Chapter Six
Jayce’s disappointment in his match tore at his heart, and a flash of loneliness stabbed at him. Would he ever find someone to share his life with? Bree sure was gorgeous, and even though he’d always been attracted to petite blondes, when he spotted the tall, shapely brunette, he got a tingling in the pit of his stomach. An attraction could’ve been there if she hadn’t been a city girl from New York. There was no way to make that work. He’d been down that road before with Susan. Look how that ended, and she didn’t live twelve hundred miles away. Nope. There was no way a relationship with Bree was in his future. It’s too bad he’d gotten his hopes up that Perfect Match would find him, someone, he could fall in love with. He should’ve known better. It wasn’t an easy job finding a match for him.
He fought back the sinking despair that threatened to overwhelm him and slipped on his sunglasses. Jayce wasn’t entirely sorry that he’d taken the trip. Bali was terrific, and he’d never been to the ocean before. Without wasting another minute, he headed out the sliding glass door onto the deck. It was a short trek beyond the gazebo and swimming pool before Jayce reached the beach. As he walked to the water’s edge, the silky sand felt good between his toes. He waded in enough to let the waves lap over his ankles and wet the bottom of his jeans. The crystal clear water sparkled like turquoise glass. The sound of the waves mesmerized him so much so that he lost track of time and didn’t realize Bree was beside him until she said hello.
“I’ve been here so many times, yet I never get over the beauty of this place.” Her voice was like velvet.
“I’ve never been to the beach before.”
Her mouth dropped open. “You haven’t?”
“Nope. Never left Nebraska.”
The heavy lashes that shadowed her cheeks flew up. “Your profile said you weren’t a traveler, but I had no idea that meant you’d never left your state.”
He shrugged. “Never had reason to, I guess. Runnin’ a dairy farm doesn’t leave much time for anything else.”
“Yet you left now in the hopes of meeting your perfect match.” Her green eyes were serenely compelling, and he imagined many guys in her past had been mesmerized by them. “I’m sorry we’re not right for each other,” she went on to say, “but I’m not sorry that you’re here. And I’m happy that you decided to stay. Everyone needs to experience this paradise. At least once in their life.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” He studied her more closely than he had upon meeting her, noting her delicate face had high exotic cheekbones, full rounded lips over even white teeth, and smooth skin that glowed with pale gold undertones. She might very well be the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Why in the world was she still single? That was hardly a question to ask someone he barely knew, but maybe at some point, as he got to know her better, he’d find out what her story was.
Bree held up the bottom of her floral sundress and walked farther into the water, letting the waves cover her knees. When he followed her, she looked over at him and laughed. “You’re getting your pants all wet.”
“They’ll dry.”
She raised a finely arched brow at him. “The men I’ve known wouldn’t dare get their thousand dollar jeans soaked with salt water.”
He was momentarily speechless in his surprise. “I’m not ashamed to say mine cost a fraction of that. Maybe you’ve been seeing the wrong kind of guys.”
She seemed to contemplate that for a moment before saying, “You might be right about that. The men I’ve dated cared more about how they looked than having a good time. Or me for that matter,” she added a few seconds later. “Guess that’s why traveling around the world alone hasn’t been so bad. Although, it would be nice…” She let her words trail off, but he knew what she was going to say. She’d come here for the same reason he had—to meet that special someone.
“Those men must’ve been fools.” He didn’t know why he said that. The words just seemed to slip off his tongue, and when her cheeks turned pink, he quickly added, “Were your travels for leisure?”
“Some were, but mostly for business.”
“What do you do?”
She hesitated a moment. “I work with my dad. You might have heard of Wilson International. We build and renovate golf clubs, hotels, and resorts. We’re in the process of building one now right here in Bali.”
“Of course I’ve heard of Wilson.” He should’ve made the connection. He’d read an article not too long ago about the billion-dollar business, but he never imagined he’d be matched with the gorgeous heir. “That would explain why you chose this location. A little work with your leisure, am I right?”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“Not at all. I’d probably do the same thing if I were in your shoes.”
“Really? Everyone I know wished I wouldn’t work while I’m here.”
“Working in moderation is fine, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your having fun.”
“Yeah, well, that’s been the story of my life. All work and practically no play. I guess if I met the right guy that would change.” Biting her lip, she looked away.
“I’m starving aren’t you?”
“I’m beyond hungry.”
“Why don’t we head back to the villa and order some food?”
“Race you!”
Before he could answer, she was out of the water and bolting across the sand with her long, dark hair blowing around her like strands of ebony. It didn’t take him long to catch up with her. He hadn’t expected such playfulness in someone so sophisticated and elegant, but he liked it and hoped it would continue for the entire week.