Page 93 of The Love Position

Lifting his hand from the hammock, he moved and flexed it, but not in the way that Sophia’s brother would have done, in order to show off his muscles.

‘Feels okay.’

‘But wasn’t that the most boring four hours of your life? Rocking me whilst I slept?’

‘Not at all.’ His face darkened, and he stood, facing away. ‘Can I get you anything?’

‘Could you possibly fill my water bottle? I’m really thirsty.’

‘No problem.’

He picked it off the deck. ‘Be right back.’

As soon as he’d gone, Sophia let out a strangled cry. Knowing that Isaac liked her whilst also knowing he would never touch her, was a form of torture she could never have imagined.

Her thoughts turned to home and Marcus. She couldn’t stay in Salisbury and keep working with him and his student girlfriends. As soon as she was back, she’d have to look for another job. And somewhere permanent to live.

As she gazed at the sparkling blue water, a sour taste in her mouth, a wave of guilt moved through her. Here she was, in a picture-perfect paradise, but she was miserable.

Carefully holding the sides of the hammock, she swung her legs to the floor, grabbed the crutches and pushed to stand, going into her little cottage. She needed the bathroom, and she wanted to check what she looked like before Isaac returned.

Ten minutes later, her teeth were clean, her hair brushed, and she was relaxing in one of the chairs on the deck.

Isaac strolled towards her, a brown jug in one hand and her water bottle in the other.

‘What have you brought?’

‘A surprise,’ he replied, stepping up onto the porch and passing her the bottle.

‘What’s in the jug?’

He pulled a glass from his back pocket. ‘Close your eyes and hold out your hand.’

She frowned. ‘Is this going to be a nice surprise?’

‘Yes.’

‘Okay.’

Closing her eyes, she heard him pour something into the glass, then felt the coolness of it against her palm.

As she brought it to her lips, the scents of pineapple and coconut filled her nostrils, and her eyes snapped open.

‘You didn’t!’

His grin was infectious. ‘Minus the rum. I couldn’t find any of that in the kitchen.’

Sipping the drink, Sophia’s eyelids fluttered with the pleasure of it. ‘Please tell me you’re going to have some?’

Filling another glass, Isaac reached forward and clinked it against hers.

‘Santé. To your health.’

‘I’ll definitely drink to that.’ Taking another mouthful, she rolled the flavours across her tongue. ‘You know, before I arrived, I thought I’d be spending so much time on the beach and swimming in the sea. But every beach apart from this one is covered in sargassum, and now I’m here, I can’t walk on the sand, or swim.’

‘You could always paddle?’

‘You’re joking, right? I can barely stand up straight in water when I’ve got both legs working. How do you think it would work now?’

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