Page 78 of Redemption
“I can,” she hedged. “But to be honest, I don’t expect much luck. Give me a little bit. I’ll do my best.”
“Thank you. That’s all I ask.”
Edward came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. I yelped and moved out of his hold.
“Sloan?” Jackson appeared in the doorway. My heart faltered at the sight of him—handsome, imposing, and protective. I might not appreciate his bossy attitude, but I was grateful for his presence.
He glanced between Edward and me. “Everything okay?”
I nodded. “I’m working on accommodations for Edward. Why don’t you order some room service?”
“You want anything?” he asked, his eyes roaming me. “Maybe the conch?”
I couldn’t help it. I burst out laughing, dispelling some of the tension that had gathered in my body. “No.” I held up my hand, thinking of that night in Clarence Town. “No more conch.” Or rum punch.
Edward’s gaze whipped to me. “You like conch?”
He sounded like such a snob. How had I never noticed it before?
“She loves it,” Jackson said, smirking. He was right, but it felt as if he was trying to prove a point. Trying to goad Edward. I glared at Jackson, silently commanding him to back down.
It had been a long day, and I wasn’t relishing the prospect of having Jackson and Edward in the same space for any amount of time. I only hoped my staff would find a solution before this situation could spiral even more out of control.
After an awkward dinner on the patio, Edward excused himself to make a phone call. I’d taken a shower and was leaving my room when Jackson pulled me aside.
“Hey,” he said, his expression and tone soft. “You okay?”
“I—” I blew out a breath. “I don’t know what I am.” I wrapped my arms around myself, scared to meet his gaze when I asked, “How much of our conversation did you hear?”
“Enough.” His expression was hard and unreadable.
Shit. I didn’t even know what to say to that. “Look, Jackson…” I placed my hand on his arm, hoping my touch would calm him. When, really, I needed his touch to ground me.
The fact that I was already falling back into that pattern of thinking scared me. I quickly released him.
He shook his head, and his deadly calm demeanor was unnerving. “I don’t trust him, Sloan. I want him gone.”
“I’m just as eager for him to leave as you are,” I said, on edge from the situation. “My staff are doing everything they can.”
Jackson cast a quick glance to where Edward was pacing the patio. Then he ushered me into the bedroom, locking the door behind us.
“What are you doing?” I hissed, knowing that Edward could return inside at any time. This was reckless.
He smirked. “Having a security meeting.”
“In my bedroom?”
He lifted a shoulder. “You don’t owe Edward anything, least of all an explanation. And before you go back in there—” Jackson’s lips were centimeters from mine, and he bracketed my head with his arms “—let me remind you of a few things.”
“What’s that?” My heart was pounding with adrenaline and anticipation.
His nostrils flared. Maybe it was wrong, but Jackson had always made me feel so…desperate for him. It was nice to see that anguish reflected back at me.
He claimed my mouth, kissing me like a man possessed. I was consumed by him. He was the oxygen I breathed, and I couldn’t get enough.
I wanted him closer. Needed him closer.
He slid one hand up my ribs to cup my breast, while he delved beneath my sundress with the other. “It was my cock buried deep inside you.”