Page 82 of A Taste of Paradise

‘I honestly don’t know yet,’ she replied, her thoughts whirring a mile a minute.

While Mack engaging Trevor in his scheme on the fly seemed pretty outlandish, it also made some sense. A resort insider would’ve discovered ahead of time that Eugenie Cooke’s grieving daughter was scheduled to stay there at a particular time, so enlisting someone she trusted to manipulate the securing of her shareholding made Molly a far easier target. The fact that her stay here happened to directly coincide with Mack’s apparent scouting of the resort for a so-called partnership was also a convenient ‘coincidence’.

It meant that both men could work in tandem, one softening Molly up, while the other sought to upset day-to-day proceedings in order to weaken the resort’s reputation.

While Erin’s intention first and foremost was to get Molly out of potential harm’s way, she also knew she couldn’t stay away from the event for very long.

She was still on the clock and Grant would be wondering where she was.

Once Erin had ensured the woman was safely back in her room having assured Molly that she’d get to the bottom of everything, she thought back to what Roger had said earlier about the general manager forcing him out of the job ahead of Mack’s visit.

That didn’t make sense either. Surely in order to give The Palms the best chance of securing a partnership, a long-standing staff member – and safe pair of hands, so to speak, someone used to overseeing resort issues – would have been far more preferable to help broker a deal? As opposed to a complete newbie.

Unless …

All of sudden, Erin figured she understood exactly what the general manager’s aim was in employing her, and recalling his most recent fawning, insincere compliments, her fury rose afresh.

It wasn’t because of energy, talent and determination; it was because Grant had wanted, no, expected, Erin to fail.

Well, he was right about one thing at least, she thought, gritting her teeth as she marched back down to the beach to seek out the general manager.

He’d completely underestimated her.

Chapter 58

Naomi was showered and in her nightgown when she stepped out onto her balcony to take in the Caribbean night sky one last time before she went to bed.

‘Hello there …’ Will’s voice wafted across from the beach almost the moment she set foot outside.

From her vantage point, she saw him walking back by the shore, still dressed in the navy polo and jeans he’d worn at the event earlier.

‘I can’t believe it’s all over already,’ Naomi lamented as he neared. ‘It seems as if we only just got here and it’s already time to go.’

‘Yes, the trip does seem to have gone by far too quickly,’ Will responded. ‘You turning in for the night?’

‘Yes, I was heading for bed, but found myself drawn back outside for one last look,’ she confessed. ‘The barbecue was so much fun, wasn’t it? The perfect end to an amazing day.’

‘It was wonderful. Holly was tired after the fireworks and the dancing, but I couldn’t settle myself, so I called the hotel babysitter again while I took a walk in the hope of winding down after all the excitement.’

Naomi smiled. She’d noticed him silly-dancing with his daughter on the beach earlier. It was incredibly cute while also somewhat heart-rending. They had such a unique bond. ‘You and I always seem to be drawn to the ocean around the same time,’ she joked.

He smiled back. ‘That we do.’

‘Well, if you’ve finished your walk and you still have time, would you like to come in for a drink?’ she asked suddenly.

He hesitated a little, while Naomi herself tried to comprehend her out-of-the-blue invite and the reason for it. But Holly’s words from earlier filtered into her mind once again.

He likes you.

Naomi really liked Will too. Everyone liked Will. Who wouldn’t? He was kind, generous with his time and knowledge, an amazing father and based on his incredible offer to Sam and his kindness to her parents, a thoroughly decent human being too. What wasn’t there to like about him?

‘Sounds good, if you truly don’t mind the company,’ he replied amiably, his voice giving nothing away.

He deftly hopped over the low rail amid the shrubbery as a short-cut access to her wing, and, as Naomi went back inside the suite to let him in through the main door, her heart galloped in her chest, a beat that matched the speed at which she was moving. Why was she so excited at the prospect of having Will in her room? As terrible as it may seem after all her relationship woes, she was eager to spend a little more with him before they had to say goodbye. Though she now sorely regretted changing into her nightgown.

She opened the door to see him already standing there and felt a bit like Juliet awaiting her Romeo.

‘Hi,’ he stated.