Page 61 of A Taste of Paradise

She looked at him. ‘Thank you for saying that. It helps a lot.’

‘It’s no trouble. I rather like helping people. And while I don’t know the first thing about fashion, anything else you might need, please ask.’

She smiled. He really was so easy to spend time with.

‘Will?’ she whispered then, her eyes fixed on the place where the ocean and the sky became one.

‘Yeah.’

‘I know you probably need to get back but …’

‘I don’t. Holly has the babysitter’s night all planned out. Poor woman.’

‘OK.’ Naomi hesitated a little, hoping it wouldn’t sound weird. ‘Would you mind maybe sitting out here with me for a while? No talking, just sitting? I know that probably sounds a bit bananas but that’s what I’d like right now.’

‘As you wish,’ he responded and made himself comfortable on the lounger once more.

She stared at him wide-eyed. ‘What? Don’t tell me you’re a Princess Bride fan too.’

He grinned. ‘I thought you said no talking.’

Naomi duly unfolded her legs and lay back, unable to keep the grin from her face. She tried not to think – about anything – as she and Will lay side by side watching the stars, not another word passing between them.

Neither felt the need to disrupt the comfortable silence. It was a sort of timeout in both of their lives, she supposed – a moment to let any chaos pause for a moment and fade into the background.

Ironic really that even here, in one of the most idyllic places in the world, the two were still seeking an escape.

Chapter 41

There was so much to do this week, especially now that Mack had given an indication that he was starting to come around, and what with batting away other hotel crises in the meantime, Erin hadn’t had the opportunity to check back in with Molly other than confirm that she had indeed located the key.

‘I did figure it out easily in the end.’ The woman smiled triumphantly, having safely left Eugenie’s room of choice, quarry in hand.

Erin was agape. ‘Really? Where on earth was it hidden?’

‘In the palm tapestry,’ she confirmed, and Erin vaguely remembered seeing something of that description on the wall opposite the bed while she was in there. ‘I recognised it straightaway as one my grandmother made. We had some very similar at home in New York, so I guess Mom knew I’d make the connection. The key was sewn into the back among the weaving.’

The wall hanging had apparently taken pride of place in Eugenie’s ‘room’ since the hotel’s first inception. Erin resolved to go and check it out and, more importantly, ensure that this important part of The Palms’ heritage was preserved accordingly.

Just in case.

‘That’s such great news. So what now, now that you have it? I can try and go along to the bank with you if you’d like … ?’ she offered, though she wasn’t entirely sure where she’d get the time. She was already drowning in preparation for the summer party, plus keeping a very close eye to ensure that everything in the meantime ran like clockwork.

Or worse, heaven forbid, in case something happened that might make Mack change his mind about the partnership.

‘Trevor’s going to come along with me,’ Molly told her shyly. ‘He’s been showing me around his favourite spots on the island. He even took me to meet his family in Soufriere yesterday.’

‘Ah, that’s great, I’m thrilled that you seem so happy,’ Erin commented, noting her delighted expression, and idly wondering how much Molly had told Trevor about the situation. Given his own St Lucian heritage she’d imagine he’d be just as energised as any of them about any perceived threats to the hotel.

‘I didn’t think it possible that I could be happy again, but I am,’ Molly admitted, a small smile on her face. ‘I truly thought I’d lost the only person who loved me. I couldn’t imagine that someone else might care about me too.’ Her face brightened. ‘And then I ran into Trevor again here. So maybe she was right in asking me to come here. She always used to say, “God doesn’t come but He sends”.’

‘Sounds like great advice.’

Molly beamed. ‘And you wouldn’t believe it, but apparently Trevor used to have a crush on me when we were in school, but he was too shy to say anything.’

Erin smiled knowingly. ‘Imagine that. But tell me, have you confided in Trevor, about your mother’s letter, I mean?’

‘No, I wasn’t sure … should I? I mean, I know you said you’d help take care of all of that …’