Christmas Eve hits us the next day. After we finally pull ourselves out of bed, we meander on down to the main house for a boat trip with Mack and his family. I’m face to face with their big ass Christmas tree with more presents than were under it yesterday. Sydney and Cameron are excited, “See, we got more presents under the tree.”

As I watch the kids attack Sasha, I see that softer, sweeter side of this ice queen that I know exists.

Sydney is begging Sasha to pull her hair into a French braid and Cameron wants her to make one of her famous paper airplanes.

“I can make a paper airplane,” I say, taking a piece of paper but within a split second, Cameron grabs it from me.

“Sorry, Mr. Davis, but no one can make one as good as Sasha can. Her planes are those of legends.” He grins with big brown eyes, waiting patiently for her to finish Sydney’s hair. Anna is in the kitchen making us a lunch for the boat. Offering to help her, she shoves me out of the kitchen and I head toward Mack’s office just on the other side. It’s funny, I’ve known these people for four days and it’s as though I’ve known them my whole life.

The door is cracked and I am about to knock when I hear his voice raised, “Now you listen here, you have always been a bitch, thinking you can boss me around, but I’ve got every right to tell him you’re using him.” There is a silence. “No, you can’t do that. You have always been a self-righteous fucker, you know that.” With those words, he slams his hand on what I assume is the desk because I hear curse words as though he hurt himself. Pushing the door open, I see his face pale when he sees me there.

“I’m sorry, Mack. I didn’t really hear anything except that someone is threatening you and well, you called him or her a fucker. Which is obviously the correct response.” I have people I can call for help if I only knew what sort of trouble he’s in.

“No, it is just an investor, a silent investor that is getting greedy with some of the other properties I own.”

I have no idea there is more real estate he’s in charge of but, why would I? I’ve only known him four days.

I take in his hand, shaky yet clenched like he may take someone’s head off. I get it, money is as personal as it gets. The only worse scenario would be this silent investor threatening his family.

“Listen, Mack, it is none of my business, but I can help if you’re in trouble.”

He stands up quickly, bumping his knees on the bottom of his desk, “No, I got this, it’s nothing that a little boat ride won’t make right. I’ll deal with the asshole after the holidays.” I’ve heard these words delivered the same way by me when I was trying to convince myself that fucking Sylvie was not ruining my life in the past. Yet here I am, with a beautiful woman to keep me company for the week and a family I’m starting to adore.

“If you say so, Mack, but seriously, if you find yourself in a spot, I truly can help you.”

Walking past me, he clasps my shoulders and says, “I’m sure you can, Jake. Thanks.”

With that, the subject is closed and he goes to help his wife in the kitchen.

I find myself back in the living room and I see that Sasha has indeed made the best paper airplane in the world as Cameron flies it effortlessly around the living room. I quickly forget about Mack’s phone call as I come up behind Sasha, who is sitting on the sofa. Massaging her shoulders, a small moan escapes. Yep, everything before this moment is forgotten as I’m left with my Ginger.

* * *

Taking two cars to the marina, I watch Mack, someone for all intents and purposes I barely know, but in my job, I can read people. This man has all the telltale signs of someone hiding something. I realize I’m being stupid, this is the Caymans and I’m on vacation. I can’t be letting my job and all the paranoia that comes with it affect this time I have with Ginger.

As I help him load all the supplies onto his boat, one much larger than I thought, I keep one eye on Sasha. Call it the job or just the fact that we’re overseas and I’ve had my share of shit happen to me in other countries, but I don’t look away from her or the kids for too long. What I find odd is that Mack is doing the same thing. Fucking Sylvie has gotten in my mind and now I’m paranoid about everyone. Man, I wish I was this cautious when she roped me into this lifestyle. Fucking Sylvie! It’s funny how I can’t just say Sylvie, because with her comes her own cluster fuck that she brings to people’s lives.

Back to my thoughts on Sasha; I wonder what color swimsuit she’s wearing today that is blocked by the black dress covering every wonderful curve of her body.

“You can’t take your eyes off her, Jake,” Mack comments, lifting the last cooler for the day while I take the fishing polls in my hand.

“Hmm, I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I mock.

“Don’t be fucking coy with me. I mean, man, I like you and I would consider you a friend, even after a short amount of time knowing you. You’re decent and you care for her more than you’re willing to admit. Both of you do.” He adds that last part and I’m taken aback.

