Page 32 of Places I've Never Been

Mattie followed him, but her phone kept demanding her attention. Two texts from Della begged her to call back, three from Kat detailed possible new projects, and one from Lizzie asked if she made it okay.

Abayomi set her suitcase on a small stand at the foot of the bed and gestured to the door in the corner. His smile was kind enough to melt some of the tension from her shoulders. “There is a refreshing shower waiting for you, and food and drink in the kitchen.”

“Thank you. This is amazing.” Her phone dinged, and a text from Piper appeared with a link to another gossip blog, which showed Mattie arriving at the airport with the headlineBellamy Babe Hunting for Next Victim?

Piper sent along a helpful comment.Make sure there’s no cameras at that resort.

“How am I supposed to do that?” she wondered out loud.

Abayomi gently took the phone away from her.

She started to protest, but he shook his head and with a kind expression laid it carefully in the nightstand drawer, then slid the drawer closed. The muffled ding of incoming texts sounded almost resentful.

Abayomi studied her with an understanding, almost fatherly gaze. “You must relax, Miss Mattie, and take in paradise. She will warm your soul, if you let her.”

She smiled, feeling a little rueful. “It’s easy to say, but not so easy to do.”

“While you are here, leave the things that bring you stressin the drawers, and only take with you the things that bring you joy.”

He opened the closet door and waved his hand. “Remove the outside world from your shoulders, and be with us, in this moment. While you are here,thisis all that matters. The rest of the world will be there when you have reclaimed yourself. It will wait, Miss Mattie.”

“I’m not sure I want it to wait on me.” If Devon found someone new to fixate on, that would be ideal. “But I understand what you’re saying. I’ll try to reallybehere, and not there. Thank you.”

“My pleasure, Miss Mattie.” He bowed his head, then left.

Mattie was tempted to take the phone back out of the drawer, but she resisted the urge. Maybe just one night, she would see how long she could go without the constant interruption. She pulled a change of clothes out of her suitcase, then went to explore the outdoor shower.

Ten minutes under the refreshing stream of water, surrounded by lush green plants and the sound of the ocean, and Mattie realized Kat had been right. This was the perfect place to get away from cameras and social media and gossip blogs and most of all, sisters.

She was glad she came.

Chapter Eight

Adam took the steps to Mattie’s villa two at a time. He’d changed into island wear consisting of khaki shorts, a white untucked linen shirt, and docksiders. If Mattie hadn’t been there, he probably wouldn’t have bothered with the shirt or the shoes, but he was trying to impress her with how adult he was compared to Devon.

The glass walls were wide open, allowing him easy access to her living room. “Mattie? Ready for dinner?”

She appeared from the back of the villa wearing a dress that made him trip over the last step. The halter-style top revealed her shoulders and, when she turned to pick up something, her bare back all the way down to her waist. A slit up the side of the long skirt revealed a tantalizing amount of thigh.

He recovered his footing in time to lean against the couch in what he hoped was a cool, suave pose.

She crossed to the control panel. “I can’t believe there’s no wall. People live like this?”

“I think they like to leave it open to give you the feel of being one with nature. I’m sure we’ll get used to it.”

Mattie looked unsure, as if the idea of leaving all the doors and windows open was too much exposure, but she didn’t push the button to slide the walls shut.

He hurried to reassure her. “There’s a safe in the bedroom closet, and the bedroom door locks. You don’t have to worry about thieves, or anything else here. You saw how hard it was to even get on this island. It’s not open to the public.”

She frowned. “What if it rains?”

He shrugged. “The butlers take care of all that. You’re supposed to leave all cares and worries behind. Wasn’t that in the brochure?”

She huffed a laugh. “I haven’t lived somewhere with no locks since I was about eight. After mom died we moved from a little po-dunk town outside Nashville into an apartment in the city. With four girls you can imagine how paranoid my dad was about locks. This open-air thing feels a little strange. What if someone…I mean, that guy with the camera might…”

“He won’t bother you again. I promise. Would you like a ride to dinner?” He gestured to the golf cart outside.

“I guess I can give it a try.” She dropped her hand away from the control panel and crossed the living room to the sofa to pick up her bag. “Sure. Let’s go.”

---