Page 15 of Stuck in Paradise with You

A: more drinks with Joe, Henry, Jenny and, for my greatest sins, Luke, where we’re now sitting on patio furniture at the pool bar and I’m hyper-aware of bugs landing on me, despite the citronella burning around us.

Or B: I feign a yawn.

‘Gosh, I’m sorry. I think I should probably turn in too.’

‘Won’t you have a nightcap?’ Joe asks.

I ought to. For any other client, I would dig deep and find the energy. But when 50 per cent of my client is Luke Chalmers…

‘I would but I don’t think I’ll be much company,’ I say, which is true. I don’t want to be on this island, let alone sitting under the scrutiny of a man I got so,sowrong once upon a time. ‘Jet lag is the worst,’ I add, standing to make clear I won’t backtrack.

‘There’s one hour’s time difference between eastern time and Atlantic standard time,’ Luke says, one eyebrow raised.

Dick.

I feel my nostrils flare as I glower at him, then turn to Joe and switch on my tax advisor smile. ‘Oh, you know what I mean. Travel weariness.’

Everyone stands to give me an overly familiar hug goodnight –a Caribbean thing? A private island thing?Certainly an invasion of personal space thing.

Luke stays in his seat, looking out to a black sea, twinkling as it rocks back and forth under the light of the waxing moon. Only when Joe unsubtly jerks his head in my direction does Luke stand.

He comes close to me and I feel my entire body stiffen at the scent of him I used to know. Fresh cologne and… masculinity. My mouth suddenly feels like I’m stranded in the desert without water.

He leans into me and in any other circumstances, if this wasn’t work, I’d pull back.

In any other circumstances, this wouldn’t be happening.

I don’t know what to do.

We end up shoulder grazing and clumsily patting each other on the back.

‘Are you going to Facetime your pug?’ he mutters in my ear.

Scowling, I step back. ‘Wouldn’t you like to know what I get up to at night?’

Ha.

There’s something like fire between us as we stare each other out, neither one of us willing to break first.

Then Alisha reappears and we both turn to her together. ‘Joe, they want Dad.’

‘Duty calls,’ Joe says as he stands. ‘Rum and Coke for me.’

I use the distraction to slip out into the night.

On my way back to my pod, I shoot a message to Callum:

That may have been the most miserable dinner I have ever been to x

Slipping my phone back into my purse, it hits me. Whateveritis. My chest is tightening, my eyes are stinging, and I’m biting my lip in a bid not to cry.

As if my best friend has read my mind, I get a reply:

No tears, pretty lady. He doesn’t deserve them. I love you Cx

His words snap me out of whatever it was I was caught in for a moment.

Tears. Paha. I’m a tough gal x

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