“Tell me about last night.” Sitting at a table on the villa’s patio, Sadie watched Jack over the lip of her coffee cup.

“You surprise me, Ms. Carter,” Jack rumbled with a laugh. “I thought it was quite obvious what happened last night. And since you were a willing and eager participant, I’m not sure what you want me to elaborate on. Though,” he easily batted away the piece of croissant Sadie threw at him, “I’m more than happy to revisit the finer points with you. Any time you’d like. You just open that sweet mouth and ask.”

“Fuck you, Jack Avery,” Sadie huffed, one corner of her mouth quirked upward.

“My point exactly,” he grinned. “Obviously you’re very clear on what happened.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

“Oh,” Jack raised an imperious brow, but his eyes twinkled in the morning sun. “Then you better explain exactly what you want to know. Because me and my sex-addled brain cannot keep up.”

“I know about the call with your Board of Directors, Jack.”

“Ah,” Jack’s smile faded and he glanced down to where his fingers were carefully folded in his lap.

“I know Janine wanted you back in New York for the meeting. I know you and Mark decided to stay here. Despite the fact that it was an emergency, Jack. That was the word Janine used: emergency. So please don’t blow it off like it’s not important. Not after…,” Sadie paused, searching for a word to encompass everything burgeoning between them. Losing her nerve, she finished lamely, “last night.”

For several moments Jack sat silent, his eyes fixed beyond the pool while his fingers brushed invisible crumbs off the table. When Sadie leaned forward to speak again, he pushed his chair back and walked away.

Bad sign, bad sign, Sadie’s brain was practically yelling at her. Jack stopped at the end of the pool, his bare toes dangling just inches from the surface of the sparkling water. Sadie had a clear view of the tension running through his back. His shoulders were tight, his neck stiff.

The croissant she’d eaten was a heavy weight in her stomach and Sadie tried to calm the anxiety crawling up her spine. You don’t know what happened, she reminded herself. You didn’t actually want him to lose his company, did you? Are you insane? Is that the only way you see this working? Jack stripped of everything he’s always worked for, but, on the plus side, he gets to be with you? Sadie, doll, you are pretty kick-ass, but do you really think it works out this way? Especially when you aren’t willing to do the same for him….?

Sadie was deep in the throes of a shouting match with her brain when Jack abruptly returned to the table and sat down with a thud.

“I was going to tell you last night,” Jack’s solemn words cut across Sadie’s mental diatribe. He was looking at her, watchful, absorbing every flick of emotion crossing her face. “That’s why I called you, actually. Why I wanted you to come. So I could tell you everything that had happened. But…,” Jack dropped his eyes down before returning them to her face, “once you got here, once I saw you again, after yesterday morning…I just didn’t want to talk Sadie. I saw you and everything else fell away. Which,” a wry smile passed over his wonderfully wicked lips, “is something I’m still getting used to. About you. About us.”

He was leaning towards her, a thick lock of dark hair cutting across his forehead, the ends tangling in his thick lashes. Without thought, Sadie reached across the table and brushed it back, letting her fingers slide through the glossy strands before falling away. But when she tried to pull her hand back, Jack clasped it in one of his own and held tight.

“Everything you heard from Janine is correct. About the board calling an emergency meeting. About me and Mark not returning to be there in person. Though,” Jack prodded her with a questioning look, “I’m surprised she said anything to you about it. It’s hardly something you’d need to know; it doesn’t have anything to do with your job here.”

“Ah,” it was Sadie’s turn to glance away. “Well, technically, Janine only mentioned it after I brought it up. I found out from my own assistant.”

“Who found out from…?”

Hoping she wasn’t about to get him into a world of trouble, “Umm, from Conner. And also Janine. Assistants. They’re a tight bunch. Two truths: they always know the dirt; and you never want to piss them off.”

Thinking about his conversation with Janine yesterday, Jack smiled. “You realize you are revealing your sources, Sadie. That’s considered very poor form in some circles.”

“True,” Sadie hedged, “but, to be fair, I only got curious after that first night in my room, when it became apparent that something serious was going on. Something that was causing you a lot of stress.” Jack smiled at the concern in her face and dropped a light kiss to the inside of her palm. She should have stopped there. But Sadie allowed the words to keep coming.

“And after Trina mentioned that D&A International might be undergoing some restructuring, I started to connect the dots. That whatever was happening with the Board was serious enough to potentially threaten your business. Maybe even you.”

