Page 33 of A Taste of Paradise

‘Whatever you want. You’re the tour guide. I’m following you, remember?’

‘Well, hurry up with your curry then. I want dessert before we go. They have a fantastic chocolate brownie and I have to have one every time I come here.’

‘Really? What’s so special about it?’

‘The Kahlua coffee sauce is the best on the island,’ Lily replied. ‘I’ll let you have some.’

Dessert became a shared event in the end. Lily ordered her brownie and Shay opted for mango and chilli cheesecake, but it wasn’t long before they were sampling from each other’s plates and humming their mutual satisfaction.

When finished they were both completely stuffed to the gills.

‘I’m so full I don’t think I should drive,’ Lily complained as she got behind the wheel, ‘We’ll be lucky if I don’t fall asleep,’ she groaned, as she turned the ignition.

‘Why don’t you let me drive then?’

She considered the suggestion. It wasn’t that long a distance and she was guessing he wouldn’t offer without having a suitable driving permit. She tapped the steering wheel as she tried to decide.

‘OK then.’

They switched places and Lily watched as he had to adjust her seat for his long limbs to fit in behind the wheel.

‘Fasten your seatbelt,’ he joked as he put the car in gear and pulled out from the parking spot, while she acted as his navigator, charting a course from the restaurant back to the highway without incident.

A few minutes later they arrived at the parking lot. ‘How did I do?’ he asked as he locked the driver’s side door. Lily was standing by the hood, waiting for him.

‘I’d give you a nine.’

‘Nine! I think I deserve a ten,’ he protested with a laugh as they fell into step beside one another and she still couldn’t believe how easy he was to be around. Almost as if they’d known each other for ever.

‘You would have gotten a ten but you’re a terrible pothole avoider,’ she replied with a giggle.

‘I didn’t see any.’

‘Exactly! Good thing the Mini has good shocks.’

Chapter 23

‘Excuse me, miss? Were you working the front desk a couple of days ago?’

‘Yes, I was. How may I be of assistance?’ Erin smiled at a guest who happened to waylay her en route to Shay Brady’s empty suite.

Talk about bad timing.

The man was handsome and looked to be in his forties. However, what struck her most was his smile. His teeth were brilliant white and his friendly mouth was framed by a neat goatee, his smile further illuminated by the bright yellow of his button-down shirt.

‘There was an American woman who fell in the lobby that same afternoon. I was heading out to meet some people when I saw her and thought I recognised her. Could you tell me if she’s OK?’

At this, Erin stiffened a little, her instincts immediately heightened. What could he want with Molly Cooke? Aside from her immediate task to help her locate her mother’s key, Erin also felt an overwhelming urge to protect her that she couldn’t quite explain.

‘Yes, she was fine, more embarrassed really.’

‘Good, I’m glad to hear it.’ He paused momentarily. ‘I know this may seem strange, but could you confirm her name?’

Now Erin’s hackles were well and truly raised. ‘I’m sorry, sir, but that would be a clear invasion of our guest’s privacy. But if I can help you in some other way …’

‘I understand. Maybe if I told you what I thought her name was, you could confirm it?’ His tone though gentle, was mingled with something that Erin read as … timidity or bashfulness even? Her assumption was only solidified when he provided the correct name and blushed furiously.

‘So how do you know Molly?’ she asked the man whose own name Erin had yet to learn. But he seemed too distracted by her confirmation of his query.