Tempted By Collection

Zac was focused intently on getting his catch on shore. ‘Want fish for breakfast?’

‘Breakfast of any kind would be good.’

Zac wound furiously. ‘This one’s definitely bigger than the last baby.’

‘That’s a good trevally,’ Donny agreed minutes later.

‘Will the chef cook it for me?’ Zac asked.

‘Yes, or my wife could use it to make you a traditional Fijian meal to have at our house tonight.’

‘Really? Your family would join us?’ When Donny nodded, he continued, ‘That would be fantastic.’

Olivia asked, ‘What do we bring?’

‘Nothing. We eat at five thirty because our grandson goes to bed early.’

‘You have a grandchild living with you? Bet you love that.’

‘His mother’s our daughter. She does the massages in the spa.’

Olivia smiled. ‘Then I’ll meet her this afternoon. I’m booked in for a full body massage at two o’clock.’

Zac laughed. ‘Think she’ll be better than me?’

She looked away to hide the sudden flush creeping up her cheeks. ‘No comment.’

Donny and his wife, Lauan, greeted Olivia and Zac warmly, welcoming them into the small thatch bungalow crowded with relatives. It felt as if half the island’s population was there. The fish hadn’t been that big, Olivia thought as she sat down on the woven flax mat in front of a larger one with plates stacked at one end.

Zac was soon chatting with the men and Olivia tried to look around without appearing nosey. Apart from her, all the other females were seated behind the circle enclosing that mat. ‘Lauan,’ she said quietly. ‘I can sit with you.’

Lauan shook her head. ‘You’re a visitor.’

Yes, but I’d love to be with the women. Unfortunately it would be rude to protest. ‘I’ve been looking forward to coming here all day. How do you cook the fish?’

‘I wrap it in banana leaves to steam over the open fire. There is coconut milk added, and potatoes. Thank your husband for the fish.’

Husband? To the locals they probably did appear to be a married couple. ‘I will.’

Lauan squatted beside her. ‘I’ve also made a chicken stew with carrots, potatoes, and broccoli.’ She rolled her eyes softly. ‘Too many people for one fish. But they all wanted to meet you.’

Thinking of the scrawny chickens she’d seen pecking around the base of the trees behind the resort, Olivia wondered if one chook would go any further than the fish. All part of the adventure. ‘I’m happy to meet you all.’ She nodded to the women.

Two of them disappeared into another room and soon large plates of steaming food were being placed on the mat.

‘That smells delicious,’ Olivia said.

‘Doesn’t it,’ Zac agreed. Leaning closer, he asked, ‘You okay?’

‘Absolutely. I’m glad you caught that sucker, or we might never have had this opportunity.’ She took the plate of food handed to her and looked for cutlery, feeling silly when there wasn’t any. When in Fiji do as the Fijians do. But as she placed a piece of fish in her mouth a fork appeared in front of her.

‘For you.’

Zac got one too. ‘Thanks, but I’ll use my fingers.’

The food was simple and tasty, the vegetables so fresh they must’ve been picked only hours ago. ‘Sometimes I think we forget the pleasure of plain food.’ Olivia noticed a child peeking around at her from behind Donny.

‘Hello. What’s your name?’

The child ducked back.

Remembering Donny’s earlier conversation on the beach, she asked Lauan, ‘Your grandson?’

‘Yes. Josaia. He’s shy.’

‘I hope he comes over to say hello while we’re here.’

‘After dinner.’

But it seemed Josaia couldn’t wait to take another peek, and Olivia winked at him.

When he winked back she felt she’d won a prize. Her mouth widened into a smile and she was rewarded with one in return. When dinner was finished she did get to see the boy properly when he came close to pick up the empty plates at his grandmother’s bidding. Olivia’s heart rolled. One of his arms was stiff and awkward, and his left cheek marred by terrible scarring.

Josaia knew she’d seen and his smile vanished as he twisted his head away from her. When he reached out for her plate she picked it up and placed it in his hand. ‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘Where do you go to school?’

Donny was watching her guardedly. ‘The kids go to the mainland for school.’

That didn’t answer her specific question but she knew when to mind her own business.

Josaia disappeared with his load of plates, and she suspected she wouldn’t be seeing him again tonight.

Donny tugged his shoulders back. ‘He doesn’t go to school because other children tease him. I try to teach him, but he’s missing out on so much.’

