Paradise Island

Beverly Rae

WARNING This e-Book contains sexually graphic scenes and adult language. Store your e-Books carefully where they cannot be accessed by underage readers.

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Paradise Island

Paradise Island

Beverly Rae

Aspen Mountain Press

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Beverly Rae

Paradise Island Copyright ©2005 by Beverly Rae This e-Book is a work of fiction. While references may be made to actual places or events, the names, characters, incidents, and locations within are from the author’s imagination and are not a resemblance to actual living or dead persons, businesses, or events. Any similarity is coincidental.

Aspen Mountain Press PO Box 473543 Aurora CO 80047-3543 www.AspenMountainPress.com First release by Triskelion Publishing 2006 Second release by Aspen Mountain Press April 2008

This e-Book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction fines and/or imprisonment. The e-Book cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this e-Book can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. ISBN: 978-1-60168-100-3

Produced in the United States of America Editor: Celina Summers Cover Artist: Jinger Heaston

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Foreword Come visit a mystical place, where magic is everywhere and life gives second chances. Follow me in the search of promised treasure and love renewed. Open your mind, your heart, your soul and join me on Paradise Island. Beverly Rae

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Chapter One

“You cheating scum-sucking son of a bitch!” Macy Maitland slapped her boss and fiancé, Ed Williamson, owner and president of Williamson Motors, as hard as she could, leaving a red welt emblazoned on his cheek. If the tingle in her hand provided a true indication, she’d given him one helluva shot. Yet not hard enough to slap the sickening, taunting smirk off his face. Damn the bastard to hell and back. Keeping his salesman’s attitude about him, Ed reached out and attempted to placate her. “Now, darling, I know this is hard to accept. But Barbie and I did get married this weekend in Vegas. Ain’t no way to change what’s already happened. I know you and I are engaged…“ “Were engaged.” Macy shoved her hands into her pockets. God knows what she’d do if she found a weapon near her. Like the hideous I Can Sell Baths To Pigs paperweight resting on his desk. “…were engaged, but I couldn’t help falling in love with my sweet little Barbie.” “Little?”

Macy snickered at his description of the curvaceous vixen.

“Shit, her

gargantuan tits weigh more than two Texas size watermelons. Little? What a joke.” Which was worse? Getting dumped by her fiancé, or the humiliation of his choosing that dimwit over her?

She fumed as she watched Big Boob Barbie flash her enormous

wedding ring at Macy’s coworkers. “Now Macy, darlin’, let’s not get personal.” Ed flashed his brilliant white teeth at her. Oh, no, he didn’t. 6

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He didn’t say what she thought he’d said. The man had more brains than that. After all, he owned the largest car dealership in Dallas. And intelligence played a factor in running a business, right? Even if he had inherited the dealership instead of working his way to the top, when his dear old daddy kicked the bucket last fall. God rest his soul. Macy dipped her head and peered over her reading glasses. “Personal? Let’s not get personal?” She closed in for the kill. Wishing she could turn her finger into a knife, Macy poked at Ed’s chest, emphasizing each word with violent jabs. “Let me get this straight. We’ve been engaged for what? Two years? And I never got so much as a promise ring from you because you didn’t want our relationship flaunted in front of the other employees. Then, out of the blue, without so much as the common decency to break our engagement first, you up and marry some Madonna-wannabe. And you don’t want us to get personal?” He chuckled. He chuckled? Either Mount St. Helens would explode into outer space or her blood pressure would blow her head off. And right now she didn’t care which one happened. “Now, darlin’, you don’t expect me to stay engaged to you, do you? I mean, I’m a married man now.” Dismissing her, he crossed over to his desk, sat down and reared back in his imported leather chair. “But don’t you worry your pretty head about all this legal mumbojumbo. Barbie said she’s willing to let you stay on as my secretary.” Macy checked around her. The world must have tilted on its axis and thrown her into an alternate reality. Nothing else would explain Barbie’s sudden influence over her livelihood. “Gee, Eddie. Do thank Miss Blow-Job-For-Anyone. And I’m sure the fact that her daddy owns the bank holding the title to this company provided no incentive at all for your impromptu marriage.

What’s wrong, Eddie?

