Page 41 of A Taste of Paradise

‘Like?’

‘Like how wonderful you are.’

She could tell he was deflecting. ‘Hmm … what else?’

He shrugged. ‘Just that your partner is a bit serious and doesn’t really know how to have fun. And …’

Naomi’s eyes widened, horrified at this. ‘And?’

‘And that you could do way better.’

She was completely shocked and deeply embarrassed that her parents would tell a complete stranger such things. To say nothing of the fact that they thought that way in the first place. ‘Oh my goodness, I can’t believe they said that.’

‘Sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.’

‘No, truly, I really can’t believe they’re sharing my private business with a perfect stranger.’

Will laughed.

‘Do you think this is funny?’

‘A little,’ he admitted, but Naomi’s vexed expression quickly brought an explanation. ‘You see, in my line of work, I’m used to people telling me things they wouldn’t normally. It kind of comes with the territory. My wife always said I had a way with people. They tell me things that they wouldn’t tell others, even if they’ve just met me.’

Naomi was silent as she considered what he said. It was true; when they’d first met on that bus tour the other day, she had told him far more than she would have told anyone else, even without thinking about it. His wife was right, Will did have a way with people. He certainly had a way with her. From the moment they first spoke until now, she had felt so at ease with him, for some reason, and no doubt her parents had too; otherwise they wouldn’t have made such personal confessions. Though she could kill them for doing so.

But if Will knew so much about her, it was only fair that she knew a little about him too.

‘So what was your wife’s name?’

‘Christine.’

She looked back at Holly, who was still staring up at the sky. ‘You still miss her a lot, I’m sure.’

‘I don’t think you ever stop, really. But it does get easier as the time passes. In the beginning, all I could do was think about her and miss her. Now I miss her on those special days. Holly’s birthday. Hers. Our wedding anniversary. We got married right here at this resort, actually.’

‘Oh.’ This admission tugged at Naomi’s heartstrings most of all. How sad for him to have to return here with his daughter and without his beloved wife. All those memories …

‘That’s why Holly was so intent on coming here. She’s always been fascinated by the wedding photographs and the stories her mother used to tell her about the hummingbirds and the views of the Pitons. Holly adores nature – like her mum.’

‘Oh, Will, I’m so sorry. I’m sure it’s not easy being back here without her.’

He shrugged. ‘It’s OK. Chris is still with me, ’cause Holly’s always with me. So I try not to think too much about it once Holly’s happy. She’s a lot like her.’ He looked at his daughter and then smiled. ‘She likes you a lot actually.’

Naomi smiled too. ‘Does she?’

‘Yes. She thinks you’re very pretty and she wants hair like yours when she grows up. And she’s convinced you’re famous,’ he added, laughing, and Naomi winced, terrified that Will might have looked her up online. Suddenly all those images and videos of her prancing around her living room, dressed in sequins, felt mortifying and she truly hoped he hadn’t.

‘Well, I’m very sorry to have to disappoint her on the fame count. But when she gets all grown up, I’ll give her the name of my hairdresser, how’s that?’

‘I’m sure she’d love it.’ Will winked. ‘And she’ll definitely want to borrow one of your sequin dresses.’

‘Oh gosh.’ Naomi’s toes were quite literally curling in embarrassment. That was it, she was packing in the so-called influencer nonsense when she got home. Money be damned, it was beyond silly and she’d completely outgrown it. Her fortieth year was as good a time as any to make a change and go back to a proper job. Though she was sure Greg would have a thing or two to say about it.

Well, Naomi decided, as she fondly watched her new friend chase his little daughter along the shore, maybe forty was as good a time as any to take a leaf out of her boyfriend’s book and make a start on forging her own plan.

Chapter 29

The hits kept on coming. Erin had spent the previous evening with Molly going over the photographs she’d taken of her mother’s usual room, but frustratingly, nothing in particular seemed to ring a bell as a potential hiding place for a deposit box key.