Island of Secrets and Scars

“What are you talking about?”

“Come on, Doc. You’re beautiful and, here, you’re different from the other women, but also familiar to him. You’re a prize—a beautiful, intelligent, sophisticated prize. Getting you presents a challenge to him. He can’t ignore a challenge.”

She shook her head. A prize? A challenge? How the hell was she supposed to feel about what he said?

“Mom is a treat.” Ara giggled, pulling Cameron’s attention away from Keso’s words.

He raised an eyebrow as if to point out that even a four-year-old could tell the truth of his words. “Watch yourself,” he mouthed.

Fear slid through her veins. She didn’t want to watch herself. This island was supposed to be a place where she didn’t have to watch her back. Trouble shouldn’t be able to penetrate her haven.

The door to the clinic opened, catching Cameron’s attention. Wes marched out. Ian followed. Even from across the lawn, she could see the two were in the middle of a disagreement.

Keso turned, taking in their visitors. “What’s that all about?”

“I don’t know. Last I heard, they were getting the tourists ready to transport to the big island.” Nothing about that situation should have Wes’s face so red and Ian shooting daggers from his eyes.

Keso turned back to her. “So, the doctors will leave soon?”

She hoped so. Although grateful the two men had saved Arabella, Ian needed to go. “Another day or so,” she replied, as if she couldn’t care less either way what any of the men did.

Keso’s eyes narrowed, and his gaze focused on her face. Her lips still tingled with the memory of Ian’s kiss. She felt certain Keso could see the proof of her feelings on her face.

“You sure you’re okay?” he asked.

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. “I’m just ready to get back to normal.”

He nodded slowly, unconvinced. Not surprising, since she hadn’t even convinced herself. Now that she’d seen Ian again, her life would never return to her newest normal.

* * *

“Wes, would you just listen?” Ian followed his colleague from the clinic into the humid island air.

The doctor stopped, then spun to face him. “No. We’ve already discussed Brodie Hunte’s care. I thought you were on board with sending him to the big island. What changed?”

The memory of Cameron’s body pressed against his and her mouth opening for him flashed unhindered into his thoughts. But the kiss hadn’t changed his mind. Although he wanted to do whatever he could to make Cameron happy, his visit with Esme had swayed him. “He moved,” he told Wes. “His wife and I were talking, and he moved.”

The other doctor rolled his eyes. “Oh, for Christ’s sake. You know as well as I do, patients have involuntary muscle spasms. You can’t base his medical care on that.”

“I’m not. His response was more than that. He reacted to his wife’s story. I’m sure of it.”

“Even if he is coming around, this isn’t the place for him. Once we leave, there will only be Cameron to watch over him. She can’t see to his care twenty-four/seven, especially with an injured child.”

Wes’s argument made sense. An unconscious patient couldn’t be left alone in a clinic, especially overnight. Arabella already begged to go home. Soon, she’d be released, dividing Cameron’s attention between home and clinic. She couldn’t give her daughter or her friend the attention they each needed.

From underneath the cropping of trees, Arabella laughed. Ian glanced over his shoulder. The girl and her father sat on one side of a picnic table, engaged in conversation. Across from them sat Cameron. When her gaze flickered to his, his stomach tensed.

“I’ll stay,” he blurted.

“You what?” Wes screeched.

Cam cocked her head, as if by doing so she’d be able to hear what they said across the clearing.

He returned his attention to Wes. “I’ll stay. I’ll help Cam give Brodie the care he needs. We can alternate shifts we can… What?”

Wes shook his head. “You won’t win her back by staying.”

“That’s not what I’m—”

“Isn’t it? She wants her friend to stay. She feels strongly about him staying. You think siding with her will win you points.”

Well, now that he thought of it…

No. Maybe he wanted to stay on the island longer. Maybe he wanted answers he still didn’t have, but he wouldn’t risk a patient’s care to get them.

“I agree with her assessment. Brodie Hunte has a better chance of recovering with his family. I saw the way he reacted to his wife. She’s the best medicine we have for him.”

The other doctor lifted his hands, letting them fall in exasperation. “That’s not medicine. That’s a wish and a prayer. Since when do we count on that?”

Ian glared at his friend. Wes knew damn well a wish and a prayer had gotten them through those last days in Africa. And no one could convince Ian all his bargaining with higher powers hadn’t brought Cameron back to him. He didn’t care if Wes believed in hope or not, Esme believed enough for her husband to survive.

“I’m staying,” he repeated.

Wes locked his jaw and placed his hands on his hips. His nostrils flared. “Fine,” he spat. “I just hope your dick doesn’t cost that woman her husband the way it’s cost you everything else.”

What the hell did that mean? The only thing Ian had ever lost had been Cameron, and that had nothing to do with his dick.

“Is everything okay here?” Cameron came to a stop next to them. “You were kind of loud. Your language,” she eyed Wes, “was a little inappropriate for tiny ears.”

Ian glanced to where Keso now carried Ara closer to the trees.

Wes cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. Ian and I were just discussing Brodie’s care.”

Cameron’s face fell. The slight smile that had tugged at her lips while chastising Wes disappeared. “You’re sending him, aren’t you?”

Wes glared at Ian, then turned back to Cameron. “No. Brodie’s staying.”

Relief washed over Cam. Her entire body slumped with the release. “Thank God.”

“And so is Ian,” Wes continued.