Business go south while you were busy

cavorting around with the town slut?” Ed’s brown eyes lost the crinkles around their edges. “Watch your mouth, Macy, or faster than you can spit, you’ll find yourself strutting the street, hustling to pay the rent.” She crossed to his desk, leaned forward and got straight up in his face. “Don’t you threaten me, you low life. I wouldn’t work for you one minute longer even if you paid me ten times my pitiful salary. Let Mrs. Whore Hound fetch your coffee from now on. I quit.” 7

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He cocked his head back and laughed. “I do love your spunk, hon. But let’s not go off the deep end. You need this job. Let’s you and me settle down a mite and talk this over. I’m sure we can come to an understanding.” She jerked back, thrown by his statement. “An understanding about what? What’s left to discuss?” Slanting his eyes sideways, he glanced out the glass walls of his office and marked Barbie’s location. “I know you’re hurt, but I don’t see why my hitching up with Barbie has to change our relationship.” He stood up, moved beside her and ran a hand along her arm. “You can still have me, darlin’. You know, for nooners, late evenings and all my business trips.” He winked at her, making her skin crawl and her gut do a somersault. “Consider this a big, fat no!” Macy’s right fist connected with his winking eye and knocked him backwards a couple of steps. Ed stumbled, groping the air for leverage and flopped on the couch. “You, bitch! I’ll have you arrested for assault and battery.” Her grip closed around the knot in his tie faster than he could flinch. “You try, Mr. Williamson, and I’ll counter sue you and Bleach-Blonde Bimbette for alienation of affection. Let’s see what a little bad publicity does for your family dealership.” Releasing him, she brushed some imaginary lint off his shoulders and added, “Instead, darlin’, you’re going to contact Louise in Accounting and tell her to cut me a check for five times my monthly salary. And I want it within the next five minutes.” Rising up, she plastered on a fake grin and faced the people gaping through the glass at her. Wiggling her fingers at them, she adopted a cheery expression and hurried off to Louise’s cubicle. “I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not cry.” Macy continued her litany through the showroom of curious spectators, through the service department and down the hall to Accounting. By the time she made her way to Louise’s desk, her tears no longer threatened to fall. She rounded the corner to the correct station and slid into the chair next to the older lady. “Louise, did Ed call you about my final paycheck?” A nervous, excited tickle zipped around in her stomach, tearing her in different directions. Part of her hoped the answer would 8

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be no, giving her a reason to return to Ed’s office and sock him one more time. On the other hand, the possibility of passing all those gossiping people dimmed her enthusiasm. Louise’s ratted and sprayed gray hair remained a solid mass while her head bobbed up and down. “He sure did, Sweetie. Whatever did you do to get fired?” Macy liked the twenty year veteran of the department. True to form, sincere concern made more creases in the kind lady’s features. “He said he fired me?” “Well, yes. Yes, he did.” Pump it up! Her blood pressure shot up higher. She wondered how high a score she’d register on a blood pressure monitor. Hell, she’d probably break the damn thing. “He’s a good-for-nothing, money-grubbing, swindling liar. I quit his sorry ass, both as a fiancé and as an assistant. Did he tell you how much to pay me in severance pay?” Just let Ed try and not give her what she’d demanded. Then he’d see what she’s like when she was really angry. Louise pursed her lips and executed a low whistle. “Yes ma’am, he did. I’ve never in all my years seen anyone paid so much money for leaving. Not for someone who quit.” Puffing up her chest like a mother hen, she added, “We all know it’s nothing to what you deserve. Why, everyone knows you run the place for him. Sweetie, he’s going to be lost without you.” Macy bit her lip to curb the impending tears.

After three years of working at

Williamson Motors, she’d gotten to know and love a lot of the other employees. Wonderful, caring people like Louise. “Thanks. I’m going to miss everyone here so much.” She took the check Louise offered her, checked the amount and tucked it into her purse. “But hey, at least you’ve got an exciting vacation ahead of you.” Macy raised her eyebrows in question. “Vacation? Did Ed include my accumulated vacation and sick days in my severance check?” If not, should she go back to the office and demand unused vacation and sick pay? “I assumed you must have scheduled one since you got this in the mail today. Sorry, but the delivery man found me while everyone else was in the morning meeting. I flat forgot 9

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about it until Ed’s call.” Louise gave her a sorry-for-being-nosy face and handed a large mailing envelope to Macy. “Nothing’s marked ‘Personal,’ so I opened it by mistake.” “No problem. I understand.” Macy lifted the flaps and pulled out a cream colored envelope very reminiscent of a wedding invitation. Like she needed a reminder. “But I’m not planning a vacation.” Lace enclosures surrounded the thick card nested inside the envelope. “I can’t imagine what this is all about. Please God, don’t let it be a wedding invitation. I know that sounds mean, but I don’t think I could handle someone else’s wedded bliss right now.” “No, honey, it’s an invitation to some fancy resort.”

