Page 25 of Bride Under Contract

‘I heard.’

As they walked in silence, Carter again thought of Grace, and how last night he’d seen them through her eyes, as if for the first time. Her laughter and excitement, her sheer wonder, had brought some of the allure and the magic back.

If he could have made the journey here with his eyes closed he would have, or even kept them fixed ahead. Yet somehow Grace had forced them open, reminding him of better times...

‘Do you remember when I thought I’d found that calf?’ he said suddenly. ‘I was so sure it was lost.’

Arif laughed. ‘The herd was watching. The mother would not have been pleased if you’d approached him. She’d have attacked.’

It was the first real conversation they’d had about times prior to the incident...a time where they’d been just kids and friends...and Carter quickly regretted it—because Arif pounced.

‘Do you ever think of going back into the jungle—to where it happened, to where you were found?’ Arif asked, as he always did. ‘My father is too old now, but I would come with you, of course. It’s the anniversary soon—it might help you...’

‘With what?’ Carter challenged. ‘I survived and I’m grateful. I’ve moved on with my life. I don’t see the point of going there.’

As well as that, he did not need any reminder of the looming date.

They arrived back at the resort as dusk was falling. ‘Stay for dinner,’ Arif invited. ‘It’s the new moon, so we’ll eat a bit later tonight, but we’d love you to join us.’

‘I think it better that I head for the property,’ Carter declined. ‘I’ll get straight on to Jonathon and tell him to progress things.’

He glanced around the resort and knew that his restless eyes were looking for Grace. Yes, it would be better by far to get the hell away.

‘We’ll catch up soon. I’ll keep you informed.’

‘I’ll have your things moved to your boat...’ Arif said, but then hesitated. ‘First, though...’ he nodded in the direction of his office ‘... I have something that is yours.’

Carter frowned.

‘Give me a moment,’ Arif said. ‘I’ll just ask Jamal to excuse us.’

Carter was not used to waiting outside anyone’s office, but he stood there, no doubt about to be delivered another lecture and to be told he wasn’t doing enough.

‘Hey...’

He looked up and there was Grace, her hair wild and curly, her lemon top bright. Her face, which had been pale at the airport, now had a light dusting of freckles across her nose. Compared to last night, her eyes seemed a bit guarded, but her soft voice told him she was pleased that he was still here.

Walk away now, he wanted to warn her, because his black heart would soon darken those clear green eyes.

But instead of walking she stood there. ‘I thought you’d gone,’ she said.

‘I’m about to.’

‘Oh.’

She was waiting for him to elaborate, but deliberately he did not. His eyes had left her face, trying to ignore the soft curves of her slender body, how her yellow top, damp from the humid air, clung to her small breasts and narrow waist and skimmed her flat stomach. Despite the warmth her nipples were hard—not obviously so, unless you ached to know them, touch them, taste them...

Even looking down at her sneakers did not ease his sensual thoughts, for her legs were smooth and beneath those sneakers he knew there were coral-painted nails. It was her voice, though, the slight uncertainty to her tone that he deeply ached to address. Yes, he wanted to admit to her, she was right...this attraction was real.

His words might be curt, but physically he was lying. His body was beckoning hers, his arms were aching to draw her in. His stomach was tight, aching to fight arousal, yet his nonchalant stance, leaning on the wall, denied the untapped passion that thrummed between them.

‘Well...’ Grace said into the long silence. ‘It was nice meeting you.’

He nodded.

‘I’d better go and get ready for dinner...’

Carter frowned, looked at the darkening sky. He knew the routines here, and that a new moon meant dinner would be served later, but he did not want to get into conversation.

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