Page 62 of A Taste of Paradise

‘I think you’re right,’ Erin assured her, somewhat relieved. ‘Maybe best to keep all of that between ourselves, for the moment, at least. And yes, I am trying to take care of it.’

As much as she could, anyway. But Erin was heartened now that she had a better idea about the running of things around here – and especially given that Mack was back on board as a potential partner – that The Palms would only go from strength to strength.

She’d make sure of it.

‘I have to thank you too, Erin,’ Molly said then.

‘For what?’

‘If you hadn’t encouraged and helped me when I came here, I might never have been bold enough to even consider that Trevor might … like me.’

‘I doubt it was anything to do with me. Sounds like he’s cared about you for a long time.’

‘That’s what he said!’ Molly laughed, eyes shining. ‘I think I’d convinced myself that I was too boring and shy for anyone to look twice at.’ Her happy gaze met Erin’s. ‘But he does. He really does.’

Erin smiled. ‘I’m so thrilled for you.’

‘And what about you?’

‘Me?’ she asked, surprised. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean you and Mr MacKenzie. He obviously likes you.’

‘You think so?’

‘Trevor certainly thinks so. He pointed it out the way he looked at you on the tour that time. So is there something there too?’ Molly asked.

‘I don’t know, actually,’ Erin said truthfully. ‘For one thing he’s an important potential corporate partner. If his company does enter into an agreement with The Palms, I obviously wouldn’t want there to be any conflict of interest.’

Though Erin knew she sounded as if she were trying to convince herself, more than anyone else.

Chapter 42

‘Come on, you said you’d go with me,’ Naomi protested the following morning as Sam was making excuses as to why she wouldn’t go horseback riding with her after their massage.

‘I’m sorry but I’m actually dead on my feet. I guess I didn’t anticipate how exhausting walking around in this heat would be and I haven’t had a chilled-out day since we got here. I’d really like to flop by the pool today,’ she insisted. ‘Forgive me?’ Her friend gave Naomi a sheepish look and held out her arms to hug her.

‘I don’t want your hug,’ she protested, laughing despite herself. ‘I want you to get your butt on a horse with me.’

‘I know, but my butt wants a sunlounger. Ask Greg.’

Fat chance of that.

Several minutes later, Naomi was still standing in The Palms lobby, trying to figure out what to do. Since Sam had reneged on her, she was contemplating whether to reschedule the outing or cancel altogether and swap it out for some other excursion.

Unlike her friend, she wasn’t a lounge-by-the-pool kind of girl, not when there was so much on this beautiful island to see. There was a catamaran cruise on offer that looked interesting, and a treetop zipline adventure, but Naomi wasn’t particularly energised about either.

‘Naomi? What are you up to today?’ she heard her dad call out from behind and turned to see that her parents weren’t alone.

Will and Holly were chatting away to Janice as if they’d all been friends for ever.

‘Good morning,’ she greeted brightly. ‘I was just trying to decide, as it happens,’ she said, explaining that Sam had ducked out on their planned horse riding.

‘Oh, I was hoping to do that too actually,’ Will commented. ‘But Holly is still a bit young, plus she’s not keen on horses.’

‘Horses are ick,’ his daughter complained. ‘And they throw you off.’

‘She got thrown off during a riding lesson once,’ he told them, grimacing. ‘And that was the end of it.’