“Alex obviously keeps you busy on The Explorer.”
“You know him?”
“He’s an old friend. I was watching him return to the boat when I saw you.” He paused. “It’s a shame you won’t get a chance to see the beauty of the beach by day. But there are some things here which are better by night. The bay holds secrets.”
“I’m here for work, not pleasure.” But, just looking at him, “pleasure” was all she could think of.
A slow smile spread across his face as if he could read her thoughts.
“Shame. If you wish, I can show you one of the bay’s hidden treasures. It’s known only to a few.”
“But I don’t know you.”
“And don’t know if you can trust me? Very wise. I am, after all, a stranger to you. However, I’m not a stranger to your captain. We went to University together.”
“Which one?”
He smiled. “You are right to be suspicious. We were at Oxford. He studied Marine Biology but makes his money with the family firm—banking. He was born in New Zealand but moved to the UK when he was a boy. We met at Eton. He was briefly married to Amber. I was best man at his wedding. I hope one day they will re-unite.” He paused. “Is that enough to convince you I speak the truth?”
“That’s more information than I know about him. I only joined the boat a few weeks ago.”
“He’ll vouch for my respectability.” He pulled out his cell phone. “Do you wish to phone him?”
She certainly didn’t. There would be hell to pay from the control freak of a captain who insisted on everybody doing as he said 24/7. Illicit midnight swims were definitely not on the roster.
“OK. I buy it.”
“Good. My name is Razeen.” He stepped forward and she could see him more clearly.
“Razeen?” She frowned. “I’ve heard that name before. Is it a common one?”
“In Sitra it is.”
“But you went to university in England; you sound English.”
“I was educated in England from a young age but I am also a proud Sitran.”
“I’m not surprised. It’s a beautiful country.”
“Have you seen much of it so far?”
“No. It’s not exactly geared to tourists. But Alex has set something up for me in the capital so I hope to see more of it then.”
There was a pause. “Good.”
“My name is Lucy. Lucy Gee.”
She stepped forward and extended her hand. His hand slid along her palm and curled around her hand, warm and strong, gripping her with a sensuality that sent waves of heat through her body. His touch held a power she couldn’t resist. She swayed imperceptibly closer to him, her fingers curling around his hand in response. Their hands were like two lit matches, melding together, unable to part. They just fitted together. She wondered if he felt the same as he continued to hold her hand for seconds longer than he should. Then he withdrew his hand, stepped away and looked across the bay. Perhaps she’d been wrong.
“So, would you like to see the bay’s secret?”
She shuffled her feet. “I probably should be getting back.”
“Of course, the decision is yours entirely. I, also, should be returning.”
He waited for her response. She should leave but she didn’t want to. It wasn’t only that there was something compelling about this man that made her want to stay, it was more that she felt at some instinctive level, she could trust him. She’d been traveling non-stop for eight years and had often found herself in situations where she’d had to make instant decisions. Her instincts hadn’t failed her during that time. Besides, she wanted to trust them now. She drew in a deep breath.
“OK. Would you show me?”
Again the grin. “This way, Miss Gee.” There was something about his formality, about the way the warm breeze tousled his hair and his shirt flapped lightly, which stimulated her more effectively than any overt flirtation. She shivered as a slick wave of attraction filtered through her body before settling in her gut. His grin disappeared into a frown. “You’re cold?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Then come, I’ll show you the hidden treasure of the bay.”
As they walked, side by side, along the water’s edge, with the sea easing up and falling away from them with a sigh, and the palm trees softly clattering in the gentle wind, Lucy tried desperately to think of something to say. She drew a breath and turned to him, but the words evaporated when faced with his broad shoulders and dark gaze. She stared straight ahead again, toward the promontory.
“Aren’t you curious where we’re going?”