Chapter 98

"I thought you might," I said, a wide grin on my face. I produced an eight-ball of c****ne. "Let's party tonight. Start with some bikini and lingerie shopping. And then I got us a table at Steak 48 at eight so we can watch the hookers work the bar."

"You read me like a book," she said, and we kissed again.

The thought of Kat washed over me out of nowhere, a feeling of longing that took me by surprise. Not that much time had elapsed. I vanquished the passing emotion by wondering whether there was any void in what Jess gave me. I couldn't think of one. Maybe I really was exactly where I needed to be for once.

Jess put a death grip on my hand as the single-engine Pilatus PC-12 banked to make its final approach into Gustaf III Airport on the island of Saint Barthélemy.

"I hate small planes," she said as she buried her head in my shoulder.

I squeezed her hand back and kissed the top of her head. We landed without incident and rapidly passed through customs t