Island Fling to Forever

‘I wish I had, too,’ Rosa said. ‘I know it wouldn’t have changed anything, but still... I wish I hadn’t left things the way I did.’

Jude rolled over so she was lying underneath him. ‘I think we’ve more than made up for it, the last couple of weeks. Don’t you think?’

‘Definitely.’ Rosa smiled up at him, so sweetly that he had to kiss her. ‘But we could probably stand to make up a few more times, before we leave. Don’t you think?’

That, Jude decided, was a question better answered with action, than words.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

THE WEDDING WAS PERFECT.

The sun shone down on the evening service, while Valentina and Todd took their vows with laughter and joy in between the serious moments. The actual, legal part of the ceremony, Rosa knew, had been completed in New York a week or so ago. So technically, Valentina and Todd were already tied to each other for life. But today was the day that mattered most to them—the day where they confirmed that commitment to everyone who mattered to them. When they stood proud and said, ‘I’ve made my decision. It’s this person for me. For ever.’

Rosa tried to imagine being that sure of anything, but the only thing that came to mind was Jude. And they both already knew that wasn’t an option. So instead, she decided to just enjoy the day.

Valentina looked more beautiful than ever, Rosa thought, in her designer dress. The white bodice clung to her curves before flaring out into a full, knee-length skirt. But it was the sheer overdress with its embroidered flowers, bold and beautiful in a red that matched the bridesmaids’ dresses, that really made it something special.

Rosa took a perverse pleasure in the fact that Sylvie’s dress clashed horribly with her hair.

Her own lemon-yellow sundress was maybe a little casual for such a celebrity wedding, but she hadn’t exactly packed for the occasion. She’d made an extra effort with her hair, though, braiding it carefully and threading tiny white flowers through it. If she was here as Jude’s date, even just for the day, she wanted to look as if she belonged with him.

And Jude was, quite frankly, breathtaking. While the groom’s party were all in pale linen suits, Jude wore a darker charcoal suit in the same light material. His white shirt was open at the collar and his skin, while darkened a little by his time on the island, was still pale enough to make his blue eyes blaze against it, and the darkness of his hair.

It was strange, being at the wedding as a guest instead of an employee of the island. Stranger still to see Anna in her uniform of dark skirt and white blouse, her dark hair pulled severely back. Rosa kept wanting to go and help—to fetch more ice, or fix a torn hem, or mop up a spill. But instead, her job for the day was to hang off Jude’s arm, look pretty and annoy his ex.

She could do that. For one day, anyway. For one day, it was a novelty. Any more, though, and she knew she’d be bored rigid.

As the sky darkened, the party went on. Food was served, music was played, speeches made. Valentina and Todd had already performed their first dance—a very location-appropriate tango, with enough heat in it that Rosa had caught Jude’s eye and made a mental promise for later.

‘Jude!’ Valentina approached them, her hand still tightly clutching Todd’s. She was beaming, happiness glowing from every inch of her. ‘Isn’t everything going wonderfully?’

‘It’s been a beautiful day,’ Jude agreed, his hand resting on Rosa’s thigh.

‘And it’s not over yet! Speaking of which... Since you’re here, do you think you might be able to treat us to a song or two? Since it is my wedding day...’

Jude laughed. ‘How can I refuse a request from the bride? Especially since I gatecrashed your wedding in the first place.’ He smiled at Rosa. ‘As long as you’re okay here alone?’

‘Absolutely.’ Rosa relaxed further back into her chair. ‘I’m going to sit here and keep eating these dessert canapés. You can come roll me into bed when you’re done.’

‘It’s a deal.’ Jude pressed a kiss to her lips, and disappeared off to fetch his guitar.

‘You realise that when he goes back to New York he’ll forget all about you.’ Rosa’s spine stiffened as Sylvie slipped into Jude’s abandoned chair. ‘When he’s deep in his music he forgets almost everything.’

Rosa shrugged. ‘That’s not a problem for us.’

‘Because you’re so different?’ Sylvie’s laughter was sharp and ugly. ‘Trust me, every woman thinks that.’

‘No,’ Rosa said, patiently. ‘Because when he goes back to New York I’ll be heading off somewhere else, on my next assignment. Russia, I think, this time.’

That, at least, seemed to surprise her. ‘You’re not planning on coming to New York with him if he asks?’

