Her Holiday Miracle
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Joanna Neil
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HarlequinChapter One
AT LAST. REBECCA GAVE a soft sigh of relief as a sixty-foot-long catamaran smoothly eased into position alongside the dock. The sound of calypso music came from on board, floating on the air waves towards her, and her spirits lifted in an instant. She’d been patiently standing in the queue for some time, wilting in the heat despite her light camisole top and loose cotton skirt, but now there was an end in sight. She would soon be on the last part of her journey to the beautiful Caribbean island of St Marie-Rose.
Just up ahead of her a man straightened as the boat approached. She’d noticed him earlier—in fact there was no way she could have missed him. He had midnight-black hair and sculpted, lightly tanned features, and he stood out from the crowd—tall, muscular, supremely fit-looking, wearing pale chinos and a white T-shirt that outlined broad shoulders and well-muscled biceps. He’d been looking around, taking in his surroundings. Presently, though, he seemed preoccupied, deep in thought, not at all like the others who lined the quayside.
Perhaps he felt her glance resting on him just then, because he half turned towards her and looked directly at her, his dark gaze meshing with hers for a heart-stopping instant. His eyes widened and his glance moved over her, taking in her slender yet curvaceous figure, the long copper-coloured hair that tumbled past her shoulders in a mass of unruly curls. All at once he seemed stunned, as though he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Heat swept along her cheekbones and she looked away, embarrassed for her own part to have been caught staring. Somehow she hadn’t seemed able to help herself...there was just something about him... He probably wasn’t a tourist, she decided. There was nothing of the loose-limbed, laid-back sunseeker about him.
Actually, much the same could be said of her right now. She didn’t feel at all touristy. After being cooped up in an aeroplane for almost a dozen hours, followed by a short taxi ride to this port, she was more than ready for the last leg of her journey. At least she hoped this was the last leg. It was already late afternoon, and she really wanted to arrive at the house before nightfall. With any luck her sister, Emma, would be there to greet her. She smiled, a thrill of excitement running through her at the prospect—it would be so good to see Emma again.
Up to now, though, nothing had gone quite to plan—instead of flying directly to the island she’d found herself stranded here, on the verdant, equally lovely tropical island of Martinique, waiting for a ferry to take her across the sparkling blue sea to her final destination.
The people in the queue began to move slowly forward. ‘Ah, looks like we’re boarding at last,’ someone said behind her. ‘Finally!’
It was a male voice. She turned to glance at him. He was a young man—in his mid-twenties, she guessed, much the same as herself. She was twenty-six. He had blond hair and blue eyes, and a ready smile. Dressed for the heat, he wore three-quarter-length shorts and a T-shirt. Clearly he was in a good mood—most likely returning with his friends from a day trip to Martinique. The three young men with him were chatting to one another, lively and exuberant.
He returned her gaze and waved a hand towards the boat. ‘Shall we? I’m William, by the way. William Tempest.’
He looked at her questioningly and she responded in a soft voice, ‘Rebecca...Rebecca Flynn...most people call me Becky.’
‘Hi, Becky. We should be able to get some refreshments on board. Perhaps I could buy you a drink? I’m not hitting on you,’ he hastened to explain. ‘Well, maybe I would in different circumstances. It’s just that I noticed earlier you were looking a bit fed up and I thought maybe you could do with something to cool you down and perk you up—perhaps an iced juice of some sort—they do a good orange and mango mix?’
‘Do they?’ So he’d noticed her wilting. What was it that had given her away? Was it her hot cheeks or the way her curls clung damply to her temples? She should have taken the time to pin her hair back while she was on the plane.
She’d no experience of the facilities on board ferries in the Caribbean, but now she moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue in anticipation.
‘A cold drink sounds wonderful. I’d like that.’ She added as an afterthought, ‘This whole thing is a bit of an adventure for me.’
‘Are you here on holiday?’
‘Sort of. More of an extended break, shall we say? Things were getting me down back home and I needed to get away.’
‘Really? I’m sorry. I feel a bit that way, too. I’ve had a break-up with my girlfriend...it was really hard to take. It was a while ago, and I keep trying to put it all behind me, but it’s difficult.’
‘Yes. I know how that feels.’
Together, chatting amiably, they walked the short distance along the quay to the boarding ramp and stepped on to the deck of the boat.
It was strange... She didn’t know him from Adam, but she liked him instantly, in a platonic, unthreatening kind of way. All her usual English reserve seemed to be disappearing fast—melting away in the tropical sunshine.
