Page 11

‘And it looks like I have a fiancée.’ His deep voice sent a shiver down my back again. ‘I’m happy to help you, and I’ll be forever grateful if you’ll help me out. Now you’d better bring me up to speed on what’s been going on, so I don’t put my foot in it.’

By the time Brad and Serena slunk into the office—note, they stood metres apart—I had given Linc a two-minute potted history of what had happened, how Brad was only marrying me because of his job with Dad’s company and how I’d fled from Brisbane because I’d sprung him with Serena.

‘But he doesn’t know I did,’ I whispered. ‘They had no idea I was in the apartment. I went home, packed my bags and ended up here. And I’ve no idea why they are here either, or how they even knew I was here. It doesn’t make sense. Why would he bring Serena if they knew I was here?’

‘You know what? I think it might be a coincidence. The look of horror on their faces doesn’t go with the thought that they were expecting to see you here. It wasn’t that I was kissing you that shocked them, it was seeing you in the first place. You were the shock to them.’

‘So he’s brought Serena away for a holiday while he plans his next move.’ I made a sound of disgust. ‘Her father’s well off too.’

‘What a jerk.’ Linc held me close. ‘You’re better off without him.’

‘I know that now,’ I whispered. ‘I honestly didn’t tell anyone I was coming to Deception Island.’

‘No-one?’ His breath tickled my ear again as he whispered back.

‘Not a soul,’ I said. ‘Not even my bridesmaid, Serena!’

‘Leave it to me.’ Linc hugged me and it was a very nice place to be.

***

Linc

Jane stayed close to Linc as her ex and his girlfriend came back into the office. He was now certain that the look of horror hadn’t been because of him, but because they hadn’t been expecting to see Jane on the island.

He knew Jane still thought that they were here looking for her, but he was about to get them to admit the truth.

I’m not in the police force for nothing, Linc thought as the blonde gripped her hands nervously in front of her.

‘Hello, Serena. I’m Linc. Welcome to Deception Island.’

She nodded nervously and glanced at Jane who was holding onto his hand.

‘I guess you were absolutely gobsmacked to see Jane here with me, weren’t you?’

Serena looked up at the sleaze nervously, as if to ask how are we going to play this?

He was a sleaze. Any man who could do the dirty on the woman he was supposed to marry, would get no respect from him.

‘Tell me. Why did you pick our island?’ Linc asked

‘What do you mean our island?’ Brad interjected. ‘I mean, why is it Jane’s too?’

‘Because she’s here to marry me, aren’t you, sweetheart.’ Linc dropped a kiss on her lips as Jane looked up at him. She was a good actress; the look in her eyes was spot on. Even Linc found it easy to believe she was in love with him.

‘But she was supposed to marry me, and she took off.’ The sleaze scowled. ‘How dare you, Jane! You’ve been leading me along the whole time.’

‘What’s good for the goose and all that.’ Linc grinned at him. ‘Jane told me she knew about you and Serena all along. She was just waiting to see if you’d go through with the wedding. I guess you were going to protect your job along with your future. I guess you thought you could be married, get your hands on Jane’s father’s money and have Serena on the side.’ Linc shook his head. ‘Not the way of a gentleman, Brad. Not at all. It’s called having your cake and eating it too.’

‘What money?’ Serena burst into tears. ‘I’m sorry, Jane. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I love Brad, but he always promised me he would tell you he couldn’t marry you. He’s always loved me. It killed me to lie to you.’

‘Lucky you, Serena.’ Jane stepped forward and her voice was calm. ‘The sooner you realise you can’t believe a word that comes out of his mouth, the better off you’ll be. Just make sure he doesn’t have a business meeting with your dad.’

Linc pointed to the customs desk. ‘I suggest if you two want a holiday here, you go and get yourselves processed. The shuttle bus for the hotel will leave as soon as everyone has been though customs. They don’t wait. And we don’t have taxis on our island. We might see you around the island while you’re here.’

Chapter Six

Jane