Meg ran the zip around the edges of her packed suitcase and glanced at her phone. Only fifteen minutes to go until her journey back to the real world began. Her stomach flipped at the thought of leaving paradise and Jack behind, but she ignored it and scanned her room one last time to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything.
When it looked like she had nothing left to do but wait, Meg padded across the room and opened the double doors that led to her balcony. She stepped outside and rested her elbows on the railing just as she had all those days ago.
The breeze ruffled her ponytail and pressed her tank top to her chest, the air still warm even though the sun had almost set now. Her gaze swept over the gardens below, her mind slipping back to the afternoon when she'd spotted Jack walking out from beneath the trees.
The sight of him took her breath away then, and she'd only become more attracted to him in the days that followed. Generous, affectionate, funny, and quick to forgive, he'd grown on her so fast, she couldn't remember why she was ever nervous about talking to him in the beginning.
And last night... Meg would never forget what it had felt like having him at her mercy and playing with him until he almost lost his mind. Yes, she'd needed to apologize for jumping to conclusions about his character, but he had some making-up of his own to do for allowing things with Anna to ever reach that point--and he'd kept her awake until the early hours of the morning pleasuring her and ensuring she'd forgiven him.
Meg watched two kids racing down the path under the lamplight, followed closely by a couple of harried-looking parents. A Balinese man was carrying a tray of food toward one of the rooms on the ground floor, while another led a group of new arrivals to their accommodation.
Meg took in the comings and goings, realizing how much she'd miss this place. It was strange thinking that life would go on as normal after she'd left, as if her incredible connection with Jack had never happened here.
A knock sounded behind her. She turned and went inside, an expectant smile on her face as she opened the door.
Jack stood in the hall wearing shorts and a fitted tee, and as she looked him over, Meg felt the familiar jump in her pulse.
His dark hair was still damp from his shower, and he hadn't bothered shaving a couple of days' worth of stubble from his jaw. He reminded her of warm beds and tousled sheets, late mornings, and lazy sex. She hoped it wouldn't be long before they could experience that again back home.
Meg moved aside to let him through, laughing when he pulled her against him and curved his hands over the rear of her white shorts to give her ass a squeeze.
He dipped his head and pressed his rough cheek to hers, rubbing softly until she arched her back and strained to get closer to him. "Ready to go?" he asked, his voice tinged with humor.
Meg had been looking forward to getting home so she could put her plan of less work and more play in motion, but her heart thumped at the thought of leaving the hotel because it would take her one step closer to separating from Jack.
She swallowed and pulled back from him a fraction, telling herself to get it together. "I think so."
"Cab's waiting downstairs."
~ * ~
Meg stood outside the hotel while the taxi idled in the circular driveway. Jack had already loaded her bags into the boot, and the driver was now waiting for them to say their goodbyes.
Her stomach churned with the uncertainty of what lay ahead. She hoped diving back into reality and routine wouldn't kill what they'd worked so hard to establish in these early days, and she was thankful living in the same city at least took away one complication.
Jack interlaced his fingers with hers, using their joined hands to pull her close. Meg tilted her head to look up at him in the darkness, wishing he could come home with her, but his flight didn't leave for another twenty-four hours.
His blue eyes travelled over her features, and the edge of his mouth lifted. "I'll see you in a couple of days."
Her throat ached but she shoved down the emotion. They'd arranged to meet for dinner on Saturday night, so she didn't have long to wait until she saw him again. "I already miss you, and I haven't even left yet."
Jack let go of her hands and rubbed her upper arms. People wandered by, and traffic noise drifted in from the street, but she couldn't pay attention to a single thing with the weight of his gaze on her.
"At least you're going back to family and friends," he said. "What am I supposed to do here without you?"
"Not her, that's for sure."
A smile hovered at his mouth. "Not my type. I need someone who looks more like you so I can play pretend while you're gone."
Meg bit back a smile and gave his chest a half-hearted shove. "Too soon, Jackie."
He laughed and drew her into a hug, surrounding her with his warmth. "If you want to punish me again like you did last night, I'm down."
She tucked her face into the curve of his neck and wrapped her arms around him, breathing in his masculine scent. "I think that's the most fun I've ever had."
He hummed in agreement and held her a little tighter for a moment.
