Chapter Eight
Jayce had expected to fall right to sleep. The bed was beyond comfortable, and he was beyond exhausted, but he found himself tossing and turning. Maybe it was because he was overtired. Or maybe it was because he couldn’t stop thinking about Bree. He knew there wasn't a chance for a relationship, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy her company. She was unlike any woman he’d ever known, and if he wasn’t careful, he feared his heart might win over common sense. There was no doubt he was going to have to keep reminding himself not to fall victim to her charm.
At some point, his lids grew too heavy to keep open, and he drifted off to sleep. The next morning he woke later than he’d wanted. Bree was already out on the deck having breakfast. There was a plate full of pastries in the middle of the table, another filled with fruit, a pitcher of orange juice, and a pot of coffee.
“Good morning.” She shielded her eyes from the sun as she looked up at him. “Hungry?”
“I’m more of a cereal kind of guy.”
“There should be some in one of the cabinets. They keep this place well stocked.”
Jayce wandered into the kitchen and found a box of corn flakes, but the only milk was rice milk, and he wasn’t about to use that, so he headed back to the deck with a bowl of dry cereal.
“What’s that?” Bree asked when he sat down.
“Corn flakes.”
“I know that. Where’s the milk?”
“There isn’t any.”
She frowned. “I thought I saw a carton.”
“It’s rice milk.”
“That’s good. Did you try it?”
He poured himself a glass of juice. “Nope. Don’t need to. I like regular milk. Not skim. Not fat-free. And not rice.”
Her gentle laugh rippled through the air. “Well, that’s easily remedied.” Bree reached for the resort cell phone that was beside her breakfast plate and asked for a carton of milk. After she hung up, she took a few more bites of her croissant, and then leaned back in her chair. “What would you like to do today?”
“I’ve always wanted to go snorkeling.”
She shot him a dazzling smile. “That sounds perfect.”
When the butler arrived with the milk, she said to him, “We’d like to charter a boat for the day. A glass bottom one, if available.”
“I will arrange that for you, Miss Wilson, and call you with the details,” the butler replied.
“Thank you.” After he left, Bree said, “We’ll sail around the island. There are lots of hidden beaches and private reefs to discover.”
“Should be fun.” While he ate, Bree went over to the end of the deck and called her dad. Jayce could tell by the look on her face that she was worried about him. “Everything okay?” he asked when she came back to the table.
Fear glittered in her eyes. “My dad has a heart condition. The night before I left to come here, he had a dizzy spell. He told me he was fine and not to worry, but of course, I do, and plan to check on him periodically.”
“I’m sorry. I hope he’s going to be fine. I know how important family is.” Jayce couldn’t keep the sadness from his voice, and Bree picked up on it.
“Do your parents live on the farm with you?”
“They did.” A flash of grief ripped through him, and he swallowed hard the lump in his throat. “They died three years ago. A car accident. Hit by a drunk driver.”
She let out a small gasp and sank into the chair beside him. “I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks. But at least they were together. They would’ve wanted that. I don’t think one could’ve survived without the other.” Memories of them flashed through his mind. His breath hitched in his throat, but he knew they were in a better place, and that thought comforted him. “Every Friday night was their date night. They went to dinner and the movies, but that night they never came home.”
Bree reached over and put her hand over his. Her skin was soft and warm and felt good against his.
“They kept the romance alive for thirty-one years.”
Although Bree blinked quickly, it was clear there were tears in her eyes. “They were lucky. I don’t think many can claim that. I know my parents couldn’t. My mom was a nightmare. She left when I was four, and I haven’t seen her since, but I’m sure that’s a good thing.” Although she put on a tough facade, the pain in her eyes was apparent. “We should probably get dressed,” she said, changing the subject and taking her hand off his. “We could get a call at any moment that the boat’s ready.”
Jayce helped her pile up their dishes and carry them into the kitchen. As he watched her go upstairs, his heart went out to her. He’d had his parents for most of his life. She only had her mother for the first few years. That had to have hurt her, even if she didn’t know it, and may have something to do with why she was still single.