What had happened to cause that disfiguring scar? She felt sure he hadn’t seen a plastic surgeon. That wound had been too crudely sutured. Maybe she could help in some way. But was it her place to ask? It might be better coming from Zac. Man-to-man stuff. Leaning sideways, she gave him a wee nudge and got the slightest of nods.

He asked, ‘Did Josaia have an accident here on the island?’

The older man nodded, his eyes so sad Olivia felt her heart slow. He’s broken-hearted for his grandson. ‘Last year Josaia was swimming with a group of his mates when a tourist joined them, asking about the fish and where he should go to try out his spear gun.’

Zac asked softly, ‘Josaia was shot with a spear gun?’

Olivia stifled a gasp. Josaia is lucky to be alive. She slipped her hand between Zac’s arm and his side, wrapped her fingers around his elbow.

Zac continued in the same low, calm voice. ‘Where was Josaia treated?’

‘On the mainland. In the hospital. It’s a good hospital, but no one knew what to do for my grandson. I begged the doctors send him to Australia or New Zealand. They said it wasn’t possible, and Josaia would be all right once they stitched him up and set his broken bones.’ Tears streamed down the proud man’s face. ‘I begged them to rethink. He’s only seven.’

‘There’s nothing wrong with him.’ Lauan’s voice was sharp and angry. ‘But you’d think he was a leper from the way boys who used to be his friends laugh at him now.’

‘That’s so hard for anyone, but especially a child.’

‘He was always so popular until the accident.’ Donny stared at a spot on the dining mat. ‘His mother works hard to raise money to take him away for help. His father works in Australia to make money.’

‘When was the last time Josaia saw his dad?’ Olivia asked, her heart thudding.

‘Christmas.’

Seven months ago. What sort of life was that for a young boy? Not to have his dad there had to be hard. Olivia knew about that. She wanted to slap the floor and say she’d see that Josaia got whatever he needed and as soon as possible, but despite the urgent need to help this boy she held her tongue. She’d talk this through with Zac first.

Zac knew Olivia was barely holding herself together for the remainder of their time with Donny’s family. He could see the sadness in her face, feel the need for her to do something to rectify what had happened with Josaia. But most of all he understood how much she was struggling to hold it all in so that she didn’t make rash promises she mightn’t be able keep and thereby hurt the family further.

The meal was over early by their standards. As they walked away from their hosts Zac draped an arm over Olivia’s shoulders. ‘I’d like a drink.’

‘I could go a cup of tea.’

‘We can discuss what you’re desperate to do for Josaia.’

‘That poor kid. I bet the worst part of the whole deal is the way his old friends are now treating him. Children are cruel.’ She shuddered.

‘Insecurities, jealousy, wanting to be popular with the in-crowd. Anything and everything. Even plain old nastiness.’ The sudden tension in her fingers suggested she’d had her share of being on the outside. But of course. She’d said she’d worked hard to be liked and be a part of the group at med school. ‘This is why you want to help Josaia? Apart from the medical point of view?’

They’d reached the outdoor lounge at the main building by the time she answered. ‘That boy is surrounded by people who love him, but they’re all adults. There don’t appear to be any children in his life. At first I thought that was because it was the end of the day and everyone would be at home, except when we walked to Donny’s house there were kids playing behind the huts.’

‘Then we saw his face and heard the despair in his grandparents’ voices.’

‘You’re onto it.’

Zac pulled out a chair for Olivia at an outside table. ‘What are you having?’

A wicked twinkle lit up her eyes, banishing that sadness for a boy she’d barely met. ‘You know what? Forget tea. Make that a cocktail.’ She looked around. ‘Where’s a menu?’

‘What about PS I …’ His voice trailed off at the realisation of what he’d been about to say. It was only the name of a drink, but the import of the words he hadn’t finished were slowly sinking in, one by one, adding up to a frightening whole.

‘Zac? What’s up? Are you all right?’

The concern in her tone wound around him, added to his confusion. Had he really been going to say ‘PS I love you’? Shaking his head, he sank onto a chair, putting a gap between them. But her eyes followed, as did that floral scent she wore. Or was that the smell of the frangipani growing a metre away?

‘Zac.’ Her eyes widened. ‘You’re worrying me.’

