“It’s a long story.She…” Dan caught Libby standing on the decking, and the soft, watery look in her eyes told him she must’ve overheard everything.Thank god he hadn’t said any more about Isabella.
“I’m so sorry to interrupt,” Libby said, rocking the pushchair with one hand.“But I’ve really got to put Karim to bed, or he’ll be a horror show tomorrow.Should I leave the door unlocked?”
“No, it’s okay.I’ll walk back with you now.”Dan heaved himself off the bench.Sitting still for so long had made him ache even more.He needed to stretch and get some rest, too, and he needed to let Mum get back to Malek.“Let’s have dinner again when we’re back from Atiu.”
“Try to enjoy your next adventure,” Mum said.“You have fun as well, Libby.I’ll look forward to hearing all about it.”
Libby nodded but didn’t launch into any anecdotes or detailed accounts about anything like she’d done at dinner.“Mal is waiting for you at the bar,” she said softly.“He asked me to tell you he doesn’t mind heading back toAre Moanaif you and Dan still needed time together.”
“No, we’re good.”Dan kissed Mum on the cheek, then stopped at the bar to thank Malek for the meal.“Next one’s on me,” he said as they shook hands.
Out on the main island road, the night air was still so warm.Coconut trees waved against the darkened sky.Libby was very quiet.
“Thank you for coming tonight,” he said.
“Sure thing.The food was delicious.”
Her gaze dipped.
“Everything okay?”Dan asked, but when she only nodded again, he added, “You heard all that stuff about me…about my dad, didn’t you?”
“I really didn’t mean to listen in.”She nibbled her lip.“It must’ve been so hard.For your mom.For you and your sisters.I’m so sorry you had to go through all that.”
“Thank you.It was a long time ago.We’re okay now.”Changed, but okay.Dan looked at the cloudy night sky, where a smattering of stars appeared through the gaps.“I still miss my father.”
“I can tell,” she said softly.“How did he die?”
“A dog ran out into the road.He swerved his car to miss it and hit a tree.”
“I’m so sorry,” Libby whispered but thankfully didn’t ask any more questions.
Dan never spoke about his dad to strangers.But then, after what she’d seen and heard these past three days, Libby wasn’t a stranger.
Not anymore.
Backatthehut,Libby was just about to settle Karim into bed when she remembered his water bottle.Carrying him to the kitchen, she grabbed it off the counter and headed back to their room just as Dan stepped out of the bathroom, wearing nothing but a pair of shorts.Her gaze slammed into his abs and sculpted chest.He started, clearly not expecting to see her either.
“I, um…”
“We…” Libby swallowed, trying hard not to look at the scars on his shoulder, nor the sculpted planes of his chest.This was what he looked like recovering from an accident?“We… We’ll be up early, Karim and I.We’ll try not to wake you.”
“That’s okay.I need to head out early to sort out my flight.”A small smile softened his face.“Thanks for everything, Libby.”
She smiled back.“Goodnight, Cranky.”
When he turned toward his room, her gaze slid down his broad back to his tight butt.
“Mamma.”Karim had only patted her cheek, but it snapped her out of her lust-filled drooling state like a slap.
“Right, yes, bubba.Sleepy time.”
But long after her baby had fallen asleep, Libby lay next to him, staring at the moon shadows flickering on the ceiling.
The Daniel Jones Story…
The Life and Near Death of an Olympic Hero…
Her head buzzed with headlines for articles she’d never be able to publish.
