CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN. Jay stood in the surf, her head tilted up, staring at the full moon

Jay stood in the surf, her head tilted up, staring at the full moon. Now that the initial shock was over, now that she'd had time to sort through everything, she couldn't believe how relieved she was. The heavy, heavy weight she'd been carrying around was gone. She was free.

And the possibilities were endless. She was finally at a point in her life where she was in control. Not her parents, as they'd been when they chased her from her home. Not Wilkes and Bonner as they milked her for her talent with very little pay. And now certainly not Katherine, who'd been controlling every facet of her life since she was twenty-four.

No, now she was free. She had her own business and she didn't have to answer to anyone. Free. Free to be who she was. Free to just be Jay.

She laughed, the sound disappearing into the surf as the wind carried it away. Free. She held her arms out to her side, letting the wind blow through her, cleansing her, chasing away the last of the facade she'd held in place.

God, it feels good.

Yeah, it did.

She turned and walked down the beach, slowly, feeling the surf nip at her feet, enjoying the solitude. She had a ton of things to think about, a ton of planning to do, but that could wait, she decided. Now, for the next few days, she just wanted to be with Drew. She didn't want to talk about it. She just wanted to be. When they got back to Austin, then they could talk.

She stopped again, taking a deep breath, turning her face again to the moon... and waited.

But she didn't have to wait long. She didn't hear Drew, but she felt her presence... or did she smell her, see her? Regardless, Drew was here. Finally. So she stood still, waiting. And then she felt her move behind her, felt Drew's arms wrap around her, pulling her back into her solid frame. They didn't speak. Jay laid her head back against Drew's shoulder and they stood there in silence, breathing the same ocean air, feeling the same wind as it danced around them, tossing their hair about their faces, hearing the same surf as it rushed to shore and then back out again... and listening to the same steady beats of their hearts. There was nothing to say except—

" I love you."

She felt Drew's arms tighten around her, felt Drew's breath against her ear, felt her lips as they caressed her cheek. " Are you okay? "

Jay nodded. " Yes. I'm... I'm good."

" You want to talk about it? "

" No. It's over."

Drew stepped away and turned Jay around to face her, the moonlight shining bright upon her face. Jay saw her brows furrow, saw the concerned look on her face. Drew touched her puffy cheek, her thumb gently rubbing across her lip. Then her eyes narrowed and she opened her mouth to speak, but Jay silenced her, placing her finger against Drew's lips.

" I'm okay. Really. It just reinforced everything, that's all."

" I just can't—"

" No. I don't want to talk about it. I just want it to be us. Just you and me. Just a couple of days of... of us."

Drew stared at her for a long moment, finally nodding. Jay saw the understanding there and was grateful. Tonight, she didn't want to talk about Katherine. Tonight, Katherine didn't exist.

Drew stepped back away from her, a grin on her face. " You know, this whole trip, Carlos has made me every fruity drink under the sun. I've had a mai tai, a piñ a colada, a Hawaiian sunset, a blue Hawaii—that was a good one—"

" Rum runner, " Jay recalled, wondering why Drew was listing off drinks now.

" Yeah. I forgot about that." She laughed, pulling Jay into her arms again. " But I haven't had the one I was most looking forward to."

" What's that? " Jay asked, not knowing where Drew was going with this.

She arched her eyebrows teasingly, then bent to Jay's ear, her lips moving enticingly close before whispering, " Sex on the beach."

Jay laughed delightfully. " Oh, my God! You're not serious? "

Drew took her hand and pulled her into the shadows, finding the two towels she'd tossed to the sand. " Of course I am."

Jay moved into her arms, reveling in the gentle kisses Drew gave her, finally opening her mouth, letting Drew inside. It seemed like an eternity since last night, since this morning when they'd touched. She closed her eyes with a satisfied moan as Drew's hands moved up her body, boldly cupping her breasts, her fingers teasing her nipples.

" Mmm, " she murmured. " You know, if we get busted for this, " she said, " I'll—"

" You'll what? " Drew whispered against her mouth.

Jay pulled back, staring into her eyes. She shook her head with a smile. " I've never had sex on the beach."

Drew's hands moved under Jay's shirt, touching her flesh, making her tremble. Drew bent her head, placing a light, delicate kiss on her lips. Jay closed her eyes, loving Drew's gentleness.

" I love you so much, Jay, " Drew said, her mouth moving slowly across Jay's face, her lips caressing her skin. " It's going to be good with us. I think... I think it's going to be really good."

" Yeah." Jay's arms tightened around Drew, pulling their bodies into a tight embrace. " Yeah, it's going to be great with us."