Illusion (Swept Away #1)(17)
Author: J.S. Cooper

“I’m sure you do fine.” Jakob interrupted my thoughts. “A beautiful girl like you must have all the men lining up.”

“Thanks.”

“I mean, what with your winning personality, love of all movies and monster TV shows, and your green-brown eyes, well, I don’t know how any guy could turn you away.”

“Very funny.” I laughed slightly. “You forgot to add that I’m so captivating that someone chose to kidnap me.”

“It must be because you’re an heiress.”

“Trust me. I’m not an heiress.” I sighed. “So either they kidnapped the wrong person or they took me for another reason.”

“Yeah, who knows.” His voice was curious. “Why do you think you were being followed?”

“I’m not really sure.” I lied, not willing to tell him everything. “I think it has something to do with a research project I was involved with.”

“Ooh, political investigation? That sort of stuff? Is the mayor taking bribes or something?”

“No, nothing like that.” I chuckled slightly. It seemed like Jakob had an even greater imagination than I did. “Why do you think they took you?”

“You mean, aside from my good looks?” He sighed. “Or aside from them thinking I know you?”

“Yeah, aside from your good looks, Don Juan.”

“I don’t know.” He sighed. “I really don’t. Unless you orchestrated it so you could have your wicked way with me.”

“Uh-huh.” I laughed. “That’s it.”

“You didn’t have to kidnap me,” he continued. “I would have said yes without this elaborate plot.”

“Yes to what?”

“Your seducing me.”

“You wish,” I gasped, and my face went red.

“I’m joking.” His voice turned serious. “I’m rich. Very rich. If I wasn’t kidnapped because of you, then I’m pretty sure I was kidnapped because I have money.”

“I knew you were rich!” I exclaimed, and then I remembered what had made me pause earlier. He’d called himself charming. It reminded me of the letter I’d received back in my apartment that night. What had it said again? Beauty and Charm. One survives. One is destroyed. What are your odds? It flashed through my mind, and I wondered if that had been a warning. “Do you have a private jet?” I asked him softly, my mind wandering quickly, trying to make connections.

“Why do you ask?” His voice was very monotone, and I felt his back tense.

“I was just curious,” I replied nonchalantly.

“How did you know I was rich?”

“You’re wearing a Rolex, right?” I frowned, and reminded myself to be more cautious when voicing my thoughts. I didn’t want to make him suspicious of me and I didn’t want to give anything away, in case this was a setup. I was worried that I was asking the wrong questions. I suspected he either thought I was a gold digger or feared my questions were revealing too much.

“I didn’t realize you noticed.”

“Sorry. I just remembered seeing it as you got out of the car.” I thought back to that moment. It seemed so long ago now. “I remember it gleaming,” I explained. “I noticed the face, though I guess I’m just now processing it. My ex had a Rolex as well.”

“Oh, was he rich?”

“I guess.” I sighed. “It didn’t matter to me.”

“It just surprised me that you noticed my watch was a Rolex.” He sighed. “It wasn’t personal.”

“I didn’t mean to snap. It’s just a sensitive subject.”

An uncomfortable silence fell between us then. I wondered if it was going to be like this the whole time we were here. Would we laugh one moment and be on tiptoes around each other the next? What if we were stuck here forever? What if he tried to kill me? I shook my head to clear my thoughts. Jakob wouldn’t have been so concerned about my feeling safe and not going into shock if he had plans to kill me.

“He was obviously an idiot.” Jakob’s voice broke the silence and I listened to him curiously.

“Who?”

“Your ex.” His voice sounded gruff. “He’s an idiot if he let someone like you go.”

“Oh.” My heart fluttered at his words and a pleased smile crossed my face. “I guess he just wasn’t lucky enough to be with me.”

“Even the shining Rolex couldn’t keep you with him.” He laughed to himself, and this time I wasn’t worried that he was being suggestive or malicious.

“It takes more than a Rolex to keep me.”

“As it should.”

We continued walking along the sand, and all I could think about was the feel of his muscles against me. They were so hard and strong. His body, though hot and sweaty, felt delicious against mine. It was comforting and sensual in a way that I’d never experience before. His warmth heated me up inside and I knew that we were both playing with fire.

“Ouch!” I cried out as my toe stubbed something sharp. “Oh my God, Jakob.” I squealed. “I just stubbed my toe. There’s a rock! Oh, but it’s too big to lift.”

“I see it. Okay.” His voice was deep and commanding again, and I shivered. There was something about a man who took charge that made me take notice. “We’re going to have to get lower.”

“Oh no. Really?” Just thinking about trying to shift down lower was making my limbs feel even more tired.

“Do you see another way for us to cut the rope?”

“I guess not.”

“I’ll try to get my hands free first. Then I can try to break the rope around our waists and then get your hands.”

“Why are my hands last?”

“Do you want to be first, then?” He sighed.

“No, it’s fine.”

“Okay. One, two, three, drop!” he shouted, and we splashed down into the water, keeping our heads just above the surface.

I gasped slightly as I tried to stop myself from swallowing the salt water. “Thank God the water’s warm.”

“Okay, I’m going under.”

“Okay,” I mumbled, and my body stilled as I realized that this meant I was going under as well.

I closed my mouth quickly and tried to hold my breath as my head was submerged beneath the water. My eyes nearly popped out of my head as I realized that we were surrounded by a bunch of small fish. I was just about to run out of air, when I felt myself being lifted out of the water again.