Free Distracting the Billionaire's Son by Jordan Bell

could change his mind. Eva watched us, and I knew girls
enough to know that she had us figured out, and she was pissed.
    Jonah took my hand and pulled me out of the front of the
boat and up a short flight of steps to where the driver’s seats were. Up here we
were partially hidden from the others, but we could hear Cole groan loudly and
swear about that “ fucking tease .” Eva said something we couldn’t hear,
but it didn’t matter. I pressed myself against the wall of the tiny pilot booth
and waited for my heart to slow. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt
that level of panic. How could anyone stand to be touched? Not me. Not ever
again.
    I slid to my butt and after Jonah closed the little door to
the booth, he fell to his knees and buried his hands in my hair, pulled me
against him. He was shaking ever so slightly, and instead of repulsing me, his
touch was comforting. So different than what I’d just felt.
    “Shhh, it’s alright,” he whispered against my hair. He
kissed my head, my temple, my eyelids. “Jessica, it’s alright. He won’t ever
touch you again.”
    It wasn’t alright, I wanted to say. But maybe it could be.
     
    ***
    The sun and the salt water made me sleepy, and when Eva tied
Jonah up with boating questions designed, I’m positive, to keep him from
following me into the woods, I went alone anyway. I discovered Shannon curled
up in the cool, dark cabin, snoring softly, clearly exhausted, and decided that
was the best idea I’d heard yet. I crashed as soon as my head hit the pillow.
    I woke late and Shannon was gone but she’d left a note to
join her when I was ready. I changed into black jeans and a black tank top and
took off at a jog up the path to the main house. The sun was setting and I was
starving. I hoped I hadn’t missed dinner because I was not going to ask the
French Chef for something to snack on.
    Luckily I found Shannon, Henry, Cole, Jonah, Eric, Nelson
and the two littlest McCallisters in the breakfast room eating leftover burgers
and ribs from the bonfire. They shared a giant pitcher of wine. Jonah started
to stand when I came into the room, but Shannon beat him to it and flung
herself to me and wrapped her arms around me, careful not to get her BBQ
fingers in my hair.
    “Jess! I feel like I haven’t seen you in days. Come join us.
Our chef had the night off and most everyone else went into town. We’re noshing
on leftovers. Hungry?”
    “Starved. If it wasn’t made in a microwave, I’ll eat
anything.” I pulled up a chair across from Jonah but beside Shannon. Henry and
Cole stayed at the end of the line of tables they’d shoved together. I was grateful
Eva was not among them.
    “Wine?” Shannon asked, filling a glass from the pitcher
before I could answer.
    “Yes, please.” The liquor was warm and rich, like a dessert.
I thought maybe this could be a very dangerous treat.
    “Jonah was just regaling us with tales of your boatmanship.”
    “I think if the animation thing doesn’t work out, she’s got
a future of piracy ahead of her.” Jonah held his glass up and I leaned forward
and clinked rims with him.
    “I had a good teacher.” I leaned back and shrugged at
Shannon who seemed to enjoy seeing her older brother so relaxed. “Besides,
piracy is kind of sexy, you know?”
    “Oh yeah. You’d look hot in one of those tricorn hats.”
    “You know I would.” We clinked glasses and Eric loaded up a
plate of food and sent it my way.
    Between the good food, the company, and plenty of wine, the
group relaxed and paired off, with the four teenagers leaving to the deck under
the pretense of counting stars, to Sarah McCallister’s absolute pleasure. Cole
disappeared once Shannon found her way into Henry’s lap, and I was left licking
BBQ sauce from my fingers. Jonah got up from his chair and took Shannon’s place
beside me. He took my hand and caught a finger between his lips. His tongue was
velvety soft as he licked the sauce from my skin.
    “Come