Page 30 of Places I've Never Been

She had a song to write. Three songs. This was a working relationship. Nothing more. Nothing less.

“It’s beautiful,” she said, just so Adam wouldn’t wonder why she was so quiet.

Adam leaned closer. “Yes. Very.”

Why did those two words send a little thrill down her spine? For heaven’s sake, he was just talking about the view.

When they landed, she stepped out of the helicopter and into a fantasy. They were greeted by fresh sea breezes, rhythmic music, and a line of happy faces dressed in crisp white shirts and shorts.

The luggage, including the instruments and gear, traveled behind them by boat, so Mattie carried only the bag that contained her essential notebooks and pens.

A tall blond man in khaki pants and a white button-down shirt stepped forward and snapped photos with his heavy professional camera as they exited the helicopter.

“Welcome to Syer Island!” he called out. “Smile, you’ve just stepped into paradise!”

Mattie swore under her breath at the intrusion and instinctively shied away. It was a silly overreaction. He wasn’t paparazzi. Not really. But she hadn’t expected it. What if the photos of all of them together got out before she was ready? What if Devon saw them? How would he react?

Adam stepped in front of her with his hands outstretched. “Hey, man. No photos.”

The photographer lowered his camera and smiled the broad smile used by con men everywhere. “Don’t worry man. I’m not the press.”

Adam remained in between her and the photographer in a protective wide stance.

“I don’t give a shit who you are. You have a camera in our face, and we don’t want it there.” Adam’s tone was low and dangerous, like he was her own personal attack dog.

It was ridiculous, but it made her feel safer than she had in a long time.

The photographer held his hand out in apparent apology. “My name is Don, and I’m the official Syer Island memory maker. At the end of the trip, you’ll get a flash drive with all the images I take of your entire group, plus a video montage, and prints if you want.”

Adam shook his head. “No. We don’t want. We don’t want any photography of any kind. No videos, no shots, no prints. Nothing. Got me?”

Don glanced around at the others, but they gave him cold stares in return. He shouldered the camera and nodded. “Your call. No problem. Have a great stay.”

Don sauntered off down the path, whistling.

Mattie breathed a sigh of relief, though the encounter had left her feeling unsettled. She had a sudden urge to check her phone for Twitter updates.

At the edge of the landing area, they were greeted by a line of people who surged forward to greet them.

A man about her height, with high cheek bones, the deepest brown eyes she’d ever seen, and a small scar above his right eyebrow stepped up to her. “Welcome, welcome, Miss Bellamy. I am your personal butler. It is my pleasure to helpyou with your bag. I am Abayomi, which means bringer of great joy. Come with me, I will show you to your new home.”

His attitude was infectious. She found herself smiling back at him. “Nice to meet you, Abayomi. Please, call me Mattie.”

When he reached for her shoulder bag, she shook her head. “I’ll take this.”

“It is no trouble, Miss Mattie, no trouble at all. I have strong muscles, you see?” He held up one bicep and flexed it, which made her giggle. “If you like, I can take your things to your home while you explore?”

She glanced at the others. They were all being similarly accosted by helpful staff.

Adam gestured for his own butler, a short, spry woman with a little gray in her hair but a young-looking face, to lead the way. He caught Mattie looking waved. “Go get settled. We’ll meet up for dinner at sunset.”

“This way, Miss Mattie.” Abayomi gestured for her to follow, then led the way down a weathered boardwalk to a pathway of smooth packed dirt to the south. It ran under a canopy of tropical trees and bushes on one side, open to the bright white sand and crystal-blue ocean on the other.

The only noise along the way was Abayomi’s cheerful chatter and the soothing sounds of ocean waves.

“We are excited to have you stay with us. Anything you need, anything at all, you are to tell Abayomi immediately. I am all yours. I take care of your villa like it was my own home. Do you like a drink of coffee or tea in the mornings, Miss Mattie? I can make sure it is ready for you when you wake.”

“Coffee, please. With cream.” She felt a little overwhelmed by the attention. She lived casually simple most of the time. She didn’t even have a cleaning crew. She cooked all her own meals and didn’t go out much, and when she did it was to small, local places where nobody would know her.

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