‘I’m fine.’ Really? This palpitating heart thing is fine? The knot in your gut is A-okay? The sweat on your palms due to the humidity? ‘Sorry. There’s a cocktail made with amaretto, Kahlúa, and Irish cream that’s perfect for after dinner. Very creamy and sweet, like a dessert, which you’ve missed out on tonight.’ Blah, blah, blah. Shoving up onto his feet, he asked, ‘Will that do?’ Ordering drinks would give him the space he needed right now.

‘Sounds good.’ Olivia nodded, looking perplexed. As well she should. Did she know she was with a lunatic?

Moving through the tables full of happy diners, Zac tried to ignore the questions battering his brain. He’d been enjoying getting to know Olivia better, happy being with her, wanted more time together. So why the hell hadn’t he ever considered he might be falling for her?

Because love spelt commitment. Commitment isn’t the problem. No. It wasn’t. It’s the responsibility. That went with any relationship, whether the other person was his best friend, his lover, or his brother. He loved Mark, had done from the day his tiny, wriggly body had been placed in his arms. Yet he’d still managed to screw up in a very big way, changing Mark’s life for ever.

‘Yes, sir. What would you like?’

Zac shook his head and stared across the bar at the woman waiting patiently for him to tell her what drinks he wanted. ‘A whisky on the rocks. Make it a double. And do you know a cocktail called PS I Love You?’

She frowned. ‘Not sure, but we’ve got a book describing most cocktails.’

When Zac told her the ingredients she smiled. ‘We call it Love on the Wind. I’ll bring the drinks across to you.’

He wasn’t ready to return to Olivia. ‘I’ll have that whisky now.’ And ordered a second to take with him.

Olivia watched him placing her glass on the table, returning to his seat. He waited for her to ask why he’d taken so long, and was grateful when she didn’t.

‘Where do we start with Josaia’s case? Talk to his family, or go to the mainland to check out the hospital and see if I can do a surgery there?’

‘Why not take him back to Auckland for the operation? If there’s going to be one. You’ve only seen that horrendous scar from across the room in dim light. There might be nothing you can do.’

She sipped her Love on the Wind—he would not think of it as PS I Love You—and smiled. Her tongue did a lap of her lips. ‘That’s amazing.’

So was the way his heart squeezed and his insides softened. Of course his libido sat up to attention. That was a given around this woman. What was extraordinary was that she didn’t know about this new effect she was having on him. He’d have sworn there were signs written all over his face. ‘Glad you like it. About Josaia and what to do first.’ He had to talk, about anything except them, and talk lots.

Olivia said, ‘Operating back home might be preferable so we get the best people on side for Josaia. It’s going to involve huge expense for the family, though. Hospital costs, accommodation, flights, and other incidentals I can’t think of right now.’

‘I doubt there’s a lot of spare money in that household.’ He locked his eyes on hers. ‘You’re going to throw in your time for free.’

‘Of course.’

‘I want to look at that shoulder. There might be something I can do there.’ See, he could move on from those other thoughts that had swamped his brain. ‘First we’ll talk to Donny. If he’s willing to take this further, we’ll decide how to go about it.’

Olivia’s hand covered his, and her fingers curled around his. ‘We have a plan.’

‘You like plans, don’t you?’

‘They keep me centred.’

So what was her plan for the rest of the night? It wouldn’t be what he hoped for. She’d be keeping to the other plan. Zac drained his glass, trying not to bemoan the fact he’d set the rule in the first place.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

THE ARRAY OF fish in every colour imaginable stole Olivia’s breath away when she sank beneath the sea’s surface off Treasure Island. She automatically reached out for Zac’s hand and tugged him down beside her. ‘Unbelievable,’ she spluttered in her mouthpiece, even though he couldn’t hear her.

When Zac looked her way she saw the same amazement in his face. When he started stroking through the water, heading further out from the shore, she followed. She’d never seen anything like this. When Zac paused she swam up beside him to lean in against his body. Skin to skin underwater. Delicious and exciting. And then there were the fish. One big, fat, enjoyable picture.

Olivia kicked her flippers slowly so as not to disturb the dainty creatures too much and followed a group of yellow and blue fish. Then a larger orange one swam through the middle, scattering the others. Yellow and blue fish. Orange fish. She grinned. Very technicolour. Down here it was like a moving painting: sharp colours, delicate manoeuvres, majestic shapes—and innocence. As though these creatures had no enemies. Which was probably far from the truth, though at least they were safe from mankind. This was a sanctuary, and the results were stunning. The numbers and varieties of fish were unbelievable.

