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‘What took you so long?’ he growled as Catalina took the seat across the aisle, a cloud of scent following her.
‘A girl has to shop,’ she said with a shrug as she did up her safety belt. ‘I couldn’t go home without a gift for Papá.’
He grumbled his displeasure. A new casino wasn’t gift enough?
‘Oh,’ she said, scanning the seats up and down the plane, ‘we seem to be missing somebody.’
‘No,’ he grunted, as they finally closed the door, wishing they were already gone. ‘Nobody.’
He could feel her eyes on him, feel their false pity. ‘Never mind. I’m sure it’s all for the best.’
He shifted in his seat, turned his gaze out of the window. Dios! What was taking so long? Why couldn’t this plane just take off?
Someone answered his prayers. The whine of the engines grew louder; the plane started crawling towards the runway.
‘It wasn’t like you were really going to marry her.’
His head swung around, something live crawling under his skin. ‘What did you say?’
She gave a thin laugh, looking suddenly uncomfortable. ‘Just stating the obvious.’
‘What do you know of it? How do you know we even talked of marriage?’
She was shaking her head. ‘Alejandro, what is this? She must have mentioned something. I can’t remember the details.’
‘You saw her? Leah told you? When?’
The only time they’d been apart he’d been in the jewellry store, selecting a ring he thought she’d love, and the last time he’d spoken to her she had been on her way down to meet him. Something had happened between that phone call and her leaving. And with a chill he realised that that something had to be Catalina.
‘What did you tell her?’
Sydney’s city air was heavy and dull after Caloundra, the traffic and grime a stark contrast. His car double-parked outside her shop and he jumped out, his heart thudding, his blood rushing like an express train. She had to be here!
He swung open the door of the empty shop, the tinkling bell above heralding his arrival. ‘Leah?’ he called.
A small, wiry woman emerged from behind a curtain, a cup of tea in one hand, the teabag’s tag dangling over the rim, a spoon in the other.
‘Where’s Leah?’
She eyed him suspiciously. ‘She’s gone away. I’m not sure when she’ll be back. Can I help you with something?’
The blood in his veins turned to mud. He’d come here first, thinking she’d flee to somewhere safe. But if she’d gone somewhere else…‘Do you know where she’s gone?’
Her eyes narrowed. ‘You’re not one of our regulars, are you?’
The door behind him opened and stayed open. He turned and froze.
‘No,’ the newcomer said, her voice flat. ‘He’s not one of our regulars.’
Her eyes were dark-rimmed and suspicious, her skin pale, her clothes assembled as if she didn’t care—and yet still she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. ‘Leah.’
She let the door fall shut, skirting the wall of the tiny shop to avoid getting anywhere near him, setting a course for the older woman. ‘Sorry, Beryl. I had a sudden change of plans. I tried to call your flat to let you know not to bother coming in today, but only got the answer machine.’
‘It’s lucky you turned up when you did. This bloke was just asking for you.’
Sheer dumb luck. He was the last person she’d expected to see any time soon—the last person she wanted to see ever. ‘You don’t have to stay if you’d rather go.’
The older woman gathered up her bag without hesitation. ‘Only if you’re su
