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‘That’s a hard question to answer. A week, a month, two months. Who knows?’
‘But not for ever,’ she said with a soft little sigh. ‘You’re not a for ever guy.’
‘No one can promise for ever,’ he said heavily. ‘Life is not predictable. Anything can happen; you of all people should know that.’
‘I do know that,’ she answered. ‘But that’s why I want stability in my life now. I crave it.’
‘I can’t promise to give you what you want in the long term, but I can do here and now.’
‘Here and now sounds like a consolation prize,’ she said.
‘Maybe it is,’ he said. ‘But it’s better than being left empty-handed, isn’t it?’
Being left empty-hearted is the thing I’m most concerned about, Hayley thought as she turned on the shower a few moments later. It seemed both her future and her happiness were now in the hands of Jasper Caulfield, the man who had already left one woman in the lurch. Would she be yet another casualty?
CHAPTER ELEVEN
HAYLEY LOOKED AT the travel itinerary with a frown when they arrived at the airport. ‘I think someone’s made a mistake,’ she said, looking up at Jasper. ‘This says we’re going to Bedarra Island, but Myles and I were supposed to be going to Green Island for our honeymoon.’
Jasper put their luggage on the conveyor belt before turning back to face her. ‘I took the liberty of changing your booking. I didn’t want you moping about missing him. Bedarra is much more private and exclusive.’
She stood back as their boarding passes were issued, her frown deepening as she thought about the renowned romantic getaway that contained only sixteen private freestanding villas, each one built around the beautiful natural tropical rainforest landscape with spectacular ocean views over neighbouring islands on the Capricorn coast. It was the destination for honeymooners with money to spare and the desire to be totally alone.
A short time later they boarded the flight to Cairns, and Hayley immediately buried her head in a book, but every now and again her gaze slid sideways to where Jasper appeared to be dozing by her side, his face still lacking the colour she was used to seeing there in spite of his assurances he was feeling fine.
The forty-minute connecting flight from Cairns to Dunk Island where they were to meet the launch for the fifteen-minute transfer to Bedarra Island seemed to strip his face of even more colour.
‘Are you feeling OK?’ she asked, touching his hand where it gripped the arm-rest rather tightly as they came in to land.
‘Yep,’ he said, rubbing at his face as he straightened in his seat. ‘How about you?’
‘I’m fine.’
‘Not sore?’
She looked away from the concern she could see in his dark eyes, her cheeks feeling hot all of a sudden. ‘No.’
He gave her hand a tiny squeeze. ‘You wouldn’t tell me if you were, now, would you?’
She brought her gaze back to his, her expression rueful. ‘No, probably not.’
He lifted her hand to his mouth, pressing a soft kiss to her fingertips, his eyes holding hers. ‘I will be gentle with you, baby girl,’ he said. ‘It takes time to get used to a new lover.’
Hayley was glad of the distraction of landing and then transferring from the flight to the boat that took them to Bedarra Island. Her body was still acutely aware of how Jasper had possessed her. Every time she took a step she felt a fluttery sensation between her thighs as if he were still there, pulsing with heat and passion.
The sun was dappling the water as they were led to their villa, the sweet and moist fragrance of the tropics filling her nostrils as they walked past beautifully landscaped gardens.
Once their attendant had left Jasper lifted the bottle of Bollinger out of the ice bucket and began to pour some into the two glasses. ‘So what do you think?’ he asked, handing her a glass fizzing with exquisite bubbles.
Hayley cradled her drink and looked around the luxurious premium split-level villa with amazement. It offered the ultimate in privacy and overlooked the sparkling ocean, the private balcony complete with spa.
‘
It’s fabulous,’ she said, taking a tentative sip of the delicious champagne. ‘But you really didn’t need to change the booking. It must have cost you an arm and a leg.’
‘What if it did?’ he said. ‘Since I don’t intend to go on another honeymoon in this lifetime I thought I should do this one properly.’
Hayley felt a crushing disappointment in the middle of her chest. It had never been his intention to marry anyone, least of all her, but did he have to keep reminding her of it?
