Once Upon an Island

11

Kate is right.Sunset sails are the perfect place to bring about all those romantic feelings.

I lean over the bronze railing and look down into the clear blue water. We’re passing over a coral reef on our way to a nearby sandbar. A school of fish darts beneath the boat. The breeze ruffles my hair and sends the tendrils blowing across my face.

“What do you think?” I ask Michael.

He leans his forearms on the railing next to me. He’s wearing a white shirt with his sleeves rolled up and khaki shorts. “To be honest, I’m surprised you invited me.”

I hold onto the railing as the boat leans with the wind and moves us swiftly over the water. “Why? Of course I’d invite you. After the turtle and all…” I give him a smile. “I meant to say thank you.”

“I enjoyed last night too.” He smiles at me and I note the freckles coming out on his face from being in the full sun for a day.

Michael looks around the sailboat. We’re at the aft, near the wooden swimming platform. Kate and Declan are at the bow, facing forward into the wind. Kate’s long blonde hair is tied up in a ponytail, and she’s wearing a string bikini.

It’s still an hour from sunset, so it’s bright enough for the sun to sparkle over her and paint her in her best light. Declan’s chin tilts up and I see his shoulders move as he takes a deep breath of the sea air.

I’m not certain how she convinced him to come. Probably Percy jumped at the chance and Declan felt obliged to come along to watch over his friend.

“I actually meant, I’m surprised you wanted to see more of me, since Dec seems to be a favorite of your friend’s.”

I shrug. “I’m not easily swayed by apparent status or wealth. I look to a person’s character first.”

“Admirable,” he says. Then he glances at my ruffled bikini top and cut -off shorts, and with a humorous glint in his eye he says, “Admirable and beautiful. If I’d known Mariposa was so blessed, I’d have traveled here sooner.”

I look away from him for a moment, trying to ignore the prickly feeling his compliment gives me. He’s definitely not the subtle type.

When I turn back I ask, “Speaking of, why did you come to Mariposa? It’s not the most popular destination.”

A suspicion starts to niggle in the back of my mind. Did he follow Declan? Does he want to confront him?

Michael tilts his head and the wind ruffles his wavy hair. He studies me, then says slowly, “I know what you’re thinking. But no. I didn’t know Dec was here. I came for an entirely different purpose.”

I tilt my sunglasses down my nose and say, “What? Long walks on the beach?”

He throws his head back and laughs, long and loud. When he does I notice Declan send an irritated glance our way.

I wave at him and give him a big toothy smile. He scowls and shakes his head then turns back to look out at the sea where Kate’s pointing something out on the horizon.

“No, not long walks on the beach,” Michael says, his voice full of mirth. “I came for an investment opportunity.”

“Really? What kind of investment?”

Michael leans so close that I can smell the tangy scent of his cologne. “I can’t say. Trade secrets and all that. But as soon as I heard about the opportunity I knew it would be profitable. I have high hopes.”

Well, by his expression, he certainly seems sure that this investment will pan out.

“Wow,” I say. “That sounds…vague.”

He grins and his laugh lines deepen. He looks so happy that I can’t help but smile back. He really is the friendliest guy.

“What business are you in? Am I allowed to know that?” I ask, my journalistic tendencies driving me to ask more questions.

He gives me a conspiratorial look and taps his nose twice. Apparently this is a secret.

“Mergers and acquisitions,” he says. “I’m hoping to complete a profitable merger. There’s a business here that suits my portfolio perfectly.”

Wow. That’s…unexpected.

“Ah. Well. I wish you luck.”

At that he glances back to the bow of the boat. Perhaps he’s worried that Declan will try to sabotage him again.

I frown. I hope that he won’t, but what do I know?

Kate’s no longer at the front of the boat. It looks like she went below to join Percy, Arya and Renee. There’s a kitchen, couches, a bathroom, and a few bedrooms. This sailing yacht really is luxurious. Kate’s colleague Rick and his wife Pilar own the boat. Pilar’s below helping make dinner and Rick’s at the helm.

“How about I go below and grab us some drinks?” Michael asks.

I look toward the bow at Declan. He’s all alone, staring across the water.

“That sounds great,” I say. “Thank you.”

Michael holds the rail as he makes his way to the stairs. Once he’s below I decide to head to the bathing platform at the end of the boat and get a closer look at the water.

The sun is closer to the sea. I love this time of day. The sun always paints the water in flames of gold that flicker with the waves, and stripes of orange and glossy apple red. Sometimes if you jump into the sea at sunset it feels like you’re bathing in a rainbow. Flaming red, blueberry blue, grass green, canary yellow, tangerine. All you have to do is dive in and you’re swallowed by a prism of color.

I crouch down on the wooden platform and lean forward to trail my hand through the sun-tinted water speeding past.

“I’d be careful if I were you.”

Declan.

I stiffen. We haven’t spoken since our night together. Or since I learned that he’s an awful person.

“Isla,” he says in a commanding tone. Probably the same one he uses at work to order his minions around.

Ugh.

I don’t need him to tell me to be careful. I’ve been sailing since before I could walk. I know how to get around a boat.

I’m crouched down to reach the water, but crouching isn’t the best way to scold Declan, so I quickly stand and spin around.

“Listen here. I’ll have you know—”

I hit a puddle of water and my foot slips out from under me. I reach forward trying to grab a railing but there aren’t any holds on the platform. Just open air. My arms spin in front of me. As I plunge backwards toward the water my eyes connect with Declan’s.

He doesn’t look stiff and pompous.

Nope.

The last thing I see before I hit the water is his shocked expression.

I hold my breath and kick for the surface. I have my eyes open, the water is clear, and there’s still enough light to see the small reef below me. There’s a Nassau grouper just beneath me and a school of silvery bar jack. A needlefish darts by.

My jean shorts drag against the water and my canvas shoes are heavy.

Then, I see something that surprises me.

Declan.

He’s dived into the water.

I kick harder for the surface. He’s underwater, his form is perfect, and he’s kicking toward me, his eyes open.

I break the surface of the water and take a breath. A moment later Declan swims up next to me.

“Are you alright?” he asks. He wipes the water from his face and looks at me with concern. “Isla?”

I tread water and think about kicking off my shoes. Or kicking Declan.