Yup. Lucky is not something associated with my name, and Jason’s next words prove it.
“I’m so sorry, Mila, but I forgot to reload my scuba gear. The position of the prop makes it so I have to be submerged to cut the line free, and I can’t do that without my gear.”
All color drains from my face. We’re stranded. I’m stranded. Stranded with the sexiest man alive, and he’s completely off-limits.
“So, um. What are we going to do? How will we get back?”
He sits on the bench next to me, his hand finding mine and squeezing. “I’ve got some good news and bad news. What do you want to hear first?”
I throw my head back and groan. “Just lay it all on me.”
Jason chuckles as his hand squeezes mine once more. “Everything is going to be okay. I’ve radioed for help and they’ll be sending someone out.”
My head flies back toward his. “That’s wonderful news!”
“Mhm. But it won’t be until morning. They run on island time around here and everyone who’s capable has already gone home for the day.”
My lips form a silent ‘Oh.’
“Don’t worry, though. The line is good and caught. We’re not pulling free from it tonight. And as far as sleeping arrangements,” Jason shifts in his seat as the black in his eyes spreads, swallowing up all color as the inky dots extend toward the outer rim. “You can take the master.”
So much information to process that it’s not really sinking in. I’m blinking, staring at him in a daze and letting the facts settle in my brain.
I’m spending the night. With Jason. Alone.
Holymotherforkingshirtballs.
Licking my suddenly dry lips, I finally answer. “That’s unnecessary. I’ll sleep on this bench if I have to, but I’m not taking your room and putting you out.”
Jason scoffs. “You’re not sleeping on this bench, baby girl. And there are three staterooms. You’ll hardly be putting me out. It’s just that the master is the most comfortable, and I want your memories of being out here to be fond ones.”
My eyes flutter up toward him. “But they already are.”
With those words, an intensity settles between us—a silent acknowledgement that we’re playing with fire, and if we’re not careful, we’ll get burned.
Seconds pass in a dangerous game of chicken, but I’m the first to look away. It’s too risky. Whatever this is between us, it’s clear we both sense it, and it’s clear that it’s wrong.
“How about I fix us something to eat? I usually keep the essentials stocked. Nothing fancy, but it’ll hold us over for the night. You game?”
Turning back toward him, I give him my most convincing smile. “Of course. You’re looking at a girl who survived on ramen for a whole month. I can handle just about anything.”
I’m laughing, but I see Jason isn’t fond of my humor. No, his eyes are narrowed and his lips have formed a thin line.
“I have an idea.” His deep voice comes out low and measured.
“Oh, and what is that?”
He’s walking us down into the boat and I can see there’s a beautiful kitchen with windows that capture the perfect pink and oranges from the setting sun.
“Have a seat.” Jason ushers me toward a u-shaped seating area and I oblige, taking in every detail of this beautiful vessel.
“Jason, she really is beautiful. I’m sorry Mom missed out on all of this.” Bringing Catherine back up is a strategy I hope works toward taming whatever this is I’m feeling toward my soon to be stepfather. And I pray it works, because as Jason bends over to retrieve two waters from a fridge, I just about pant.
“Speaking of, I forgot to tell you I had the marina update her on our situation. I didn’t want her worrying about you being out here without her.”
I snort, unable to stop myself in time.
“Right. I forgot. You’ve been without her for some time now.”
I don’t know what to say, so I simply nod. It’s not a lie. It’s a glaring truth I won’t deny.
Jason walks back toward me, placing two water bottles and some chips between us. “Look at me, Mila.”
I’m staring at the chips as if they’re the most fascinating thing in the world, refusing to look away.
“Mila.” Jason cups my face, forcing me to look up. “You’re not alone anymore. Those days are over. You have me. You have my brothers. And when we visit them, you’ll have Pen and Anaya too. They’re your family now.”
A lump forms in my throat, making it impossible to swallow. They’re my family now. My family because of my mother and this beautiful man being coupled.
Why the fuck is life so cruel? I’ve never in my life reacted to a man the way I do Jason. Yet by some cruel twist of fate, he belongs to my mother.
“Hey, pretty girl.” A thick finger swipes at my cheek, and it’s only then I realize that I’m crying. “Dry those eyes. I can’t bear to see you upset.”
“Ugh. I’m not typically a crier. That’s usually Mel’s department.” Sniffling, I press the pads of my fingers to my eyes. “Anyway. Was this your idea? Coming down here, eating and making me get all emotional?”
I chuckle half-heartedly, trying to make light of the situation but clearly failing.
“No. But I do think my idea will lift your spirits.”
My brows raise at this. “So, are you going to tell me or keep me guessing?”
“Feisty little thing, aren’t you?”
I laugh. “You have no idea.”
At this, he raises a brow. “Truth or dare.”
“What?” I feel my eyes bug out.
“Truth or dare. That was my idea.” He lifts my legs from the seat and sits on the edge, as if it’s the most natural thing to have my feet on his lap. “We’re stuck here until morning, so I figured we’d get to know each other. What better way to do that than a little game of truth or dare?”
I’m pretty sure my jaw is touching the floor now. It has to be. “You can’t be serious.”
“Serious as a heart attack.” Jason picks up his water bottle and takes a sip. “So, you want to go first?”
He wants to play this game? Fine. I have a million questions at the ready. “Truth or dare?”
“Truth.” He brings the bottle back to his full lips, and it takes everything in me not to sigh.
Inwardly groaning, I ask my first question. “Why did you fall for my mother?”
Jason coughs, sending water spraying all over the table. “Holy shit. You don’t hold back, do you?”
