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‘You’re welcome to stay,’ he said, levelling her with a gaze she felt to her toes.
She looked at the seat, trying to figure out how to even get into the thing, and realised that she’d already made the decision. There was a feeling of excitement edged with a little healthy fear and something not too far from adrenaline running through her veins as he helped her into the seat and the harness.
She watched, fascinated, as he spoke into the microphone attached to the earphones, communicating with whoever he needed to about taking off. The gentle forward movement as they began to head towards the runway seemed slower than a walk but, before she knew it, they were picking up speed and approaching the runway and she couldn’t take the smile from her face, even if she couldn’t loosen her grip on the arms of the seat. Sebastian took them faster and faster and never had she been more conscious that they were two little people inside a slightly bigger construction of metal and technology and, just when she would have shouted for him to stop, the wheels left the tarmac and they soared.
It took everything in her not to whoop, biting her lip, clenching her hands. None of it worked. When Sebastian looked across at her his smile, pantie-dropping or not, was one of pure joy.
What do you do for fun?
Let billionaire playboys fly me to the Caribbean.
Sebastian was still smiling as he pushed down the steps of his private jet and gestured for Sia to precede him. In truth, the flight had been much more enjoyable than expected, once Sia had relaxed. She’d refused his invitation to take the controls, but he suspected she might agree next time he offered. It’d been clear she had enjoyed it too.
Not that there would be a next time, he reminded himself firmly. They had thirteen days left and he couldn’t lose sight of the threat that Sia posed for each and every one of those days as she pursued her investigation into the Durrántez painting. That alone meant he needed to keep her at arm’s length.
But all of those thoughts disappeared as he caught sight of Ajay, his manager. He’d been looking forward to this moment for the last eighteen months and now the Caribbean hotel was on the verge of opening.
He had one duffel bag in each hand, which he unceremoniously threw into the back of the pick-up-style truck waiting beside the small sandy runway, before walking over to take the man in a strong embrace.
‘It’s good to see you,’ Sebastian said sincerely, seeing the warm smile on his friend’s face.
‘And you, Sebastian. And you.’
‘How are they?’
‘The cabins are perfect and all finished, just in time.’
‘Not the cabins, Ajay, your family,’ Sebastian said, rolling his eyes.
‘They’re good too. Tia is teething, which is always fun.’
Sebastian turned to make an introduction, finding Sia looking at him with the ghost of a smile on her lips and intelligent assessment sparking in her eyes.
‘Sia, allow me to introduce Ajay—a man without whom none of this would be here.’ Ajay appeared embarrassed at the praise, but Sebastian had meant every word.
Sia stepped forward and greeted him warmly, ‘It’s lovely to meet you.’
‘Likewise. However, I’m afraid that we do have a little business to touch on before you can relax until the party this evening.’
‘There’s going to be a party?’ Sia asked him.
‘Yes. It’s...’ Sebastian paused, choosing his words carefully, feeling that familiar sense of mischief he couldn’t seem to stop around her. ‘It’s a pre-opening gala for VIPs,’ he concluded, avoiding the confused look Ajay was giving him. ‘Come on,’ he said, opening the door to the Jeep for Sia. He was tempted to take the long way round, extending the short fifteen-minute drive to nearly twice that, but, checking his watch, realised they didn’t have the time. Reluctantly, he pulled onto the main road—a laughable description of one of the only three roads on the island which he owned and where he’d decided to build his most recent hotel.
As the road drew closer to the shoreline, through the dense palms, flashes of azure-blue sea could be seen, golden sugary sand beckoned and sparks of fuchsia, purple and yellow from the exotic flowers exploded in his peripheral vision. In the mirror of the Jeep he caught Sia staring, her head turning from one side of the car to the other, eyes wide with wonder as the air through the open window played with the trails of her hair. He knew the feeling. He’d had that same sense of awe the first time he’d come here and knew that he had to have it.
The heat was bearable, having passed from the rainy season a few weeks before and, inhaling deeply, Sebastian felt a wave of relaxation pour over him in spite of the requirements for that evening. In too short a time they pulled up in front of the reception and Ajay jumped from the seat and was opening the door for Sia.
Sebastian had seen pictures of the reception centre going up, and now that it was complete he was impressed, but it was the centrepiece inside he was desperate to see.
‘Are they up?’ he asked Ajay, who nodded, his eyes shining with equal anticipation. ‘How do they look?’ Sebastian couldn’t help but ask.
‘See for yourself.’ Ajay gestured and Sebastian couldn’t help but race up the stairs of the only two-storey building on the whole island so that he’d have just a few moments to himself to appreciate the dramatic impact of the commissioned pieces before sharing them with Ajay and Sia.
And those moments...they were needed because, as he inhaled with awe, he realised that what Astou Ndiaye had created was nothing short of incredible. Then he heard Sia’s footsteps behind him and he turned to see her reaction.
Sia was speechless.