Jack dropped her hand. His voice was wooden. “Threaten my business.”

“Yes…?” Sadie was confused when she saw the blankness sweep across Jack’s face. “Doesn’t it, Jack? Isn’t that why you’ve been so on edge?”

Sadie’s concern flared when Jack pressed his lips into a tight line, his knuckles white as he tightened his grip on the table.

“Trina…,” Jack’s voice was flat.

“My boss.”

“So, let me see if I understand this – your boss happened to mention that my company is about to undergo some – what did you call it – ‘restructuring.’ And you were concerned. Enough to do some digging, to see if the shit I’ve been dealing with this week was in any way connected.”

Sadie wanted to look away, to escape the hardness in his eyes, but she kept hers level on Jack’s as she nodded.

“Ah.” His nod was sharp. “What does that mean, typically, Sadie? When your boss talks about your clients ‘restructuring’.” Every time Jack formed quotes with his fingers his movements became more and more stiff.

“Well,” Sadie cleared her throat, slowly starting to see the hole she was digging. “When Trina talks about it, in that context, it usually means the client is going to pull back on events.”

“Which means…,” Jack prompted flatly.

“Which means,” Sadie released on a sharp breath, “that we are going to lose business.”

“And there we have it.” Jack gave Sadie a hard stare, before he jumped up from the table and began pacing.

“Jack…?” Sadie tried to reach for him as he crossed in front of her, but he easily brushed her hand away. “Jack,” she sharpened her tone. “What’s going on?”

“Are you honestly asking me that question, Sadie? Because surely – surely _– you can answer it better than I can.”

Utterly lost, Sadie stood and blocked him as he tried to breeze past her again. Jack didn’t shake her off when she wrapped her hand around his arm, but his muscles stayed hard, unyielding under her grasp.

“I don’t understand….”

Jack cut her off, “Tell me, Sadie. Tell me this wasn’t just about business.”

Sadie felt a rush of cold assault her chest even as she tried to figure out how the conversation had taken such a wrong turn. Jack stepped forward and she had to tilt her head back to maintain eye contact. And what she saw there caused her chest to spasm in pain.

“Tell me, Sadie. That you haven’t been sleeping with me just so you could get close. So you could get information about what’s been happening with the board.”

“Jack, no!” If Sadie hadn’t felt winded, her words would have come out as a shout. But as it was, they barely made a dent in his growing frustration.

“Sadie,” Jack closed his eyes but they were even more clouded when he looked back at her. “Are you asking me to write this off as a coincidence? That you suddenly welcomed me to your bed the same week you found out that you might be about to lose one of your biggest clients?”

“Jack. Stop.” Sadie was shaking her head vehemently, trying to get him to stop his angry tirade, to give her a chance to speak. But Jack barreled on.

“You’re smart, Sadie. You see how this looks.” His words rained down like nails, sharp and unforgiving. “The view, I can assure you, is bleak. Because you were either fucking me for information. Or to keep my business. Either way….”

Rage rising, Sadie cut him off before Jack could release more awful accusations. “That. Is. Enough. Stop, Jack.” Sadie ground her teeth down until she was certain she wasn’t going to scream – or push him into the pool – before continuing in a wickedly calm voice.

“Is that what you think? That I’d whore myself out? For business? For your business? God damn it, Jack,” Sadie tightened her grip on his arm, willing him to remain silent. “For all of your insistence that you know me, I’d say that you missed by a mile.” Fire flashing in her eyes, Sadie glared at him. “Listen to me very clearly, Jack, because we are never going to repeat this conversation, understand?

“If I take a man into my bed it is for one reason and one reason only: because I want him. Not his business, not his money. And certainly not his judgment. Just him,” Sadie jabbed a finger into Jack’s chest. “I want to find pleasure with him, and him with me. This isn’t some ridiculous fairy tale. I’m not some chaste maiden waiting to be saved by prince charming.  And I sure as hell am not some whore,” Jack visibly flinched as she threw the word at him, shame visible on his face, “trading my body for money or insider information. What the fuck, Jack?” Sadie was shaking with anger, her voice one decibel away from shouting.

Releasing his arm, Sadie spun away, hair flying wild as she hauled in a breath. Her back to him, she squeezed her eyes shut against the onslaught of images of their nights together. “After all of it, everything we’ve done…,” Sadie almost choked on the words catching in her throat.