“Can’t live a life worth living if you’re holding back, right?” I bite the corner of my lip and fight a smile. I’m so full of it right now. Truth is, this is the boldest I’ve been with any man.
Yes, I don’t take shit from people, but I’m never this forward with what I want to know—and god do I want to know what he sees in Catherine.
“Right. God, how right you are.” He’s blowing out a long breath as he scrubs a palm over his face. “Look, I don’t know if there’s a good way to answer this, but… there was no falling involved. It’s more of a ‘fate gave us a child after a one-time situation, so here we are,’ sort of thing.”
My brows raise and I’m left gaping. “You didn’t date?”
Jason clears his throat and it’s obvious he’s uncomfortable with my questioning. I purse my lips, feeling no pity. If he didn’t want to answer uncomfortable truths, then he probably shouldn’t have picked truth or dare.
As if reading my mind, Jason narrows his eyes before arching a brow. “There was no dating involved. But these are questions better left for your mother, and this is your second question, so now you owe me two rounds. Pick, truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
Jason’s masculine jaw clenches as he pins me with his stare. “Earlier you’d said that you had little keeping you home. What did you mean by that?”
My stomach knots and I feel any bravado I had deflate. Fuck. If I’m going to throw hard punches, then I better be ready to take them.
“Gosh, we really know where to dig, don’t we?” I shake my head and chuckle.
Jason winks at me and smiles. “Just call me Dick Tracy.”
“Dick who?” I scrunch my nose, but my question only serves to make Jason groan—his head falling back and exposing the delectable column of his neck as he sighs.
“Thanks for the reminder, baby girl. I’m so much older than you.” He lowers his head, our eyes meeting once more. “Dick Tracy was a detective in a comic book. But that’s beside the point. You still haven’t answered the question.”
I squeeze my eyes shut before peeking out through one. “Okay. But promise not to judge me.”
Jason rears his head back as his mouth goes slack. “Mila, look at me.” He grabs my shoulders and squeezes until I’m looking at him dead on. “I will never judge you. Know that in my eyes you could do no wrong.”
I snort. The idea of this adonis putting me on a pedestal seems absolutely ridiculous, it can’t be real. He has to be joking.
But when I’ve stopped laughing and my eyes have refocused, I see that he’s dead serious, the realization making my brows drop and eyes blink. “But why?”
“The why doesn’t matter. All that matters is that it’s true. That and you still haven’t answered my question.”
“Fine.” I pout, something I never do, but this man has me acting all out of sorts. “I was home alone more often than not. And when I wasn’t…” How do I say this without putting my mother in a bad light?
“I won’t judge, Mila,” Jason cajoles.
On a sigh, I answer the best I can. “Mom was busy with work whenever she was home, so I didn’t really see her.”
Pressing my lips together, I hope that wasn’t too bad of an admission, but Jason’s ticking cheekbone is telling me different. Needing to change the subject ASAP, I try for a diversion.
“Anyway, I owe you another round. Dare. I pick dare this time.”
Jason’s eyes are still narrowed on me, his hazel orbs assessing, as if they could somehow find all of my childhood scars and unearth them. Good luck. I’ve buried those suckers deep, and I doubt even his Dick Tracy will be able to find them.
“Good. I dare you to ask me for help.”
My heartbeat thuds in my ears. “What?” I’m blinking at him in disbelief. “Out of all the things you could dare me to do, you choose that?”
He’s grinning like the Cheshire cat. “Yes.”
“But why?”
“Honestly? Because you don’t strike me as the type of person who ever does. From where I sit, you seem to shoulder everything. Things like helping your best friend with moving in, or even now, coming to help your mother when you should be getting ready for college in the fall.”
My cheeks heat and face flushes. He’s spot on. I’d rather die than ask for help. Help others? No problem. But me asking for help? Yeah, no.
Melissa says it’s my achilles heel. That it’ll be my downfall. And as I stare into this man’s eyes, I can’t help but think she was right.
“What’s it going to be, baby girl? What can I do for you?”
Teleport me back to Colorado. To a point in time where I didn’t know you were real. But of course, I don’t say this. Not only because it isn’t possible, but because it’s not what I really want. To not know that he exists, that this sort of connection is possible, would be nothing short of a travesty.
“I don’t know, Jason. I’m not sure that I need help with anything.” And that’s the truth. I’m so used to doing everything on my own, I’m drawing straight blanks when I try to think of one solitary thing.
Calloused fingers graze my cheek. “It’ll get easier with time. You’ll see.”
Goosebumps rise across my skin and I shiver. “What will get easier?”
“Relying on me.” Something like possession flashes in his eyes but he quickly tempers it. “For now, just think of a task you’ve been meaning to do but haven’t had time to get around to.”
“That’s easy. I’ve been meaning to research cars. I’ll be trekking to Montana in a couple of months and I don’t think my little Civic will make it.” I sigh. “It’ll need to be something that can drive in a harsh climate, is decent on gas, and is around thirty grand.”
“I can definitely help with that.” He’s smiling as if I’ve just given him a gift, instead of the other way around. “And now it’s my turn again. I choose dare.”
I snicker, knowing that what I’m about to ask is nearly impossible. “I dare you to come up with a three-course meal, using only ingredients found on this boat.”
Jason’s eyes go wide. “Oh, you’re good. Real good.”
“I know,” I preen, my cheeks hurting from how hard I’m smiling. That is until Jason answers, his words making my mouth go slack.
“Too bad, I’m better.” And with a wink, he’s off. Gone to conjure a small miracle.
