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As for now … A recklessness seemed to have taken her over. She’d left her job, left the country, put everything behind her. And she’d met a handsome young man on the ferry coming over here—not to mention the fact that now she was sharing a meal with a perfect stranger in the privacy of a secluded cabin. Had she lost her senses? Perhaps she was hell bent on self-destruction. She didn’t want to take anyone down with her, but was she headed that way? Emma would surely put her right.
She shook the thoughts from her mind. Better to think of something completely different. ‘What kind of plantation do you have?’ she asked now. ‘What do you grow there?’
Cade had been watching her, she realised, clearly curious about her introspection, but now he followed her lead and answered readily. ‘Cocoa—everything depends on producing a good crop.’
‘You said it had been run down—why would that happen?’
‘Because of disease in the plants, the weather—hurricane winds, tropical storms—and low prices. A lot of people out here gave up on cocoa and turned to banana-growing instead. It must have seemed like the better option.’
‘But you think you can make a go of it where others have failed?’
He nodded. ‘I’ll certainly have a good try.’ He finished off his chicken and wiped his hands on a paper serviette. ‘That was delicious.’
She inclined her head briefly. ‘Emma’s always been a good cook.’
They talked some more about food in general, and his hopes for the plantation, and then her phone rang, cutting in on their conversation.
‘Perhaps it’s Emma. I should answer it,’ she said quickly.
‘Of course. Please—go ahead.’
She stood up and walked across the kitchen to take the call. It wasn’t Emma, though, and a swift wave of disappointment washed over her.
‘Hi, Becky … it’s William. I’m just checking that you managed to get to your sister’s all right. I was concerned about you. I hated leaving you alone at the harbour.’
‘Oh, hi, William. Yes, I did, thanks. You didn’t need to worry about me. I’m fine.’ Out of the corner of her vision she saw Cade brace himself slightly. His head went back a fraction.
‘That’s good. Listen, I’m coming over to the bay tomorrow evening. Maybe we could go for a drink together?’
‘I’d like that … It depends what my sister’s doing, though. She isn’t here right now.’
‘She could come with us.’
She thought about it. ‘Okay, then. Yes, we could do that. It sounds good. I’ll let you know if anything changes.’
‘Great. I’ll meet you in Selwyn’s Bar at around eight o’clock?’
‘Selwyn’s Bar? Yes. Eight o’clock, then. I’ll look forward to it.’ She was smiling as she said it, and when she cut the call she turned to look at Cade once more. ‘That was your cousin,’ she said unnecessarily. ‘He was just checking to see that I got here all right.’
‘So I gathered.’ He stood up, his features guarded. ‘You’ll be seeing him again, from the sound of things?’
‘Looks like it.’ She sent him a quick, challenging look. He seemed tense. ‘Do you have a problem with that?’
‘Not really … Maybe …’ He shrugged awkwardly. ‘Like I said, I don’t want to see him get hurt. He’s just come out of a bad relationship and he’s vulnerable right now. I know it doesn’t seem that way …’
‘Surely he’s old enough to take care of himself?’
‘You’d think so, wouldn’t you? But some people take a while longer than others.’
‘He seemed fine to me.’ Her green eyes flashed. ‘Anyway, why do you imagine I’m likely to be such a problem for him?’
‘Are you kidding?’ His mouth made a crooked shape as his glance drifted over her. ‘The way you look, I suspect you’d be a problem for a saint,’ he said, with feeling. ‘My cousin stands no chance at all.’
A wave of heat ran through her cheeks. ‘Well, I’m flattered you imagine I have such powers …’
He smiled. ‘I suppose I want you to go easy on him. I sense you just want to have a good time and enjoy your stay here—and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.’ His dark eyes glinted. ‘I’d be only too happy to help you do that. As for William—he’s here for the duration, while you’ll be moving on in a short time. I can’t help thinking that if you and he get together I’ll be left to pick up the pieces again.’
