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Because there was another reason that had kept him from being there for that call. It was the smile he’d heard in Moni’s voice when she’d talked about Fletcher, the admiration, the adoration.
Almost as if…
Almost as if she really was in love with him.
The thought nearly turned his stomach. No way, he thought, discarding the notion as he stepped under the cloudburst spray. She only thought she loved him. She was infatuated, like she always was, and probably on the rebound.
But if she did love him?
He breathed deeply, turning his face under the torrent. Then she would take the break-up harder than ever. He hated his own part in it, hated that he had to be the one to save her and yet maybe hurt her in the process. But who else could do it? Who else knew what Fletcher was capable of?
No, it was better to suffer now than for her to discover later that Fletcher had only ever been interested in her money.
And one day she would thank him, he was sure.
Monica was every bit as excited as Daniel had maintained. Getting married on Kallista was, in her words, a dream come true and she couldn’t be happier. Then she handed the phone over to Jake so he could have a few words with his sister.
‘What do you think, Jake?’ Sophie asked. ‘Are you happy about the change in venue?’
‘Sounds like we haven’t a choice, given the Tropical Palms has cancelled. But Monica’s over-the-moon happy. And if Daniel can see his way clear to offer his island I don’t see how I can say no.’
Which meant she couldn’t say no. She dragged in air, suddenly hot, those places in her body that had so recently been pressed up against Daniel’s hard, packed torso throbbing all over again. For Jake’s agreement had sealed her fate—the island of Kallista would host the wedding and there was no getting out of it now, no escape from dealing with Daniel Caruana. But when had that concept secretly thrilled rather than repulsed her? And when had she started looking forward to seeing more of him, rather than less?
When he had set her body alight with just one look, just one touch? Or when he had told her that he wanted her?
‘What does surprise me,’ her brother continued, forcing her thoughts back to the phone call, ‘is that he’s being so supportive. I didn’t expect that.’
He wasn’t the only one. In one day she’d been witness to Daniel acting as if Jake was the devil incarnate who would never in a million years marry his sister, then offering his idyllic island as the venue for them to seal their vows. And here was Jake, more resigned than enthusiastic about the change; she knew he was going along with it because it was what his bride wanted.
‘What happened between you two?’ she asked. ‘I’m beginning to hope Daniel might be coming around to the idea of his sister getting married, but something more than high-school competitiveness must have happened. His reaction this morning to the news was nothing less than extreme.’
There was a weary sigh at the end of the line and she suspected it wasn’t all about jet lag. ‘Look, Sophie, it’s not something I really want to talk about over the phone. I’m not even sure I know the whole story myself. I was hoping I could clear the air with Daniel before we left but he wouldn’t return my calls.’
‘Maybe you should come back via Cairns, then, and sort it out before the wedding. Daniel might be more comfortable with the whole idea by then. It could be a good time to mend some bridges.’
‘Maybe you’re right. Hey, we’ve gotta go. We’ve got a surfing lesson booked.’
She was just saying her goodbyes when he said, ‘Oh, hang on—Monica just wants to say something.’
There was a brief hesitation and then, ‘Sophie? I just wanted to thank you so much for being there,’ Monica said breathlessly, as if she’d made a sudden dive for the phone. ‘Daniel told me you’d be staying on Kallista now until the wedding, to make sure everything is absolutely perfect. It means so much that you’re prepared to do that. Thank you so much. See you when we get back!’
Monica was gone by the time Sophie could manage a numb reply and she replaced the receiver with more questions than answers. She was staying on Kallista?—Daniel had told Monica that? So when had he decided that was going to happen? And when had he been planning to fill her in on the details?
Her earlier apology for wrongly accusing him of taking control suddenly seemed premature. Daniel Caruana didn’t just like things to go his way, he liked to be in the driver’s seat to ensure he got where and what he wanted. It was like playing chess with someone who was always two moves ahead. There was no way she was going to be told what she was doing by him.
