Love Islands: Red-Hot Sunsets

It felt odd to be offering her this slither of personal information and for a few seconds he was uncomfortable with what felt like a loss of his prized self-control.

What was it about this woman that made him behave out of character? Not in ways that should be disconcerting, because she neither said nor did anything that raised red flags, but still...

He was intensely private, not given to sharing. However, this was the first time he had been on the island with any woman. He rarely came here but, when he did, he came on his own, relishing the feeling of being swept back to happier times. Was Katy’s necessary presence here the reason why he was opening up? And why was he making a big deal of it anyway? he thought with prosaic irony. She couldn’t help but have noticed his name on some of the wards, just as she couldn’t have failed to notice how eager the staff were to please.

‘The old hospital, which was frankly far from perfect, was largely destroyed some time ago in a storm. I made sure that it was rebuilt to the highest specification. The infrastructure here is not complex but it is essential it all works. The locals depend on exporting produce, and naturally on some tourism. The tourists, in particular, are the wealthy sort who expect things to run like clockwork. Including the hospital, should one of them decide to take ill.’ He grinned. ‘There’s nothing more obnoxious than a rich tourist who finds himself inconvenienced.’

‘And I’m guessing you don’t include yourself in that category?’ Katy teased. Their eyes met; butterflies fluttered in her tummy and her heart lurched. They hadn’t had a chance to talk about what had happened because she had disappeared off to her own quarters, and here they were now, caught up in unexpected circumstances.

She had no idea whether this was something that would be more than a one-night stand. She hoped it was. She had connected with him and she would feel lost if the connection were abruptly to be cut. It panicked her to think like that but she had to be honest with herself and admit that Lucas was not the man she had originally thought he was. He still remained the last person on earth she could ever contemplate having an emotional relationship with, but he had shown her the power of a sexual relationship and, like a starving person suddenly led to a banquet, she didn’t want the experience to end. Just yet.

But nothing had been said and she wasn’t going to engineer round to the conversation.

‘Do you think I’m obnoxious?’ Lucas questioned softly and she blushed and squirmed, so very aware of those dark eyes fastened to her face.

‘My opinion of you has changed,’ Katy admitted, thinking back to the ice-cold man who had forced her hand for the sake of a deal. She thought that her opinion also kept changing. She didn’t want to dwell on that, so instead she changed the subject. ‘What about Maria? When will we find out what the outcome is?’

‘There’s every chance it will be a positive one.’ Lucas glanced at his watch. ‘I personally know the surgeon and there’s no one better. I’ve contacted her family, who will be in the waiting area, and as soon as the operation is over I’ve asked to be called. I don’t anticipate any problems at all. However...’

‘However?’

‘It does mean that there will be a small change of plan.’

‘How do you mean?’

‘We will no longer be based on the yacht. For a start, without Maria around, there will be no one to attend to the cooking and all the other little things she takes care of, and it’s too late to find a replacement who can stay on board. So we’ll have to relocate to my villa. I can get someone to come in on a daily basis and, furthermore, I will be on hand in case there are any complications following surgery.’

He paused. ‘Maria worked for my father before he...began steadily going off the rails. My mother was very fond of her, so I’ve made sure to look out for her and her family, and also made sure to carry on employing her in some capacity when my father’s various wives decided that they would rather have somewhat smarter people holding the fort in the various properties.’

His mobile phone buzzed and he held up one hand as he spoke in rapid Italian to the consultant, the concerned lines on his face quickly smoothing over in reaction to whatever was being said on the other end.

‘All’s gone according to plan,’ he said. ‘But, had she not reached the hospital when she did, then it would have been quite a different story. Now, why don’t you wait here while I have a word with some of her family? I won’t be long. I’ll also arrange for your clothes and possessions to be transported to the villa.’ He looked at her, head tilted to one side, then he patted his pocket. ‘You can call your parents, if you like,’ he said gruffly. ‘I’ve been checking your phone, and I see that they’ve taken you at your word and not texted, but I expect they’d like to hear from you.’

He handed over the phone and her eyes shone, because more than anything else this demonstrated that he finally trusted her, and she found that that meant a great deal to her.

‘What can I say to them?’ she asked, riding high on the fact that she was no longer under suspicion. A barrier between them had been crossed and that felt good in the wake of what they had shared.

‘Use your discretion,’ Lucas told her drily. ‘But it might be as well not to mention too many names, not that I think anything can go wrong with the deal at this stage. It’s a hair’s breadth away from being signed.’ He stood up, leaving her with her mobile phone, and it felt like the greatest honour bestowed on her possible. ‘I’ll see you shortly and then we’ll be on our way.’

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