Why is Tommy skippering a sailboat? Isn’t he supposed to be off building wells in a remote village or something? Is this him shaking up his life? When did I last speak to him? What did he tell me then? And how does he know Julian? Oh god, does Julian know I used to be married to Tommy? But he just introduced us as if we were strangers. Is Julian pretending? Is this a trap?!
I couldn’t stand it any longer. I looked at Julian. Yep – completely baffled. At least that answered some of my questions. Julian was clearly clueless that Tommy and I had a history.
Had a history.Nowthat’sa loaded term, alluding to passion and desperation and heartache, something I was hyper aware of with Tommy standing only a couple of feet away.
‘Uh, sorry,’ said Tommy again, drawing my gaze. He hitched his thumb in the direction of the staff quarters, small bungalows by the beach. ‘I should get some sleep. Big day tomorrow.’
‘Goodnight,’ Julian said.
I stayed mute.
When Tommy left, I suddenly put two and two together. I was supposed to spend tomorrow circumnavigating the island on a sailboat – with Tommy skippering! There would be others on board – Julian’s PR team, other guests – but the excursion had been organised forme. And I’d been promised the full VIP experience.
Did that include shagging the skipper below deck while everyone elseoohedandahhedover the scenery?
I shook my head, grasping for a sliver of sanity, but all I found was suffocation. I had to get out of there.
‘I should probably get some sleep as well,’ I said, standing abruptly.
‘Oh, but what about dinner?’ asked Julian, looking hurt as well as confused.
‘I… I’m really sorry, Jules. It must be jetlag or something, but I suddenly feel…’ I waved my hand about, hoping to convey general malaise.
‘Oh, of course,’ said Julian, standing – always the gentleman when it comes to manners. ‘We can have dinner tomorrow night – after your sailing trip,’ he added. He moved closer and kissed my cheek.
‘Sounds lovely. And I really am sorry – please send my apologies to Dimitra.’
‘Will do,’ he replied with a concerned frown. ‘Rest up, Ally. A busy weekend ahead.’
I gave him a quick smile, then left, scurrying up the hill towards my villa. It was in sight when a hand reached out of the darkness and grabbed my wrist. I yelped as I was pulled behind a potted olive tree.
‘Shh. Ally, it’sme.’
I glared up at Tommy. ‘You scared me half to death,’ I said, my voice a harsh whisper. I rubbed my wrist where his hand had been.
‘Did I hurt you?’ he asked contritely.
‘No, just… What the fuck are you doing here?’
‘I was about to ask you the same thing.’
We glared at each other in the dim light, and I fought the overwhelming impulse to stand on tiptoes and bite his lower lip. Instead, I bit my own, and his eyes dropped to my mouth.
Forget about shagging below deck. How about against the wall behind a massive topiary?
Lust is just a shield, Ally. The heartache’s still there underneath.
So what? If I’m headed for disaster, I might as well enjoy the ride.
‘Ally…’ he said, cutting into my internal argument.
A random thought leapt into my head. ‘I didn’t know you could sail.’
He shook his head at the non sequitur. ‘I learned last year. When I was living in Sicily.’
‘You lived inSicily?’
‘Briefly.’
