Eversea: Forever, Jack Part 16

"Yeah, she was," he said quietly. "And look, I didn't mean to say I'd respect you less if you and Jack got together. I'm sorry. I'm just worried."

"Yeah, well, me too. And I forgive you, even though you ruined the s.h.i.t out of what could have been an amazing night paddle."

Joey chuckled. "C'mon, let's head back."

We drew our kayaks through the water silently except for the sounds of our breathing and the water trickling off the paddles. I kept my ears strained for the sound of a puff of air signaling a dolphin nearby.

As we got to the dock, all I heard was the low buzz of my phone where I'd left it with my sweater. I waited until we were on the way home, my head resting against the window frame, drawing the last bit of spring air for the night, before I read it.

Late Night Visitor: Take the day off tomorrow? I have plans for us ...

As soon as I woke up, I texted Brenda. I was only working the lunch shift today. Confirming she could cover me, and get some other help in, I called Paulie.

"You've never officially asked for the day off," he said gruffly. "Anything important?"

"I have no idea."

Then I texted Jack.

Me: What are we doing?

Late Night Visitor: Dev and I will pick you up in 45. Bring a swimsuit in case. Do your brother or Jazz want to come?

The surge of disappointment that I'd be sharing Jack with Devon, and also that he wanted to invite as many people as possible was so strong, I almost laughed at myself. Swimsuit?

Me: I'll check ... again, what are we doing?

Late Night Visitor: Location scouting and looking for horses (don't ask).

Looking for horses ... in a swimsuit. Right. I'd just started to text Jazz when another message from Jack popped up.

Late Night Visitor: Don't worry, I also have alone plans for you and me.

A giddy laugh escaped me, and I bit my lip down to hold onto my emotions.

Me: Didn't even cross my mind.

Late Night Visitor: Lucky you. It was all I could think about.

Me: I lied about that. Obviously. Me, too.

Late Night Visitor: I know.

Me: Arrogant.

Late Night Visitor: Confident.

Jack and Devon had pulled up in their silver Jeep, the top down, and Jack hopped out in aviators, wearing his uniform of dark ball cap, distressed jeans, and solid color t-shirt. He'd shaved and his strong jaw was grinning. My, what beautiful teeth he has.

My brother shook his hand and was introduced to Devon.

As Jack pulled his seat forward so Joey and I could climb in, Joey stepped back to allow me in first. I gave him a shove. I wanted to sit behind Jack.

My brother rolled his eyes, and climbed in, then took the bag from me with our towels and stuff. He and Devon exchanged a couple of comments and talked about where we were going. I'd already told Jazz to meet us at the Marina per Jack's additional instructions.

"Good morning," Jack murmured softly as I moved in front of him to climb in after Joey.

I glanced up but couldn't see his eyes behind his gla.s.ses.

"Yes, it is," I returned and settled myself in the seat, tying my hair up with a band.

Jack put the chair back and got in. I could see the smooth nape of his neck over the seat back. Seriously, was every part of him like the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen?

As soon as we were moving, his hand came down the gap between his seat and the door and touched me lightly on the ankle.

I pursed my lips, inhaling deeply through my nose. My chest began a deep steady thump, and I wanted to close my eyes and just revel in the feeling of his fingertips on me. Rummaging around in my brown leather purse, I pulled out my mirrored sungla.s.ses and slid them on. I shifted my foot forward, and his hand closed lightly around my leg.

The Harbor Master at Palmetto Marina was salty and weather-beaten, with the palest blue eyes I'd ever seen. He also may have been the only person in the world who had no recognition of Jack.

Devon filled out paperwork for the charter boat, and then we bought enough drinks, sandwiches, and snacks for an apocalypse and headed down the jetty.

"Wow," I said, getting a good look at the large white yacht at the end. "This one?"

"Dang!" Jazz echoed my surprise. "This beats tooling around in Cooper's dirty old Carolina Skiff dropping crab traps. This has to be like forty feet."

We climbed on board, and Dan, the captain, who was also older and turned out to be the second person in the world to be completely oblivious of who was on his boat, gave us a tour and showed us where to stow our stuff. We all settled on the front sundeck, chatting over the sound of squawking gulls.

Cap'n Dan glided us slowly along the no wake zone toward the open sound, the cool salty wind whipping errant strands of hair into my eyes.

"I wish Monica was here," Devon said. "She loves the water. Loves being on a boat."

"Where is she?" I asked.

"She'll be here next week, we had a couple of projects we were finishing up."

"So what are we doing?" asked Jazz. "I'm happy to just lounge on the boat, but are we doing something specific?"

"I wanted to get here and check out the spots our locations department had listed." Devon answered her.

"So, you're just approving them or something?" Jazz asked.

"Well, normally we go with the locations people, but Jack thought we could make a day of it and check a few other places out ourselves." He glanced at Jack, and they exchanged a look.

Jazz caught my eye, and winked.

"Do you know anything about Marsh Tacky horses?" Jack asked me.

"Well, they're local and in danger of extinction. I think there are less than three hundred left," I offered.

He nodded. "Yeah, they date back to the Spanish colonials and are really st.u.r.dy and good in swampy water, so they'll be perfect for the movie, we think."

"That's right," Jazz said, lying back on one of the white cushions to get more sun. It was chilly out on the water despite the clear bright sky. "I heard they have Marsh Tacky races on the beach on Daufuskie Island. It's coming up in a few weeks, I think."

"Yep, that's where we're headed," Devon said. "Normally they come on a barge the morning of the event from surrounding stables."

"d.a.m.n, that must be a sight to see," Joey added.

