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I understood now why Benedict was drawn here, unable to leave his homeland forever.
It was heaven.
I couldn’t help but take in the wonder of it.
Ezra pulled to a stop, and we piled out, Ry moving slower than the rest of us. An older woman stood at the foot of the stairs, waiting to greet us with a warm smile. Smiling at her, I gazed up at the wide verandas stretching out invitingly, picturing myself lying down under them, reading a book and relaxing. We weren’t here for that, though, which only intensified the yearning for it.
White, gauzy curtains billowing in the breeze from the open doors and windows drew my attention next. I itched to see the view from the opposite side of the house, the peek I’d had during the drive coming in a tease to whet my appetite.
“Welcome,” the woman greeted, her American accent pronounced. “I’m Martha Holt, your host.”
“Pleased to meet you, Martha,” I responded with a smile. “I’m Zali, and this is Ryder,” I explained, slipping my arm around his waist. With my free hand, I gestured to Tristan and added, “This is Tristan, and Flynn and Ezra are getting our bags. You have quite the place here. It’s stunning.”
“I hope you enjoy your stay tremendously.”
“Thank you.” We’d booked the home for a week, but we had the option to extend it for another two if needed. The idea of extending our stay hadn’t been appealing before, but I could easily be swayed after seeing it now. Who knew what the next few days would bring, though.
“The keys are on the kitchen counter. Treat the home as your own. If you change your mind on the chef or any other staff, just call preset one on the telephone, and my staff will arrange for whatever you need. I’m right next door—” She gestured in the same direction as Benedict’s compound. “—so it’s no trouble. My chef took the liberty of preparing a meal for you for lunch, and the refrigerator is fully stocked.”
“Thank you, Ms Holt,” Tristan added, the wonder in his voice obvious as he looked around.
“It’s always a pleasure having special guests,” she demurred graciously. ”Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll let you enjoy your stay. Reach out if you need us. One of my staff will drop off some fresh bread for you tomorrow morning.”
We shook hands, and I watched her retreat as she made her way over to the golf buggy. Her driver held out his hand, helping her onto the seat, but his gaze never left mine, his stare boring into me. After a lingering moment, he walked around the buggy and took off along the grass toward the beach.
“We’re going to take today off and relax,” Tristan ordered. “Ry, you must be exhausted from that flight.”
The first leg of our flight had seen us travel from the Gold Coast to Darwin, then Darwin to Langkawi in one day. Today’s leg had been another double-header, with our first stop in Sri Lanka to refuel, then another flight from Sri Lanka to Mauritius.
As a passenger, it had been luxurious, but as pilot, Ry had to be constantly on the ball, concentrating the whole flight. So it didn’t surprise me that Ry was exhausted. When he’d handed Ezra the car keys, I’d been shocked. But his silence on the drive from the airport here had spoken loudest. He was drowsy and dragging his feet. Even his leaving the bags to the others was unlike him.
“Want a shower or bed?” I asked Ry.
“Let’s check out the house first.” Arm in arm, we went inside, and my jaw dropped. Ezra and Flynn had picked this house purely for its proximity to Benedict, but I was incredibly glad they had.
Towering cathedral ceilings soared above us, and wainscoting along the walls gave the home a luxurious feel. Timber floors of the most beautiful warm red brown drew us inside the open-plan living area. White leather couches were gathered around a fireplace on a thick rug that sat opposite a grand white kitchen with Shaker cabinets, farmhouse-style sink, and pendant lighting above the island bench covered in white marble swirled with a blue grey. Outside the French doors was a covered patio complete with plush furniture and an outdoor kitchen.
But all of that paled in comparison to the view.
The rolling waves of the ocean sparkled like diamonds, and the sand was almost white. Coconut palms swayed in the breeze, almost at the high tide line. A firepit sat on the deserted beach with loungers surrounding it. A volleyball net was set up further along, just waiting for playtime.
I wanted to slide on out those doors and enjoy the beach. I wanted the sun to warm me and to see smiles on my guys’ faces. And I would, no matter what happened with Benedict in the coming days.
*****
I rubbed my eyes and wandered naked into the kitchen. I’d slept late—later than I wanted—but Ry was still asleep, so I wasn’t the only one who was wiped out.
I set the kettle to boil on the stovetop and took in my surroundings, still amazed that we were here. We’d only used three rooms inside the house—the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen—since we’d flown in the day before. The outdoor patio was by far my favourite spot.
Tristan and Ezra were out there now, lying on the sun loungers, their interlaced hands spanning the gap.
Flynn dodged around me, carrying a carton of eggs, bacon, an onion, and a block of cheese. My stomach rumbled right on cue, and he grinned, gesturing with his chin to the cupboard nearby. “Green tea is in there with the mugs.”
“Thank you.” I yawned and rubbed my eyes again, exhaustion sitting heavy on me. “I feel like a zombie,” I muttered.
“Go for a swim. It’s beautiful out there, and there’s no one around. I’ve already got a towel for you on Tristan’s chair.”
“You know I love you, right?” I slipped my arms around his waist and kissed his cheek, nuzzling into his throat as I held him. Flynn—all my guys, in fact—always managed to anticipate exactly what I needed and most days delivered it without me even having to ask.
