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‘Which island?’

‘Oh, I don’t know. She said he’s gone to some small island where no one will know him. He got a standby flight and it was cheap. He spent all his investment savings on that beautiful house he bought for you. That’s why he went to this island. It was all he could afford.’

‘And all my savings,’ I muttered

‘What? What did you say? Speak up Jane. Don’t mumble.’

‘I said, by himself. Did he go by himself?’

‘Of course, he’s by himself. The poor boy is heartbroken. Joanie wanted to go with him, but he said he’d preferred to be alone to get over it. Are you thinking of going looking for him? Where are you anyway?’

No “we’ve been worried about you, dear daughter”. In that instant I decided I would do anything I could to get a sailing job out here on one of the islands.

‘I just wanted to let you know I’m sailing and I’m fine, in case you were worried.’

Silence, so obviously not.

‘Okay, Mum. Just thought I’d touch base. Bye.’ I pressed END before she could argue.

I made my way back up to the deck, and my mouth dried as I spotted Linc at the front of the boat with his phone to his ear.

Bare-chested and in a pair of board shorts.

Chapter Nine

Linc

The phone call to Brisbane Airport was quick and had an excellent outcome. Efficient Andre had been waiting for Linc’s call, and he’d organised for Jane’s folder, passport and money to be sent securely on the first flight to the islands this morning. Linc called Johnny and filled him in, and he promised to collect them, and give them to Jennifer to lock in the safe at the airport terminal.

Movement in the galley caught his attention, and a minute later Jane appeared on the deck. He groaned; the first sight of her in those shorts and the skimpy singlet top had almost done his head in. The second glimpse got a reaction from the rest of him.

God, she was drop dead gorgeous. Even though she was not very slim, she was in good shape, and he could see the whipcord tautness in her muscles as she walked across the deck to him.

‘Are you right to get underway?’ he asked gruffly. His head was so full of Jane he’d forgotten about her passport and stuff already.

‘Sure am. Who’s the skipper? You, the owner, or me, the client?’ Her grin was cheeky.

‘It’s your charter, so you tell me where we’re heading today.’

‘I found a nice little mooring on the map on one of the southern islands. It’s called Crystal Cove. I’d planned it for my first night. Do you know it?’

‘Do I know it? I grew up in these islands. I’ve been sailing since I could walk.’

‘Really?’

‘Well, maybe I was a bit older.’ Linc walked back to the helm near the door to the saloon. ‘I’ll get the engines going and turn us into the wind. You unlace the sail bag and get the main up.’ He focused most of his attention on the channel out of the marina as Jane did as he’d instructed.

Most of his attention, anyway. It was hard not to admire the muscles working in her arms and calves as she pulled the halyard and the mainsail unfurled.

He had no doubt Jane knew what she was doing by the time they were underway. She took over the helm as the wind pushed them south and he smiled as she admired the small islands they sailed past.

‘It’s beautiful,’ she called to him.

‘And so are you,’ he thought.

‘How about a coffee for the skipper?’ Her grin was wide as the wind caught her loose hair and whipped it around her face.

‘Aye, aye captain.’ He returned the grin and headed down to the galley.