She dropped her eyes and

apologized again. “Uh, I happened to drop the package and everything fell out. I didn’t mean to, but I kind of read some of what’s written. I’m sorry.” Waving off Louise’s explanation, Macy slipped out the card and studied the intricate lettering. At Louise’s nudge, she started over and read out loud. “Dear Ms. Maitland, The Benefactor invites you to be his guest on Paradise Island, a privately owned island in the Pacific Ocean. Your Paradise Palace accommodation includes all the amenities of the five star Palace, including the opportunity to discover a treasure richer than any you’ve ever known. All activities, all meals, all your needs are included. The length of your visit is determined at your discretion.” Macy’s mind fluttered, unable to fathom the meaning behind the words. “Louise, is this a joke?” The older woman shook her head and gave a low whistle. “Oh my, I don’t think so. They’re not asking for any money. In fact, the invitation says everything’s free and this isn’t cheap stationary, either. Someone wants to give you this treat. Plus, we’re talking about a treasure. You know what? I’ll bet this is one of those television reality shows. You can’t pass this up, hon. I, for one, say grab on and go.” “I don’t know. Seems kind of weird to me,” as nervous excitement ran down her spine all the way to her toes. “But then again…” “There’s more. Read on.”

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Macy nodded and continued, “Travel arrangements await you at the airport.

A

representative will meet you at Honolulu International Airport upon your arrival. Please plan to leave today.” She paused to look up and found several more of the department’s employees hovering around the tiny space. Checking each of them, she tossed the matter into discussion. “So? What’s everyone think? Too strange? Should I go for it or forget it? What should I do?” No one spoke for several minutes. Louise took Macy’s hand and pressed it between her two. “Honey, listen to an old lady. Chances like this don’t come along every day. You’ve got to take some risks and seize what joy you can from life. Don’t find yourself working in some stinking cubicle when you’re sixty and wishing you’d taken a chance like this. Go!” **** Macy landed in Honolulu twelve hours and a hundred misgivings later. Deplaning, she got her bearings and headed toward a nearby food stand. She scanned the menu items and tried once again to rid her mind of the nagging doubts plaguing her since leaving Dallas. How stupid could she be? Taking off at a moment’s notice and accepting a mysterious invitation? She should have found out more information first, but no, she’d packed and headed to the airport within two hours of receiving the mysterious invitation. Sure, other people traipsed into unknown territory without a care, but not her, at least, not until today. An excited buzz zipped around inside her stomach. “Ms. Maitland.” The words were more a statement than a question. Pivoting to the voice behind her, she found herself face to face with a dark-haired gentleman, dressed in a very expensive suit, regarding her with cool, unemotional eyes. He stroked his goatee, running his gaze over her. “Yes?” Her response croaked out of her dry mouth. “Pardon me if I startled you.” She’d not covered her edginess as well as she’d hoped. “Uh, no problem. How do you know my name?” Okay, he didn’t look like the mugger/rapist/ax murderer type, but a girl needed to be careful. 11

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He ignored her question and continued on with what sounded like a well-rehearsed speech. “Ms. Maitland, I do hope you enjoyed your flight. I am Gerard of Paradise Palace. An associate is retrieving your luggage as we speak. I, however, have the pleasure of escorting you to the yacht.” Macy’s mind stalled, unable to get past the last word. “Yacht?” His dignified expression didn’t waver at her amazement. Instead, he bent over and retrieved her carry-on bag. “Would you follow me, please?” Turning toward the exterior of the building, he made purposeful strides toward the gleaming black Rolls stationed at the curb. Macy hurried to catch up as her brain decided to function again. “Hey, hold up a sec.” Gerard paused, his face stoic and unreadable, and waited. “If you think I’m getting into a strange car, even a Rolls, with a man I’ve never met before, then you’ve got another thing coming, bud.” She placed her legs apart and adopted a firm stance. “The decision is yours, of course, miss.

