Page 72 of A Taste of Paradise

She was laughing when her head returned to the surface. Shay slicked back his dark hair and then moved around in the water a little before coming to rest against the side of the pool. All the while his other arm remained around Lily’s waist, holding her close while her heart beat a mile a minute. She didn’t mean to stare at his face, but couldn’t help it as he smiled down at her.

‘I think this may be the best place you’ve shown me yet,’ he remarked.

‘I’m glad you approve,’ she murmured. ‘I really wanted you to enjoy our last jaunt,’ she added, her tone betraying her sadness.

She still couldn’t believe that their time together truly was drawing to a close. His stay had truly flown by and there were only two days left.

With the sunset party looming, Lily had no time to concentrate on anything but work from now on, and he was due to fly out the day after the event, which would make her final pièce de résistance at the hotel even more bittersweet.

Not to mention that she didn’t want him to go. Despite Dee and her mother’s warnings, Lily had allowed herself to enjoy the façade of having someone special in her life, but as reality drew nearer, the pain of loss was once again looming.

‘Hold your breath,’ Shay murmured, and soon those sombre thoughts were washed away as he let go of the side of the pool and submerged them both once again.

Beneath, the surface was darker, but the water was nonetheless clear. Shay swam towards a deeper location and Lily followed. They touched the cave floor and she traced her fingers along the curvature of rocks rippling from the rhythmic wearing that formed its surface. It was a subterranean aquatic wonderland and the perfect place to forget the world outside. Lily keenly embraced that promise.

When their heads broke the surface once more, they both moved to sit, half submerged on the rocky outline of the pool with the cave opening behind.

Lily pushed her hair back from her face where it had begun to stick to her cheeks and neck. Shay helped, brushing some of the longer strands at her collarbone back over her shoulder. The sensation of his fingers on her skin caused goosebumps to rise.

‘I can’t believe that my time here is almost over,’ he commented as if reading her mind. ‘It seems to have flown by,’ he mumbled distractedly.

‘I know. It seems like you only arrived yesterday. And now it’s almost time for you to go.’

‘So what happens from here?’ he asked then and her heart flip-flopped afresh.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Where are we headed now? Or are we staying here for the day?’

‘Oh,’ she mumbled, trying to conceal her disappointment.

She’d thought he meant between them, not their sightseeing. ‘I was thinking we could explore the cave a bit more, have lunch and then head to Castries,’ she suggested almost on autopilot. ‘You have to see the capital at least a little before you go. I can’t have you going back home and telling people I didn’t take you there.’

He laughed. ‘With everything else you’ve shown me, I don’t think anyone would chastise you for that. I’m practically a native myself at this stage.’

They stayed in the pool for a while before hunger eventually urged them to return to the surface and onwards to the capital.

Since Shay had clearly no intention of keeping up their friendship or whatever this was … Lily realised, swallowing back her disappointment, she should instead concentrate on enjoying it for what it was.

And try to savour every last minute.

Chapter 49

Grant was over the moon. Mack had now officially agreed to recommend The Palms for eco-certification and pursue a partnership. Her boss shook Erin’s hand amidst promises of raises and bonuses and a host of other perks to thank her for her hard work.

All of it seemed hollow, though. The head honchos had gotten what they wanted – their bottom line fulfilled – but none of them, including the general manager, had even deigned to speak to Mack about what it all meant.

Grant had left it all up to Erin, even going so far as to dangle losing her job before her eyes while she tried to get to grips with everything, as well as an apparent saboteur in the mix. The luxury resort business was cut-throat in general, of course, with everyone vying for the patronage of guests, but still she felt a little used now.

By the hotel and Mack too, in a way.

Still, thanks to Eugenie Cooke’s warning, at least Erin had known better than anyone what was at stake and exactly how crucial it had been for The Palms to win Discover Earth’s seal of approval.

Competition in St Lucia was high, with every resort offering basically the same product: sun, sea, and sand, so older establishments like The Palms needed that extra something to make them a cut above the rest. And, most importantly, Mack’s forthcoming client patronage would ensure the business stayed strong and able to stave off unwanted investor advances. Erin was glad of that, but where did it all leave her?

‘Everything in place for tomorrow night?’ Grant enquired now, snapping her from her silent considerations.

He wasn’t looking at Erin, but intently skimming through the contents of a file. She could see the light from the open window reflecting off his forehead.