Perhaps it was the heady atmosphere of the Caribbean beginning to exert its hold on her—or maybe the energetic beat of the music coming from the boat was serving to loosen her up. Whatever the reason, she’d throw all her inhibitions away right now for the chance of downing a long, cold glass of something. Anything.
William looked around. ‘Where do you want to sit? Would you like to be under cover, or do you want to look out over the sea?’
‘Both, I think.’ She smiled. ‘I’ve been stuck on a plane for several hours, so it will be great to move around and feel the fresh air for a bit.’
He nodded, his mouth curving. ‘Sounds great. We can get to know one another—it’ll take about an hour to get to St Marie-Rose.’
He was friendly and open with her, and as they chatted Rebecca was startled to find herself responding readily, a bit like a flower opening up to the sun. Why did she feel so at odds with herself about that? He’d already told her that he was getting over a broken relationship. Would it hurt to talk some more and maybe confide in him in return? He was easygoing and sociable and that was what she needed right now.
‘So what’s been getting you down?’ he asked.
‘Oh, a few things...I was ill, and my boyfriend decided that he couldn’t handle it.’
‘Ouch! That’s a tough one. It must have been difficult for you.’
‘Yes...’
It had been a few months since her relationship with Drew had disintegrated, and what had happened over that time had certainly taken its toll of her... Complications after her appendicitis had added to her problems and left her feeling low, and Drew had been less than supportive. After her appendix had burst, peritonitis had almost killed her, with the poisons in her bloodstream keeping her in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit for a couple of weeks.
But her problems hadn’t ended there. The doctors told her she might be infertile because of the scar tissue from those complications, and that was when Drew had decided to bow out. She had been devastated, overwhelmed by everything that had happened to her. How could she cope with the possibility of never having children? That question haunted her still.
It had all been a bit of a struggle. She desperately needed a change of scene—a chance to put herself back together again. Wasn’t it time she tried to relax and let her hair down? It could hardly matter what happened here, what she decided to tell William—he was only going to be around for a short time, after all.
She found a seat on one of the benches under the awning and put her bags down on the floor by her feet while he went to fetch the drinks. Padded bench seats were arranged along the deck, facing a central four-sided counter where dusky-skinned youths were busy cutting up all manner of fruits— oranges, melons, passion fruit, limes. There were a couple of urns available for hot drinks, along with juice dispensers and water coolers. She glanced around. There were even potted palms placed at discreet intervals on deck, all adding to the holiday atmosphere.
The man she’d seen earlier had gone to stand by the rail, looking out over the sea. He braced himself, leaning back against a stanchion, as the boat’s engine started up. He glanced her way, watching as William came towards her with a tall glass of iced juice. She couldn’t tell what the man was thinking. His gaze was smoke-dark—brooding, almost. As though he was disturbed to see her with another man. That couldn’t be so, though, could it?
For some reason he bothered her. Perhaps it was because in some way—maybe in the way he stood apart from the others—he reminded her of Drew. Though her ex had never possessed those bone-melting good looks, or that way of looking at the world as if it was his to command.
‘Don’t worry about him.’ William must have seen her cautious glance, and now, as she accepted the drink he handed her, she looked at him quizzically.
‘I won’t. Do you know him?’
He nodded. ‘He’s my cousin. He’s been over to Martinique on business—I think he probably wants some space to mull things over.’
‘Oh, I see...I think.’ She frowned and tried to put the man out of her mind, turning her attention to William and chatting to him about nothing in particular.
He was good company. He was fun and he made her chuckle, and at one point he even pulled her to her feet and had her dancing with him to the hot, rhythmic music that spilled out from the loudspeakers overhead.
Other passengers were already moving to the beat, and from time to time William’s friends came to join them. She laughed with them and exchanged banter, simply enjoying the freedom of letting herself go for a while. Her hair tumbled this way and that over her bare shoulders and her skirt gently swirled around her thighs as she sashayed to the beat of steel drums. She hadn’t felt this unrestrained in a long time.
The music stopped for a moment as the latest song came to an end and she stood still, attuning herself to the rhythm of the boat as it crested the waves.
‘Shall we go and stand by the deck rail for a while?’ William suggested, and she nodded, going with him and turning her face to the cooling breeze as the boat ploughed through the waves.
Standing with her by the rail, he put an arm around her shoulders to point out dolphins in the distance, playing in the clear, crystal water.
She felt a prickling at the back of her neck and looked around, suddenly distracted. The man at the rail flicked a glance in her direction, inclining his head in acknowledgement, his eyes narrowed against the glare of the sun. Was he still intent on watching her? Or was it William he was keeping an eye on?