Am I to understand you do not wish to

continue and are declining the invitation? If so, I will make arrangements for your flight home.” The man could be a robot for all the life he showed in his face. “No. I mean, yes. I mean, I don’t know.” She knew she acted like an idiot, flailing her arms around in confusion, but she didn’t care. “I need to know what this is all about. Who’s in charge of this little expedition?” Again, he brought out another well-rehearsed speech. “Paradise Palace is an exclusive resort located on a small, privately owned Polynesian island.

From time to time, the

Benefactor, whose name is to remain undisclosed for privacy issues, invites certain deserving individuals to the island as his guest. A Palace yacht is needed to continue from this point forward. If you’d care to verify this information, please do so expeditiously. We do have a schedule to maintain.” Macy scrutinized the man, trying to size him up. Was this an abduction? Who’d go to these lengths for her? A kidnapping didn’t sound right since she didn’t have any family, not to mention much money. 12

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Gerard stood immobile, motionless like a stone statue in a park. He made the guards at Buckingham Palace seem jovial by comparison. “The invitation mentioned something about a treasure. Right?” Macy hoped she didn’t sound too materialistic. But she didn’t want to turn down a chance at a treasure. Gerard’s lips curved a minuscule degree upward.

“Yes, miss, it did mention a

treasure.” Macy released pent-up air and took a step toward the plunge. “Will the Benefactor be joining us on the boat?” His cocked eyebrow answered along with his words. “The Benefactor never leaves the island, miss.” “Really?” Macy paused a moment, dragged in a deep breath, and took the leap of faith. “Okay, Gerard. Lead the way.” “Very good, miss.” **** Macy felt like a princess. A spoiled, pampered, regal princess. In thrift store clothes. Resting on a lounge at the end of the yacht…the bow or the stern?...she sipped her cocktail and watched the waves bounce by as the yacht skimmed across the ocean’s surface. Could life get any better than this? “Ms. Maitland, the Benefactor requests your indulgence.” Peering over the top of her sunglasses, Macy scrutinized Gerard. “Sure. What can I do for him?” The words barely made it out of her mouth before she noticed the briefcase Gerard held. “Please tell me you’re not smuggling illegal drugs or money.” Gerard’s features came to life when his brows sunk between his eyes and disgust flickered across his face. She clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle her delight in getting a reaction from him. “Hardly, miss.” Resting the briefcase on the table in front of her, he flipped up the latches and opened the case. 13

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Chapter Two

She didn’t know which fell out first…her eyes or her tongue. The diamonds and other precious jewels sparkled under the bright sun. “Holy crap, Gerard!” “I take it you find these to suit your taste, miss?” She should shut her mouth. A flying fish might mistake her big, open trap for a net and flop right in. “I guess I should have asked about stolen jewels. Hey, what did you mean about suiting my taste?” A sapphire necklace glistened, but the large emerald stone, encircled with diamonds, captured and secured her full attention. Yoo hoo, baby! Come to Mamma! “The Benefactor would be most pleased if you’d accept one of these as a gift.” She shot him a suspicious glare. “A gift? A gift for what?” Again with the disgusting look. What did he expect? Did she seem like the type of girl who’d accept expensive gifts from men, much less from a stranger? She shot a look at the jewelry. But, then again, she wouldn’t want to insult The Benefactor by turning down a gift. Would she? “I assure you, miss, the gift is presented with no strings attached and The Benefactor’s intentions are above reproach. Your choice of a bauble will allow him to express his gratitude for your visit. Nothing more.” Baubles? She could pay her rent for the next five years with one of these baubles. “The present is just for visiting his island? Are you sure there’s not more to this?” Gerard sighed. A tiny sigh most people would have missed, but she’d learned how to catch his subtle nuances. “As I said before, no strings attached.” Did she see a wicked gleam in his eye? 14