“So, what though? We have both two very different lives. I travel ninety percent of the time, have a business in China and I oversee a shit ton of crap. I’m not in the stage of life to give it up,” I say, thinking this conversation is over.

“But you left the states for a woman. The only reason you’d do that and get away is if you were willing to give her what she needed. But here you are with Sasha. I know I warned you a couple days ago that she was off limits for the future, but I don’t know now.” Mack turns his head to Anna, winking at her as she blows kisses his way. “Fuck, man, I would be lost in life without that woman. She’s my world and those devils we made together, they are proof our love exists.” He rakes his hand through his hair and says, “Listen, man, take this as you want to but you get one chance in life if you’re lucky. Anna and I had our ups and downs. Fuck, take the idea of what ups and downs look like and multiply it by a fucking million and those were the odds that were stacked against us, but I would do it a billion times over for her.”

I don’t say anything, I mean what can I say? He’s fucking right.

* * *

It’s turquoise. Her bikini is fucking turquoise and it looks so good against the cream of her skin and the auburn hair that is whipping in the wind. At the front of Mack’s boat, I wrap my arms around her slender waist and say, “What would happen if…”

I don’t finish that sentence because she waves me off. “Davis, please. Not right now. Can we just enjoy what this is?”

That is not the reaction I want and fuck do I want to challenge her. But I don’t. I only say, “Okay, but this conversation is not over yet, cupcake.”

Turning her head to me, she says, “Yes, it is!” Then she softly smiles at me when she scoffs, “Cupcake, really?”

“Only if you have a cherry that I can eat, too?”

Taking her teeth and running them down my ear, her response is, “Oh, I have something you can eat, that’s for sure.” I love her naughty mouth.

* * *

Christmas Eve dinner is one of the most memorable nights I’ve shared with anyone since losing my parents. I walk into the kitchen to Sasha making a dessert of some kind and Anna kneading dough for biscuits.

“What is this?” I ask, pointing at the apron Sasha has on.

“I never said I couldn’t cook, I don’t want you to think I do because I’m a woman,” she says, cocking one eyebrow at me. All I think about is taking her over the counter and smacking her ass for being so sassy. Her attitude could be one reason I’m falling for her so quickly. I wasn’t lying when I said we’d broach the conversation I wanted to have with her later. I had planned to wait until after Christmas day. I want her to have a holiday with someone who cares for her and I have no idea the last time she had this. I always had Hannah, even after the shit hit the fan of the small little town we grew up in in North Carolina, I still had my sister. It sounds like Sasha has been alone for a hell of a long time.

“Jake, if you continue to look at my sous chef the way you’re looking at Sasha, I’m afraid you’re going to devour her.”

Taking a carrot, dipping it in ranch dressing, Anna’s statement has left the door wide open for me. “I’m actually thinking of doing just that.”

“Later, Davis,” Sasha whispers just intentionally loud enough for Anna to hear. “Anna has whip cream in the fridge, I’ll steal it and you can feast on me for dessert, if you’re a good boy,” she adds, knowing I’ll have something to say about these words.

“No, the whipped cream is for the pumpkin pie,” Anna adds.

“How about peach pie?” I ask. “Because I have something I’ve been promised later that tastes as fresh as peaches.” Throwing the dishrag my way, Anna tries to look disgusted. “Oh, does she have cherries, too?” I ask while Sasha winks at me.

“Oh, you two are horrible.” Laughing, she only says, “Sweet and hot for one another but still so horrible. It’s like you two were made for each other.”

I shoot a look Sasha’s way when she shakes her head no at me. “See, I told you this conversation was not over.”

* * *

That evening, as I’m walking out of my room, which I’ve barely used, with her present wrapped in my hand, I see her under the huge Christmas tree in a red nightie with a large green bow on her luscious tits. This girl has as many colored nighties as she does bikinis. I stop in my tracks and only stare.

“What is this?” I say.

She only smirks as she says, “Well, this is your present, me! But it is missing something.”

“What is that?” I ask.

She takes her legs and spreads them wide and I see she’s bare, no underwear blocking this glorious view.

“Well, Davis, to make this complete,” she says, pointing to her pussy, “I need your own large holiday package inside of me.” Placing her present on the table next to me, I strip out of my pants quickly, to indeed use my own holiday package in her.