‘I’m sure you and your aunt are being overly concerned … I’ve never thought of myself as a heart-breaker.’ Still, something in her prompted her to say, ‘Anyway, you could always come with us to the bar.’ Even as the words left her lips she wondered what on earth she was thinking. ‘He suggested my sister might want to come along,’ she added, ‘so you could join us and make up a foursome.’
‘I’d like that,’ he said. ‘I’ll look forward to it—I’ll come and pick you up.’ His smoky gaze rested on her once more. ‘It’s a great pity William saw you first,’ he said softly. ‘I’d be more than ready for the challenge.’
She looked at him directly, her green glance unwavering. ‘I’ve said before that we’re just going to be friends … but even if that wasn’t the case I’m not some prize to be won.’
‘Like I said, I have his interests at heart. I won’t stand by and see him hurt.’
She wasn’t sure whether that was a threat or a promise.
He left soon after that, and she watched him drive away. She ought to be feeling relaxed, at peace with herself, but instead she felt a sense of nervous anticipation—a vague worry starting up inside her. What was she doing, getting involved with Cade and his cousin? Hadn’t she been through enough turmoil—and could William really get hurt because of her?
Her mouth made a crooked twist. She doubted Cade was the kind of man who would let that happen. She frowned. Perhaps that was what bothered her. What did he have in mind? Somehow she suspected a man like him would leave nothing to chance. Wasn’t that why he’d been waiting around on the dock after William had left?
CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_26925c04-16ef-5812-8c0a-acc726a15c8f)
‘I WAS SO worried when you didn’t come back here last night.’ Rebecca watched her sister search through the clothes in her wardrobe. ‘Does it happen very often—that you don’t manage to get home?’
‘Sometimes—it depends on the circumstances.’ Emma held up a pale green dress that had an off-the-shoulder neckline and a skater skirt. ‘How about this one? It’ll go beautifully with your eyes.’
‘Oh, that looks great. Thanks. I’ll try it on.’
They were getting ready for their night out at Selwyn’s Bar, and as most of Rebecca’s clothes were still in her suitcase, travelling between airports, she was having to rely on Emma to help her out. Luckily they were of a similar shape and size.
‘So what happened last night?’
‘We had to go to a rural area up in the hills.’ Emma frowned. ‘A couple of people have gone down with headaches and fever, and we’re not quite sure yet what we’re dealing with. We looked after them, made them comfortable, and sent blood samples and so on to the hospital. We shan’t know what’s wrong with them until we get the results back in a couple of days.’
‘So you’ll be going back there?’
Emma nodded. ‘I have to wait for a call from the chief nursing officer. They’ll send a Jeep to take me back to the village.’
The girls finished dressing, and Rebecca added a final touch of blusher to her cheeks just as a rapping noise sounded on the cabin’s front door. Her stomach muscles tensed. That would be Cade, of course. He was a few minutes early and she didn’t feel at all ready for him. She hadn’t had time to compose herself, but she didn’t know why that bothered her. Why was she nervous about meeting up with him again?
‘I’ll get it.’
Her sister left the room and Rebecca took a moment to quickly check her hair in the bedroom mirror. She’d pinned it up for the evening, doing her best to tame the unruly curls, though a few spiralling tendrils had escaped to frame her face. Satisfied that she looked okay, she smoothed down the dress. The silky material skimmed her hips lovingly and fell in soft folds almost to her knees.
Emma was already opening the door, greeting Cade with a cheerful, ‘Hi, there. You must be the man Becky’s been telling me about. Come in.’ There was a pause as he entered the cabin. Then, ‘She says you have a plantation up in the hills?’ Emma said. ‘That is so exciting! I’ve never met an estate owner before—or seen a cocoa plantation.’
‘You should come and visit, then,’ Cade answered cheerfully. ‘I’d love to show you and Rebecca around—you could come tomorrow, if you like?’
‘That sounds great.’
‘Good. It’s a date, then. Late afternoon would be best for me—I could pick you both up after I leave the hospital.’
‘You have to work at the weekend?’
‘I do, unfortunately.’
He hadn’t wasted any time in issuing the invitation, had he?
