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Now, looking back, Aidan wondered if not only had his father not forgiven Ellery, but if he’d never forgiven himself for not noticing what had been happening right under his nose. Had he stopped living, stopped functioning as a man, because of that one simple flaw? And what did it say about Aidan, himself, when he had taken up the mantle of his father’s resentment?
And why was he suddenly questioning himself now?
Cara Chatsfield, that’s why, he realised darkly. Talking to her was just as dangerous as looking at her.
The beat of the sun high in the sky made its presence known as soon as he and Ben exited the main building. The soft sandy path and lazy insects buzzing around the exotic plants making a mockery of their suits and black leather shoes. They should be wearing shorts and flip-flops. Casual wear, like the surfer who just passed them on his way to the beach.
The world-class wave that broke on the island was what had first drawn Aidan to the area. Ten years ago it had held nothing but a poor, dilapidated village. Aidan had taken one look at that wave, seen the potential and known he’d have done anything to put a resort on it. And it had paid off. The island was one of the most profitable in the whole of the Fijian archipelago.
Spying the beach the surfers used to paddle out from he saw a flash of bright pink and caught the sweet sound of feminine laughter. Tensing he stopped and saw Cara in nothing but a gold bikini standing beside a surfer who was waxing his board. Her hands were on her hips and her body—that marvellous body—was being eaten up so much by the surfer’s eyes that he’d be waxing the sand next if he wasn’t careful.
Finally appeased to find an outlet for his agitation Aidan told Ben he’d catch up with him later and stalked towards the unsuspecting couple.
As he drew closer he recognised the man as a top-notch surfing sensation and a top-notch womaniser.
Wondering why his gaze was riveted to Cara’s middle Aidan glanced down and saw one of the sexiest tattoos he had ever seen. Circling Cara’s belly button was a ring of—were they flowers? No, they were hearts. Tiny red hearts almost overlapping one another.
He swallowed and felt a rush of heat tighten his muscles. Dammit if that surfer wasn’t imagining running his tongue around that sexy little tattoo of hers.
Containing his temper as best he could he wasn’t at all mollified when Cara glanced at him warily.
The surfer nodded at him when Cara made the introductions but Aidan didn’t return the gesture. Instead he stepped closer to Cara in a purely possessive move that was designed to let the other man know she was off-limits.
The man got the message and with the trace of a smile loped off towards the water.
‘What have you been doing all morning?’
She looked at him quizzically. ‘Caught up on emails. Finally texted Christos and my sister.’
‘What did you tell them?’
‘I took your advice and said nothing. I told them that I was fine and would explain everything later.’
She shifted her feet and sand flicked up over the edge of his shoes. They both glanced down and he felt like an idiot standing fully dressed beside a woman in a tiny bikini.
‘As a general rule I don’t mind what you get up to,’ he began, ‘but I would ask that you don’t flirt with other men while you’re here.’
‘I wasn’t flirting,’ she defended. ‘I was talking.’
‘This is my resort, Cara, and to all intents and purposes you are here as my partner. Please conduct yourself as such.’
‘I didn’t know it was your resort. Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘It wasn’t relevant.’
‘Well, I wasn’t flirting. Jon-Jon said he would give me a surfing lesson later on today.’
Like hell.
‘It’s too dangerous for you out there.’
‘It looks fun. Maybe you should try it, too. You know, live dangerously. Cut loose.’
Her tone told him that she didn’t think he had it in him and his ego rebelled. He knew how to ‘cut loose’.
He used to ride a Ducati and go heli-skiing in the Alps. Hell, he had even planned to participate in the treacherous Sydney to Hobart yacht race one year. No, he was just driven. Focused. There was a difference. Not that Cara would probably recognise it. She was so intent on having a good time.
‘Sometimes there’s more to life than having fun,’ he shot at her.
‘I know that.’
Her quiet pronouncement annoyed him. ‘Do you?’
‘Yes. In fact, I was thinking of finding you and asking if you needed any help while we were here, but I’m not sure that’s a good idea.’
‘Help?’ He couldn’t stop his eyes from dropping to her bikini. ‘Dressed like that?’