Meg didn't want to go anywhere, but the taxi's presence reminded her she needed to get moving. As if sensing her thoughts, Jack released her. "Better hurry or you'll end up stuck here."
She sighed and rose on her toes to kiss his cheek. "Don't tempt me."
He looked her over, and in that low, deep voice she'd come to love said, "Have a good flight, Meg."
"I'll try." She pressed her lips together so he wouldn't see them tremble, and told herself to stop being ridiculous. They were catching up again in two days. It had taken her almost thirty years to find him. She could make it through to the weekend without becoming an emotional wreck. "'Bye, Jack."
Just as she made a move to turn away, he grabbed her elbow and dragged her against him. His hands cradled her face, and his mouth pressed to hers for one final, breath-stealing kiss.
Every memory from their time together came rushing back and overwhelmed her with feeling as he held her. Meg gripped his shirt and kissed him back, matching his heat and hunger, wishing it could go on and on.
When their mouths finally parted, they were both breathing hard. Meg touched her fingers to her lips and stared up at him. Her legs were shaking, and she had to lock her knees in place to keep her balance. He could turn her into a quivering mess in record time.
Jack swept his thumb over her cheek and said softly, "'Bye, sweetheart."
Oh, God. Her heart couldn't take this anymore. She had to leave now, or she never would.
Meg waved and opened the taxi door. As she climbed into the backseat of the cab, she glanced over her shoulder one last time, feeling a lot like she was leaving her heart behind.
~ * ~
Jack lowered himself to the sand and rested his elbows on his knees. He only had an hour to go until checkout, but he preferred spending it at the beach instead of holed up in his room.
There were people everywhere. Couples and families waded into the water closer to shore, while surfers rode the swell farther out. Umbrellas and towels dotted the sand, the nearest one was occupied by a woman in a white bikini who reminded him of Meg.
Jack considered texting her to let her know he'd found her replacement, but he doubted she'd appreciate him teasing her with so much physical distance between them.
She'd been gone almost twenty-four hours, and he'd barely stopped thinking about her. He kept remembering the look she'd given him just before she got into the cab, like the idea of separating caused her physical pain. His stomach clenched as he watched her go, and when he woke up on his own this morning, he felt lonely for the first time since he'd been in Bali.
He dug his phone from his pocket and browsed through the photos he'd taken during his time here, stopping on his favorite one of Meg from the butterfly park.
Her gray eyes were directed right at the camera, her mouth forming one of those playful smiles that always made him think not-so-playful thoughts.
She'd acted all cute and cocky that afternoon, like she was proud of herself for talking him into her friends-with-benefits idea. Jack huffed in amusement, wondering if she'd had any clue how it would turn out between them. In his experience, women were always smarter about the subtleties in relationships.
Jack exited the album before he could get too sucked into the memories. He shifted his attention to his contacts list instead, his thumb hovering over the name he'd contemplated calling and half-convinced himself he shouldn't. He went with his initial impulse and touched the screen, feeling the rapid thud of his heart as he waited for her to answer.
Catherine picked up after a few rings, her voice sounding rushed. "Jack! Hi."
He smiled and grabbed a handful of sand, watching the grains sift through his fingers. "Cat, how's it going?"
"Good, good. Just making the most of my last day off work. Aren't you supposed to be on a flight?"
"Just about," he said. "I'm heading to the airport in an hour. Josh around?"
"He's playing golf." A long beat passed then she asked, "Why did you call me if you want to talk to him?"
He'd done the hard part by dialing her number. Now they were talking, he wanted to tell her everything--to know what it finally felt like to be free of this burden and move on with his life. "Have you got a minute?"
"Always, but why do I feel like I need to sit down?"
He heard the whir of the sliding door in the background and figured she'd stepped outside onto the deck, a shady oasis surrounded by ferns where she often went for quiet time. "Don't worry. It's nothing bad."
"If you say so." She took a minute to settle in then picked up the conversation again. "Have you had fun there by yourself?"
Jack hadn't planned on telling anyone about Meg until after he got back. He wanted a chance to get to know her better on home turf first, and he'd never dated anyone long enough for his family to get their hopes up. Once they caught wind of it, he'd be bombarded with questions. "I've had a good time, but I haven't been on my own."
"Oh?"
He pictured the frown line between her brows and smiled. "Her name's Meg."
