Chapter Five

THE beauty of the beach spot took Adam’s breath away. Waves roared as they struck the coral cliffs, and the nearly full moon illuminated the whitecaps in their wake. Tiny crabs skittered around them, and the spray from the waves below caught the light and shimmered as it danced in the air.

“It’s…. This is….”

“My favorite place on earth,” Jonah said.

Adam shivered at the sound of Jonah’s voice from directly behind him. Too much to drink, he told himself, knowing it for the lie it was. The truth was that it had been too long since he’d allowed himself to look at another man, let alone one as attractive—and fascinating—as Jonah James.

The cool breeze felt refreshing against Adam’s cheeks and lifted the slightly sweaty hair at his neck. He sighed and closed his eyes momentarily, allowing the beauty to invade his senses and push all thoughts from his mind.

“Thank you,” he said after the longest time. The words seemed a paltry acknowledgment of the gift Jonah had given him. He’d never have found this place on his own.

Jonah gestured to the ground and they sat. Adam hugged his knees and rested his chin on them.

“It’s peaceful,” Jonah said, his words nearly lost as another wave broke.

Something in how Jonah said this left Adam wondering if he had his own internal turmoil to quiet. What a strange evening this had been. The way Jonah seemed to sense—no, understand—so much of what he felt. How Adam had spilled his guts to a man he’d just met and how it felt so natural. How Jonah had guessed at the truth but hadn’t pressed him to discuss more than he was comfortable. An evening of surprises.

And paradise. He nearly laughed at this thought, then decided he wouldn’t fight it. Paradise was a fantasy, after all. “Yes. It is.” The rough emotion in his own voice startled him.

Without thinking, he leaned in. Jonah hesitated, and Adam wondered if he’d misread the cues. He turned to look out over the ocean, but Jonah’s hand on his chin stopped him. Jonah gently guided Adam’s face to his own, and they kissed. Sweetly at first, lips barely brushing, then yielding entry.

Jonah tasted like the ocean, inviting and dangerous. Adam floated on the smooth surface of the kiss with the sure knowledge that in an instant he might drown.

Fantasy. And paradise. The stuff of the romance novels his mother used to read. No. Better than that.

Adam let his thoughts follow each wave, each breath.

“Feel any better?” Jonah finally asked after the kiss ended.

“Yes. There’s something about the ocean that helps me unwind. And this place—” Adam sighed. “I can’t think of a more perfect spot.”

“When I first moved to this area from Punta Cana,” Jonah explained, “I spent nearly every free day I had exploring the coastline. Sometimes on my bike, mostly on foot. I found this spot a few months later, and I never felt that urge to explore again.”

“You were looking for this.”

“Maybe.” Jonah’s expression changed almost imperceptibly, and Adam thought he saw a flicker of sadness or regret there.

“How did you end up in the Dominican Republic?”

Jonah shrugged. “Happy accident. But I’ve never regretted coming.”

What an odd response. There was clearly much more to the story, but Adam didn’t press the issue. He hoped to learn more about Jonah, but he understood that whatever was happening between them wouldn’t be more than a vacation fling.

“Where’s your zen place?” Jonah asked after another long silence.

“I’m not sure I’ve found one yet, although my family has a house in Napa I often stay at. Near a large vineyard. The view from the back patio is amazing in the fall, when the trees are starting to turn. I keep threatening to move the business out there.”

“You don’t live there permanently?”

“I have an apartment in San Francisco. It’s closer to Prestco’s offices in Silicon Valley.” Adam smiled and added, “I love San Francisco, don’t get me wrong.”

“But it’s not the same. Silicon Valley’s not exactly the place I’d want to spend a lot of time.”

“Have you worked there?”

Jonah appeared momentarily at a loss. “I’m not sure. Yes. I guess you could say that.”

Another strange answer. Still, Adam didn’t get the sense that Jonah was holding back.

“So tell me about your family,” Jonah said quickly, as if he’d realized what a bizarre answer he’d given and was attempting to change the topic.

“I… sure. Not much to tell, though. I think I mentioned my sister, Karen.”

“The patent attorney,” Jonah supplied.

“Right. And I have a brother, Roger. He’s a high school math teacher in San José.”

“Is your mother still alive?”

“Definitely.” Jonah chuckled. “And she’s a pistol too. She took my dad’s death pretty hard. Harder than the three of us. She lives in Florida. She left about six months after my dad died, and she rarely comes back to California.” At least they’d managed to agree to keep the family’s large home in Napa, even though the only regular inhabitants at the moment were Karen and her husband.

“Your sister put you up to coming here?”

Adam stared at Jonah. “How did you…?”

“It makes sense. Judging by how difficult it’s been for you to relax, I figured you weren’t really the type to take time off. Especially with a storm brewing.”

“She was right,” Adam admitted. “I need this. And one week isn’t going to make that big a difference.”

“Are you feeling a bit less on edge now?”

Adam considered the question. “I…. Yes. I guess this place’ll do that to you.” Having someone who wasn’t a family member to talk to didn’t hurt either. And he’s gorgeous. Not that he could forget that particular fact. He was already imagining Jonah shirtless. No. More than shirtless.

Adam sensed that Jonah wasn’t willing to talk about his history, so he let his own questions remain unasked and asked one he hoped would be less personal. “So what’s life like in paradise?”

The moonlight illuminated Jonah’s smiling face. “Not very exciting. Get up, eat breakfast, work, eat dinner, sleep, repeat.”

“You don’t make it sound very enticing.”

“If you look at it that way, it’s not.” Jonah wore a faraway expression, as though he was seeing something beyond the dark sky and the moon. “But that’s why it’s perfect. No stress. No one asking you to do something you don’t want to do. You do your job, and when you clock out, you’re done.”

“I guess if it makes you happy.” Adam was pretty sure he wouldn’t be happy like that, in spite of the stress of his own life. Being alone might be simpler, but he loved spending time with Karen and Ken at the house. And maybe with a grandchild on the way, his mother might be willing to come more often. The thought of being an uncle made him grin.

“We should be going back.” Jonah stood and offered Adam his hand. After he’d pulled Adam to his feet, they stood in the moonlight, close enough to touch. But Jonah didn’t lean in.

“Thanks for sharing this with me,” Adam said, wondering if he’d made Jonah uncomfortable with talk about being alone and wishing they could stay longer. If only he had the guts to kiss Jonah again.