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She nodded towards her equipment, which was resting on a rock in the shade. ‘I told you I would have to take some photos. My mother thinks I’m here doing freelance work.’

‘It’s a beautiful spot for photos. To answer your question, no, we’re not leaving earlier than anticipated.’ He joined her on the beach. ‘In fact, I think it might be helpful if we remain here for the rest of the day. Recharge our batteries.’

‘Sure.’

‘Including our next stop, you’ll still be home in time for the turkey and trimmings. Show me your photos.’

He began strolling towards her canvas bag and all the equipment neatly laid out on the rock. Before she could stop him, he was reaching down to the sketches she had done earlier, some of flowers, most of the ocean and the sky.

‘Hang on! Those sketches happen to be private!’

She tried to grab them, but he held them up high and ignored her.

‘Define private. They’re of flowers…oh, and some very nice ones of the view here.’ He looked down at her but kept the sketches out of reach. He was grinning. ‘I had no idea you were so talented.’

‘That’s because you think I do egg box decoration and finger painting for overage kids with nothing better to do,’ she sniped sarcastically.

She was relieved that they weren’t doing an immediate about turn and heading off.

She hadn’t been looking forward to this trip, however much he was paying her for the inconvenience, but now that she was here…

Everything was sucking her in. The breathtaking scenery, the warmth of the sun, the smells of the ocean, the sand and the lush, fragrant flowers that seemed to be everywhere.

‘I’m re-adjusting my opinions.’

‘Now that we aren’t leaving today, perhaps I could have a trip into the nearest town or village? I’d love to take some more photos. There’s no reason for me to stay here. I doubt Carlos is going to surprise us by showing up unannounced.’

He lowered his hand and she took the sketches from him. She began neatly stacking them together. Then, finally, she looked at him.

‘Is there a taxi service I could use?’ she asked. ‘Or a bus?’

Javier burst out laughing.

‘Bus?’

‘Okay,’ Hope conceded wryly, eyebrows raised. ‘For a minute there, I forgot really rich people avoid public transport.’

‘The taxi service is called my driver. Are you done here?’

‘It’s a shame to leave this little cove behind,’ she said wistfully, casting a glance over her shoulder as she began packing things away in her backpack and camera case.

‘You can always return later. Have a swim.’

‘I didn’t bring a swimsuit,’ she said politely. ‘If you remember, you were at pains to tell me that this wasn’t going to be a holiday.’

‘So I was.’ Javier was still chuckling.

They began heading up the steps. He reached out to help her and as she fumbled with all her stuff, looking up and squinting into the sun to tell him that she was quite capable of carrying it herself, thank you very much, she was momentarily dazzled by the light.

The glare from the sun, glinting on his dark hair, casting sexy shadows across his face…

She blinked and, in that moment, something about the heat and his proximity and a thousand little tensions that had been building in her ever since he had stalked into her workshop with his preposterous plan…

All of a sudden, everything was overwhelming. She felt her eyelids flutter as a wave of nausea rose up from nowhere and then she was falling…falling…falling…like a rag doll.

CHAPTER SIX

HOPE CAME TO in a dishevelled heap on one of the white leather sofas in the villa. She hadn’t been in this room yet. It was vast, with highly polished marble flooring, white walls and custom-made furniture.