Page 16 of An Island in the Sun

With both of her hands firmly gripping the material on either side, she tried to push herself up. The hammock swung wildly.

‘It’ll be easier if you go in bottom first,’ Raff said with an amused snort. ‘It’s like you’ve never been in a hammock before.’

Sensing her cheeks reddening, Tabitha turned to face him. ‘Well, I haven’t for a long time.’

Raff folded his arms and, with a look of amusement, watched as she backed into it. She took a deep breath and sat back, her legs flying into the air.

‘There you go.’ Raff gently pushed her legs and she swung them inwards until she was in the supportive depths of the hammock.

Feeling giggles rising, she adjusted herself and came face to face with Raff. His stubbled cheeks were dimpled with a cheeky grin.

She held his gaze. ‘I would have got up here by myself, you know.’

‘I’m sure you would have. Eventually. But that was a lot more fun, watching you floundering around like a beached whale.’

‘A beached whale – seriously?’ She raised her eyebrows and shook her head, but the glint in his eyes suggested he was teasing.

‘Shuffle over,’ he said.

Once again, she found herself doing as he asked. Perhaps after pushing people away for so long, it was refreshing to be around someone like Raff, someone who didn’t know her or her history.

Raff leant against the centre of the hammock, shuffling back until he was just touching her. He swung his legs up and over in a far less whale-like way, expertly manoeuvring himself until he was lying next to her.

‘You’ve done that before,’ she said.

‘I went backpacking in Thailand; slept in a hammock for a while.’

Tabitha gazed ahead, incredibly aware of how close they were to each other, the hammock enclosing them and pushing them together. The day was turning out nothing like she’d imagined. The view was magnificent and she tried to concentrate on it rather than Raff pressed tight against her. On a slight angle between the two palms, she could see over the shrubs edging the garden to the vast blue ocean glinting diamond-like in the sun.

‘For the record,’ Raff’s deep voice filled the quietness, ‘you look nothing like a beached whale. It was just the helpless floundering that made me think that, not anything else, I promise.’

‘You should really stop talking.’

They returned to silence and gazing at the view, the hammock swaying gently. Fudge had stopped running around and was sitting on the grass, his head cocked, looking at them. Tabitha tried to not overthink the situation, but it was hard not to. And it was a situation. A right old pickle, just as she’d said to Fudge. She’d been avoiding human company as much as possible, yet Raff had gate-crashed her peaceful life with his easy-going nature and appealing looks. And, it occurred to her, if he didn’t look the way he did, wouldn’t she have sent him packing by now?

In such close proximity, it wasn’t only Raff’s looks that were having an effect. He smelt delicious too, a citrusy yet manly smell. It unsettled her how good it felt pressed against him, their bare arms touching. It was so peaceful, she was conscious of their breathing syncing as they gently rocked. The way in which he had infiltrated her quiet slice of Madeira should have been off-putting and yet she realised she was enjoying his company.

‘Aren’t you worried about Julie finding out that you’re here?’ she asked.

‘Nah, I’m not worried about her. She’s a good ’un. And even if she did, she wouldn’t tell on me.’

‘But you hid from her.’

‘I don’t want to put her in a difficult position and have to lie to my parents.’

Tabitha stole a glance at him. ‘And yet you’re okay with me lying to them…’

‘Yeah, about that. I really would appreciate it if you didn’t say anything.’ His fingers brushing her arm sent a jolt through her. ‘I know it’s a lot to ask…’

She turned her head just enough to see him. He really was gorgeous. Up close, thick stubble coated his chin and jaw and his cornflower blue eyes implored her to keep his secret.

‘Don’t worry, I won’t say anything.’

‘Thank you. I appreciate it.’

They held each other’s gaze for a moment longer before Raff broke the growing silence.

‘You know what,’ he said, ‘it’s been good having your unexpected company. I know you’re supposed to be working and I know I need to go, but, er, how about we take the dogs out first. I can show you one of the levada walks.’

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