Once Upon an Island

3

Eight hours,four luxury beachfront house tours, and a nature preserve hike later I’m hot, tired, sweaty and ready for some girl time on the beach.

Kate has other ideas.

“Look at them,” she says, pointing at Arya and Percy.

They’re standing under the shade of a whistling pine tree on the sandy edge of the beach. Arya points out the large wingspan of a frigate bird flying overhead. Percy looks at the bird and then at Arya. He tugs on the string of her bucket hat and gives her a happy, lovesick smile. Arya smiles shyly back.

It’s sweet. Really, really sweet.

Kate gives me a satisfied look. “He’s already halfway to the altar. What did I tell you? I called my mum last night. Apparently, Percy has an old pile in the country, a flat in London, and some crusty old castle in France. My plan is working beautifully.”

“Hmmm,” I say noncommittally.

I glance over at Declan. He’s standing under a nearby pine, only about twenty feet away from us. His arms are crossed over his chest and he’s frowning out at the water. The back of my neck itches, and I get the feeling that he can hear everything Kate’s saying. Although, I really doubt it. He’d have to have super hearing. She’s not talking that loud.

But just when I decide that it’s in my imagination that he can hear us, he turns to me, lowers his sunglasses and gives me an irritated glare.

I flush. Although I’m not sure why, it’s not as if “nabbing the billionaire and his friend” was my plan.

“I don’t think Arya cares about that kind of thing,” I say quietly.

I turn my attention back to Arya and Percy, they’re scooting closer together and laughing, probably at one of Arya’s science puns.

“I think she’s just happy to find a guy under seventy that loves bird watching as much as she does. And he’s nice, cute, and normal – so far, no fatal flaws. He’s a good one. I think she’d take him with or without the castle.”

Earlier today while Kate was showing properties Arya and I tagged along. I came for my article, but Arya came because Percy asked her to. She was supposed to be at the preserve all day, but I could tell she was already enamored with Percy and he was enamored with her. During each of the home tours they stayed close, talking, laughing and sending covert glances.

It was adorable.

Kate happily showed the homes, detailing every luxury – infinity pools, indoor waterfalls, temperature-controlled wine cellars, movie theaters, tennis courts, manicured lawns and pink coral sand beaches that gently slope to calm, tropical fish-filled waters.

All the while, Percy and Arya ignored the properties and focused on each other. Declan listened to Kate in a stiff, stand-offish manner, every now and then sending a glower my way, or a scowl at Percy and Arya’s close proximity.

Then, at the nature preserve, Kate stayed in the rental car while Arya, Percy, Declan and I walked the boardwalk. Percy and Arya counted the boobies, while Declan and I practiced ignoring each other.

Now, it’s late afternoon, and we’re all in our bathing suits, ready for a swim.

The beach is a little half-moon-shaped sandy area shaded by whistling pines. The turquoise water is shallow, crystal clear and slopes gently out to a small reef perfect for snorkeling. A mile out there’s a little uninhabited island, about two hundred feet across.

Behind us is the cute little beachfront cottage Kate rented for the night. Unfortunately, right next door is the monstrous mansion she booked for Declan and Percy.

Well, not unfortunate for Arya, but unfortunate for me.

Declan sends another frown my way. I look down at my bikini. It’s 1950s style with a high waist and a tiny top. It’s orange and has little ruffles. Everything is covered up, no bits showing, and I’m not trying any come-ons. There really isn’t any reason for him to be so irritable. He’s on a beautiful island, for goodness sake.

Kate’s in a string bikini, showing off the long legs and toned bum that God gave her. Her sunglasses cover more of her than her bikini. I smile at her. She’s not subtle. I bet she plans on making her move on Declan tonight.

Good luck with that.

She gestures toward Arya and Percy, continuing our conversation.

“I know she’d like him if he had nothing. That’s the trouble. If Arya has to fall in love, she may as well do it with a wealthy aristo. Me too. I’m falling in love with a man who has money this time.”

I take a closer look at her. Behind the tinted sunglasses I see the worry in her expression. “Your mom really got to you last time you spoke, didn’t she?”

Kate purses her lips and glances over at Declan. He’s ignoring us now, looking back at the tiered stone porch of the Italianate mansion where he and Percy are staying.

“She said my dad is willing to forgive me if I marry someone…of the right ilk.”

I frown, “Kate…that’s…” Terrible, I don’t say. It’s terrible.

She shrugs, and I can’t be sure, but I think her eyes are wet behind her sunglasses. “My brother has two kids now. I’m an aunt, La-La, and I’ve never met my niece and nephew. My parents are growing older. My younger sister is getting married this autumn. I want to go home for Christmas, have my mum’s figgy pudding. I want to see my family again. I want to go home.”

My stomach drops at her words. Suddenly, all of this makes sense. The focus on billionaires and aristocrats with mercenary single-mindedness. The “girls’ trip.” Kate turns her head, drops her sunglasses, and quickly wipes at her eyes. I pretend not to see. Kate has that British stiff upper lip. She’s not one for displaying emotion.

When she turns back I say, “So, Declan then?”

We turn and study him. He is attractive, if you go for that bruiser-meets-businessman look. Or that scowling, broody look. Which I don’t.

Nope.

Although I should warn her…

“You know, he heard you at the airport. He knows we’re ‘hunting the white whale.’” I finger quote the last.

Kate lifts an eyebrow. “Really? What did he say?”

I shrug. “Just that he heard you and that he’s not interested in gold diggers and to stay away from him.”

She narrows her eyes. “Hmmm. What was his tone when he said it?”

I think back to the conversation we had on the plane. It’s sort of fuzzy. I fell asleep shortly after and didn’t wake up until we bumped down on Rosa Island’s runway. There was a lot of drool happening that I hurriedly wiped off my face. I remember Declan’s sardonic look at that. But his tone…hmmm.

“I guess he had that superior, affronted, angry growl that he does so well. He was very convincing that he’s ‘not interested.’”

Kate lifts her eyebrows and then shrugs. “That’s what they all say. But before you know it they’re trussed up and in front of the priest ready to sign away half their worldly goods.”

Declan pushes off the tree and stalks across the sand toward Arya and Percy. He says something to Percy and then pulls him away farther down the beach. It almost looks like he’s giving him a lecture.

“That’s going to be a problem,” Kate says.

I see what she means. There’s no doubt that Declan doesn’t see Percy and Arya’s developing relationship in a positive light. In fact, I imagine he’ll do whatever he can to prevent it.

“You’ll have to do something about it,” she says.

What? Me? I turn back to her.

“What do you mean me? Aren’t you the one trying to get closer to him?”

She plucks at the string of her bikini top. “Yes. I’m trying to endear him to me. You…he already doesn’t like you. So when you frustrate his attentions to separate Arya and Percy he’ll only dislike you more. No harm done. Then I can soothe his bruised pride with pleasant companionship, a beautiful sunset, and sex on the beach.”

I raise my eyebrows. “This beach? Aren’t there sandflies?” I swear I felt a few buzzing around.

I imagine Declan trying to have sex on the beach, all the sand grains getting stuck in uncomfortable places, chafing, the sandflies biting his bare bum. And him saying, “you don’t tempt me, not at all.” I flush at the thought, because he’s not talking to Kate, he’s talking to me. And he’s posed on top of me, naked, while I lie on the sand under him.

Yuck.