antsy. They were so bloody happy. Shit, make that horny. He could hear their rapid heartbeats and their naughty whispering. The majority of them looked as if they needed a bedroom.
He glanced at Emma, and saw the sexy flush on her cheeks, the kiss-swollen lips. Fuck, he didn’t need this distraction. Jack forced his mind back to the job. Given the opportunity tonight, he’d scour the island, check out the private marina and wharf.
A young woman walked up to a microphone followed by several others. All of them, except one—an older man—were dressed in a uniform of black shorts and blue T-shirts.
“Good afternoon!” the man shouted.
Well, damn. Jack sat up straighter on recognizing him once he turned in their direction. Rueben J. Mahoney himself. Interesting . The owner wasn’t always at the resort. His presence made the back of Jack’s neck prickle in the way it did when an investigation was advancing.
“Welcome to Mahoney Resort. We have a great week planned with lots of naughty fun especially for couples!” A roar of approval greeted Mahoney’s words. “I know you’re anxious to begin your holiday, so I’ll hand you over to Lissa.”
“Welcome! Sounds as if you’re ready to party.” With a laugh, Lissa—a bubbly redhead—held up her right hand in a bid for silence. “To start the fun, I want you to look under your chairs. Two lucky people should find a red heart sticker.”
A buzz of chatter rippled free as everyone stood to peer under their chairs.
“I’ve got one!” Emma shrieked.
Jack winced. “That figures.”
“Could the two lucky winners come up here to collect their prizes? We have a bag full of sex toys and games for you to spice up your week.”
Emma bounded up to the stage with the red sticker clutched in her hand. A man in his fifties followed hot on her heels.
Jack swallowed a groan when one of hostesses on the stage presented Emma with her prize. Reuben J. Mahoney kissed her on the cheek and tossed her a joking remark. Jack gritted his teeth as he heard the drawl of the man’s voice but not the actual words.
The desire to curse and shock the hell out of the little old lady and her bright-eyed husband sitting next to them rode Jack like a demon jockey with spurs. Contrarily, the dragon roared with excitement and anticipation. Bit by bit, his strength and determination to stay the heck out of Emma’s panties was being eroded. Jack sighed and finally accepted the truth.
He was a dead man, but at least he was gonna die happy.
Chapter Three
Emma blinked at him in an innocent manner. “It wasn’t my fault I won the spot prize.”
Jack suspected she wasn’t the slightest bit sorry. The twinkle in her blue eyes spoke of mischievous pleasure, and her attitude rubbed against his horny taniwha.
“What are we going to do now?”
“I am going to do a reconnaissance of the resort. I thought you were going to the pool.”
Her bright smile dimmed before bursting into life again. The sight flipped his stomach with foreboding. What the hell was she up to now?
“I think I’ll go to the beach instead of the pool.” She lifted the large package and waved it in front of him. “Not to swim. I can sunbathe and check out my loot.”
Jack froze and slowly nodded. She couldn’t come to much harm on the beach.
One hour later, Jack finished his quick whistle-stop tour of the resort. He checked out the gym, the swimming pool with the spa pools and sauna facilities. There was a health spa he’d poked his head inside, then promptly retreated but not fast enough. As an excuse he’d ended up making an appointment for Emma for a massage and something to do with seaweed before he could escape.
He’d checked out the golf course, the archery area and the petanque pit, where guests played the French version of outdoor bowls. Then, he’d hit one of the walking tracks that skirted the property and led to Stoney Batter—the World War II gun placements and connecting tunnels—if a guest