Page 43 of Waste
“One can only hope, and no pun intended!” Drew said.
Pandora smirked. “Ihopenot!”
???
Drew returned to his room at the beach hut before sunbreak. He’d caught up with some of his other siblings but had spent the majority of his time with Pandora. She had given him much to think about, and when their conversation had died down, they’d sat in companionable silence. Drew had offered her his ear and help if she needed it. Pandora had smiled sweetly but declined.
Drew had left her and headed to Mary’s tower, where he had a quiet word with her. Mary was as horrified as he was when she learned Pandora heard everything said about her. How it hadn’t driven Pandora insane, neither of them knew. Drew wanted to know why they’d been betrayed, but if today had taught him anything, it was that Pandora would reveal things in her own time.
Shelley
Something seemed off. Drew was slightly distracted, although he still stayed pleasant and talkative. Charlie remained his usual self, but inside, Shelley sensed something was wrong. She was unsure of what, but it was niggling at her. As she lay on a sunbed, she cautiously peered around.
The resort they were at was incredibly exclusive. Which meant there weren’t the standard crowds. There certainly weren’t the usual holidaymakers fighting over sunbeds and whatnot.
Even so, Shelley was uneasy. The feeling was as if someone was watching her. Shelley wriggled uncomfortably.
“You’re going to look weird,” Charlie teased, and Shelley poked her tongue out.
“Shut up.”
“No, I don’t think I will,” Charlie replied. Shelley rolled her eyes as she followed her brother’s gaze and discovered a blonde in a skimpy bikini. She’d noticed Charlie’s attention and had a smile on her face as she thrust out a hip and flicked her hair.
“Really?” Shelley said, and Charlie grinned at her.
“I’m a man!”
“You’re a pig.”
“You’re still going to look odd. All tanned apart from one white ankle and arm.”
Shelley looked down at herself in her modest bikini and frowned. Damn it, Charlie was right!
“Don’t listen to him. You’re perfect,” Drew interrupted, and Shelley beamed at him.
She’d found it a little hard to keep her eyes off him. Drew wore swimming shorts and nothing else. He gave Charlie a run for money even though he was slimmer than her brother. Drew had the perfect body: tanned, muscular, and lean. Shelley knew Charlie was a gym rat, and his muscles proved that.
Drew probably worked out, but not like Charlie. Drew’s well-defined chest had a light scattering of hair, which Shelley appreciated. She hated men with full-on fur rugs.
“Thank you,” Shelley murmured, realising she’d been staring.
Drew grinned at her, and Shelley felt her blush rising. Damn it, she could never control that. With effort, Shelley tore her gaze away from the tantalising man in front of her and stared at the sea. The calm, picturesque turquoise water lapped gently at the sandy beach, and the sun shone brightly in the sky.
It was a beautiful day, with a few fluffy white clouds and lush green palm trees. There was nothing that screamed danger, and yet Shelley was on edge. She scanned the waterline again and saw nothing.
“What is it?” Drew murmured, alert to her mood.
“It’s silly.”
“Nothing you say is irrelevant,” Drew replied, sitting up on his lounger and swinging round to face her. He placed a finger under her chin and turned her to look at him. Shelley bit her lip as Drew removed his sunglasses and stared directly at her.
“I sense something bad, almost like I’m being watched, and someone wants to harm me. It’s probably paranoia considering what happened at home,” Shelley admitted.
Drew’s body stiffened, and he held her gaze before nodding. Slowly, he gazed around, assessing if there was a threat. Shelley appreciated that he didn’t make fun of her feelings. She was growing antsy and really wanted to be safe behind four walls.
“Want to return to the hut?” Drew inquired.
Shelley withheld a smirk and snort. The beach hut was anything but. It was sheer luxury but advertised as a hut. The urge to tease Drew faded as she felt a prickling between her shoulders.
