AllFreeNovel
Share Us
die opened her mouth to say something, though she wasn’t sure exactly what, but Guy didn’t give her the opportunity. “Go on, Ava. Santiago will be wondering where we are.”
With a heart that was sinking, she climbed higher, each step wobbling, her face stricken as she finally reached the deck of the boat.
Santiago hadn’t been wondering where they were, in the end. He’d made himself perfectly comfortable, creating quite the nest for himself – newspapers spread wide, a pot of thick, black coffee to one side and a tray of sweet pastries the other, and he’d removed his shoes, so his bare feet were kicked out into a patch of sunshine on the deck.
“Ah!” He tilted his head when Addie stepped onto the boat, so she had only seconds to rally her face into an expression into what it should have been – that of a woman in love, on a blissful island with the man of her dreams.
“What did you think of the caves?”
Guy was right behind her; she could feel him. Not because he was touching her, but because there was an invisible pull between them, enough to make her insides throb just by being close.
“They were beautiful,” she said with a forced smile. “Enchanting.”
“Enchanting, yes,” Santiago’s eyes lingered on Addie’s face a moment and then he nodded his approval. “Come, eat.”
Addie had been starving only minutes earlier, but now, she couldn’t imagine eating. Her stomach was in knots. Still, she moved towards the table and took the seat opposite Santiago, her back to the island. The sea spread before her, turquoise and accented with gold streaks, formed by the sun’s vibrant reflection.
“Have something,” his invitation encompassed Addie and Guy.
Guy stood beside them, his body glistening with water, his frame bronzed, his muscles taut. Addie couldn’t look at him. Just the sight of him did funny things to her, and memories of how he’d moved inside of her were a torment.
“We should get back,” Guy’s words were clipped and Santiago noticed. He lifted his head to Guy, a small frown on his face.
“Why?”
“Mother will be worrying. You’re due at the theatre tonight.”
Santiago waved a dismissive hand in the air. “Do you know how long it’s been since I was on the water?”
“You can come out anytime,” Guy pointed out. “You just choose not to.”
“Not true,” Santiago said. “And it is only when you are here that I have the option, Guy, and you do not visit often.” His eyes flicked to Addie. Perhaps it was the realization still exploding inside of her, that trying to change Guy’s mind was like trying to pour oil up a hill, but Addie saw something in Santiago’s expression that reminded her of Guy. That made her wonder if they were all playing a part in this scenario.
“Though perhaps that will change now,” he said thoughtfully. “Ava will make you come.”
Guy shrugged his shoulders. “Perhaps.” He smiled at his grandfather. “I’ll take us back now.”
They both watched Guy as he walked down the deck, framed by the brilliant blue of the sky, his powerful body tense.
“He does not come here often,” Santiago said after a while.
“I didn’t realise that. I know he loves the island.”
“Yes, he does. But life, his work,” Santiago shrugged. “It is so important that he settle down, Ava. Don’t you agree?”
Ava’s insides were close to exploding. She nodded slowly, her eyes meeting his.
“I imagine you’ll have a short engagement,” Santiago leaned back in the chair, his eyes resting on the caves he could see over Addie’s shoulder. “You could announce it at the party.”
Addie’s eyes were huge in her pale face. “Engagement?” She stared at him in shock. “What engagement?”
Santiago’s eyes narrowed, and Addie was reminded, once more, of Guy. The older man was, in that moment, every bit as much the dictatorial CEO as his grandson. A shiver ran down her spine and she tried to remember the part she was playing. To remember that a woman in love would be delighted to be discussing the possibility of a permanent relationship.
“You do plan to marry him?”
Addie’s cheeks blushed and there was nothing forced about it. She smiled, but it was lopsided. “I… He hasn’t asked.”
Santiago frowned, his expression shifting. Doubt covered his face. “He hasn’t?”
