Holy hell. She didn’t have to elaborate on who he was. “That’s sick.”
She turned the page much too quickly.
“That’s an insult to those who are ill. He knew what he was doing.” She muttered something in Italian, shook her head.
One step forward, Hunter mused. He asked a direct question, gave one answer in return. Maybe they could make it a year and a half after all.
She flipped a page. “Remind me to show you where to cliff dive on the island.”
It was his turn to grin. “Shark-infested waters?”
She smiled, offered a noncommittal shrug. “Never know.”
Gabi had only been on the island for Val and Meg’s wedding. She couldn’t stomach more. Her therapist told her it was completely normal to associate the island with the man who betrayed her. Most of their time together was on Sapore.
During Gabi’s previous visit, she asked to stay in a bungalow. Not willing to walk into the private rooms she called hers, the rooms she shared with him.
It killed her that Alonzo had taken away her home. The safe place she should always feel free to return to was destroyed by a dead man. Maybe, just maybe, this time would be different.
But as Hunter’s pilot called back into the cabin, asking them to take their seats and prepare to land, Gabi felt her palms sweat. How did palms sweat anyway? There weren’t any glands in them to speak of.
Hunter moved from the plush full-size couch he’d been lounging on most of the flight to the seat beside her. He gathered her hand and squeezed. As much as she wanted to shake him off, she couldn’t. And for some reason that brought a wave of emotion over her.
“When was the last time you were here?” he asked.
“Early spring. When my brother married.”
He looked over her to the sea below.
“You spent time here with him, didn’t you?”
She offered a nod, felt words clogging in her throat.
Hunter was alone in his thoughts for a moment. “Do you believe in ghosts?”
“Anything is possible,” she told him.
The plane started its descent, her ears popped. Would Alonzo’s spirit be on the island . . . along with her memories?
“I’m not one to give up control in my life, Gabriella. But I want you to know, here, on this island, if you need me to do anything for you, I will.”
She knew his declaration was rare. She squeezed his hand.
“Maybe not the cliff dive . . . but other than that.”
Laughter bubbled, she couldn’t help it. “You said anything.”
“I might have you taste all my food before I eat it.”
“Happy to. Val’s chef is beyond this world.”
“I look forward to it. I couldn’t tell you the last time I took a vacation.”
“Too busy moving your money around the Monopoly board?”
“More like the game of Risk.”
Hunter’s personal flight attendant walked toward them. “We’re clear to land, Mr. Blackwell.”
The plane bounced, then glided along the pavement. Hunter’s distraction took away the anxiety that rested in her bones since they’d taken off.
She stood and eased the lines in her pants with the palms of her hands.
Hunter waited, patiently. She fisted her clutch in her hands, knew the staff would deliver their luggage at some point.
The flight attendant opened the hatch, bringing in a wave of moist Caribbean heat.
The pilot walked through the narrow door from the cockpit. “I hope your flight was enjoyable,” he told them.
“Perfect,” Gabi told him.
Hunter lifted his hand. “Wait on my earlier request.”
The pilot offered a nod and stood back as they exited the plane.
Most days, the Florida Keys held cloudy skies, hot with the occasional sprinkle, but today was pleasantly clear, giving the air a little less humidity than Gabi expected.
Hunter hesitated at the door, made a show of looking out. “Doesn’t look like anyone is carrying a rifle.”
Gabi clasped his hand and dragged him out of his world and into hers.
Val stood between her mother and Meg. His back was rod straight, his suit perfectly pressed. Meg offered an enthusiastic wave, her sundress blowing behind her, her short blonde locks hardly contained by the clip in her hair.
Her mother watched, first with watchful eyes on Hunter that seemed to travel slowly between them and then back. Those narrow eyes filled and a smile emerged.
With open arms, Gabi let loose Hunter’s hand and ran into the embrace of her mother. “I’ve missed you,” Gabi said in Italian.
“You’re too thin,” her mother said with little malice.
Val stood to the side, his eyes never leaving Hunter, while Meg moved in for the next hug.
“Hey, you!”