I’d made the rule of just being in the moment though, I let it go. For now.
“Would you go back into the service if they asked you right now?” Her voice was a little flat, but she was clearly not eager to discuss whatever had caused it either.
“In a heartbeat.” I tilted my head as I watched her. “What is the quality you admire most in other people?”
“Hmm, interesting. Honesty, I think, but there are many others that seem just as important. If you could be anything, what would you be?”
“That guy who runs the adventure sports counter on the beach outside.” I chuckled and lifted my shoulders when she gave me a disbelieving look. “What could possibly be better than that?”
After thinking about it for a second, she rolled her lips into her mouth and released them slowly. “I actually don’t know. He gets to be on the beach here every day. He obviously lives nearby. The people he works with at the resort seem pretty great and I guess he has to have some kind of passion for the activities he offers. He’s always very enthusiastic.”
“My thoughts exactly.” A knock at the door interrupted us, and I knew it had to be our food.
Big Mac had sent us the same seafood platter he’d prepared for us that first night, but he’d added extra delicacies that he’d picked up on us liking over the course of the week.
Lindsay eyes widened when she saw the sheer amount of food being set down on the table between us. “You were joking about all your other wives coming by later, weren’t you? How on earth are we supposed to eat all that?”
“Whatever doesn’t get eaten at the resort gets donated. It’s actually a pretty cool system they’ve got going on. Big Mac explained it to me earlier.”
“I like the idea of getting more involved with charities, but there never seems be enough time,” Lindsay said once the server left. “I think that’s something I need to work on going forward.”
“I volunteer at a couple of places that involve flying. One is an organization that arranges for kids who dream about going on an airplane to take a flight, and the other is one to teach children about how to go about getting into a career in aviation. It’s pretty rewarding.”
I could’ve sworn I saw her jaw loosen, but she caught herself before it dropped. “Is there anything you don’t do? I mean, come on.”
“Mom taught me from an early age about the importance of giving back. Besides, like you pointed out, I’m good with children. I like ‘em.”
“Do you want any?” she asked.
“I wouldn’t have minded, but it just never happened, and I’m not sure it ever will.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
I chuckled. “Right. Do I want any? Yeah. I do. You?”
She narrowed her eyes in thought and blew out a breath through her nose. “I was going to give you a similar answer to the first one you gave me, but then I realized that wouldn’t be fair. My answer is yes.”
We ate our dinner while we continued asking each other questions and just talking. After polishing off more of the food than I would’ve expected over the next few hours, Lindsay pushed her chair back and stood up. “I think we should take a walk. I’m stuffed.”
“A walk, it is.”
We took another moonlit stroll barefoot on the beach and murmured quietly to one another for no good reason other than not wanting to interrupt the peacefulness of the dark night.
Once we got back to the bungalow, I led her straight to the bedroom. “How do you feel about a bath? There are bubbles, more candles, and more rose petals.”
“I can definitely get behind that,” she said as I circled her waist with my arms and drew her to me until we were so close we were sharing air. “Thank you for tonight, Jaxon. I’ll never forget it.”
“It’s not over yet.” I lowered my mouth to hers, claiming it in a soft, slow kiss that rattled loose all kinds of things in my brain.
Warning bells went off, but I didn’t stop kissing her. Nor did I change up the pace or do anything to dispel the intimacy building between us.
We might have an agreement to live in the moment tonight, but it was still our last night together. Our last time together. I wanted to experience all I could with her, even if those blaring alarms told me I might just end