“Sadie,” Jack’s tone was soft, contrite. But Sadie wasn’t ready to face him. Or let him see the tears stinging her eyes.

“Tell me, Jack. Is that what you really think this is? What last night was?”

“No,” his breath tickled the back of her neck as he released the word on a sigh. “No, Sadie. I’m sorry. Please, turn around. I should never have said it. Never doubted you. Please….”

Sadness deepened his voice and Sadie felt herself lean back towards him. Traitor, she scolded her body. Quickly brushing away a tear that had escaped, she turned and leveled him with a severe look.

“How?” Sadie winced at the pain she saw dulling Jack’s eyes. The pain of hurting her. But also the pain that their relationship might be built on a lie. “How could you possibly think I would do that? To myself? To you?”

Jack dropped his head to his chest and Sadie willed herself to not reach out to comfort him. Her head and her heart, always at war over this man.

“This week. The board. This trip. You.” Jack scrubbed his hands across his face. “There is so much going on in here,” Jack tapped his head before spreading his hand across his chest, “and here. I didn’t realize it could feel like this. I thought…,” Jack gave a rueful shake. “It feels like my life, all of it, every decision, every outcome, fit into a tight little puzzle. Pieces evenly matched up, slotted together. But then you come along and I’m a complete jumble. Like you’ve given me a violent shake and broken everything apart before slowly putting it – me – all back together. But this time I can feel how poorly assembled I was before. Like I’d shoved pieces into the wrong spots, forcing them to fit where they didn’t belong. Until now. Until you. And, Sadie, god,” Jack shook his head, “I feel whole in a way I didn’t realize was possible. And it is breathtaking. But also a little terrifying.”

Dragging his fingers through his hair, Jack hauled in a breath before continuing. “I had no idea it would be like this, Sadie. I’ve dreamed about being with you for so long, I should have been prepared for the reality of it, right?” Jack gave a sad little laugh. “But, like most dreams, experiencing it in life can be a shock to the system. It’s so real but at the same time so foreign. I feel like I’m balancing between having everything I’ve ever wanted and losing it in a heartbeat. And I think it’s driving me a little mad.” Jack smiled meekly, the nervousness of the gesture so at odds with the sleek power and determined lines of his body.

Jack reached for Sadie’s hand but hesitated, waiting for her to close the distance. When he felt the weight of her skin against his some of his tension faded and he continued. “I’m sorry, Sadie.” Jack’s sincerity shone bright in his eyes. “I should never have accused you of anything like that. God, I can’t apologize enough. But the thought that you might only be with me because you were trying to protect business. I didn’t expect it to hurt so much. And on top of everything else. The shit Max has been pulling. Hearing that the news somehow reached your boss…. I kind of lost it.”

Jack bent his knees, bringing his eyes level with Sadie’s. “I’m so sorry, Sadie. Can you forgive me?” The look he gave her caused Sadie’s pulse to leap. Hope, fear, sorrow and something far more elemental captured in the honey-green hue.

Sadie wanted to say yes. Wanted to give him the word he was dying to hear. But she wanted – needed – to know if D&A International was a hurdle they still needed to clear. When she didn’t respond immediately Jack’s expression started to hollow out, like he was putting up a shield so Sadie wouldn’t see his defeat. Stepping towards him, Sadie lifted their laced hands and pressed them to her chest.

“Tell me about last night, Jack.”

His attention focused on where his fingers rested against her breast, Jack released a shaky sigh before answering.

“Max Hurst, Mark’s uncle. Chairman of our board. Single largest investor in our company. He’s been trying to push us out, me and Mark. It took us longer to realize than it should have, but looks like that had been his plan all along. We’re not one-hundred-percent certain of his motive. Mark thinks there is something in their family history that’s been driving him, pushing him to humiliate Mark. And me along with.” Jack’s eyes flashed in anger. “He called the emergency meeting to hold a vote of no confidence. Even had our replacements waiting in the wings.”

“Shit, Jack.” Sadie felt an answering fury running through her. “That’s….”

“A really dick move? Yeah. But that’s not all of it. Max was going to use a deal that went south as the basis for the vote. One we made to buy up a small software company last year. But something about it was nagging at me, couldn’t figure it out. Until yesterday. When Mark and I realized that the guy Max had slotted as my replacement, a real charmer named Philip Carson, was on the board of the rival company that sabotaged our deal, well, it all became too coincidental. So we dug deeper.

