"Why didn't you say something?"
"I don't know?" Jack and Ringo jump out and when he shuts the door, the sound is muffled reminding me I am in luxury. In no time, Jack is helping me out and up the stairs to his grand covered porch that seems to wrap around his entire house. The ceiling's light blue complements the island vibe.
"Jack..." I look up. "This is stunning."
"Thanks, It's home," he says as he pulls the screen door open. "I can hide away here. Write some songs."
"I love this color."
Jack follows my eyes upward. "That's Haint Blue, it's meant to ward off the evil spirits who might want to harm the people who live inside." Jack laughs. "It's also supposed to help ward off bugs.  Let's get you inside."
Jack opens the heavy wooden doors into a huge open room with matching dark wood floors. Walls of windows reveal an expansive view of the Caribbean sea.  Jack helps me over to a slipcovered white sectional, his muscular arm keeps me from losing my balance.
"Sit down, sweetheart." I drop down into a corner of the U-shaped sofa. Jack helps me turn so I'm resting against the back and my leg is stretched out on the cushions, pillows elevating my foot. "How are you feeling?" He softly kisses my forehead, and I fist a hand in his T-shirt, the fabric thin and torn from years of sun and salt. 
"I feel better when you do that." I smooth the crumpled fabric as I let go, Jack's tanned chest warming my palm from beneath.
"You do?" I get another kiss with that answer.
"I'm actually feeling a lot better. I'm pretty certain the doctor it got all out. It's painful, but it doesn't feel infected." I want more kisses, "I should be good to go soon."
"You'll feel even better once I open the doors. Jack unlocks the latch on the sliders and throws his whole body into the door frame that holds a full pane of glass. One by one, the panels collapse upon themselves like an accordion. When Jack has them all to the wall, they vanish into a pocket into the wall. It looks like there were never any doors there to begin with,  like the living room is open to the outdoors. 
With the doors hidden away, The breeze brings in the fresh air heavy with salt and flowers and nutmeg. The mixture of the three scents should be bottled and sold to tourists as a souvoniger of their trip to Saint John. It is such a unique combination, I love it.
"How's that?" Jack asks as the spicy sea breeze blows through our hair.
Jack comes over and sits on the sofa with me. "Is it too much?"
"Oh no." I say brushing my breeze blown hair out of my eyes, "This is perfect."
"Are you getting hungry?" Jack leans in close to my lips and kisses me gently.
"Do you want some eggs?" he asks softly.
"Sure." I've never been kissed this sweetly.
"How do you like them?" he asks, staying close and soft.
"However you like to make them." I whisper and I linger on his lips a little longer, delaying breakfast.
The sun came around and now was aimed in my face. I pulled away from his Jack's safe lips.
"Do you like jalapenos?" he asks.
"I don't hate them."
"Scrambled with jalapenos and a little cheese. It's a great way to start the day. Would you like some coffee?"
"Sure. I don't think anyone has ever waited on me except when I was home from school sick and my Mom took care of me."
"Well, give me the opportunity, I'd love to take care of you." Jack moves over to the kitchen island behind the sofa, where he begins assembling items for our breakfast.
He opens and closes his six-foot-wide stainless refrigerator/freezer numerous times. "I really like cooking, and I don't get to do it often," he calls out to me.
Jack is busy but was able to run a cup of fresh brewed coffee over to me to sip on while he finishes making breakfast. He remembered how I like it, with a little cream. Jack has a good memory and the coffee tastes delicious. I could get used to this. Ringo must have slipped in through a dog door because he appeared out of nowhere and was laying up next to me and fast asleep for his early morning nap.
"Breakfast is served" Jack walks over carrying a tray and he sits it down on my lap.
"Jack! This looks amazing!" Egg scramble made with very yellow eggs and bright green jalapeno slices and cheese mixed in plated very pretty with a small bowl of tropical fruits cut up for easy eating. "You really out did yourself! Thank you!"
"I always have jalapenos for breakfast. I feel they Rev-Up my metabolism for my work outs.  You should eat them too, they are high in folate, you need that now more than ever."
"Oh yeah?" I just woke up from the dream. The Jack dream. I take a bite of the eggs, they are so good, I eat the whole plate of eggs and start in on the fruit.
"I meant it when I said you could stay here. I live here by myself, well, I have staff. Ramone and Gabreille, But other than them, it's just me."
"I'm just so unsure about everything. Last night, I was ready to book my flight back to Maine, already knowing I would need to get a pre-board pass. But then, where do I go from there?" I sigh and put down the fork that's loaded with a piece of pineapple. "I really have no place to go. And, I don't want to impose on you. I don't want to impose on anyone." I look down, trying to stay calm and not let him see how I'm starting to feel.
"What?" He lifts my chin up so I have no choice but to meet his eyes. It's then I realize they are Haint-blue, the color of protection.
Jack is a protector.
My protector.
"I would miss you" I whisper loud enough for him to hear.
"Ooh, I like hearing you say that!" He grins, and I roll my eyes, "I would miss you so much if you left." He moves closer, careful not to disturb my elevated foot or sleeping Ringo.  "Please don't go anywhere. Stay and figure things out."

