, planned out their strategy, and headed out in separate Jeeps. Hays hadn't asked him about Bee at breakfast. He was a stellar friend. He knew Jagger would talk when he was ready.

As Jagger drove the island roads, talked to people on the street and Hays on the phone, he stewed about why him saying she was the only woman he wanted to kiss would tick her off. Bee was always volatile. He loved her sass and spice and huge reactions, except when they yanked her from his arms.

He'd stopped at Uncle D's Kauai Barbecue to pick up takeout for lunch. Talking to a few college kids waiting in line, he got a tip about a couple fitting Paul and Bee's description at Skinny Mike's only a few minutes before. The Go Pros mounted on their heads made it too easy.

"I'll be back for my food," he told the waitress.

"All right."

Sprinting out of the entrance, he ran through the small mall and toward Skinny Mike's. He slipped off his backpack as he ran, pulling the bright green laser gun out and tucking it into the back of his pants, covering it with his shirt. A little boy saw him and pointed, "Mama, a gun."

The mom stared at Jagger and yanked her son behind her.

Jagger raised his hands, all innocence, and kept running.

He saw Bee's blonde hair bobbing through the parking lot and Paul's darker head. Both with the head cams on. Quieting his steps, he stealthily approached. They were walking up to a silver Honda. Probably an Uber. Paul opened the door. Jagger yanked the gun out, heard a few screams, aimed, and fired.

"Jagger and Hays win the day," Mercedes's voice announced from Bee's shirt. That made him smile.

Bee and Paul both whipped around. Jagger hurried to put the gun in his backpack and explained to some people watching, "Laser tag gun. We're playing a game."

He wasn't sure if they believed him, but the gun was bright green. Nobody was speed dialing 911 at least.

Paul and Bee were both shaking their heads and staring at him.

"That was too easy," Bee said.

Paul looked annoyed at getting caught so early on day one. He seemed like a great guy, but he was as competitive as Jagger and Hays.

Jagger grinned. "You didn't want our week to be over too fast, did you?"

She put her hands on her hips. "I'd be happy to be done with this and win my million dollars."

Jagger wasn't going to let her rile him. He simply shrugged and cracked his knuckles.

She looked at his hands as if she wanted to hold them. "What do we do now?"

"Have you had lunch?" he asked.

"Just some snacks."

"I'll call Hays. We can eat a relaxed lunch and take kayaks up Wailua River and do the short hike to Secret Falls." He was revealing how well he knew this island, but it probably didn't matter. He was buzzing with the quick success of catching them today, and more importantly, the chance to spend more time with her.

Bee looked up at Paul.

"Up to you," Paul said.

"All right. You got me with the secret falls lure."

Jagger grinned and strutted up to her. He bent low and whispered in her ear, "I'm going to lure with you a lot more than that."

"We'll see about that," she said with all the southern sass his perfect woman possessed.

He only smiled.

Her blue eyes flashed both a warning and a lure for him. She wanted him. She might even still love him. Her walls were high, though, and for some reason she blamed him for her cheating and them separating.

He'd get to the bottom of it. Tonight. Fight through the pain and get answers and resolutions.

This afternoon, he would enjoy every moment with her. Even with her angry at them and their buddies tagging along.