‘He won’t ask,’ Rosa said, with certainty. ‘Mostly because he knows I won’t go. I have my life and he has his. It just so happens that they both intersected here for a while. That’s all.’

‘Do you honestly believe that you’ll walk away from here and forget all about him?’

‘Maybe not forget,’ Rosa admitted. After all, she’d never forgotten him in the three years they were apart. There was no reason to imagine she would this time. ‘But I have plenty of other things in my life to focus on. I can’t see me having time to pine, if that’s what you’re worried about.’

Except for all those nights, alone in a hotel room or a tent, remembering. Those were always the hardest.

‘Worried? No.’ Sylvie gave her a shark-bright smile. ‘Relieved. If you’re out of the picture in New York that gives me an opening.’

‘Even if he forgets you for his music?’ Rosa ignored the burning feeling in her chest that started when she imagined Jude and Sylvie together in New York. He wouldn’t go back to her, would he? Not after everything she’d done. ‘Do you think he’ll even want to see you, after all the stories you sold about him?’

Sylvie dismissed both concerns with a wave of her hand. ‘Honestly, it’s more about the picture than the truth. As long as he’s seen with me enough to get our photo everywhere it’s good for both of us. The rest is almost beside the point.’

Beside the point. All the wonderful things she’d shared with Jude were, to Sylvie, unimportant beside his fame.

How could she ever explain to someone like that how Jude’s fame was the least attractive thing about him, to her? Because it was his celebrity, his success, that meant he was tied to a life that would mean she would always have to follow. To be Jude Alexander’s partner, instead of her own person.

And she couldn’t do that.

A cheer went up around the crowd as Jude stepped onto the small makeshift stage the traditional Spanish band had used earlier. Sylvie disappeared, off into the crowd, presumably to be seen with someone more deserving. And Rosa settled back down to listen to Jude play.

He started with a familiar song—one of The Swifts’ most classic numbers, but played in an acoustic style that rendered it almost something different altogether. Rosa had listened to plenty of Jude’s band’s music—it was hard to avoid anywhere where music was played, like hotel bars and supermarkets, not to mention the car radio. Sometimes, when she really wanted to torture herself, she’d even look him up online and read interviews with him, looking for the man she’d once known. The photos she’d taken on tour with them, what seemed like a lifetime ago now, showed a different man altogether, she always thought. Before fame hit, and the Jude the public saw became more polished, more careful.

But she’d never heard the songs this way before—just Jude and his guitar. There was so much more emotion in the music, she thought. They felt raw, but real, without all the production and eff

ects added to the finished pieces.

She preferred them this way, she decided. But maybe that wasn’t surprising. She preferred the man playing them to the one Sylvie described as Jude in New York.

The next song he played, though, sounded different again. Mostly because the last time she’d heard it, Gareth had been the one singing it. Rosa caught Jude’s eye and saw all the emotions there. Had he ever even played this song since Gareth’s death? Probably not, knowing Jude.

But maybe it was time. He’d said he wanted to find closure on the island, to face his demons. Coming to terms with what had happened to Gareth had to be a big part of that.

Rosa hoped it was helping. She wanted Jude happy, even if she wouldn’t be there to see it.

Suddenly, Leo pulled a chair up next to her. ‘Where’s Anna?’

‘I thought you were leaving.’ Rosa stared at her sister’s ex with loathing. Hadn’t he told Anna he’d be leaving the island the minute the speeches were over? If he had nothing more to offer, then as far as Rosa was concerned, the sooner he left, the better.

‘I need to speak to Anna.’

‘Maybe she doesn’t want to speak to you.’ And even if she did, maybe she shouldn’t.

‘Maybe,’ Leo acknowledged. ‘It’s important, Rosa, please.’

Rosa sat staring at the stage, at Jude. She didn’t want Anna to have to wait three years for closure, as they had. ‘She’ll be back at the villa. She’s overseeing the clean-up and packing.’

‘Packing?’

‘She’s heading back to Oxford tomorrow.’ Leaving Rosa to manage the week of post-wedding festivities Valentina had requested. Yay. Except, right now, Rosa couldn’t deny her sister anything. Not if it meant Anna finally finding the life she wanted.

‘I thought she was staying here?’ Leo sounded surprised.

‘Mama wants her to go back and think about it. It’s a huge change. Everyone just wants her to be sure. To make sure she’s doing it for the right reasons.’ She gave him a sidelong glance.