William spoke to her, cutting into her thoughts. ‘Perhaps we might see each other again—hang around together from time to time? Don’t get me wrong—I know you’re not looking for a relationship and neither am I—but we do have something in common. We’ve both been hurt and we could be friends, maybe?’
‘Yes, I’d like that.’ It would be good to have a friend out here.
She looked out over the blue water once more. The island of St Marie-Rose was drawing closer, its green-clad mountains beckoning, while picturesque white-painted houses nestled among the trees on the hillsides—a perfect invitation to visit.
‘Whereabouts are you staying?’ he asked.
‘Tamarind Bay. My sister’s renting a house there...well, nothing quite so grand as a house—it’s more of a cabin, really. She was lucky to get it—it’s quite secluded, apparently, near to a small private marina. The owner of the property is a friend.’
He frowned. ‘That’s the opposite direction from me. We’re all staying at a rental place in the north of the island. Still...’ He brightened. ‘It’s not too far away. It’s not that big an island. You could go from one end to the other in two or three hours.’ He smiled. ‘There aren’t that many bars and nightclubs in Tamarind Bay. I’m sure I’ll manage to find you again. Maybe I could have your phone number? I could help cheer you up.’ He made a wry face. ‘Heck—we could cheer each other up.’
She nodded and smiled in response, but she wasn’t about to commit to anything. She wasn’t averse to having fun—in fact it would be great—but above all she’d come out here to spend time with Emma.
The catamaran moved into place alongside the dock at St Marie-Rose just a few minutes later and they readied themselves to disembark. Ahead of them, William’s cousin was among the first to leave the boat.
William helped her with her bags as they negotiated the steps to the quay. She paused for a moment to look around, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction as she took in the curve of the bay, with its wide strip of golden sand and palms that tilted towards the sun, their green fronds drifting gently in the light breeze.
‘Are you going to be okay getting to your sister’s place?’ William asked as they stood among the melee of disembarking passengers. ‘Tamarind Bay’s about an hour’s drive south from here.’ He seemed concerned, anxious to stay with her, but also aware of his friends waiting for him a short distance away. ‘I could find you a taxi. Better still, I could ask my cousin—’
‘No, please don’t do that,’ she said hurriedly. ‘Don’t worry about me. I’ll be absolutely fine. Go and join your mates. Enjoy the rest of your holiday.’
‘Okay...’ He frowned. ‘I suppose so...if you’re sure?’
‘I am.’
Reluctantly he walked away, and she looked around to see if there were any cabs left for hire. A man thrust a leaflet into her hands—an advertisement for sea trips to the local islands—and she glanced at it briefly. In the meantime passengers were still getting off the ferry, descending upon every waiting vehicle.
‘I help you, lady—yes?’ A dark-skinned, athletic-looking young man came to stand beside Becky on the dock. ‘You need help with your bags?’
‘No...no, thank you.’ Becky gave him a tentative smile. She’d been warned by the tour company about hustlers, and though he seemed innocent enough she was cautious. Perhaps he had a car somewhere, but from his manner she seriously doubted he was a legitimate cab driver. ‘I’ll be fine. I’m sure I can manage.’
Unfortunately, her suitcase was still back at the airport, but she had her hand luggage with her—a holdall and a roomy bag.
He shook his head. ‘You give me money—I take your bags for you.’ He bent down and started to grasp the handles of her overnight bag.
‘No, no...please don’t do that... I can manage,’ she said again, but he wasn’t listening.
‘I take care of it for you,’ he said.
‘No—I’d rather you didn’t do that.’
She tried to reach for her bag but he was too quick for her, deftly swinging it away from her into the air. She sucked in a sharp breath. How on earth was she going to deal with him? Should she kick up a fuss? Call Security? Where was Security around here?
Even as the thoughts darted through her head the man she’d seen earlier stepped forward. He moved so fast she blinked in surprise, watching as he came up to the stranger, gripped the handles of her bag firmly and wrenched them from him. Rebecca was stunned. He was lithe and supple, his body honed to perfection. It was simply amazing to watch him in action.
His steel-grey gaze cut through the young man like a lance. ‘She told you that she didn’t want your help. Now I’m telling you—leave her alone.’
It was clear he meant business. It was there in the clipped tone of his voice and in the firm thrust of his taut, angular jaw. Even Rebecca was in awe of him, and she was an innocent bystander.
‘Okay. Okay.’ The young man held up his hands in submission, backing off. ‘I didn’t mean any harm. I’m going.’ He looked wary, taken completely aback by the opposition that seemed to have erupted out of nowhere.