"Is this how you make breakfast all the time?" I pop the fork into my mouth and enjoy the pineapple and smile with a mouth full of sweetness.

"Is that a yes?" Jack moves in and wraps his arms around me.

"Trial basis?"

"Absolutely! Whatever you need." He releases me and gives my belly a rub, "I'm glad about this." And bends down and kisses my stomach. "I'll take care of both of you."

Ringo must have had enough because he hops off the couch. His nails click on the hardwood floor as he trots out of sight.

I run my hand through Jack's hair. Feeling brave, I add my other hand, burying them in his golden, unruly locks. Jack leans into my palms and I pull him up to me. I look into his smiling Haint-blue eyes and feel calm and relief that I am in a good place to heal.

He kisses me, heating my lips with jalapeno and scratches my face with his unshaven cheeks. Warmth floods me, kindling a flame I haven't felt in months, maybe years.

And there it is, an attraction I've been trying to deny. Something that has been growing between us the whole time I've been on the island and I missed when he was gone.

Jack is right. We could be perfect together and if I give this a chance, no, if we give this a chance, we could be great together. I lose myself in his kisses and squirm with his touches.

My breathing changes; my exhales are short. Keeping air in my lungs is difficult. "Maybe. In. A. Little. Bit." Kissing his neck between each word.

His muscular arms wrap around me, creating a cage I don't want to escape from.

The strength of his muscles contrast the gentleness of his soft kisses. I really love both of them.

Jack rises and stands above me, blocking the sun from my eyes. He stretches out his hand for me to take.

"Come with me. I want to show you our room" I reach up an take his hand. His grip pulls me up from the couch and into his arms. "Lean on me, I don't want you to put any weight on your foot."

I nodded breathlessly and leaned on Jack holding on to him. I feel dizzy. "I might fall over."

"I won't let that happen" Jack's voice was low and his eyebrows flattened. The haint-blue deepened. "All the staff is in town running errands."

"We're alone?" I pant. Completely out of breath and dizzy. I weave my fingers into his sun-bleached hair helping to hold myself up. Feeling body against mine is setting off ripples deep into my abdomen.

"Everyone is in town." I love Jack's baby kisses. "They won't be back until later." Jack found my mouth with his and parted my lips with his.

"Jack!" I breath and his arms embrace me tighter as I start to fall. I'm unsteady.

"I'll show you later." He picks me up, an arm under my knees and an arm behind my back, and effortlessly transports me back to the couch. "Push over, I'm going to join you."

I slide over so my back is against the back of the sofa and Jack lays down facing me.

"Comfy?" His muscular arms are being all muscular around me, pulling me close to him. I love his hard masculine body against my soft body.

"Very." I say softly, snuggling against his hard chest.  Tracing his nipple around and around with my index finger; smiling when it becomes erect.

"Where were we?" Jack gently kissed my forehead, lowering his lips to my nose and then they find my lips, playing first with my upper lip then the lower.


"You are one of the strongest people I have ever met." Jack says in between kissing one lip then the other.

"Why do you say that?"

"Well also the smartest and one of the most loyal people I know."

I kiss him back now, deeply. "What would say that for?"

Jack pulls himself off my lips and his haint-blues look at me. "You love your kids, more than anything. Who wouldn't? You gave up everything to stay with them. You stood by your ex-husband, even though he was a fucking ass to you. All you wanted was your family to stay together." Jack took his muscular hand and brushed my hair back off my forehead and kissed it again. "You survived by being smart and keeping the kids safe and healthy."