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Gerard stood up and withdrew the case. “But if you’re refusing…” “No!” She jumped forward in the lounge and reached for the case. Embarrassed by her outburst, Macy brought her nerves under control and dropped her arms. “I mean, I wouldn’t want to be rude.” After all, she could hear the emerald ring calling her name. Macy, take me home! Holding her breath, she slipped the ring onto her finger…a perfect fit!...and leaned back to admire the many facets of the radiant green glow. This day kept getting better and better. “Ms. Maitland, we’re approaching Palekaiko Moku.” “Where?” She stood up, momentarily losing her balance, and reached for Gerard. He steadied her and pointed into the distance. “In English then. Paradise Island is on the horizon, miss.” A small, lush forested island rose out of the sea ahead of them. Birds of various descriptions dipped and dived over the glistening sandy beach, cawing out their songs. Strong, tall palm trees swayed to the beckoning of a gentle ocean breeze. Yet as impressive as the beauty of the island was, the real splendor, the true power, lay in the magnificent palace snuggled against a rising wall of rock settled back from the beach. The green of the forest cocooned the palace claiming not ownership, but an aura of protection against the outside world. Paradise Palace gleamed pristine white against the gray stone while layers of gold draped a loving embrace around huge columns and across slated rooftops. Combining the affluence of Asian palaces with the grandeur of the more formidable Western palaces, The Palace…for she would never again refer to such a structure as just another palace…commanded complete respect, unyielding awe and unconditional adoration. “Wow. It’s amazing.” Without warning, tears sprang to Macy’s eyes, while her heart skipped in her chest. “Now that’s what I call a palace. I mean, I expected some grand hotel, but I never expected a real, honest-to-God palace. She is truly breathtaking.” “Yes, she is.” The tenderness, the wonderment, the unabashed love in his voice surprised her. Macy jerked her head towards Gerard. “Holy smokes, Gerard. So this is what it takes to get real emotion out of you?”

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Once she’d finished speaking, his mask of the perfect, non-committal employee surfaced, blocking her from any other comment. Yet she didn’t care as she turned back toward The Palace. The island looked so much closer. In fact, she could see someone standing on the dock spanning out to transcend the water. A tall, lean man, whose dazzling white hair matched the color of The Palace, stood unmoving, watching their approach. The knot in Macy’s throat tightened the nearer they got to the docking station. She waited as the crew tied the yacht in place, using the time to clear the lump from her throat. The white-haired gentleman smiled, sending her reassurance, and stretched his long face further, while he extended his hand to help her ashore. The touch of his hand sent an unexpected warmth racing through her, relaxing her. “Welcome, Ms. Maitland. I’m so glad you could join us.” His accent, or lack of one, matched his appearance.

Macy struggled to place his

nationality, but failed. He was not American, European, Asian or Polynesian. Rather, he comprised a blend of all, a mix of none. An air of old-world aristocratism exuded from him, yet she discerned no attitude of superiority. “Um, thank you. And are you the person I have to thank for my visit? Are you The Benefactor?” She searched his mesmerizing eyes, an intense silvery color that offered so much and yet, made no promises, hoping to read his character. His laughter rang out, joyful in its exuberance.

She could find no other word to

describe the sound. Unless, perhaps, contagious. She matched his smile and waited. “Oh, my no, Ms. Maitland. You flatter me. I wouldn’t presume such a position. I am called Kahu.” He offered his arm, nodded at Gerard, and escorted her up the dock toward a wide stone path. The path trailed straight toward the giant steps leading up into The Palace. “Kahu? Such an interesting name. What ethnicity is it?” She hoped he couldn’t see through her ploy. “I received the name, Kahu, when I came to Paradise Island. Kahu means ‘guardian’ in Hawaiian.” “Then you’re the Guardian of The Palace?”

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His unlined features shifted, casting a bemused expression. “No. The Benefactor is the Guardian of The Palace. I am here to help however I can. I am called Kahu for other reasons.” She wanted to quiz him further, but he kept on speaking, and changed the subject. “Aw, I can see you already love her.” His eyes twinkled in understanding. “Her?” She cringed and wondered why she’d tried acting so dense. She knew he meant The Palace. He chuckled, a low rumble, filling her with warmth and confidence. “You’re teasing. How wonderfully playful.” Thankful he’d understood her intentions, she opted for the truth this time. “She’s breathtaking. The whole island is like something out of a story or a fantasy.” “Yes, a fantasy. Every inch is a wonderland. Almost.” She surveyed the area around them and saw nothing but beauty. “You mean there’s an ugly part of the island?” He pulled her to a stop and stared into her eyes. She sensed a searching, a probing. She swallowed, trying to dislodge the lump closing off her air. “Ugliness exists everywhere, Ms. Maitland. Even on Paradise Island.” Easing the tenseness of his body, he resumed their walk. “We have no rules, aside from one. You must never venture past the red flags outlining the perimeter of the palace and into the area called The Forbidden Ground. You must never enter The Forbidden Ground.” He gestured and, for the first time, she noticed small crimson flags flapping in the wind. Each flag, marked with the Paradise Palace insignia of two intertwined, golden “P”s marked a boundary around The Palace. “The Forbidden Ground? Why not? What’s beyond the flags?” Macy stopped and shielded her eyes as she scanned the row of flags. When Kahu didn’t answer, she pivoted and found him continuing on the path without her. As if he sensed her focus on him, he reversed direction, crooked his arm, and inclined his head in a quiet, forceful summons. “Come, Ms. Maitland, let me show you to your room.” ****