Her rescuer watched him leave. ‘He won’t bother you any more,’ he said.
‘No. I see that.’ She sent him a grateful glance, her green eyes drinking him in. The youth was hurrying away along the quayside, anxious to stay out of trouble. ‘Thank you. I wasn’t sure whether there were any security people around here. They didn’t seem necessary. Everything looked so peaceful.’
His mouth made a wry curve. ‘It is—usually. But anywhere you go you might find people who want to supplement their income any way they can.’
‘I suppose so.’ She used the leaflet to fan her cheeks against the heat. How did he manage to look so cool and in control? He must be used to the conditions out here.
‘I’m Cade, by the way,’ he said. ‘I’m William’s cousin. He may have mentioned me.’
He held out a hand to her and she slipped her palm briefly into his. His grasp was firm and reassuringly strong.
‘Rebecca,’ she answered. ‘Yes, he did. Thanks again for your help.’
‘You’re welcome.’ He gave her a thoughtful look. ‘I couldn’t help overhearing some of your conversation with William on board. You said you were staying at Tamarind Bay—that’s roughly where I’m headed. Near there, anyway. I have a place in the hills above the bay. I could give you a lift, if you like?’
‘Um...that’s okay, thanks. I don’t mind waiting for a taxi. I don’t want to put you out.’ She didn’t know him, after all, so why would she trust her safety to him?
‘You could be in for a long wait...’ His glance shifted over her. ‘To be frank, a woman on her own—a beautiful young woman at that—could invite unwanted attention...as you’ve already discovered.’ He reached into the pocket of his chinos and showed her a business card. ‘Perhaps this will help to put your mind at ease.’
Dr Cade Byfield, she read. Emergency Medicine Physician, Mountview Hospital, St Marie-Rose.
‘People know me around here,’ he said. ‘I make the trip to and from Martinique on a regular basis. Ask the officials at the end of the dock if you need reassurance.’
That sounded reasonable enough. She’d seen one of them acknowledge him with a nod a short time ago. ‘A doctor?’ she said quietly. ‘So you live out here?’
He nodded. ‘I have done for the last few years, anyway. I’m from Florida, originally, but my parents settled on the island some years ago.’ He glanced at her questioningly. ‘And you?’
‘I’m English—from a busy town in Hertfordshire.’
‘Ah, I thought I recognised the accent.’ He smiled fleetingly and waved a hand in the direction of the harbour wall. ‘My car’s parked over there. Shall we go? I promise you, you’ll be safe with me.’
‘Okay.’ As she nodded he placed the palm of his hand in the small of her back, sending small whorls of sensation eddying through her spine. She tried not to think about the touch of his warm, strong fingers on her body as she walked with him.
‘We could have done with your help as a doctor on the plane coming over here,’ she murmured as they set off along the quayside.
‘Really? Why is that?’
‘We had to divert to Martinique to drop off a man who was taken ill. He was sitting in the seat across the aisle from me when he collapsed. He looked dreadful—pale and waxy. The pilot had to radio for help and they made sure they had an ambulance waiting for him at the airport.’
He frowned. ‘It must have been serious if they had to do that. What was wrong with him? Do you know?’
She nodded. ‘He complained of chest pain radiating to his ears and gums, and then he lost consciousness. I felt for a pulse but there wasn’t one.’
He sent her a quick, concerned look. ‘Sounds like a heart attack. What happened?’
She pulled a face. ‘There was general panic all around me for a moment or two. Then I started chest compressions while a flight attendant rushed to get a portable defibrillator. We managed to shock his heart and establish a rhythm and restored blood flow to his vital organs.’ Her mouth flattened. ‘I thought he was going to be all right, but then things went wrong again and his heart went into an irregular rhythm and stopped for a second time.’
Cade sucked in his breath. ‘He was obviously in a very bad way—that must have been scary for you.’
‘It was worrying,’ she admitted. ‘But I’m a doctor, too, so I suppose the training kicked in. They had adrenaline on board in the aircraft’s medical kit, so I gave him intravenous doses until he started to recover.’
His eyes widened with interest. ‘Are you an emergency doctor?’
‘No. My specialty’s paediatrics.’
‘So, do you work in a hospital or general practice?’
By now they were approaching his car—a dark metallic red sports utility vehicle. It managed to look both sleek and sturdy at the same time, and she guessed it would be capable of managing most types of terrain.
