Reckless in Paradise (17 page)

His hands curled into fists at his sides. Then he nodded, his eyes the bleakest black.

‘You made the phone call before the helicopter like I said, didn't you? And then you made out you'd been calling up the island, to let them know we were coming. You lied to me.'

‘By omission—I tried to justify it to myself. But, yes, you're right. I lied to you.'

‘And you were going to keep me, weren't you, as long as Jake had Monica? “An eye for an eye, a root for a root”. That's how Jo put it. That's why you slept with me, wasn't it, Daniel? To get even at the basest level with someone you decided long ago you'd hate for ever.'

‘Those were not my words!'

‘But that was your intent! I was to be your prisoner in paradise, and you thought you might as well take advantage while I was here.'

‘Sophie, it wasn't always like that, you have to believe me. Yes, I thought there was justice in having you with me while he had Monica. And, yes, to make that happen I made sure the Tropical Palms got an offer it couldn't refuse. I know that nobody can understand, but I had to do whatever I could to ensure I had complete control over this wedding. It was the only way. Only then, when you got here, I found more reason than ever for you to stay.'

‘Because you had sex on tap?'

He blinked slowly and when he opened his eyes their deep sincerity almost made her look away. ‘I told you you were the best, and it's true.'

She heard the rattle of a tea trolley and looked hopefully towards the door. Any interruption would be preferable right now to hearing these pointless words. She was good at sex, and he was in love with a dead woman.

It was never going to be a fair contest.

She stood up and started fussing with the recalcitrant zip on her bag, realised her toiletries were still in the bathroom and got frustrated with the slow progress. Where the hell was that doctor, anyway? Not that any doctor could help her now, because no doctor could help what was hurting inside her.

She took a calming breath. ‘Look, Daniel, thanks for being there yesterday. Thanks for stopping by and explaining all that. Please give my regards to Millie. Please let her know I was relieved to hear she hadn't been hurt.'

He frowned. ‘Where are you going?'

‘Back to Brisbane. I have a flight booked. Meg's going to meet me at the airport.' She injected a dose of enthusiasm she didn't feel into her voice. ‘I can't wait to catch up with all the news.'

‘Sophie, I want you to come home.'

‘I am going home, Daniel. My home.'

‘But the wedding? What about the wedding?'

‘Didn't you hear the news? I'm not needed here any more.'

He looked at her, dumbfounded. ‘What are you talking about?'

‘Why so shocked, Daniel? I thought you'd be pleased. It's what you wanted, after all: the wedding's off.'

 

His mind and senses reeled. He'd assumed he'd pick her up from the hospital and take her back to the island where he could soothe away her bruises, gentle her pain. He'd thought if he explained everything she might eventually understand, might forgive him.

She had to forgive him.

And he'd thought there was time, because there was a wedding to plan and she'd never walk away from that.

But if there was no wedding…

‘What happened?'

She put a hand to her hip and tilted her head with the falsest smile she could muster. ‘You know, it was the strangest thing. Apparently Monica overheard Jake talking to me on the phone and insisted he tell her what all the secrecy was about. When he told her that you were offering him money to break off the engagement, and had been responsible for dispensing with her last few boyfriends, she refused to believe you were capable of such a thing. You. The perfect brother.' She laughed a little. ‘Imagine that.'

His hands fisted in his hair. What the hell had he done?

‘So you'll no doubt be delighted to hear that they had a huge argument and it all got too hard—she couldn't marry anyone who didn't think the sun shone out of her brother, like she did, and he couldn't marry anyone who didn't believe him.'

She sucked in air.

‘So you finally got what you wanted. I hope you're satisfied.'

She turned back toward her bags and made another effort at zipping up the zip, trying to make this chapter in her life final, all her efforts concentrated on the task in hand.

‘Sophie—'

She spun back round. ‘You're still here?'

‘I'll speak to them. I'll fix it.'

‘Good luck. It didn't sound too fixable when I heard the news.'

‘You can't go. I said you were the best, Sophie. I meant it.'

Her sore lip suffered another ill-timed bite. ‘You played me for a fool—making love to me and flattering me like you actually cared. When all the time you just wanted to keep me held hostage in paradise, so I'd fall for your charms and believe you took this wedding seriously. Why the hell shouldn't I go?'

‘Because I love you.'

He wasn't sure who was the most shocked. She stood stock-still, her face drained of colour on one side, the garish blue bruises on the other standing out all the more.

While he reeled inside from the thunderclap discovery.
He loved her.
That was why he'd rejoiced when he'd discovered she wasn't after his money. That was why he'd rejoiced every time Jake had turned his offers down, and why he didn't rejoice when he'd heard the news the wedding was off. And that was why he'd never wanted to let her go.

‘I didn't realise it myself. I didn't know until now. But why else would I spend hours in meetings thinking about you rather than what's on the agenda? Why would I rush home every day? Because I couldn't get you out of my head. I wanted to be with you, Sophie, because I love you.'

