At the very tip of the island, the resort had created a little pool of turquoise ocean water, protected by rocks about ten meters from shore. That line of rocks, a sort of homemade reef, absorbed the force of any waves before they reached the pool. More rocks marked the sides of the protected area.
While the pool constantly received a fresh influx of ocean water, that water moved only in tiny ripples, lapping like a gentle caress against the skin of anyone lucky enough to find the spot. Visitors could even see over the line of those dark rocks and into the stunning ocean beyond, with the mainland and other islands nowhere in sight.
If those visitors waded into the water and let it climb over their knees, their waists, their necks, and—briefly, if they were shorter than him—their heads, they’d find another hidden wonder. A sandbar rising beneath the sun-dappled surface of the pool, high enough in one spot to provide a seat. High enough for someone to sit comfortably on the silky sand, waist-deep in the water, surrounded by nothing but clear, beautiful ocean, and enjoy those caressing waves in solitude.
Sometimes, the sheer loveliness of the spot helped him forget everything he’d lost.
Other times, it helped reconcile him to that loss.
Today, Tess was there. Sitting in the middle of the water like a behatted mermaid, facing the ocean beyond as her hands swished in the water at her sides. Her dark hair lay loose around her upper arms, half-covering a blue…
What the hell was she wearing? Because that wasn’t a swimsuit.
The water came up higher on her than it did on him, to her chest rather than her waist. But she clearly found the spot comfortable too, if the relaxed lines of her shoulders told him anything. And he hated to disturb her peace, he really did, but they didn’t have much time.
Soon, some other early riser would find this spot, or he’d have to prepare for his first lesson of the day. He couldn’t wait long.
“Tess?” he called out. “Do you mind if I join you?”
That hat-covered head turned, and she gazed at him for a long moment. Then she lifted a hand from the water and waved him toward her, and his heart uncramped in his chest just a tiny bit.
It took only seconds to tug off his tee and make his way through the warm water to her side. He sat beside her on the sandbar, the slight tug and sway of the blunted waves a comfort. When he tried to read her expression, she didn’t look at him, only dug her fingers into the sand, gathered a handful, and let it sift and dissolve through her grasp.
That damn hat was getting in his way.
Taking a chance, he touched the edge of the brim, lifting it so he could see her face. “How did you manage to keep this dry?”
Finally, she turned those hazel eyes to him. Wary, tired eyes, with starbursts of lines at their corners. “I held it above my head with one hand while I paddled with the other. And the water was only deep for a couple of feet, so it wasn’t hard.”
Made sense. “This is my favorite place on the island.”
“No wonder.” She slid her hand through the water, just under the surface, as if riding the currents. “I can almost feel my blood pressure dropping each minute I’m here.”
She needed to relax more, and he was interrupting her solitude. Dammit.
“I’m sorry to intrude.” No more delaying. He needed to make his purpose clear, and he needed to reaffirm her consent to his company. “I came by your room to talk to you this morning. Belle told me where you were and made me promise I’d leave immediately if that’s what you wanted. Which I would have done anyway, but she doesn’t know me.”
A faint snort from Tess.
He was pretty sure he could read her thoughts.Of course she doesn’t know you. Who does?
She was right, of course. But he was trying to change that.
“If you want me to go, I will. But I’d really like to talk for a few minutes.” He paused. “Is that okay?”
Her lips drew tight. “No arguing?”
“The last thing I want to do is argue with you, Tess.” He didn’t reach for her hand as it glinted like a fish beneath the water, but he wished he could. “I know you don’t trust me, but please believe that.”
She took a minute to answer.
Then she sighed and shifted her shoulders to face him. “Okay. You can stay. Say what you need to say, Lucas.”
Yes. Hallelujah.
But also…
Oh, shit.
