“Yes.”There was a click, a soft thud, and then completely no background noise, like he’d just gotten into a car.“Rick, are you…?”
“It’s all good, Libby.I’m all yours now.You said in your message that you needed a favor.What’s up?”
Cautious not to reveal or imply any details about the Isabella-Hunter affair, Libby told him about the out-of-the-blue email she’d received from Juliana.“Apparently there were these rumors in Hollywood that Alicia is about to have some sort of showdown with Isabella.Can you find out if there’s any truth in it?I’ve searched all I can without risking getting on anyone’s radar, but I’ve found nothing.”
“Sure, but what’s the aim?If Hunter’s wife is on her way to London, so what?What are you going to do?”
Good question.It was none of Libby’s business, but she couldn’t watch the train crash without at least raising an alarm.
“I’m going to tell Isabella, of course.She has a right to know if her career is going up in smoke.”
Anhouraftershe’ddisconnected the call with Rick, the strength of the midday sun was already bearing down on Libby’s back, even though it was only a little after eleven.She’d have to take Karim home so he could play in Tia Rosa’s shady backyard.“Three more jumps, sweet cheeks, then we’ll go.”She helped Karim up onto the fallen-down palm tree for the five hundredth time.He’d been loving jumping off the trunk into the sand.“We can come back later when it’s not so hot.”
“I thought I’d find you here.”
Libby whirled around, startled by Dan’s voice.
Karim squealed, delighted to see his favorite playmate.“Dan-Dan!”
“I’ve been searching the beach all morning,” Dan said.“Then I saw the tree.Hey, kid, those were big jumps just now.”
Karim’s little face lit up, and something prickled in Libby’s chest as he stretched out his arms to be picked up by the man who was turning her world upside down.
“Dan-Dan, up high,” Karim said, and those irrational feelings from last night swirled inside her again.Don’t let him in.Don’t let him become a part of our lives…
Last night, he’d asked if she wanted to be more than friends.
Had he asked because that’s what he’d wanted?Or to make it clear that he didn’t?
What they’d started on the couch in Atiu was never about forever.It was about sexual satisfaction that wouldn’t ruin their friendship.
“Up high,” Karim said again.
Libby glanced up at Dan.He’d been waiting for her go-ahead to pick him up.
“If it’s okay with you,” she said.
“Of course, it is.Come up, kid.”Dan pulled Karim onto his shoulders.And Libby knew that she shouldn’t be afraid that Karim wanted to be with him.Her baby was safe.
But what about her heart?
“The stats on Part Two are great,” Dan said.“But I guess you know that already.”
“I checked briefly thirty minutes ago.You’re a hit, Dan.People want to know everything about you.You should sign with your agent again.”
“Trying to get rid of me?”
“No.”She pushed up a smile.“Not until you give me Part Five.”
“Right.Part Five.”Dan pushed up his own smile, joyless like hers.“I’ll brainstorm some ideas later once my mum leaves.Do you still want to say goodbye to her and Malek today?”
“Of course.”
“Their cab to the airport is booked for half two.Shall we head over at two?”
“Sounds great.”
They walked on in silence, questions playing out in Libby’s mind.With Carina and Malek gone, would Dan want to move back toAre Moana?He hadn’t mentioned it yet.There was only one room in the honeymoon bungalow.Only one bed.No doors.It wasCouples Without Kidsaccommodation.
