Page 39 of A Taste of Paradise

‘About seven years now. My best friend Dee, she’s been there forever and pretty much got me the position.’

‘Your best friend? You two must be close. I’m not sure I could hack working with my best friend every day.’

Lily smiled. ‘We are.’

‘I know you said your parents are originally from the UK. But what about your friend Dee, is she from the island or … ?’

Lily wasn’t sure why he was suddenly so interested in Dee or their work at the resort. It felt like a weird turn in the conversation. Taken with everything that was going on with the hotel and Eugenie Cooke’s claim that a hotel guest was playing saboteur, she couldn’t help but wonder …

Thinking about it, a so-called cancelled wedding was certainly a pretty good cover story for a guy holidaying alone at the resort, wasn’t it? And Shay’s association with her potentially allowed him to get closer to proceedings behind the scenes. Heck, Lily had even suggested he help her out with the preparations for next week’s beach party.

Was she once again, as Dee kept pointing out, the soft target? The one whose weaknesses were so easily exploited?

No, Shay wasn’t like that, she told herself. She’d spent months getting to know him while making arrangements for the wedding. He wasn’t some corporate mole, for goodness’ sake; he was simply a guy down on his luck.

Still, now that the very notion had entered her thinking, she found herself instinctively distancing herself from further conversation about the resort, at least until Erin could better ascertain what was going on.

And whether Shay Brady truly was someone Lily could trust.

Chapter 28

‘It was wonderful. The art gallery was superb and I got a few souvenirs from the gift shop too,’ Naomi chattered to Greg back in their room later, as she set her bags on the floor. ‘You really should’ve come, you know. You would have enjoyed it, I think.’

‘Ah, I don’t get all that arty stuff, you know that. Besides, I wasn’t joking when I said I had a lot to get through you know. Someone at the firm had to take a leave of absence, so I’m saddled with his portfolio.’

Naomi groaned. ‘What? Couldn’t someone else handle it? You’re on holiday, for crying out loud. They should be more considerate,’ she protested as she began unpacking her shopping.

He shrugged. ‘I asked for it.’

‘You … what?’ He couldn’t be serious. Greg had asked for even more work when he was supposed to be spending this holiday with her!

It didn’t make sense. With Sam’s words about Harry from earlier ringing in her ears, Naomi stared at him in disbelief, unable to speak, barely able to process what he’d actually said.

The creeping silence finally drew Greg’s attention and when his gaze met hers his expression changed. ‘Don’t look at me like that.’

‘Come on, Greg, why would you ask for more work? We’re supposed to be here for a family holiday and supposedly to celebrate my birthday, yet so far you’ve spent more time on your laptop than you have with me. And now you’re telling me you asked for that?’ She shook her head in disbelief.

‘Look, I’m sorry, OK?’ He crossed the room and pulled her into his arms, despite her attempts to resist. ‘I know what I said, but I need you to understand that this is all for us! If I can prove to management that I can handle this, then it boosts my bid for the next partner opening. The timing is perfect, Naomi. Plus the promotion would put me right on track for hitting my next target.’

She bristled, pursing her lips as she refused to look at him. ‘Right on track’ for his stupid ten-year plan. Everything came back to that. What about the parts of the plan that concerned her? What about spending time with her? What about being a good partner by being a part of her birthday celebrations?

Where did she fit into this so-called plan?

‘Come on, babe, please …’

‘I’m going for a walk.’ Naomi pulled away, unwilling to discuss it any further and suddenly no longer so certain of Greg’s motive for coming here to set up a lavish romantic proposal.

There was no better place than the beach to blow off steam. It was dark and past dinnertime so most other resort guests were either in one of the restaurants or off out somewhere, making the shoreside peaceful and calm.

And Naomi needed calm.

The palm trees were swaying sentinels lining the shore as she stepped out on the sand. It was a welcome cool compared to the daytime’s stifling heat. To say nothing of the flush of anger in her chest. Her sandals were hooked over her fingers as she dug her toes in deep and then flicked sand into the air as she walked, taking deep breaths to try to ease her annoyance.

Greg was so frustrating. How could he have done this? Was his ten-year plan more important than his promises? Than her?

It wasn’t the first time she’d questioned this. There had been a few incidents over the past while, but none had come while on a trip to celebrate an important milestone. Or interrupt a supposed planned proposal.

The skirt of Naomi’s sundress billowed around her calves as the warm breeze tugged it this way and that and made a mess of her hair.