‘That’s magic down there.’ Zac echoed her thoughts when they finally crawled out of the water and flopped onto the sand.

‘I’ve been missing out on so much by not travelling.’ She lay on her back, arms and legs spread in the sun. ‘It’s one of those things on my to-do-one-day list. Think it’s time to make that a do-it-now list.’

‘Shame your mother hated flying.’

‘Didn’t matter.’ Olivia sat up and started brushing off the sand, which was scratchy on her skin. ‘Dad left when I was twelve.’

‘That’s tough.’

She swallowed hard. ‘Mum was—is—an alcoholic.’ Swallow. She couldn’t look at Zac. ‘As in often totally crazy, uncontrollable, off-the-rails alcoholic. Dad ran out of patience.’

‘How the hell did you cope?’ Zac’s hand covered hers.

‘Not sure I did, really.’ Spill the rest. ‘I tried becoming a part of the school in-crowd so that I could forget what went on at home. Failed big-time because of Mum. Everyone knew what she was.’

‘Where did the cello fit in?’ Zac was giving her breathing space.

‘When I didn’t make it as an in-person I went for the nerd brigade.’ She huffed out a tight laugh. ‘That probably saved me, considering where some of the girls I’d desperately wanted to befriend ended up while I was at med school.’

‘Why medicine?’

She shrugged. ‘No idea. It was just something I wanted to do. As a little girl my dolls were always covered in plasters and bandages.’

‘At least you’d have been sure of your choice, then.’

‘You weren’t?’

Zac grimaced. ‘I started university intending to become an engineer.’

‘What changed your mind?’

‘Seeing my brother going through rehab and getting no end of help from doctors along the way made me think I’d be happier doing medicine.’

‘Your parents didn’t sway you?’

‘Put it this way, Dad’s an engineer at the top of his game, being the CEO for one of the country’s largest steelworks.’

‘You wanted to follow him into the business?’

‘No, I wanted to gain acknowledgement that I was his son.’

Reaching for his hand, Olivia said, ‘That’s the wrong reason to choose a career.’

‘I was desperate.’

She shuddered. ‘I understand.’ Seemed she wasn’t the only one with difficult parents. ‘Being an only child, I was never really treated as a kid even before Dad left.’ Not wanting to spoil a wonderful day with talk of her childhood, she said, ‘Let’s go eat lunch by the pool. All that fish-gazing has made me hungry.’

Zac scrambled to his feet and held out his hand, hauling her upright with one easy, fluid movement. ‘I could murder a beer. Think I’ve swallowed a litre of salt water.’

‘Yuk.’ Around at the front of the resort Olivia dived into the pool, eager to get rid of the salt and sand on her skin. When she hauled herself up over the side Zac was sitting at a nearby table, beer in hand, and his gaze fixed on her. Suddenly her bikini felt nonexistent. A pool attendant handed her a towel and she quickly dried off before pulling on a sleeveless shirt and shorts and joining Zac under the coconut palms. ‘Food and water, I think.’

Zac pushed a bottle and glass towards her. ‘Sparkling water, as requested.’

Turning her hand over, she slipped her fingers between his and enjoyed the moment. This was something she hadn’t known before. She had never spent time just holding a man’s hand without sex being the ultimate goal. Unbelievable how wonderful it felt. Full of promise without any expectations.

A group of children was leaping into the deep end of the pool, splashing half the contents over the side while shrieking their heads off.

‘They’re fun but I’m glad glad we’re not staying here on Treasure Island when Tokoriki is a no-go zone for kids,’ Zac commented. ‘I don’t mean anything nasty by that, but as a childless adult I don’t really want to share my rare break with other people’s offspring.’

‘I get it.’ She took a risk. ‘You think you’ll ever have children? Once you find a life partner, I mean.’

Zac’s eyes widened, and his mouth alternated between a smile and a grimace. ‘Now, there’s a loaded question. Or two.’

‘It wasn’t meant as such.’ Wasn’t it? ‘Just wondering if you were planning on having a family and a house in the burbs.’ Geez, what would she answer if he turned the question back at her?