“You have no idea just how right you are, Sadie, what you said about not pissing off assistants. Janine was able to work some of her magic and connect with Carson’s admin. Turns out he is even worse than his reputation and she was more than happy to do some digging on our behalf. As a tidy form of payback for how awful he’s been to her.”

“What was she able to find?”

Jack’s lips cracked into a wide, shark-like grin; no warmth, all predator. “Nothing short of proof that Max had leaked information about our deal to Carson who then used it to get our competitor out ahead of us, enabling them to release a product that made ours redundant before the ink on the deal was dry. Emails, texts, records of phone calls, times they met. It might not be concrete enough for criminal charges, but it sure was convincing enough for our board. Not only was Max not able to call the vote, he was forced to relinquish his shares and step down as chairman. I don’t regret not being there in person but, damn, it would have been nice to see Max’s face when his plan came crashing down.”

“God, Jack. I had no idea.” Sadie shook her head. “I had no idea it was that bad. So, does that mean,” she sucked in a quick breath, “that means D&A International is still yours? Yours and Mark’s?”

“Yes. In fact, even more so than before. Because now Max’s shares revert back to us. We haven’t decided exactly if – or how – we’ll redistribute them, but for the time being Mark and I together have controlling shares of the company. By a wide margin. And no one is going to be able to force us to go anywhere.”

Catching the triumph in his face, Sadie smiled even as uneasiness weighed down her chest. “I’m so happy for you, Jack. That it worked out, that you were able to beat Max at his own game. You must be so relieved.”

“Relieved, yes. But still pissed as hell. That Max would do that to us, to Mark, his own nephew. And that it looks like he’s been planning it for years. And really fucking pissed that it took us so long to catch on. Our own blindness, Sadie, that makes the betrayal even worse. We trusted him and he tried to fuck us over, hard.”

“Shit.” Sadie blew out a heavy breath. “I’m sorry, Jack.”

Untangling their fingers, Jack balanced Sadie’s jaw lightly in his hands, searching her eyes. “Thanks, but there’s nothing for you to be sorry about. This mess falls squarely on me, Mark, and Max.”

“No,” Sadie shook her head in Jack’s grasp, “not that. I can see now how my questions – or at least the way I asked them – could have come across as calculated. After being betrayed by someone so close to you, who you’ve known for such a long time, it isn’t hard to understand why you might see ulterior motives in others. Especially people you’ve only known for a short time.”

“Sadie, no.” Jack tipped her head towards his, resting their foreheads together as he wrapped one arm around the small of her back. With their bodies flush, Sadie felt the erratic beat of Jack’s heart match her own. “That’s the thing. I do know you. Every part of me is certain about that. Which is why I’m so sorry for lashing out at you like I did. Because there’s no chance in this world that you’d even think, let alone do anything so underhanded. The best I can do is claim temporary insanity, Sadie. Because you have me so enthralled that I have a hard time thinking straight.”

Jack kissed Sadie’s forehead and she let herself sink into his wide chest. “Are you saying, Jack,” Sadie released on a giggle, “that I’m driving you insane?”

Jack’s chuckle rumbled against her breasts. “If it means that this, that we are real, you can lock me up in the loony bin for the rest of my life and I’ll be perfectly content. As long as you’re there with me.”

Sadie’s head fell back as Jack slid his fingers up from her jaw into the depths of her hair and took her mouth in a possessive kiss. The fight and frustration that they’d felt moments ago paled in comparison to the passion that flared between them. Lips and tongues, Jack plundered while Sadie gave him free reign over her mouth. Sighs and moans, Jack quaked when Sadie nipped his lower lip and curled her hands tightly into his shirt. Sadie felt them hurtling back into the heated hours that had ravaged them the night before when Jack pulled back abruptly.

His lips tickled hers as he murmured, “It is real. We are real. Not just here, not just on the island. But anywhere, everywhere in the world. It’s you and me now, Sadie. Tell me yes.” Jack brushed her lips and Sadie shivered in his arms. “Tell me I have you, Sadie. I need to hear you say it.”

