Page 55 of Escape to the Sun

Hannah laughed, shook her head.

‘We should get going, make the most of the day. Have you got everything you need?’

‘Yep, I’m all set.’

Louis stood, as she gathered her stuff and did the same. He held out a hand and with fingers entwined they made for shore.

29

Louis was settling into the taxi ride from Castries to Soufriere, where they would catch a water taxi straight into Anse Chastanet Bay. With windows down and Caribbean-style Christmas music blaring from the radio, and Hannah leaning into his shoulder, he wasn’t sure he could imagine a better way to spend the day. The taxi driver made free with the road, cornering like the St Lucian equivalent of Lando Norris, while maintaining a constant stream of chat about the island.

At one point, he took a wide bend at alarming speed, while leaning back to tell them St Lucia was called the ‘Helen of the West Indies’ because it was so beautiful, and almost collided with an oncoming truck, lurching back to the correct side of the road with Hannah squealing and grabbing at Louis for stability.

And in that moment, Louis realised that was what he wanted to offer her. More than anything else. Although he wanted to feel all the fireworks and the intensity of their physicality and the joy of their shared laughter and looked forward to working out how to make what they’d found into something real and long-lasting, more than all of that was a deep-down desire to keep this woman safe.

Somehow, he had to work out how not to mess this up.

‘I think I might need a bucket after all,’ Hannah said, with a grin.

‘Do you want him to slow down?’

‘I can’t decide whether it’s terrifying, or way better than any rollercoaster ride I’ve ever been on.’

He laughed, taking hold of her hand and threading his fingers through hers. The bracelet was on the wrist of the hand he was holding, and she touched the stars, one by one, with her free hand.

‘Thank you for this,’ she said. ‘It means a lot.’

‘I’m glad you like it.’

Once they’d swapped the land taxi for a water version and were scudding across choppy waves with the same level of unconcerned ease demonstrated by their skipper as by their taxi driver, Louis took a moment to admire the scenery. This part of the island offered real unspoilt rainforest on top of sheer cliffs, punctuated here and there by the bays providing the beaches St Lucia was famed for. Water taxi was the most effective way to reach the beach they were headed towards – plus Louis couldn’t resist the pull of a boat ride.

This water taxi was designed to carry no more than a handful of passengers at a time. Little more than a hull with an outboard motor, and otherwise used for fishing, passengers sat forward on a plank seat, with the skipper behind, one hand on the steering mechanism of the boat, the other pointing out features with an unfalteringly enthusiastic line of chatter. Bumping over a few larger waves, spray covering them all, had Louis smiling with unfettered joy. This was fun.

Once they’d reached the bay, they headed for the beach bar.

‘I could do with a stiff drink after that,’ Hannah said, running her fingers through wind-buffeted hair and grinning with enthusiasm.

‘It was great, wasn’t it?’

‘Ask me that again once I’ve had a cocktail… or two.’

‘What do you fancy? Sex on the Beach?’ It was an obvious play, but he couldn’t help himself.

‘Yes. But can I have a drink first?’ she countered.

He couldn’t tell her he was falling in love with her, could he? That would be enough to frighten away any rational woman, wouldn’t it? He checked himself and suggested they choose something containing the island’s own distilled rum.

‘In that case I think it’s got to be rum punch,’ Hannah said.

Louis ordered, organised some sun loungers for the pair of them and checked options for lunch.

‘I’m seriously doubting I can eat anything until dinner tonight,’ Hannah said as they settled on the loungers. She peeled off her T-shirt and slid it into her bag. ‘Breakfast today was awesome, and huge. I’m still full.’

‘Good to keep our options open,’ Louis said, trying his best to concentrate on his words as Hannah wriggled out of her shorts and laid them on her bag. God, she looked amazing in that bikini… ‘Especially if we’re expecting Nathan to join us later – he’s bound to be hungry, isn’t he?’

‘True enough,’ Hannah said, taking her cocktail and settling against the lounger, the picture of relaxation.

Louis stripped out of his T-shirt, rummaging in his rucksack until he found his Factor 50.