She said quietly, ‘I was working in a neonatal unit, but actually I’m taking a break from medicine right now.’ How could she bear to go into work every day and be surrounded by babies, knowing she might never hold one of her own? It was like a pain deep inside her. ‘At least I thought I was taking a break until I stepped on the plane. My plans certainly went wrong after that.’
He opened the passenger door for her and ushered her inside. He was frowning again. ‘Obviously you weren’t heading for Martinique at the outset. Wouldn’t it have been easier to fly the rest of the way from there instead of getting the ferry?’
‘Probably.’ She was thankful he hadn’t asked about her reasons for having a break from her career, but maybe he assumed she was just taking a holiday. ‘There wasn’t another flight until tomorrow morning,’ she explained. ‘Once we stopped at Martinique the flight crew had worked their allotted hours, apparently. I didn’t want to mess about. I wanted to get here on time to be with my sister—and my luggage had already been taken off the plane.’ She pulled a face. ‘I’m not quite sure where it is at the moment...en route to Barbados, I think. I’ve filled in all the appropriate forms, so hopefully I’ll be reunited with it at some point.’
‘You’ve had an eventful journey.’ He slid into the driver’s seat and switched on the engine. ‘Let’s hope things go smoothly for you from now on.’
‘Yes, we should look on the bright side, shouldn’t we?’ She leaned back against the luxurious upholstery and felt the cool waft of a delicate breeze fan her cheeks as the air-conditioning kicked in. ‘Oh, that feels good.’
He gave her a sideways glance. ‘How long are you planning on staying over here?’
‘Three months to begin with—maybe longer, but if so I might need to find work of some sort. I’m not in a hurry to do that yet—I suppose I’m looking for a change of direction. I may even decide to go home when the three months is up. I just want to spend time with Emma—my sister. She’s over here on a temporary contract with the nursing directorate.’ She frowned. ‘She messaged me a short time ago when I was on the boat, to say she’d been called out on a job—some last-minute thing that cropped up. I’m just hoping she’ll be back before too long.’
His cool, thoughtful gaze swept over her before he turned his attention back to the road ahead. ‘Talking of jobs, it seems a bit strange for you to be taking time out so early in your career. You’re very fortunate if you can afford to do that. A lot of people would envy you.’
She winced inwardly. Was that a veiled criticism? After seeing her on the boat, getting on so well with his cousin, he probably thought she was a bored rich girl looking for thrills.
‘Perhaps they might. You’re right—it’s good to have enough money to be able to choose—but I don’t see myself as “fortunate”, really,’ she countered. ‘My parents died when I was twelve. They left money in trust for me and my sister, so we’re both comfortably off, but I’d much rather they were still around. We were brought up by an aunt and uncle. They’ve been good to us, but they had their own two little girls to care for. It can’t have been easy for them.’
‘No, I expect not. I’m sorry.’ He studied her briefly. ‘Does it bother you, leaving them behind to come here?’
‘Oh, yes—I’ll miss them all...especially my cousins. But we’re all older now, going our separate ways.’ She was pensive for a moment or two, lost in thought. ‘I suppose we were lucky that there was no rivalry or resentment bubbling away in the background because we were taking up the love and attention that should have been reserved for family. In fact we get on very well with one another. My aunt and uncle did a good job.’
‘Four youngsters must have made for quite a lively household?’
‘Yes, it was a bit rumbustious at times. We had a lot of fun...holidays and family picnics and generally hanging out together.’
‘I never had that experience.’ There was a slight thread of regret in his voice. ‘I was an only child—that’s probably what makes me value my cousin’s friendship all the more. We’re very close—a bit like brothers.’
She sent him a curious glance. ‘Really? I didn’t get that impression. You kept to yourself on the ferry and didn’t really have any contact with him—he said you’d been to Martinique on business and needed some space.’
‘That’s right. I had to go over there to talk to some clients—I have a plantation in the hills, a few miles from Tamarind Bay, so I make the journey to Martinique on a fairly regular basis to see people about supplies and exports and so on.’
‘Wow!’ She smiled. ‘I’m impressed...a plantation owner...that’s inspiring.’
‘Not so much.’ His mouth made a wry twist. ‘I took it over a couple of years ago, when it was completely run down, and I’m learning a few lessons on the way. It’s taking a lot of effort to get it going once more, but we’ve made a reasonable start, I think.’
‘It sounds as though you have a busy life.’ She wanted to know more about the plantation, but he hadn’t yet commented about leaving his cousin to his own devices. Why had he done that if they were so close? ‘You said, “We’ve made a reasonable start”—is William part of that? Where does he fit in? If you’re so close, I don’t understand why you didn’t want to talk to him on the boat?’