God, how she wanted to say it. That one little word. And sink back into the tantalizing heat of their kiss. But despite the comfort of his arms and the conviction of his words, Sadie couldn’t silence the voice hollering in her head. Because despite his apologies, Jack had been the first to accuse her of the very thing Lizzie had warned her about. And if he could think that, even for one second, Sadie wasn’t sure if her life would survive the judgment and rumors waiting on the mainland.

Jack tightened his grip. He started to speak but Sadie cut him off.

“It is real, Jack. More so than I could ever have imagined.” She drew a deep breath, steadying herself. “Ever since Colorado, I’ve tried so hard to ignore my attraction to you. I’ve told myself for months and months that it was a mistake, that kiss. That I shouldn’t want more. That I shouldn’t want you. For all the reasons I explained yesterday. For the very reason you just accused me off.” Sadie pressed her finger to Jack’s lips when he tried to interrupt and she could practically see the hope dying in his eyes. “You said it yourself, Jack. I do see how it would look to everyone else.”

Everywhere their bodies touched, Sadie could feel the small tremors running through him, like he was willing himself to stay in one piece even as his body threatened to fracture. His eyes were closed as if he was preparing for the final blow but couldn’t bear to watch it coming. Sadie smiled softly and brought her mouth to his.

“But, Jack,” she brushed light kisses on his lips, his cheek, the corner of his eyes, “despite all of the reasons, I can’t pretend that I don’t want you. That I don’t want this wild, crazy thing between us. Because I do, Jack. I want you so badly. More than I can possibly say.” Sadie sank her hands into Jack’s hair and pushed herself up onto her toes so she could whisper her confession against his parted lips.

“I can’t even begin to describe what you do to me. The way you make me feel, on fire, so consumed but so cherished and empowered at the same time. Your mind, your body, your words, they create this storm inside of me, Jack, that only you can calm. You are my addiction and my cure rolled up into one.”

They were both shaking, a live current jumping between them as Sadie poured her heart out and Jack absorbed her confession as if it was the only thing he needed to survive. So as she continued, Sadie steeled her heart and hoped that the cracks forming wouldn’t cause it to split apart, shattering at their feet.

“The things that you say you love about me Jack, all of those details you listed that night in the cabana – where was I when you first noticed them?”

“Working. You were working,” he answered quietly.

“Exactly. And though I’d never say that I’m defined by my job, my career has shaped me tremendously, Jack. I’m proud of it. Proud of my achievements, my team, the things I’ve been able to accomplish. And we both know that our relationship will threaten that. Despite everything my heart is screaming, begging me to do, my mind is firm, Jack. I would never ask you to jeopardize your career for me. I can hardly ask the same thing of myself.”

Jack’s breath caught, his hands fisting into her robe at the small of her back. And his eyes…she couldn’t look away. So clear, so open, Sadie felt herself drowning in the love she saw blazing within them. Love. That was the only word she could think to describe it, the depth of emotion that Jack laid bare to her.

That battle between her head and her heart: one was on the verge of triumph, the other on the brink of utter annihilation. Sadie straightened her spine.  He won’t let you go, Sadie. Which means you have to be strong enough to break free.

Hauling in a breath, Sadie began to speak when Jack gave her temple a gentle kiss. It wasn’t until he dotted a few more across both cheeks that she realized she was crying and Jack was wordlessly catching each tear as it fell.

“Sadie, love.”

“Jack, please,” her voice was quiet, pleading. “Let me say this. I need to…,” Sadie’s entreaty died when Jack crushed her to his chest, her head burrowing into the hollow of his shoulder.

“Tell me the truth, Sadie,” Jack’s voice rumbled against her ear where it rested above his heart. “Is my position at D&A International the only thing holding you back?”

Sadie managed a nod.

“So if our work relationship was no longer an issue, you’d be with me? No question?”

Squeezing her eyes shut, she nodded again.

“Then, Sadie,” Jack kissed the top of her head, “stay with me. Here. This weekend.”

Sadie squirmed and Jack loosened his grip, his clear eyes meeting her confused ones. “Jack,” Sadie sputtered, “have you heard anything I’ve just said?”

One of his brilliant smiles brightening his face, Jack nodded, “every word, love. Which is why you need to stay. We’ll start fresh. No hesitations, no stolen kisses. No sneaking around. And no work relationship getting in our way.”

“I…,” her head was spinning, “Jack, I don’t understand….”

“I’m not your client anymore.”

