“No.” He shoved away from the railing to pace the balcony. “I don’t want to talk to the staff right now.”
“Okay.” She was used to dealing with moody men. Marcus had been a diva extraordinaire when he’d wanted to be, but Rehaj had struck her as different. Then again, her judgment regarding men wasn’t stellar, given the choices she’d made in life thus far. She gave a rueful snort. “Well, if it’s because you have concerns about the way you look, believe me, I get that too. I spent two hours in the bathroom trying to make sure my makeup and hair were just right.”
Rehaj stopped in his tracks and gave her an incredulous stare. “You don’t need to spend two minutes in front of the mirror. You are gorgeous.”
“Thanks.” She sighed. “But when you hear the bad stuff long enough, you start to believe it.”
“Who told you this?” Rehaj demanded, stalking over to her, his dark eyes bright with anger. “Tell me this idiot’s name so I may set him straight.”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s over now.” Ani waited for the familiar squeeze of sorrow in her chest that statement always brought, but surprisingly, it didn’t come. Maybe she was more tired than she thought. Recovering love was exhausting work. When Rehaj showed no signs of relenting, she shrugged and shared a little more of her past with him. “The man I dated for almost ten years. He was older than me and much more worldly. He taught me pretty much everything I know about fashion and styling and makeup. He hired the best consultants to work with me on my image. He wanted me to be a jewel on his arm when we went out, Marcus said.” She gave a sad little laugh. “But I’m afraid I was forever disappointing him. Never quite sleek enough, never quite perfect enough. Just never enough, period.”
A low, feral growl escaped Rehaj, and Ani’s pulse kicked a notch higher. “This Marcus person sounds like a complete shit. If he did not value the treasure he had before him, then he never deserved you in the first place.”
Ani took a step back from his vehement statement. “Hey, I appreciate the compliment, but you don’t know me and you didn’t know Marcus.”
“I know you well enough to know that you taste like sunshine and that you are infinitely kind and generous with your time. I know that you are smart and funny and that I like talking to you. And I know that since I kissed you in the dining room last night, I’ve not been able to think about anything else since. If this Marcus was even half the man you imagined him to be, he was a fool to ever let you get away.”
Stunned, Ani sank onto one of the chaise lounges on the balcony and just blinked down at her shoes for a moment, trying to take that all in. So Rehaj had been just as affected by their kiss as she had, but he was standing alone now, on the other side of the deck, looking as remote and untouchable as he ever had before.
Hoping to break the unbearable silence that had descended between them, she asked softly, “Why don’t you like to be filmed?”
At first, she didn’t think Rehaj had heard her, it took him so long to answer. Then, finally, he responded, so quietly that she had to get up and walk over to where he stood in the shadows just to hear him.
“When I was seventeen, I was young and impulsive and believed myself to be immortal. My girlfriend, Ayesha, was beautiful and sweet and we were going to get married someday and rule the world together.”
“Sounds lovely,” Ani said, sensing that thing hadn’t stayed that way.
“It was. We were a month away from graduating and I took one of my father’s sports cars out for a drive. As I said, the terrain of my country is quite varied. We went up into the mountains to spend the day, see the sights. I’d planned on coming home before dark but young love knows no time limits.” His expression grew hazy and Ani’s heart ached for the sadness in his eyes. “The night was dark and I was going far too fast for safety. It had rained and roads were slick and we went into a skid. I couldn’t stop the car, couldn’t control anything that happened. The car flipped three times, landing on the roof. We were both trapped inside. I was able to call for help, but my Ayesha was so badly injured and there was nothing I could do…”
“Oh, Rehaj.” Ani placed her hand on his arm, wanting to embrace him and take that awful, ragged edge of pain away from his voice. “I’m so sorry.”
“The accident was bad enough. The media coverage following was even worse.” He gave a mirthless laugh. “I spent two months in the hospital recovering from my injuries, stewing in my guilt. But the reporters came, with their cameras and their tape recorders and they ruined what little I had left to treasure of my Ayesha. They twisted and turned it all into a sordid mess. They cemented my fault in the accident and reinforced my beliefs that I killed Ayesha. It was my fault. Everything was my fault.”
“Rehaj.” Ani frowned. “Don’t say that. You were only seventeen. You didn’t know any better. I’m sure you never meant to hurt her or anyone else.”
“And yet I did. Ayesha is dead. And I am alive. And that is my burden to bear.” He exhaled slowly. “But it also taught me a valuable lesson. To prize privacy above all else.”
“I see.” She stared down at the camera in her hand then set it aside on the table. “I don’t need to film. We can tell the staff later that the camera malfunctioned and didn’t record.”
“No.” He dropped his head back and stared at the stars. “I am here to change my thoughts about love and it needs to start with this. Bring your camera. Let’s just enjoy the evening. Get to know each other better.” He faced her slightly and smiled. “Thank you for letting me tell you about Ayesha.”
“Thank you for sharing your story with me.” Ani couldn’t seem to tear her gaze from his soft lips and when he leaned into her a bit more, her breath hitched. Perhaps he’d kiss her again.
But the sound of footsteps on the stairs interrupted. One of the staff members who’d been setting up their dinner on the beach
walked up the stairs to the balcony and informed them everything was ready.
“Perfect.” Rehaj turned and offered Ani his arm. “Shall we?”
“Yes,” she grinned up at him. “We shall.”
5
“I have to admit this is very nice,” Rehaj said, sitting back after finishing the last of his chili-and-garlic-rubbed grilled tiger prawns with mesclun salad and tarragon butter. The food was tasty and cooked to perfection and, best of all, authentic to the island. He picked up his club soda and took a sip. “Thank you for planning this dinner for me.”
“My pleasure,” Ani said, smiling from behind her video camera. “You look full.”
“I am.” Rehaj grinned at her through the candlelight and shadows. He’d given in about halfway through the meal, figuring what could it hurt. There was no Internet or other connection to the outside world from the island. He didn’t have to worry about her or someone else uploading it for the world to see. And it would be nice to have a remembrance of all this once he returned to his real life. He sighed and closed his eyes. Plus, if he was honest, there was something about Ani. Something real and true and…well… authentic. Even if she did try to hide it beneath layers of makeup and artifice. He could still see it, plain as day. And he liked it.