‘He works for me, but he’s on holiday at the moment. As for when we were on the boat—he was with his friends and I didn’t want to intrude...more especially since he seemed to be very taken with you. In fact, I’d say he was smitten...so much so that I doubt he’d have thanked me for getting in the way.’
She looked at him in mock surprise. ‘Smitten? We’d only just met!’ Why would he have reached that conclusion? Was he jealous of the attention William had been giving her? Of course he hadn’t heard the bulk of their conversation, or he would have known they were just going to be friends. William liked her, but he was still getting over the break-up with his girlfriend and wasn’t making any romantic overtures. ‘You’re reading too much into the situation.’
‘I don’t think so.’ Again, that wry smile. His glance drifted over her, taking in her slender curves, the way her camisole top nipped in at the waist and her skirt draped itself over the swell of her hips. ‘What chance did he have against a flame-haired beauty with emerald-green eyes and a come-hither smile? He was done for the moment he looked at you.’ He pulled a face. ‘Heaven knows—I was done for.’
She stifled an uncertain laugh. Did he really feel that way about her? And that was the second time he’d commented on her looks. ‘Well, thanks for the compliment...I think...’ He made her sound like some kind of Delilah... ‘But if it really was as you say, do you imagine he’d have some sort of a problem getting involved with me? I couldn’t help feeling you were keeping a weather eye on him.’
‘I was, to be honest.’
She blinked, startled by his frank admission. ‘You were?’
He frowned. ‘I was...most of the time. At least I was trying to, when I wasn’t distracted by thinking about you. There’s something about you—a vulnerability that I sensed, maybe. I suppose it must have brought out the protective instinct in me.’ He sighed and gave his head a shake, as though he was trying to pull himself together. ‘Perhaps William feels it, too. Either way, I don’t want to see him land in hot water. My aunt asked me to watch out for him over the next few months. He may not look it, but he’s vulnerable, too, right now. He’s easily led and he’s been hurt in the past.’
‘Haven’t we all?’ She said it under her breath, but he gave her a quick, sharp glance before concentrating on negotiating a twisty bend in the road.
Rebecca gazed out of the window, watching the landscape unfold in all its glory. It was easier than trying to fathom him out. She sensed there was a lot more to Cade Byfield than she’d learned so far. He was attracted to her, but he was fighting it, and at the same time she had a sneaking feeling he didn’t trust her around his cousin. She wasn’t at all sure why.
Not that it mattered. Did she even trust herself right now? She was here to chill out, to get over the breakdown of her relationship with Drew and the turmoil that had caused...and hopefully to recover from the aftermath of the illness that had thrown her life into disarray these last few months.
The road wound its way through forested slopes, and their journey of discovery helped to take her mind off things. Beneath the thick canopy of trees she glimpsed the occasional flight of a colourful parrot or a yellow-chested peewee, and on the ground, which was thickly covered with broad-spanning ferns, she caught sight of small green lizards darting through the undergrowth. There were wild flowers hidden among the foliage along the route—waxy lilac anthuriums and the pretty scarlet rosettes of bromeliads peeking out here and there. It was beautiful, and all new to her.
‘You said you often go to Martinique on business?’ she murmured, turning her attention back to Cade. ‘Wouldn’t it be quicker and easier for you to fly?’
He nodded. ‘That’s true. But I like having the chance to unwind on board the ferry. It gives me time to clear my head and maybe get things into perspective. In a place like this you don’t always want to be rushing about. I get plenty of that in my job at the hospital.’
He pointed out the pristine waters of a yachting harbour as they rounded a curve in the road. ‘We must be getting fairly close to where you’ll be staying, I think.’
‘Oh...’ She gave a small gasp of delight as she looked out over the hillside and down into the rocky cove. ‘It’s so lovely. It’s perfection.’ Beyond the shoreline, outlined beneath the deep blue of the sea, she saw the turquoise ridge of a coral reef. ‘It’s even better than the way Emma described it to me.’
‘Yes, it’s an exquisite island—a beautiful place to live...and work. I’ve travelled the world, but I always love to come back here.’ He negotiated a winding road down to the scattering of houses that made up the small hamlet. ‘Yours is the cabin, you said?’
‘Yes...I think I can see it amongst the trees. Emma sent me pictures of it.’
Excitement bubbled up inside her as she caught sight of a timber-clad house with white-framed windows and a white-painted wooden balustrade enclosing a wide veranda. The sun was setting on the horizon, casting a golden glow over the hills as they drew up in front of the house. Everything looked tranquil and untouched by the outside world. She sat for a moment, taking it all in. She could be happy here. She felt it deep inside. Surely this was a place of healing, where she could mend her body and her spirit?