"Now, you don't need anyone to make you happy. You can make yourself happy. You don't need anyone to make plans for you, you just make them and follow through."

"Why are you bringing this up now?"

"Because I think you should know." Jack kisses my lips gently. "I'm sure Bob never said complimented you about anything."

"Ben."

"Huh?"

"Ben, My ex-husband's name is Ben."

"Alright, I'm sure, Ben." Jack distorted Ben's name to make him sound more like a villain. "Never complimented you on anything."

"No." I pause for what seems a long awkward time. "I can't remember a time he has."

"But you are still open to a new experiences and new relationships." Jack smiles and rubs my side.  "You aren't broken. You still like people. You can still love people and you still have a sense of humor"

"I haven't given up yet."

"And you had no idea who I was, like that I sang and stuff."

"No, I still think you're an island bum."

"Oh, that's what I want to be, believe me." Ken laughs. "But you took a chance on me without knowing everything and I really, really love that."

"I almost ran back in the villa and locked the door when I saw the Jeep."

"But you didn't"

"What was that? Like a test or something?"

"No! I just really love driving the Jeep." Jack looks serious again. "But you wanted to stay with me for me."

"I think you are funny and I like being around you." Jack really liked my response and squeezed his muscles tight almost breaking me in two. When he lets up his grip enough for me to speak again. I say with minimum lung capacity "And, I think you're really hot."

"Yup, I knew you thought I was sexy." I immediately playfully slap him softly several times and he playfully shields himself before grabbing my wrists as we laugh at our mutual attraction for each other before we start  kissing heavily again.

Jack's hands lift my shirt exposing my breasts. "I love these." He cups both in his hands, teasing my nipples with his thumbs while keeping my lips engaged with his. I feel his arousal grow hard against my thigh and I can't help but notice how wet I have become and how much I want to have him inside me.  I guess that is where the term 'wet and willing' comes from because I am certainly both.

I bend my upper knee and slide my leg over his hip. His hand migrates down to my hip and holds it tight so it can't move as he feels his way around with his clothed erection.

Jack pulls away from our kiss to breathe "Oh, Isa I want you so badly." Putting words to his actions. But, it makes me want him more.

The front door opens.  A man and a woman's voice are talking. They are walking in right toward us.

Jack grabs the bottom of my shirt that is up over my neck and quickly pulls it down to my waist where it belongs before he sits up. I never did put a bra on this morning.

"What are you two doing back so early?" Jack asks the intruders.

"Hello Mr. Jack, We are dropping off the groceries so they don't spoil." A woman's voice answers him. "We were going to go back to town after lunch and finish our errands."

"Oh, thank you for that." Jack takes a deep breath. "I want you to meet someone." Jack smiles and looks down at me and helps me sit up. "This is Isa Cushing. She is living here now."

"Oooh! Hello!" The woman smiles and comes over. She notices that my foot is wrapped. "Oh no! What happened? Did Jack step on you? My name is Gabrielle. If you need anything you let me know." She is all smiles and gives me a big hug.
"And this is Ramone, Gabrielle's husband." Jack introduces him as Ramone sets a bag of groceries on the kitchen island and heads back outside I assume to get more.

Ramone waves to me but he isn't as happy about meeting someone new as his wife is.

"I will make some lunch shortly for everyone." Gabrielle says, I'm pretty sure they have no idea they have no idea what they almost interrupted. "Miss Isa, What happened to your foot?" She says as she opens a cabinet to put away the food.

"I stepped on a sea urchin." I looked down at my wrapped foot. I wonder if Jack is a little bummed that we were interrupted?

"Oh no!" Gabrielle says and her cheerfulness is gone and concern has taken over. "We will get you better."

"Thank you, Gabrielle." I smile. She is a very sweet woman, Jack is lucky to have her. "Dr Easton said it should heal up good as new."

"Dr. Easton is a good doctor." Gabrielle turns to face me. "It is so nice to have a woman living here, finally."

"Thank you."

"Alright. That's enough." Jack says. I'm guessing he doesn't want his staff and his girlfriend ganging up on him?

Jack bends down and whispers in my ear. "Pick up where we left off after lunch?"

I don't say anything, I just take his hand, smile and nod yes.