His deep voice sent ripples of tingling sensation coursing along Rebecca’s spine. She tried to shake it off. How did he manage to have this effect on her? She wasn’t looking for any kind of involvement or attachment, yet he’d figured constantly in her thoughts ever since she’d watched him drive away the evening before. It was disturbing. Hanging out with William would be one thing—his cousin was a different matter entirely. With Cade she sensed danger at every turn … Her nervous system had gone into overdrive and was sending out vigorous warning signals that she would ignore at her peril.
‘Hello again.’ She took a deep breath as she walked into the room, and knew a perverse sense of gratification as she saw Cade’s grey eyes widen in appreciation.
He said nothing for a second or two, but then his dark gaze swept over both girls and he commented softly, ‘It’s clear to see that you’re sisters. You have the same high cheekbones and perfect jawline. You both look lovely.’
‘Why, thank you!’ Emma laughingly touched his arm, her long chestnut hair fleetingly brushing his shoulder as she moved in close to him.
She was wearing a simply styled blue dress with thin shoulder straps, leaving her arms bare. As for Cade, he looked cool and immaculate in a freshly laundered shirt and pale-coloured trousers.
‘Just give me a minute to get my bag,’ Emma said, ‘and we can be on our way. I’ve been to Selwyn’s Bar before,’ she confided. ‘I love it there.’
Cade led the way to his car a few minutes later and saw them seated comfortably. Rebecca chose to sit in the back seat alongside Emma. It didn’t feel as though they’d had much time to talk, since Emma hadn’t arrived home until mid-afternoon, and she doubted they’d have much chance to confide in one another this evening. It was good to be together again, though.
‘How long have you been working out here, Emma?’ Cade asked as he turned the car on to the coast road.
‘A couple of months. I’m having a great time out here. The work hasn’t been too difficult up to now—mostly we’ve been running health clinics and visiting the more remote villages. We’ve been giving vaccinations and checking out the under-fives to make sure they’re okay.’
He glanced in the rearview mirror. ‘Is that the sort of thing you might want to do, Rebecca—work with the under-fives, I mean? Not now, obviously, but maybe later? You talked about wanting a change of direction.’
Rebecca’s face paled at the unexpected question. ‘Um … I’m not sure. It’s something I’d have to think about.’
‘I suppose in neonatal your work was much more specialised?’
‘Yes. Some of the babies were very ill. They might have been born prematurely, or they had heart defects or lung complaints and so on.’
‘Is that why you stopped doing the job—because it was too harrowing?’
She swallowed hard. ‘In a way, yes.’
She didn’t want to talk about this. Delving into the different aspects of her work was far too painful, and it brought up a host of reminders she would rather ignore. It had been so hard going back to work after her illness. She hadn’t been able to bear to hold those tiny babies in her arms when she might never have one of her own. She hadn’t realised how badly she had been affected until she’d cradled those sweet, frail infants.
Beside her, Emma shifted closer in a silent gesture of support. ‘Sometimes it’s good to do something different for a while—to explore other opportunities. But for the moment Becky’s taking time out to recharge her batteries. She’s worked really hard over the last few years, qualifying as a doctor and taking her specialist exams. She hasn’t really had much time for herself and she’s well overdue for an extended holiday.’
‘Of course. I understand.’
Seeing the reflection of his dark eyes in the rearview mirror, Rebecca knew he didn’t understand at all. How could he? As far as he was concerned she was young, energetic, on the cusp of life—why would she need to take time out? But she wasn’t going to explain her circumstances to someone she’d only just met. And talking about it was upsetting.
She hadn’t been able to discuss things much with Drew, because his negative, unhelpful reaction had made matters worse. Whatever future they might have contemplated had been wiped out when he’d realized there was a possibility she might not be able to have children. She’d been devastated by his response to her predicament.
As for now, she wondered if any man she met might respond in the same way? She couldn’t even think about her situation without feeling shaky and unhappy. It was too soon … the emotional wound ran too deep and was still too raw.
‘They do marvellous mojitos at Selwyn’s,’ Emma said brightly, changing the subject. ‘You’ll like them, Becky. They make them with white rum, fresh limes and a sprig of mint. Yum.’