“You’re…not…my…client…,” panic started to climb in Sadie’s chest, quickly followed by confusion. “What did you do, Jack? You haven’t pulled your business, have you? Please tell me you aren’t firing our firm….”

Jack jerked back in surprise before letting out a bark of laugher. Sadie pounded her fists against his chest, her brain unable to reconcile his behavior with what he was saying, but Jack cut her off. Mirth still lingered as he kissed her quick and hard.

“No, no, Sadie,” he chuckled against her mouth. “I may lose my mind on occasion but I’m not completely insane. Or that much of an asshole. I’m kind of offended the thought even crossed your mind,” Jack pouted but his eyes held nothing but happiness. “I’m not telling you that D&A International is no longer your client. I’m telling you that I no longer work for D&A International.”

“Wait, what?” Sadie stared, her mouth slightly agape. “I don’t understand. You just said…about Max…how it still belongs to you and Mark. More than ever. That you won’t ever be forced out.”

“Um-hmm,” Jack traced her lower lip before dropping another kiss. “I did say that, yes. Because it is true. I won’t be forced out of my company, Sadie. Not by Max. Not by anyone. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t leave it of my own free will.”

As Jack’s meaning become clear, Sadie’s knees buckled slightly. Jack just held her tighter.

“You didn’t, Jack. Please tell me you didn’t leave your company – the company you have worked your entire adult life to build – for me.” Sadie could hear the alarm in her voice. “I didn’t ask you to do that. I would never ask you to do that.”

“Love,” Jack said it so calmly, with so much certainty. “I did do it. And I know you wouldn’t ask. But it doesn’t matter if you did or not, because that’s not the reason. I did it because I want to. Because I am ready to start something new. For me. For us. It’s the right decision. And the right time. Entirely of my own doing. For all the right reasons.” Jack smiled, so much feeling poured into such a simple gesture.

“Besides, I’m not walking away entirely. Mark and I are still figuring out the details, but I’ll keep my shares. Just not my position. I’ll be a silent partner. An invisible reminder that Mark has to keep his ass in line. God knows what would happen if he was left entirely to his own devices.”

Jack’s laugh disappeared into Sadie’s fervent kiss. She was at a loss for words. Her body practically afloat with joy, Sadie’s mind was wonderfully mute. So she poured everything she couldn’t say into their embrace. Her elation, her relief. Her disbelief and gratitude that Jack would do something so selfless just to be with her. And, encompassing it all, her love for the magnificent man meeting all of her wordless confessions with his own, his lips and sighs in perfect sync with hers.

“You’ll stay,” Jack managed to utter between kisses.

“I’ll stay,” Sadie confirmed before she pulled his head back down to hers.

Jack was propelling them back toward his bedroom door when the shrill ring of his phone cut through their love-filled fog. Jack tried to ignore it, letting it carry over into voice mail, but by the third call Sadie pulled away and shot the thing a vicious glare.

“They aren’t going to give up,” she managed between heavy breaths. “So you better get it now before they interrupt at an even less convenient time.”

Jack muttered something under his breath but released Sadie long enough to grab his phone. Sadie was teasing his neck with small bites when she felt him tense against her, every muscle locked tight.

“Jack?” His face was stoic but there was fire, cold and raging, behind the surface. “Jack, what is it?” Sadie almost stumbled when Jack stepped back from her abruptly. He violently swiped his fingers across his phone, curse after curse coming out of his mouth as he read the messages filling the screen.

“Jack!” Sadie grabbed his arm, forcing his attention back to her. Sadie swallowed a gasp at the look on his face. It wasn’t just the anger raging across his features that startled her. But also the wild look of a trapped animal, caged and fearful, lurking underneath. “Jack, tell me what’s wrong.”

Shaking his head, Jack unclenched his jaw. “I will. But I have to go right now. Deal with something. I’ll explain everything when I get back. I promise.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

Jack’s short laugh was dark and hollow, a far cry from the elation that had filled him only minutes ago. “Sadie, love, I wish there was. But this is something I need to sort out myself. I shouldn’t be long.” Jack captured her once more and kissed her forehead quickly. “You’ll be here when I get back?”

“Yes, Jack.”

“Promise?” There was no teasing in his eyes, just a fervent need for Sadie to agree.

“I promise.”

Jack nodded abruptly and kissed Sadie one last time before rushing into the villa, his phone cracking under the pressure of his grip.