‘Presumably your sister would have been expecting you earlier? How will you get into the property if she’s not here now?’
She frowned. ‘It’s been a couple of hours since her text message—I would have thought she’d be home by now. But she said she would leave a key in a safe place where I’d be sure to find it.’ She laughed softly. ‘Knowing Emma, that probably means it could be under a rock marked “Key is here”.’
He laughed with her. ‘I dare say the locals are all on good terms with your sister. You can rest easy. We don’t get a lot of crime out here.’
He parked the car in front of the cabin a few minutes later. It was set against a backcloth of leafy trees and dense shrubbery, its location completely private, and everything smelled fresh and open to nature.
Cade waited while Rebecca knocked on the door. When there was no answer she stifled her disappointment and went in search of the key.
‘It was hidden in a box under the veranda,’ she told him. ‘Would you like to come in for a drink of some sort? I expect there’ll be juice in the fridge—or coffee?’
‘Thanks. I’ll have a coffee, if you have the makings. I’ll see you settled in and then I should be on my way. I have to get over to the plantation to meet up with my estate manager.’
‘You work late out here?’
He nodded. ‘Occasionally. Sometimes it’s necessary if problems crop up. My manager wants to see me about getting a new truck—the one we have at the moment keeps breaking down. He lives in a cottage on the plantation, so it’s not as if he’ll be put out too much. I need to get it sorted.’
All this on top of his work as a doctor? He obviously believed in keeping busy. She stepped on to the veranda and unlocked the front door. ‘Come in.’
‘Thanks.’
They both took a moment to look around. The living room was simply furnished, with a polished light oak floor, a couple of settees and a coffee table, and opened out into a light and airy kitchen-diner at one end. The units there were cream-coloured, with pale oak worktops that were easy on the eye. Two sets of French doors led from the kitchen and the living room out on to the veranda that swept around the building, giving a view through the trees of the delightful cove below.
‘I’ll just see if Emma has any coffee.’ Rebecca checked the cupboards, then set out porcelain mugs on the oak table while she waited for the kettle to boil. There was a note from Emma propped up against the sugar bowl. ‘She doesn’t know when she’ll be back,’ Rebecca said, quickly scanning it. ‘She says the landlord will stop by tomorrow morning to sort out a problem with the window shutters.’
She frowned. It definitely sounded as though she would not be back tonight.
‘Ah, I might have known it—Emma’s left some food for supper,’ she murmured, continuing to read and then going to rummage in the fridge. ‘We might as well help ourselves...there’s plenty for both of us, from the looks of things. Spiced chicken drumsticks and salad, with savoury rice.’ She turned to him. ‘How does that sound?’
He pulled in a breath. ‘Too tempting to refuse,’ he admitted with a grin. ‘It seems to be quite a while since I had lunch.’
‘Mmm...me, too,’ she agreed, taking dishes and platters from the fridge. She frowned. ‘I wish I knew how long she was going to be. I was so looking forward to seeing her again.’
‘Is she older than you or younger?’ he asked as they sat down to eat a minute or so later.
‘Older by just a year. But for all that she’s always sort of looked after me...kept me on the straight and narrow, so to speak—our cousins, too. They’re three or four years younger than us.’ She waved a hand over the food she had set out. ‘Help yourself.’
She’d always looked to Emma for guidance over the years. Perhaps Emma would know how she could get over her illness and the break-up with Drew and restore her self-confidence once more. When her consultant had said she might have difficulty in having children because of scar tissue blocking her fallopian tubes it had come as a devastating blow. Rebecca had withdrawn into herself for a while and shut out the outside world. She hadn’t wanted to face up to anything for some time.
As for now... A recklessness seemed to have taken her over. She’d left her job, left the country, put everything behind her. And she’d met a handsome young man on the ferry coming over here—not to mention the fact that now she was sharing a meal with a perfect stranger in the privacy of a secluded cabin. Had she lost her senses? Perhaps she was hell bent on self-destruction. She didn’t want to take anyone down with her, but was she headed that way? Emma would surely put her right.
She shook the thoughts from her mind. Better to think of something completely different. ‘What kind of plantation do you have?’ she asked now. ‘What do you grow there?’
Cade had been watching her, she realised, clearly curious about her introspection, but now he followed her lead and answered readily. ‘Cocoa—everything depends on producing a good crop.’
‘You said it had been run down—why would that happen?’
