[This chapter is dedicated to MysticAmy. Thank you for taking your time to check my work despite being busy with yours.]

"I apologize for what I did from last night?"

With the video of Jess mumbling that he was a meanie looming in the back of his mind, he said, "Instead of asking for an apology, I would like you to explain why you keep saying I am a bad guy."

His curiosity grew for Jess turned away from him trying to avoid her gaze when he asked about what she meant by him being a meanie.

"It was nothing, I had too much to drink." she sighed with regrets.

"Jess, give me some of your time after dinner. We need to talk about things between us."

She glanced up under her lashes to watch Noah's face. 'Here we are. No way of hiding.' "Yeah, sure. Just drop by anytime later. I'm not going anywhere tonight." she slowly walked back to her villa.

She was glad that Noah was the one who opened the idea of talking about what happened. She felt flustered when the image of them humping like wild animals on the stairs flashed in her mind. And what happened in her bedroom was something that she would never forget.

"I hope Lucille wasn't bothering you guys," he spoke from behind.

"Luke was now under your daughter's thumb. They were planning about this water sports she wanted to do that you were particularly VERY scared." She softly chuckled at Lucille's disbelief with the idea that her father was scared of what seemed to be a quite interesting sport.

She heard Noah laughing behind her. A smile was playing on her lips the rest of the short walk back to her villa where Lucille was still entertaining the three adults in her living room.

"Are you having a good time pestering the neighbors?"

His daughter's head snapped in his direction when she heard him, and screamed in her falsetto voice, "Daddy!"

She pulled him to join everyone in the living room, "Daddy, uncle Luke said, he will join us in that tube thingy that was being pulled by the speedboat!"

He glanced at Luke who just shrugged his shoulder. "I mean, it does look fun! And not scary at all dahdeh!" he winked at Noah, nodding to Jess' direction in the kitchen who was busying herself with cutting fruits. "Lucille, little miss Jessie would loveee to join us in the tube thingy thing too!"

Noah, who was already out of the loop with what was happening, looked at Soraya and Jin for answers but the two just lifted their shoulders as though they were there but had no idea what the conversation about. They were a mere spectator of Lucille's adorableness.

"Where will I join?" She put down the cut fruits in the middle of the table so everyone could get their fill.

Luke silently urged Lucille to convince Jess to join them in riding the inflatable towed tube that she wanted to do. Lucille got what he wanted, she grinned in mischief.

Noah on the other hand caught on to what Luke and Lucille were doing. He leaned back on the armchair waiting for what his daughter was going to do and how Jess would react.

"Little Miss Jessie, you aren't a coward like my daddy, right?"

Noah chortled when he heard what Lucille called Jess. He was familiar with the nickname for he also used it in some instances because he caught it from Luke. And his daughter was doing the same thing.

"Well yes, I am not a coward like your daddy," she softly chuckled with how Lucille approached her invitation with a challenge. 'Gosh, this kid is just too adorable.'

After receiving the video from Ellise, Noah didn't just give attention to Jess' expression but with the tone of her voice as well. The way she agreed with his daughter's innocent remark of being not a coward like daddy, no longer sounds innocent in his ears.

"So, you will join us with the tube thingy thing, right?" her face was so serious like she was ready to counter if she answered negatively.

"Yes, I will join you guys in this tube thingy thing." she rolled her eyes at Luke who snickered next to Noah.

Lucille pumped her small fist in the air upon hearing her answer. She then turned to her father and batted her eyelashes, puckered her lips, and said nothing.

Noah glanced at Jess and then at his daughter. He knew he had nowhere to run. He could no longer hide with his pretend phobia of the said water sports. "One time. That's all."

Lucille celebrated her success by high-fiving Luke before turning to Soraya, "Let's change to our swimwear."

"Young Miss it is now high noon." She checked on her wristwatch, "We will have our lunch in an hour and then, nap time." she reminded her of her schedule.

She pouted and climbed on Luke's lap. Noah lifted his eyebrow with how Lucille felt comfortable with Luke to the point of seeking comfort from him.

"They don't do the tube thingy thing at this hour because the sun is too hot. I saw them yesterday playing in the water around past three in the afternoon." He stroked her silky jet black hair that she got from her mother. "What time do you usually wake up from your nap?"

"About three o'clock."

"Perfect! After lunch, I will also take a nap then I'll see you on the beach at three-thirty. How's that?"

"Okay. But only if you eat lunch with us." she smiled.

Noah, who was listening attentively to the conversation between Lucille and Luke, saw the opportunity from what his daughter said. He turned to Jess and, "Yes, why don't you guys eat lunch with us."

She has been listening to Luke and Lucille and somehow she guessed that this eating lunch was going to come up, hence, she was not surprised with Lucille's invitation. What surprised him was Noah shamelessly taking advantage of the opportunity his daughter laid down.

"I guess it is fine," she said, smiling at Lucille, whose eyes darted with her and her father's.

"Soraya, please have everything ready."

Let's go, Soraya. We'll go ahead and see you later at lunch," he gave Jess a small bow before following Sorya out of Jess' villa.

The four of them were left in the room where Luke and Lucille had their own world talking about some of her favorite books and films. Jess knew that she was not needed, thus she picked up the uneaten fruits and brought them back to the kitchen.

She put it in a container to be put in the fridge. When she turned around, Noah was blocking her way. "What do you want?"

"A glass of water, please." he said, but he also mouthed the phrase "You," in her face.

She shook her head, feigning disappointment on how he could flirt when his kid could hear what they were talking about. She gave him sparkling bottled water and remembered that he prepared the same bottled water for her last night.

"Thanks, by the way." She watched him drink the water and swallow as he did. She watched his Adam's apple bob in his throat as he drank the water.

"For what?" He asked even though he had an idea what she was saying thank you for.

"For preparing some hangover meds for me. You don't really have to."

"Yeah, I don't have to." He threw the empty bottle into the trash bin, and faced Jess, "I want to. I want to take care of you," his voice was low but rang clear. His heart was in his eyes as he stared at her.

She fugitively glanced at the two people who were sitting side by side on the couch, whispering over something. She sighed when she saw them not paying attention to them.

"Jess --"

"We will talk about it Noah, but not right now," she sighed with exasperation. "Should we go to your place now for lunch?"

He stared at her for some more minutes before he went back to the living room to tell Lucille and Luke that it is now time for lunch. The four of them went to Noah's villa for lunch.

She was surprised to see that their villa has a small garden at the back, and that's where the long table with scrumptious lunch was waiting for them. An array of freshly cooked different kinds of seafood were on the table.

As she took a look at the different choices of food on the table, she noticed that there were twelve plates on it. She wondered why there were so many plates when it was just them, and the question at the back of her mind was answered when people came to the garden from the villa behind.

She realized that these people were Noah's entourage when she was in the midst of a conversation with them. She was surprised to know that Noah traveled with these people around.

A private plane, with its own crew, security, his secretary...and a pervert boss! His hand was caressing her thigh under the table.