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An hour later they stood with the Captain on the main deck. The back of the yacht had been rolled open. Ahead of them, rising from the ocean like the kind of deserted island found in all good films, sat uninhabited King Island.
‘You expect me to get on that?’ she asked, pointing at the jet ski that had been brought out. The Captain had assured them that snorkelling gear and a picnic had been placed in its inbuilt storage box.
‘That’s how we’re getting to the island,’ Nico said, throwing her a life jacket. ‘Now, put that on.’
She looked at the fluorescent material with doubt and not a little fear. ‘Won’t the orange clash with my sunburn?’
He simply stared at her, arms folded, brows raised.
‘I don’t see why we can’t sail to the island like normal people,’ she grumbled.
‘Where would the fun be in that?’ A gorgeous smile broke out on his poker-straight face. ‘We’re on holiday. Let’s make the most of it.’
She stared uncertainly at the jet ski. To her eyes it was a huge, fat, two-seater motorbike with the wheels missing.
‘I’ll be driving it,’ he said, clearly reading her mind. ‘You will be perfectly safe. You just have to hold on tight to me.’
Despite herself, those now familiar bubbles of excitement started causing a riot in her belly. In her heart she knew Nico would never do anything that would put her in harm’s reach. When she had given herself to him she had given more than just her body and her heart. She had given him her trust.
Before she could act, Nico closed the gap between them, pulled the life jacket from her hands and manhandled her arms into it. ‘That’s better,’ he said, a smirk playing on his lips as he zipped it up securely.
She glared at him. ‘I am perfectly capable of putting a life jacket on myself, thank you.’
‘If you’d dithered any longer the sun would have been setting.’
Despite herself, she laughed, shaking her head at his high-handed arrogance—an arrogance tempered by the amusement in his eyes.
Naturally he eschewed her demands that he too wear a life jacket, jumping onto the machine dressed only in a pair of long navy swimming shorts.
Holding on to the handlebars, he flashed his white teeth. ‘Well? Are you getting on? Or do you want me to carry you on?’
‘You wouldn’t dare,’ she said, knowing perfectly well that he would dare. He wouldn’t think twice about it.
Not giving him the chance, she climbed on behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist and they were off.
Her head pressed into his back, she clung to him. Over the ocean they flew, cutting through bobbing waves, the speed making her hair splay in all directions, the spray of salt water tempering the blazing heat of the sun on her semi-naked form.
All too soon they came to a stop on a smooth white beach.
‘That was fantastic!’ she exclaimed with a beam of delight.
Nico grinned and took her hand to steady her wobbly legs as she climbed off. ‘Exhilarating, isn’t it?’
‘Can we do it again for longer?’
He mock-bowed. ‘Your wish is my command. But let us explore the island and eat first.’
King Island was much smaller than Butterfly Island, and much less verdant, but it contained the same tropical feel. If a castaway should appear with a parrot on his shoulder she wouldn’t bat an eyelash. As far as Rosa was concerned, it was perfect.
Hands clasped together, they traversed the beach, paddling through the shallow water before finding a small cove that was perfect for their picnic, away from any prying eyes on the yacht.
Nico unpacked their feast of goodies. For a while they ate in companionable silence. The sun beamed down, and the fresh scent of shrubbery and exotic flowers filled Rosa’s senses with such warmth and contentment she feared she could explode from the joy of it all.
Was this how normal people felt? What normal people experienced? The heady rush of falling in love, of embracing the pleasures life had to offer instead of hiding away in a self-built fortress?
‘How long after the contracts are signed will you start building here?’ she asked, referring to the accommodation and facilities that were to be built there for the offshore workers.
‘Within weeks.’
She sighed sadly.
‘What’s the matter?’
‘It seems a shame to spoil all this beauty.’
He reached out a hand and tilted her chin. ‘You have seen the plans. Robert and I agreed the only development done here would be sympathetic to the landscape. I promise you I will keep to my word.’
‘I know.’ She smiled. Impulsively, she darted up and pressed a kiss to his lips. ‘You’re a good man, Nicolai Baranski.’