‘Because of disease in the plants, the weather—hurricane winds, tropical storms—and low prices. A lot of people out here gave up on cocoa and turned to banana-growing instead. It must have seemed like the better option.’
‘But you think you can make a go of it where others have failed?’
He nodded. ‘I’ll certainly have a good try.’ He finished off his chicken and wiped his hands on a paper serviette. ‘That was delicious.’
She inclined her head briefly. ‘Emma’s always been a good cook.’
They talked some more about food in general, and his hopes for the plantation, and then her phone rang, cutting in on their conversation.
‘Perhaps it’s Emma. I should answer it,’ she said quickly.
‘Of course. Please—go ahead.’
She stood up and walked across the kitchen to take the call. It wasn’t Emma, though, and a swift wave of disappointment washed over her.
‘Hi, Becky...it’s William. I’m just checking that you managed to get to your sister’s all right. I was concerned about you. I hated leaving you alone at the harbour.’
‘Oh, hi, William. Yes, I did, thanks. You didn’t need to worry about me. I’m fine.’ Out of the corner of her vision she saw Cade brace himself slightly. His head went back a fraction.
‘That’s good. Listen, I’m coming over to the bay tomorrow evening. Maybe we could go for a drink together?’
‘I’d like that... It depends what my sister’s doing, though. She isn’t here right now.’
‘She could come with us.’
She thought about it. ‘Okay, then. Yes, we could do that. It sounds good. I’ll let you know if anything changes.’
‘Great. I’ll meet you in Selwyn’s Bar at around eight o’clock?’
‘Selwyn’s Bar? Yes. Eight o’clock, then. I’ll look forward to it.’ She was smiling as she said it, and when she cut the call she turned to look at Cade once more. ‘That was your cousin,’ she said unnecessarily. ‘He was just checking to see that I got here all right.’
‘So I gathered.’ He stood up, his features guarded. ‘You’ll be seeing him again, from the sound of things?’
‘Looks like it.’ She sent him a quick, challenging look. He seemed tense. ‘Do you have a problem with that?’
‘Not really... Maybe...’ He shrugged awkwardly. ‘Like I said, I don’t want to see him get hurt. He’s just come out of a bad relationship and he’s vulnerable right now. I know it doesn’t seem that way...’
‘Surely he’s old enough to take care of himself?’
‘You’d think so, wouldn’t you? But some people take a while longer than others.’
‘He seemed fine to me.’ Her green eyes flashed. ‘Anyway, why do you imagine I’m likely to be such a problem for him?’
‘Are you kidding?’ His mouth made a crooked shape as his glance drifted over her. ‘The way you look, I suspect you’d be a problem for a saint,’ he said, with feeling. ‘My cousin stands no chance at all.’
A wave of heat ran through her cheeks. ‘Well, I’m flattered you imagine I have such powers...’
He smiled. ‘I suppose I want you to go easy on him. I sense you just want to have a good time and enjoy your stay here—and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.’ His dark eyes glinted. ‘I’d be only too happy to help you do that. As for William—he’s here for the duration, while you’ll be moving on in a short time. I can’t help thinking that if you and he get together I’ll be left to pick up the pieces again.’
‘I’m sure you and your aunt are being overly concerned...I’ve never thought of myself as a heartbreaker.’ Still, something in her prompted her to say, ‘Anyway, you could always come with us to the bar.’ Even as the words left her lips she wondered what on earth she was thinking. ‘He suggested my sister might want to come along,’ she added, ‘so you could join us and make up a foursome.’
‘I’d like that,’ he said. ‘I’ll look forward to it—I’ll come and pick you up.’ His smoky gaze rested on her once more. ‘It’s a great pity William saw you first,’ he said softly. ‘I’d be more than ready for the challenge.’
She looked at him directly, her green glance unwavering. ‘I’ve said before that we’re just going to be friends...but even if that wasn’t the case I’m not some prize to be won.’
‘Like I said, I have his interests at heart. I won’t stand by and see him hurt.’
She wasn’t sure whether that was a threat or a promise.
He left soon after that, and she watched him drive away. She ought to be feeling relaxed, at peace with herself, but instead she felt a sense of nervous anticipation—a vague worry starting up inside her. What was she doing, getting involved with Cade and his cousin? Hadn’t she been through enough turmoil—and could William really get hurt because of her?
Her mouth made a crooked twist. She doubted Cade was the kind of man who would let that happen. She frowned. Perhaps that was what bothered her. What did he have in mind? Somehow she suspected a man like him would leave nothing to chance. Wasn’t that why he’d been waiting around on the dock after William had left?
