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Excitement blazed. She was grinning as she spun around to head back along the beach.
It took a moment to realise someone had called her name. She stopped and looked to her right. There, just a few metres away was a staff member she recognised from reception. Bess hadn’t realised she’d walked all the way to the resort’s main building.
‘I’m sorry to bother you—’
‘You’re not bothering me. What can I do for you?’
The other woman moved closer, smiling. ‘I just wanted to check something, but as Mr Reilly instructed you weren’t to be disturbed at your end of the resort I didn’t like to call you. It seemed serendipity when I looked up and saw you here.’
Bess frowned.Jackhad instructed that she not be disturbed? She stiffened, unease trickling down her spine that he’d done so without asking her.
But she ignored it. He’d probably asked for as much privacy as possible and the staff misunderstood. Though now she thought about it she’d seen no-one but him for the past week. The room had been serviced when they were out swimming or sailing. Very occasionally she’d spoken to the waiter bringing or taking away their meals.
She smiled. ‘It has been beautifully quiet where we are. I could almost believe there’s no-one else staying here.’ Which was just as well given the number of times passion had overcome her and Jack on a moonlight walk.
The other woman nodded. ‘I’m so pleased. That was the idea when Mr Reilly booked out the other accommodation.’
‘I’m sorry, what do you mean?’
The receptionist beamed. ‘It was such a lovely romantic gesture. He wanted to reserve the whole resort during your week here so you had complete privacy, but some guests couldn’t be persuaded to change their dates. They’ve been accommodated at the other end of the resort.’ She turned and gestured to the other side of the island from where Bess and Jack were staying. When she turned back to Bess her grin vanished, concern replacing her enthusiasm. ‘Are you all right?’
Mutely Bess nodded, ignoring her sudden, creeping apprehension. It took a few seconds to find her voice. She chose her words carefully, feeling as if she teetered on a precipice and one wrong word might send her crashing. ‘How...’ Her voice was a croak. ‘How did he manage to do that with no notice?’
The receptionist watched her closely as if realising something was wrong. ‘You’re right. It wasn’t much notice. But your husband was determined and he made it happen in advance of your arrival. I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying it here.’
Bess nodded. Her smile was a rictus grin as the elation of moments ago bled away. It felt like her blood drained too. She looked down, almost expecting to see the sugar-white sand at her feet stained red.
Jack had planned his stay,theirstay, before she even arrived?
‘So my husband booked his accommodation and booked out half the resort, before we got here?’
The other woman looked bemused but answered readily. ‘Yes. Even then it was a huge ask to change so many bookings.’
‘I’m sure it was.’ But when Jack wanted something he usually got his way.
He’d wanted this week with her and he’d got it. He’d known she’d be here and planned accordingly.
Did it really matter that he planned in advance rather than acted on the spur of the moment? It shouldn’t. The fact was he cared enough to want to be with her.
Yet he’d let her believe it was a sudden decision to stay. He’d misled her, saying he was sure the resort could accommodate him, making it sound like he was going to ask to extend his stay whereas he’d already secured the booking.
He still put you first. He spent a whole week ignoring work to be here with you.
The tightness in her chest eased as she drew a relieved breath.
But it’s not quite the same, is it, when he’d scheduled it in advance? Instead of making you his top priority, Jack shuffled his schedule to fit you in.
The receptionist was speaking and Bess had to ask her to repeat herself.
‘I’m so sorry to bother you with this but I’ve just discovered an oversight I wanted to clear up. You and Mr Reilly have a booking to leave together by helicopter on Friday but I just noticed you also have a single seat booked to leave on the seaplane the same day. I wanted to check I should cancel the seaplane.’
Jack had already booked for her to leave with him in two days? He was so sure she’d leave with him?
He hadn’t even got her answer yet. He’d only just asked her to go to Paris.
Asked or demanded?Now she thought about it, he hadn’t framed it as a question.
A sliver of anger pierced her frozen body. He clearly hadn’t expected her to need time to think it through. He’d frowned at her withdrawal, then swiftly masked his impatience.