‘No. You're in love with Emma. Always have been. Always will be.'

‘I
loved
Emma. I know she'll always be special in my heart. But you're the one I love.'

She dipped her head in her hand and breathed deep. ‘There are too many people hurting, Daniel. So much damage done. How can you expect me to embrace your love? How can you expect me to return it? Even… Even if I wanted to.'

She looked up to see hope in his eyes for the first time in days. ‘Daniel, you have to let me walk away. You have to give me time.'

The door burst open, the doctor bustling in and swiping up the charts at the end of her bed near her packed bag. ‘Someone anxious to go home, then?' He looked up at her, switched his glance to Daniel and turned his gaze down to the chart. ‘Hope I didn't just interrupt something important.'

She gave a wan smile and shook her head. ‘Not at all. Mr Caruana was just leaving.'

I
T WAS
the kind of day you wished you could bottle—not a cloud in the azure sky, the cerulean sea dotted with pleasure craft and a tempering sea breeze to keep the temperature from climbing too high.

It would have been perfect if her heart hadn't been permanently lodged in her mouth since she'd arrived.

Kallista had turned on its best and Meg had done a brilliant job bringing it all together while Sophie had held the fort in Brisbane these past couple of weeks. A white pavilion had been installed on a grassy patch near the shore and festooned with colourful bougainvillea over fluttering white chiffon, the perfect, romantic setting for the perfect wedding.

And it was. She'd slipped in, arriving on the very last launch when everyone was busy with last-minute details. She'd planned it that way. Even a couple of weeks away hadn't been enough to make her forget or stop her longing. But it seemed it had been long enough for Daniel. He hadn't contacted her in all that time. Clearly his profession of love hadn't meant a thing. She'd done the right thing by walking away.

What she hadn't planned was how highly strung she felt. She almost cried when she saw Jake up front with the celebrant, pulling at his collar, looking nervous and excited, like every proper groom should. She did cry when she saw
Monica, the most beautiful bride she'd ever seen, her smile joyous, her face radiant, as she walked down the aisle on the arm of her proud and equally beautiful brother to the man she loved.

The tears continued when she saw the men shake hands as one man handed the bride over to the other, and then when bride and groom exchanged vows and kissed she cried again.

She dabbed at her eyes as the congregation cheered the newly married couple and filtered behind them along the shore. At this rate she'd be a complete puddle by the time they made it to the speeches.

‘It's good to see you again.'

She blinked and he was there, gloriously there before her, all magnificent male, dressed in a suit fit for a god. Appropriate, really, given what lay beneath. ‘How have you been?'

Lonely.

‘Busy. How about you?'

‘The same.' He was looking at her with those hungry eyes, warm and sensual, his mouth turned into the beginnings of a smile although there were lines of strain there too. ‘You look beautiful.'

She smiled. She had red eyes and a heavy heart, but she'd take the words in the spirit they were given.

‘Sit with me at the reception,' he said. ‘I got Meg to save you a seat.'

‘Of course.' Sitting with him meant nothing. As sister of the groom, she'd expected not to be able to fade entirely into the woodwork. She could last a few hours in his company; she'd almost convinced herself.

They got corralled into wedding photos of family and friends and it seemed like ages before the party moved to the long-house pavilion. In pride of place was the cake Millie had
made for them spilling with orchids in soft pinks and whites. ‘It's beautiful, Millie,' she told the woman as they embraced. ‘You've done a wonderful job.'

Millie wiped a tear from her own eye. ‘We've missed you, Sophie. Him more than anyone. He's been like a bear with a sore head. Worse these last few days, waiting for you to turn up. You'd think he was the one getting married. Will you be staying a while?'

She smiled, not sure how she should feel about Millie's revelations. Excited? Hopeful? Or had he merely been dreading her presence. ‘Just overnight. I have to be back in Brisbane.'

The older woman's face dropped momentarily. Then she sighed and nodded. ‘I understand.'

Did she? Sophie wasn't sure she understood herself.

Finally everyone filed in and took their seats for the reception. Daniel held out her chair for her. He leaned down as she lowered herself, his warm breath like a living thing stroking her ear. ‘I've missed you, Sophie.' And she felt his words all the way to her toes. ‘I've missed you bad.'

‘You didn't call.' She tried to keep the hurt from her voice, and failed miserably.

‘I thought you needed space.'

‘Oh.' What did that mean? But she nodded and picked up her wine, taking a sip, her eyes on the bride and groom. They were so happy and so much in love it almost hurt to look at them. ‘How did you do it?' she asked. ‘How did you get them back together again?'

He followed her gaze. ‘I had a lot of bridges to mend before that happened. Luckily you'd shown me how.'

‘I did? How?'

He looked around at the appetiser that had just been placed in front of them. ‘Are you hungry?'

She shook her head. She knew what was on the menu; she'd put the courses together that week she'd spent on the island. She knew it would be fabulous without tasting a thing. Besides, there was something she needed more than food right now.