The level in his beer glass dropped as he drank and stared at the kids in the pool. ‘You know what? I’d love to have children of my own.’ The surprise in his voice told her plenty.

‘Isn’t that a natural thing for most people to want?’

‘Yeah, but after Mark’s accident I decided I wasn’t having a family. Too easy to hurt them.’ Again he raised his glass to his lips and sipped the beer thoughtfully. ‘I think I’ve been wrong. I do want children.’ His head jerked backwards as though he couldn’t quite get his mind around this revelation.

Little Zacs. Olivia let the breath that had stalled in her lungs dribble over her lips, and tried to ignore the band of longing winding around her heart. Pick me for their mother. She spluttered and almost spat water down her shirt. Where had that little gem come from? Having children meant getting married and that would never happen. ‘Where’s that waitress? I want to order lunch.’

Zac shook his head and looked around. He must’ve spotted someone who could help because he raised a hand and waved, before doing what she’d hoped he wouldn’t. ‘What about you? Obviously you’d want more than one child if you felt you’d missed out not having a sibling.’

She went for her standard reply, not prepared to reveal her deep but well-hidden longing that she barely acknowledged to herself. ‘I’ve worked too hard to get where I am with my career to be taking time out for babies. Women I’ve talked to say that has set them back on the career pathway, and I’m not prepared to do that.’

Zac watched her, while behind those eyes she knew his brain would be working overtime. ‘I don’t buy it. That’s the press-release version. What’s the real story behind answering the same question you threw at me?’

He had a valid point. She hadn’t minded asking him where he was headed on the subject of family, so she should be able to take it in return. Except she couldn’t. They’d moved beyond the couple that used to have crazy sex all the time with no stopping for conversations. Now there was more between them they were learning about each other and she definitely liked the man she was getting to know. More than liked. But to reveal everything about her sorry upbringing was going too far. From years of learning to shut up those memories, they were now firmly locked away and she doubted the words were there. ‘I—’

‘Excuse me.’ The waitress chose to arrive right then.

Phew. Not a reprieve but a few minutes to consider how to get around this without upsetting Zac and the easy way that had grown between them. Because that was important. She did not want to lose any ground they’d gained.

‘Another water?’ Zac asked.

‘Yes, and I’ll have the red snapper with salad.’

The waitress hadn’t even turned away before Zac was saying, ‘There’s a question on the table, CC.’

Might as well get this over. ‘I got Mum’s undivided attention. She put all her love onto me. Except it was conditional and ugly.’ Her sigh was bitter and very out of place in such a wonderful setting. ‘Parenting takes special people and I’m not one of them.’

‘Am I allowed to argue that point with you?’ His voice was soft, gentle, almost a caress that said, I’m here for you.

‘Afraid not. It’s pointless.’

His mouth tightened. She’d hurt him.

Reaching for his hand, she said, ‘I need to drop this, Zac. Seriously. I’m sorry if you think I don’t trust you enough to talk about it. It’s me I don’t trust. My judgement about everything that happened in my family is warped and I’m just not ready to dissect it. I probably never will be, okay?’

His chin dipped in acknowledgement, though his eyes said he was still there for her if she changed her mind.

Squeezing those strong fingers that were curled around her hand, Olivia asked, ‘Can we relax and make the most of sitting next to a sparkling pool on a tropical island? Leave the other stuff out of the picture?’ She’d get down on her knees if that would help.

Zac leaned forward and placed his lips on her mouth. ‘Yes,’ he breathed as he kissed her.

As far as kisses went this one was tame, but it wound through her like a silky ribbon, touching, comforting, telling her that she wasn’t alone with those deep fears any more. Had this Zac always been there? Should she have scratched the surface of him right back at the beginning, on that very first night they’d fallen into his bed, exhausted after making out in his lounge and still eager for more? No, she didn’t think so. They would never have revealed anything about themselves back then. Talking hadn’t fit the mix of what had made their affair so exciting. ‘Thank you,’ she murmured into his kiss.

They were interrupted with cutlery being placed on the table and the waitress asking if she could get them anything else while they waited for their meals.

‘No, thanks.’ Zac sat back, a smile tipping that gorgeous mouth upwards. His eyes locked on Olivia’s. ‘We’ve got everything we need.’

‘The trevally are here,’ Olivia called from the edge of the lawn in front of their bure an hour after they returned to Tokoriki.