‘Sounds good.’ Rebecca made an effort to pull herself together. She glanced at Cade once more. ‘What do you like to drink, Cade?’
‘I like rum, too—it’s the national drink out here in the islands—but mostly I drink lager. Maybe I’ll have a rum cocktail this evening, but after that I’ll stick with non-alcoholic lager because I’m on the early shift tomorrow at the hospital … And, of course, I’m driving.’
‘Ah … you drew the short straw.’ Emma chuckled sympathetically. ‘They serve food at Selwyn’s, so you could always try soaking up the rum with a tenderloin steak or some such.’
He smiled. ‘I might do that.’
William was waiting for them, greeting all three of them with enthusiasm when they stepped on to the boardwalk leading to Selwyn’s Bar a few minutes later. The bar was made of wooden decking and built over a shallow tidal strait where mangroves emerged in a dense tangle of arching roots from the flood plain left by the ebb and flow of salt water. There was lush greenery all around, and the sounds of the forest mingled with the lively music coming from speakers positioned under the solid awning. Tables covered in white cloths were set out alongside the balustrade, so that customers could sit and eat and look out over the water.
William was smiling, wearing a T-shirt and knee-length cut-off shorts. ‘Hey, it’s great to see you again,’ he said, giving Rebecca a quick hug and nodding amiably to his cousin. ‘And this must be Emma …’ He turned to Emma. ‘Hi, there. Becky told me you’re a nurse? It must be a whole new experience for you to come out here and work in the Caribbean. How are you finding it?’
‘It’s great …’ Emma said. ‘It’s very different to what I’ve known before, back in the UK, but it’s really good—most of the time. Some things can be a bit frustrating—like equipment shortages or breakdowns—and of course everything tends to move at a slower pace.’
He nodded. ‘I know what you mean. Food stores can run out of staples like bread and milk, if you don’t get there early in the day, and the Internet can go down when you’re in the middle of something.’
‘And if your truck breaks down you might have to wait for a part to be sent over from one of the other islands,’ Cade put in, with feeling. ‘That’s happened to us more than once.’ He smiled and led them over to the bar. ‘I’ll get the drinks in. Mojitos, was it?’
‘That would be lovely.’ Rebecca glanced at him. ‘So, did you talk with your estate manager about getting a new truck?’
‘I did. It’ll take a while to sort out, but things will start to run a lot more smoothly for us once it arrives.’
They took their drinks to a table by the rail and the four of them chatted while they looked at menus and decided what they wanted to eat.
‘We could share a seafood and chicken platter?’ Cade suggested after a minute or two, and they all agreed. It sounded appetizing … saffron rice with grilled spiced chicken and mixed seafood.
Rebecca looked out over the water and watched graceful white egrets searching for titbits in the shallows. In the distance, where the mangroves gave way to tall dogwood trees, she saw a blue-and-gold macaw spread its wings and take flight.
She smiled. ‘I love it here,’ she said softly. ‘It’s so restful.’
‘It’s good to see you looking relaxed,’ William commented. ‘You were a bit stressed after your journey yesterday.’
Smiling, she said, ‘Well, twelve hours on a plane and then finding they’ve lost your luggage can do that to you.’
Cade lifted a dark brow. ‘Have your cases still not caught up with you yet?’
‘Not yet. I rang the airport this morning, to check, but nothing doing so far. They don’t seem to have any idea where they might be.’ Rebecca’s mouth curved a fraction. ‘It pays to have a sister who’ll share her clothes with you.’
‘Yeah, I guess so.’ He leaned towards her and added quietly, so that only she could hear, ‘If that’s Emma’s dress it certainly suits you … and it fits like a glove.’
Warm colour flooded her cheeks. ‘Thanks.’
William was still thinking about the boat journey. ‘Actually, I thought there was more to it than lost luggage … there were a few moments when you were off guard and you went a bit quiet.’
‘I was fine,’ she said. ‘I’m still fine. Who could be stressed in a place like this?’
