Dave gave her hand another quick squeeze in time with the on-off movement of his lips, in a blink-and-you’d-miss-it smile. A smile that didn’t reach high enough to take the shadows out of his eyes. But then he let go of her hand and sat back in his chair and picked up his water glass and drained it, placing it back down with a definitive thud.What on earth was that?“Finish your dinner. We have a busy day tomorrow meeting with the lawyer to organise the legal paperwork. Rather than drive, I’ve taken the liberty of organising a flight from Inverness to Edinburgh.” His business-like tone and abrupt change of subject were disquieting and left her with far too many questions unanswered.She sighed. He was so near yet so far away, so very far away."Okay, no problem.” Lea wanted to know more about his relationship with his ex. She had idolised them as a couple, seeing them as a match made in heaven. Feeling jealous of the love they’d shared, hoping one day someone would love her in the sa
A couple of days after the legal work was completed in Edinburgh, Lea flew business class with Dave to the island of Maui in Hawaii. The luxury villa he’d organised for their short stay was situated at Kapalua Bay Beach, a gorgeous crescent of blindingly white sand, turquoise water, and palm trees. Lea felt as if she were living in a dream sequence—swept away to an exotic location by a handsome millionaire who was intent on marrying her as quickly as he could.But not for the romantic reasons her girlhood dreams had envisaged.The speed and efficiency with which Dave set about achieving a goal were nothing less than breathtaking. Lea barely had time to get her head around the idea of a beach wedding, let alone buy the appropriate attire for it, when she found herself standing on the balcony of the beautiful villa overlooking the ocean with just minutes to spare before the ceremony.Her wedding day. But it felt like she was about to swim in an ocean full of sharks.It was strange to th
Dave saw his guests out and came back to where Lea was sipping a glass of champagne on one of the sofas overlooking the ocean view. If he closed his eyes, he could take himself back to the moment of their kiss at the ceremony. Damn it—he didn’t even need to close his eyes. He could still taste the milk and honey sweetness of her mouth—he could still feel the thrum of lust deep in his body. He wasn't supposed to feel those emotions, he was supposed to make things civil and businesslike, but he couldn't help himself.He was relieved that he was good at concealing his emotions because that kiss had rocked him to the core. He hadn’t wanted it to end. He had lost track of where they were and why they were there. All he’d cared about and craved was the smooth, soft, sweet delicacy of her mouth moving against his. The shy playfulness of her tongue had sent a rocket blast of need to his groin. Triggering a need that was still humming in the background—a low, persistent hum he was doing his le
What the heck? Why had she drunk that second glass of champagne? Their beach wedding had got to her, that was why. She had been swept away by the romantic setting, swept away by Dave’s kiss. The kiss that had sent shivers up and down her spine and driven silly ideas into her head. Ideas of him wanting things to go further, of him wanting her. Not just physically but intellectually and emotionally.But Dave had drawn a line in the sand. Do not cross.It was there—so clear, so bright, so fucking visible.Lea plonked herself down on the bed in her room with a despondent sigh. She’d made a class-A fool of herself, practically begging Dave to kiss her. Shame washed through her at how gauche she had been—how unworldly and foolish to think he might want to tweak the rules of their relationship.But his kiss had been so genuine. So authentic. So powerfully passionate that she could feel it on her lips even now. She only had to close her eyes, and she was back there on the warm, grainy sand, w
Lea dressed for dinner later that evening with her mind still replaying their conversation on the terrace. When he’d come to join her, still dressed in nothing but his close-fitting swimming briefs, she had almost fainted on the spot with lust. And when he’d placed her hand on his bare thigh, it had been all she could do not to move it up higher. Her hand had tingled the whole time he’d held it.When he’d repeatedly stroked his thumb across her palm, a fluttery sensation had gone through her belly, and her female hormones went crazy. They were still going crazy. Her body was awake to needs it hadn’t been conscious of before. Needs that made her long to have his hands stroking other places on her body. Places where no one had ever touched her.Lea smoothed down the black all-in-one, spaghetti-strapped pantsuit that clung to her slim frame and widened at the legs in an elegant flare. It was a shame she couldn’t wear high heels, but the small kitten-heeled shoes were about as glamorous a
"Is that why you’re so keen to employ people from disadvantaged backgrounds?" Dave asked."Absolutely. They sometimes just need someone to believe in them." She tapped her hand on the table for emphasis. "To give them a fighting chance. My mother didn’t have anyone in her life who believed in her potential.""What was your father like?"A flash of anger lit her grey-green gaze and her mouth tightened. "He was a brute and a bully but my mother got completely taken in by him because he promised to give her a better life. He said all the charming things she wanted to hear but they were empty promises. She thought because he called her “babe” that he actually loved her. But when he started to show his true colours, she didn’t have the strength or self-esteem to stand up to him. The worst part was she drank and used drugs to escape his behaviour but in doing so became more like him."She released a ragged sigh and looked back at the candle flickering on the table, a hot flare of anger stil
Dave sat back and finished his drink once Lea had gone off to bed, wondering if he’d done the right thing by suggesting they extend their stay. He had originally planned to fly in and fly out once they were officially married. But he’d thought a few extra days might help both of them get used to their new circumstances before they went back to Brathellae. Living together as man and wife, even on paper, was going to take some considerable adjustment, especially if they were to do it as authentically as they could by sharing the West Tower suite. Besides, they were both hard workers who rarely took a break.But her initial reluctance to stay on for a few extra days made him wonder if it was not so much about spending time with him that troubled her but something else. The beach environment? Or maybe it was both. Not everyone enjoyed the beach, especially those with fair complexions like Lea, but he had seen her looking at other swimmers and sunbathers with a wistful look on her face.Hi
Over the next couple of days, Lea was left in no doubt about Dave’s skill as a tour guide. He organised a tour of Haleakala National Park, located on Maui’s inactive volcano, as well as visits to the Seven Sacred Pools of the Oheo Ravine and Makahika and Waimoko waterfalls. The lush rainforests with their towering, tumbling waterfalls were breathtaking, and Dave organised a private helicopter tour of the summit of the volcano, which gave stunning views over the crater and the whole island. He was sensitive without being patronising over the walks they took through the rainforest, and he always had a steadying hand at the ready if she gave any hint of losing her footing.In the evenings, they dined out at various restaurants, chatting over the day’s sights, and then returned to the villa and retired to their separate quarters. It was clear Dave was doing everything he could to ensure their relationship remained platonic, but every now and again, when he touched her as he helped her out