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Away from the man who had intruded into her life even though she didn’t want him to.
Into her head leapt his image—as potent and powerful as it always was, as vivid and as real. As disturbing...
And more than just his image.
Like a tactile brush against her mouth, it was as if she could feel the soft, seductive graze of his lips on hers, arousing in her such sweet, tempting sensations that even now she felt her body tremble with the recollection.
Her peace was shattered. She must not let herself think—remember—feel! She must not! She must only remind herself of the impossibility of what he wanted—how it could never, never happen!
Abruptly, she picked up the resort’s activities guide and started to peruse it. One activity in particular caught her attention. It was a stargazing expedition to the deserted side of the island—a nature reserve where there was no light pollution from the resort. There would be an astronomer to instruct them, and professional-level telescopes to view the heavens through. Early booking was recommended, owing to its popularity. The cost was high, but it would be worth it, Celeste knew.
As she made the decision to book the expedition she found herself remembering, yet again, how she’d gone out to look at the stars that evening of the charity show at the country house near Oxford. And how Rafael Sanguardo had simply strolled up to her and into her life...
She turned the page decisively. Well, he was out of her life now. And he had to stay that way. It was essential. She could not risk any further contact with him. His impact on her had been too powerful, urging her with every instinct of her being to respond to what she knew he sought from her.
Sadness haunted her eyes. She could not respond—must not respond. However much she might try and forget the past it controlled her still—dictated the terms on which she could now live her life. And that meant she had to abide by what she had told Rafael that evening in the restaurant.
‘I don’t do relationships...’
The stark, harsh truth was indelible. She had to stick to it—had to. And now she was nine thousand miles from him and it must stay that way! But even as she reminded herself of that, another thought slid into her head.
It would have been good to watch the Hawaiian stars together...
She snapped the guide shut. Put her drink back on the table. Got to her feet. She would go for a swim. Change the inside of her head, as it clearly urgently needed to be changed.
Carefully removing her lei and her sarong, Celeste stepped over the hot sand and down to the cooling waters of the ocean. She was here to relax, to indulge herself, to rest, to have ‘me time’ in a fabulously luxurious place.
And that was all she was going to do.
* * *
And for the next few days that was exactly what she did. She slid into the lazy routine of the resort, keeping to herself except for casual chats with other guests. She drew male eyes, as she always did, but the clientele here were not the kind to plague her with uninvited attentions. Most guests were couples, anyway, either young honeymooners or older couples enjoying a leisured retirement.
Yet although she kept to her customary solitude, sometimes, with a little pang, she felt a flicker of envy as she watched their companionship, their affection to each other, their togetherness...
Then she would look away again. That was not for her and she must accept it.
Must banish, too, the thoughts that followed—thoughts that saw, clearly and disturbingly, the tall, magnetic figure she must not let herself think about. For he had gone from her life now, as she had told him to.
She must be content with what she had. Which, right now, was this magical resort and all it offered.
She’d booked the stargazing expedition and enjoyed the facilities of the spa, had gone out on a courtesy outrigger ride, seen turtles swimming over the reefs and tried a little gentle bodysurfing. Other than that she had done absolutely nothing except laze and swim and pass the days in peace and quiet.