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Macy floated through the main hall, reveling in all the wonders before her. She could remain inside all day and not see all the riches of The Palace. From glorious paintings and sculptures, to the latest in high-tech conveniences, The Palace offered the best of the world’s inventions and creations. The gigantic library alone could fill her days, reading the greatest works of mankind. Her mind wandered, envisioning a treasure of her own waiting for her within these walls. Elaborate ornamentation adorned every square inch of the interior, tempting her to reach out and touch all she could. She sighed, hugged herself, and drifted into a room containing a shell-shaped pool. Standing at the edge of the water, she scanned its depths and held her breath. Her jaw dropped open in wonder. Did she see marine life swimming at the bottom of the pool? A shark glided by, baring his dagger-like teeth, while pools of tiny fish splintered away from the predator. Yet the figure rising to the surface appeared unaffected by their proximity. The man glided toward her, propelling his rock-hard frame toward her. He broke the surface and shook his head, spraying water all over her. Yelping, she hurried backwards, slipped, and fell flat on her butt on the hard, wet stone. Her hair fell forward into her face, obscuring her view. “Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you. I guess I should check the surrounding area for innocent bystanders before I start shaking like a seal. Here, let me help you.” A strong, masculine hand appeared in front of her and she clenched it without thinking. “Ya think?” He tugged her to her feet with little effort while she tried to smooth her clothes. “Ugh. My new silk pants are ruined.” “You always did have high dollar taste, Mace. Has your income gone from a penny one to a dollar one?” She kept her head down, praying she didn’t recognize the voice. Please and double please. Make this a hallucination. Dreading what she would see, she lifted her head and peeked through soaked bangs at the person standing in front of her. Damn! Not him! “Dan? What the hell are you doing here?” “Gee, Mace, nice to see you, too.” 18

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Dan Harding, her lover and live-in significant other for five years, stood before her. Dripping from his dip in the pool, the droplets of water clinging to his sculpted body shimmered in the sunlight. Without warning, all the memories, all the lovemaking, all the good times came rushing back to her and threw her brain into warp drive confusion. He’d been her first and, truth be known, the only man she’d ever loved. The only man she ever wanted to love. Until he’d chosen his career over her. “I can’t believe you’re here. How? Why?” He reached for the towel lying on a lounge and dragged the cotton softness over his toned, buff body in slow, tempting circles. For a few delectable moments, Macy followed his movements, remembering the texture, the hardness of his skin on hers.

Unlike many

handsome men, he knew how to use his body to please a woman more than he pleased himself. “What about you? How’d you get here? You marry a millionaire or something?” He flung his blond hair away from his face, drawing her eyes to the stunning green of his. Green to equal the emerald color on her finger. “Yeah, right. And I suppose you found some wealthy heiress while jumping out of a plane onto a smoke-filled countryside?” The heartache and rejection from his decision to leave Dallas and move to Colorado, to become one of the elite firefighting smoke jumpers, burst into her gut, alive and well after years of hiding. Not wanting him to see even a trace of the hurt she still guarded inside her, she tucked her head, and twisted her long auburn hair into a ponytail. “Clever as always. Huh, Mace?” His teeth shone against the bronze of his skin. How did a guy from the mountains get an all-over tan? If she didn’t know Dan better, she’d swear he’d used a spray-tanning booth. But he wouldn’t. No, his tan was all natural. Damn. Weren’t exes supposed to go pale, fat, and bald? “Naw. The weirdest thing happened. I injured my leg on a jump. Then, out of the blue, I get this invitation from some dude called The Benefactor. He invited me here to finish my recuperation. The whole thing sounded odd, but I figured what the hell.”