Jack twisted his ball cap around to the back. "I spoke to a local guy who keeps a few on the island." He dropped his shades a second and caught my eye. "So that's what we're headed to do today. Race horses on the beach."

"Oh my G.o.d, seriously?" Jazz squealed. "That is so freaking cool!"

Not to mention apparently quite dangerous, and the sum total of my riding experience was ... nil. I swallowed nervously. Wow.

Daufuskie Island was only accessible by boat, making it uniquely sheltered from ma.s.sive development. The stable owner's land was right next to the beach, nestled among ma.s.sive pines, palmettos, and ancient, sprawling Live Oaks strewn with Spanish moss. We could see the ocean glittering through the pines from where we were standing on the crunchy brown pine straw that carpeted the ground.

"It's typical that someone from California would be the one to show us what a freaking amazing part of the world we live in," said Joey. He nudged Jack as a local Gullah boy walked a chestnut Stallion over to us.

Devon left us to speak to the stable owner about permission to film and get the skinny on the logistics of using the barge to bring film equipment.

"Who dun' gunna rai dis 'un?" the boy holding the horse asked us in his Gullah dialect. He looked about twelve, young but sinewy under his deep dark skin.

The horse was handsome and strong looking. Jazz and I both found ourselves stepping back a bit as the boy tied its lead rope loosely on the split rail fence.

Jack looked at my brother blankly.

"Oh, sorry. He asked who wanted to ride this horse first."

"I think you and I should race first," Jack said. "Show the girls how it's done. Maybe make a wager."

"This guy wants to date my sister," Joey told the boy and then pointed at me.

The boy looked at me, then at Jack. He jerked his head for Joey to follow him, and they exchanged a few murmurs, before the boy ran off over the pine straw.

"What the h.e.l.l was that about?" I asked Joey.

"He said he's getting me a faster horse."

Jazz snorted with laughter.

"Uh, Joey," I said, my eyebrows raised in amus.e.m.e.nt. "When was the last time you rode a horse?"

"What? You think I can't beat this pansy-a.s.s actor?"

Jazz lost it, doubling over with giggles. "Did you-"

"You're on." Jack aimed my brother a serious look before Jazz could finish. "If I win, I get to stay here on the island tonight with your sister. Alone."

I gasped out a breath then clamped my jaw shut.

Jazz promptly stopped laughing. "s.h.i.t, that was hot," she murmured at me.

No kidding.

Joey seemed to be weighing it up. Then his horse was led out of the barn. A muscly black horse that skittered sideways and pulled on his lead. "It's a deal."

We followed behind as boys and horses were led down to the beach and into the bright sun.

The race, which was marked out with rope, was to comprise a four hundred yard sprint, followed by a wade into the water around a small buoy, and then back. I was nervous to watch. It was notoriously difficult to maneuver the Marsh Tackies around turns without falling.

Jack toed off his shoes and socks, sliding his bare feet into the sand. He gathered his t-shirt behind his head, giving me a peek at his beautiful stomach. Oh yes, please please take it off. Then he pulled it over his head, leaving me with a dry mouth and sweaty palms.

My brother followed suit.

Jazz made a soft sound next to me.

Where Jack was chiseled and lean, Joey was no less fit but slightly broader with thicker arms and shoulders.

"Oh my ..." Jazz got her phone out. "I've got to get this on video. It might be the hottest d.a.m.n thing I've ever seen. Like, ever. I'm rarely speechless, but this might just do it. In the immortal words of Lana Del Rey: "Oh that grace, Oh that body, Oh that face, Makes me want to party ..." she sang for my ears only.

"How do we get on without a saddle and stirrups," Joey asked.

Jack walked over and created a stirrup with his hands for Joey and helped him up. Then he walked back with a smirk, held onto the mane of his horse, and leaped up onto its back in one smooth motion.

Oh. My. G.o.d.

Jazz squeaked. "I think I just o.r.g.a.s.med."

"Shut up, Jazz," I managed, and swallowed thickly.

"If I win?" asked Joey, looking a bit disgruntled and more determined than ever. His horse skittered to the side, ignoring the soothing tones of the boy holding his leading rein.

"You won't. There's too much riding on it for me. 'Scuse the pun." His eyes found mine.

I held Jack's eyes a moment before he winked and looked back at Joey.

My brother flushed. "If I win, you can stay on this d.a.m.n island alone." He glared at the stable hand who was standing next to them as the Race Starter. "When you're ready."

My eyes roamed down Jack's bare torso to a tendril of black ink sneaking out over the waistband of his underwear that was visible above his worn blue jeans. The tattoo that covered his scarred skin caused by his father. His hands were curled into the mane, his biceps flexing. His powerful leg rested on the side of the chestnut horse, ending in bare feet and the tattoo of the beautiful little sea turtle. Jack had marked his body four times ... once to cover his painful childhood memories, once to celebrate the leap in his career to megastar, the thin chain of ink on his ankle I'd never asked about, and once ... to remember me.

I didn't get a chance to think on that further as a loud, "Hah!" rendered the air and both horses were smacked on their rumps and took off.

Jack immediately leaned in, gripping the horse with his entire body, muscles rippling. But Joey was on a much faster horse, and what Joey lacked in style as a rider was more than compensated for.

The black horse looked to be pulling into the lead. Joey threw a look over his shoulder at Jack, his blond hair whipping into his eyes.

Jazz mewed next to me. "Go, Joey," she yelled, her phone pointing straight ahead.

"Are you seriously cheering for me not to get laid tonight?" I laughed incredulously. "Go on, Jack!" I screamed out.