He took her hand and they headed for the beach, where the sun was just beginning to set, lighting the warm, tropical world with its soft glow.

‘I spent too long in a world of hatred,' he said as they kicked off their shoes and set off along the sand. ‘It consumed me. Powered me. Drove me to think I was doing right, when I was doing wrong. I hurt Monica. I thought I was protecting her and I hurt her.'

He stopped and looked at the sun and she saw the glint of moisture in the corner of his eyes. ‘You taught me that the bonds of love were stronger than the chains of hate. You taught me that love wasn't about control. Love was being able to let something go, and trust you would keep it for ever.'

He looked down at her, taking her chin so softly in his fingers that her skin tingled at the contact. ‘You taught me that, Sophie.

‘And, even though I didn't want to let you walk away from me that day in the hospital, even though I knew it would break me and that however long it took would be hell, I knew in my heart that if I was ever to truly have you I would have to let you go and hope above hope that you would return to me.' He rested his forehead against hers and she put a hand to his cheek, relishing the touch of the face she had dreamed about every night since she'd left.

‘Oh, Daniel.'

‘So now… So now I need to know. Is there any chance for us, do you think? Is there any chance—after all the wrongs I've committed, after the nightmare I've put everyone through—that you might return to me and return my love?'

Her heart was singing so loud it was a wonder he couldn't hear its song of joy himself. ‘I thought…I feared…'

‘You thought what?'

‘That you'd changed your mind. Realised that you'd made a mistake. I don't know. I just worried, when I hadn't heard from you, that I'd imagined you ever telling me.'

He put his arms around her. ‘Not a chance. I haven't thought of anything else these last few weeks but how much I do love you. Marry me, Sophie. Marry me and make me the happiest man on earth.'

And suddenly there were more tears to contend with. Tears of joy, tears of relief, tears that welled up from a heart that swelled with love for him and washed away all the pain. ‘Daniel, I love you so much!'

He pulled her, spinning, into his embrace and kissed her until she was dazed and drugged with the taste of him. Then he stopped spinning and dropped her feet to the sand. ‘So you'll marry me?'

She smiled up at him, loving him, knowing she would love him for ever, knowing this tiny thing was not too much to ask. She pulled his head down and whispered in his ear and he smiled before pulling her back into another kiss.

It was late by the time they made it back to the reception; the cake had already been cut. They hung around the back of the pavilion so as not to interrupt, but Millie saw them entering, Sophie's hand encased in Daniel's, the sprig of bougainvillea he'd picked and woven into her hair, and she beamed and skirted around the tables towards them.

‘It's the most magical wedding,' she said, taking in their knotted hands and the flush to their skin, her generous eyes both curious and hopeful. ‘Just magical.'

‘It's what Sophie's business promises,' Daniel grinned. ‘One Perfect Day, to make perfect memories to last a lifetime,' and Sophie laughed.

‘You memorised our advertising slogan!'

‘I thought I might need it one day, if I ever needed a wedding planner.' He curled his arm around her and pulled her in tight. ‘Turns out I might.'

Millie clapped her hands over her mouth. ‘Oh lord, is it true?'

Sophie hugged the older woman. ‘Daniel's asked me to marry him.'

Millie whooped with joy. ‘And you said yes?'

‘I told him I'd like to, but I want to make sure someone else gives their blessing too.' And she looked around, to find Daniel already threading his way through the crowd until he found his target. She watched him slap her brother on the back, she watched her brother frown as Daniel leaned close and then she saw his look of surprise as he sought her out, his frown transformed into a broad smile the second he saw her face and realised it was what she wanted.

She squeezed the older woman's hand. ‘I think you better not hang those cake pans up in a hurry, Millie.'

Millie whooped again and hurried off to share the good news, not that Sophie was alone for long. Daniel was back and he picked her up and spun her around in his arms until she was dizzy. ‘Thank you,' he said. ‘How did you know that would feel so good? I feel like it's over. It's finally over.'

She laughed as he lowered her feet to the floor, dizzy with happiness as she cupped his face with her hands and held his gaze. ‘No, Daniel. The way I prefer to think of it, it's only just beginning.'

His smile widened, his eyes radiating love. ‘I like the way you think, Sophie Turner.'

And she feigned disappointment. ‘Oh, and there was me thinking you liked the way I did something else.'

He growled his appreciation. ‘Oh yes. I like that too. I like that a lot.' He looked around, suddenly agitated, that look back in his eyes. ‘Is it too early to leave the party, do you think? It is my sister and your brother getting married, after all.'

She smiled up at him on a shrug and tugged on his hand. ‘Sometimes you just have to be prepared to let go. Are you prepared to let go, Daniel?'

‘Every night of my life.'

And she smiled and pulled him into the night. ‘Then I'll keep coming back. For ever.'

‘For ever,' he echoed as he swept her up into his kiss.