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She stole a glimpse at his legs and a tiny ball of fear wound its way into her stomach. A long, white scar ran the length of his right leg, a souvenir of his surgery. Macy fought the urge to soothe the tortured skin. “Oh, Dan. I’m sorry. Are you going to be okay?” He shrugged his shoulders, blowing off her concern. “Yeah, I’m fine. The scar looks worse than the wound hurt. But I’m as good as ever.” She shouldn’t have met his gaze because she knew his thoughts as well as her own. And knew he’d say so. His mischievous gleam signaled a warning. “Good to know you still care, babe.” No, no, no. She did not want to go there. “Don’t get any stupid ideas, Harding. I’d care about any wounded animal.” He chuckled, just as she knew he would. Irritation morphed her spine into a steel rod giving her the strength she needed. “Besides, anyone who can swim around with sharks must have confidence out their wazoo.” She peered into the depths of the pool and shuddered. “Or a death wish.” This time his laugh hit full throttle. “Babe, I enjoy a little danger, but I’m not stupid. The pool has a glass bottom. What you’re seeing is the ocean below the pool’s floor. You can swim with the fish without having to worry about getting attacked.” She peeked over the side one more time, thinking how amazing the pool looked. Like Dan. “Really? Wow. I can’t wait to go swimming later.” “Be sure to let me know when you do. I could use a pick-me-up. From what I can tell, you’ve kept the body for a thong.” She blushed and then grew more embarrassed about blushing. After all, she’d wanted him to notice her fit body. But someone needed to change the subject and fast. Before she let her mouth blurt out all the thoughts she didn’t want him to hear. “Don’t you find this strange?

We both get an invitation…I’m assuming your expenses are paid, too…to an

exclusive, private island. And at the same time. Coincidence? I don’t think so.” Dan crossed strong arms; arms she knew could be so gentle, in front of his massive chest. “True. Plus, I’ve noticed another oddity. You and I are the only guests. Maybe we should ask Kahu some questions.” “I agree.” 20

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“Right after we have a few drinks and catch up with each other. Maybe in my room?” The man always did have a way of switching channels without warning. “You’re joking, right?” His furrowed brow echoed the words from his mouth. “Nope. I’m not. I’d love to spend some time with you. I’ve missed you, Macy.” And the man did have a way of throwing her for a loop. Recovering, she slung her protection into place. “Right. You missed me so much you neglected to come back to Dallas.” “Come on, Mace. Be fair.” She watched as his jaw moved back and forth in frustration. She’d always loved watching his jaw. Truth be known, sometimes she’d gotten him upset just to see his jaw move. Keep your mind on the conversation, Macy! “Fair? You want fair? How about spending five years with someone, planning a life together, and, without warning, having all those plans thrown out the door when he decides to take off and play Superman.” She’d pushed too far. The jaw no longer gritted and, instead, locked shut. She hated when his jaw locked up. He spit his words back at her. “Wanting to train as a smoke jumper was not a wild dream. I love the job. You wanting to stay in Dallas was selfish. Selfish and unsupportive.” Heat, both physical and mental, tightened her body. She sneered back at him and tried to ignore the moistness growing in her crotch. “How dare you call me selfish, you overbearing, muscle-headed, egotistical herowanna-be! If you’d cared one bit about me, you’d have stayed in Dallas. But no. You up and moved out the day before…“ She caught the words before they slipped out. Keeping a vow she’d made years ago, she bit her tongue, refusing to tell him the truth. Yet his piercing interest almost drove her to confession. “The day before what, Macy?”

