Dirty Girl

Sunset Kisses

Jake held Jordan's hand as they walked down the beach until they reached a quiet cove tucked between rocky cliffs.

“Sit,” Jake said, motioning to the sand. Jordan lowered herself, and he settled beside her. “This is the best spot in all of Maui to watch the sunset.”

She stretched out, but winced slightly as she shifted.

“Are you okay?” Jake asked, brows creasing with concern.

“Yeah, just a sore back from all the digging,” she admitted.

“Where’s the pain?”

“Upper back. And maybe my neck, if I’m being real.” She flashed a lopsided grin.

Jake moved behind her and placed his hands at the base of her neck. His touch was warm, confident, and deliberate. He kneaded the tension in slow, expert circles, thumbs pressing into the tight knots beneath her skin.

Jordan let out a low purr, then giggled. “A millionaire, philanthropist, and a massage therapist? What don’t you do?”

“Technically, it’s physiotherapist, then millionaire, then philanthropist,” he said, smirking as he shifted closer, his hands now gliding over her lower back. “I actually put myself through school to become a physiotherapist by cutting lawns on weekends. My buddy, Ron, owned a landscaping company and gave me the pickiest clients he didn't have time to help. They wanted their lawns manicured to rival a pro tour golf course. I didn’t mind. Most of them were just lonely and wanted someone to talk to.”

Jordan turned her head, curiosity dancing in her eyes. “So, you went from mowing lawns to organizing charity mud runs?”

“Not exactly,” Jake said with a chuckle. “After I graduated, I didn’t want to leave my clients hanging, so I hired some help. The business took off—big time. I expanded, started buying property. Eventually, I was running a physiotherapy clinic out of the gym here and landscaping the resort at the same time. When it went up for sale, it just felt right to buy it."

Jake ran his hands lower over Jordan's back and she bent forward slightly, urging him to keep going.

"I participated in a mud run a couple years after that and thought it would be fun to host one here."

“And you made it a fundraiser to help send kids to camp” Jordan concluded.

He nodded, voice softening. “Yeah. But the long-term dream is to build a year-round camp—completely free for kids who need it. A place where they can just be kids.”

Jordan was quiet for a moment, letting that settle in. “You’re kind of amazing, you know that?”

Jake shrugged, a slight blush creeping into his cheeks. “I just like helping people. And mud. I really like mud.”

She laughed, the sound drifting into the crashing waves as the sun melted into the ocean, streaking the sky with fiery pink and orange.

Jake’s fingers traced down to the base of her spine, easing the last of her tension. The warmth of his touch made her aches fade—but it also stirred something deeper, hotter. He leaned closer, his voice a low murmur against her ear.

“Oh, and Jordan... I really like you.” Electricity was buzzing in the space between them. Jordan bit her lip, torn between surrender and restraint.

Then Jake’s hand slipped inside her panties, and his lips brushed the back of her neck. He groaned, “You’re so incredibly sexy.”

He rolled her gently onto her back and slid off her bottoms. Jordan stifled a giggle at the thought of sand in all the wrong places, but didn’t stop him.

Looking into her eyes, he said with raw sincerity, “Let me take care of you.”

She nodded without thinking. He kissed her mouth—soft, slow—then her neck, then lower, trailing heat down her body. When he gently spread her knees and began to kiss her there, she felt her breath leave her in waves. She came undone beneath his touch, swept away on a tide of pleasure unlike anything she’d ever known.

...

“Come on,” Jake said, standing and offering her a hand. “Let’s get you back to your room before you fall asleep on the beach.”

“That honestly doesn’t sound like a bad idea,” she teased.

“Don’t make me throw you over my shoulder.”

She crossed her arms, chin tilted defiantly. “I dare you.”

Jake didn’t hesitate—he scooped her up and slung her over his muscular shoulder with an ease that impressed Jordan. She shrieked with laughter, kicking playfully.

“Okay, okay! I’ll go to bed—just put me down!” she said between giggles.

He set her down, wrapped his hands around her face, and said with mock sternness, “Jordan, when I tell you to do something, you do it.”

He tried to keep a straight face, but his grin betrayed him. Then he kissed her—slow and sweet.

They walked hand in hand up the beach. Just before the resort came into view, Jake stopped.

“I’ve never met anyone like you, Jordan. The more time I spend with you, the more I want to.”

She smiled, trying to play it cool. “I have that effect on people. I’m basically the human version of illegal drugs. Except no hangover. No jail time.”

Jake raised an eyebrow, he wasn't amused.

She was deflecting. Dodging the weight of his compliment. And he wouldn't tolerate her underestimating her worth, not if he could help it.

He stepped in close. “You’ll take a compliment when I give it to you. Do you understand me, Jordan?” His voice softened. “I need you to know how much I care about you.”

She nodded, biting her lip. She'd never met someone with such authority and she couldn't help but adore it.

“I’ve got a few emails I need to send before the end of the day,” he said. “I’ll see you later, okay?”

She nodded again, and he kissed her cheek, then walked toward the hotel office with that same easy confidence that made her heart race.