Page 18 of The Forbidden Fling

Diana leaned closer to get a better look, and her perfume caught on the breeze, filling Faye’s mind with flashbacks of their night at the bar. “It’s certainly unusual.”

She nodded, trying to focus on the plant instead of the other emotions stirring in her system. “The island is full of unusual and unique species. Bats, parakeets, bullfinches. It’s incredible, really; I love it.” She admired the ruins, the flora growing through the holes and the cracks in the stone. “You can’t stop nature. It’s too fierce. I admire that.”

Silence filled the space between Faye’s breaths. Feeling Diana’s gaze on her warmed her cheeks.

So much for keeping it simple.

“You seem to know a lot about it.”

“I’m an ecologist.” Faye couldn’t help but smile. It still felt incredible to say out loud. But then her face fell. She’d been off work for so long because of her emergency operation, it didn’t feel completely accurate anymore. “You’re a professor, right?”

Something like surprise caught Diana’s features.

“I remember,” Faye explained, hoping it didn’t come off creepy.

Diana nodded, letting out a small sigh as she considered the bellflower again.

Faye wanted to know exactly what that sigh meant. There were many things she wanted to know about Diana. Not all of them appropriate. Well, not even half of them. But there was something that interested her, something beyond a physical attraction. Because, yes, even though the woman had the most perfect cheekbones Faye had ever seen, instead of flocking to the building like everyone else, she’d paused to look at the little details that often get overlooked.

Faye liked that a lot.

“Well, if it helps, you can use my phone. I’m not sure it has the best camera, though.”

Faye grinned. “Thank you. That would be great.”

She snapped a few photos of the pink flower and the stems. Then she combed the grassland and cliffside to see if she could spot anything else, trying not to overthink the fact she had Diana’s phone between her fingertips. Bellflowers sprouted from a sandy patch on the rocks, so she moved closer, hyper aware of Diana’s presence behind her.

“What makes them endemic?” Diana asked, her sandals crunching on the path.

“A lot of factors. The volcanic soil. The island is secluded. Plants love that sort of thing. Some people, too.”

I sound like a bumbling idiot.

But Diana nodded. She wet her lips with a flick of her tongue.

Faye remembered the feel of that tongue in her mouth, and her stomach somersaulted. Maybe there was still something between them. Or maybe the altitude had turned Faye’s brain into mush. Hard to tell.

But then movement out of the corner of her eye made her turn her head. Molly stood under the archway, observing them with a frown.

Is she jealous?

Molly’s stare narrowed, then with a huff, she disappeared back inside.

Strange…

Diana stood up and dusted her hands. “I should go in now. Thank you for showing me these.”

“No problem.” Faye watched as Diana joined the others under the archway, her gaze lingering on the jumpsuit swaying with her hips. She didn’t usually find herself checking someone out with such fascination, but there was something extremely addictive about the woman’s slow, controlled movements. “Literally any time,” she said to herself.

She supposed she should join the others too and see how Quin was doing, but she didn’t want to look too eager following Diana. She looked out over the sea, counted to twenty, and then left to join the rest of the group. They were dotted around the different parts of the structure, tilting their heads back to observe the large bell tower. Quin was chatting with Sanjay, one of the older men in the group, standing beneath a huge tree whose branches had grown through one of the open holes and formed half a roof. Ella and Riley gathered inside, in the sunlight pouring through the holes and lighting up the grassy floor.

“What do you think?” Ella asked when Faye neared.

“It’s beautiful.” The damp, earthy smell tickled her nose. “Musky, but beautiful.”

Riley nodded. “The ruins are an undeniable beauty. Even in the rain—especially then.” The two of them shared a glance, and Faye’s jealousy flared again.

Her gaze passed over the crumbling stone and the moss growing up the rocks. “What room would this have been?”