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Chapter Three

Macy didn’t think of herself as a rude person. Yet, instead of telling Dan about her secret, she’d whirled on her heels and stormed away from the pool. He would never find out what happened in those horrible days after his departure. She prayed every night, aching to forget, but the dreams still came, making her relive the entire nightmare. She leaned against the lounge, cranked up the volume on her CD player, and forced herself to relax and enjoy the heat from the sun. The waves crashed against the sandy beach while the birds sang their songs, and her Long Island Iced Tea contained the perfect mix of all the ingredients. Her own private waiter somehow always showed up at the right moment and left on cue. Life couldn’t get any better than this. So why dwell on the unpleasantness of the past? Sighing, she closed her eyes and listened to the music. So far, she’d managed to stay away from Dan by taking her meals in her room. Still, she wouldn’t let him ruin her vacation to end all vacations. Somehow, she’d keep him at arms length. Arms. His arms. His strong, muscular, flexing arms. Arms that made a girl follow them all the way up to the yard-wide expanse of his granite shoulders. Shoulders she used to love to hold, to lean her head on, to drape her legs over. Stop! Danger! Danger! Warning, Macy Maitland! Danger ahead! Wrenching her mind away from a possible disastrous course, she jerked up in the lounge, popped her eyes wide open and stumbled straight into pools of green trouble. “Shit, Dan. You surprised me.”

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He shot her his sideways grin, the grin she remembered so well, the grin whipping her body into human mush. The man wrote the book on gorgeous. And she wanted to buy every copy. “Sorry, Mace. But I figured since we’re the island’s two guests, we may as well hang out together. You know how I hate solitude.” He graced her with yet another dazzling show of teeth while running his hand through his honey-blond locks. He blinked, drawing her attention to his long eyelashes. Eyelashes any woman would kill for or pay a whole lot of money to acquire. The eyelashes, however, didn’t lessen one ounce of the testosterone oozing out of every pore. ”Macy? Are you listening to me?” Stop fantasizing about him! “Uh, sure. I’m listening. But if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to spend my vacation alone. Without any company.” “So you’re going treasure hunting by yourself?” Tipping her sunglasses at him, she narrowed her eyes, already suspicious of his motives. “You know about the treasure, too?” He flopped onto the edge of her lounge, sliding her a little closer to him by using his weight as leverage. “It’s clear your invitation mentioned the treasure. Why wouldn’t mine?” She shrugged, hoping he couldn’t see through her like he used to do. She pushed the glasses up to shade her eyes from his scrutiny. “Or have you already found your treasure? That’s quite a rock on your finger.” Macy ran her fingers over the ring. “My jewelry is none of your business.” “I see.

So you’re planning on hording the entire treasure for yourself?

Without

mentioning anything to me.” He could still read her like a favorite bedtime story. “Well, if that’s what you want, Mace, then fine. We’ll do our own thing and to the winner goes the spoils.

However, consider what may be required to find the treasure.

Activities like traversing rough terrain, digging, carrying packs. You know, the kinds of activities a smoke jumper does.”

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He did have a point. A good point. Her chances of finding the treasure were much better with Dan than without him. Macy bit the inside of her mouth and searched for an alternative. Finding none, she accepted the inevitable. “Okay, we hunt together and split the treasure down the middle. Agreed?” “Agreed. Shake, partner.” She regarded his outstretched hand like a poisonous snake about to strike. Keeping her hand to her side, she opened her mouth to decline and dropped her jaw lower. Far away from the shoreline, where a small group of rocks jutted out of the sea, a small girl stood, waving her arms, trying to catch their attention.

Her gestures for help were

unmistakable as the rough sea lapped at her feet. Without warning, the child fell into the water and started swimming toward the beach. Macy shot out of the lounge. Her heart pounded in her chest as she shielded her eyes and scanned the water’s horizon. One moment, she could see the girl fighting against the outgoing current and in the next, she was gone. Vanished. “What’s the matter?” Dan hopped up to join her, saw her pointing out to sea and followed the direction of her gesture. “What do you see?” “A little girl on the rock.” Macy took off toward the water’s edge. “She fell off and she’s trying to make it to shore. We have to help her.” Throwing off her sunglasses, she ran into the foam beating against the beach. “She went under!” Macy plunged into the water. The cold hit her, knocking the breath out of her lungs, and momentarily stunning her. Diving ahead, Macy sliced through the waves trying to push her back to land, even while the pull of the open sea dragged her forward. She continued kicking her legs, ignoring the growing ache spreading throughout her body, while the barrage of water kidnapped air from her lungs. Please, God, let me reach her in time. She paused a second to grab a bigger breath and check her bearings, hoping for a small reprieve. But the water changed, somehow becoming stronger, almost alive in its need to drag her under the waves beating at her body.

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For an instant, a force…a shark?...clamped around her leg, and yank her downward. Fear thrust all conceivable ideas other than survival from her as she struck out with her arms, reaching toward the light at the surface. But the force wouldn’t let her go. Panic threatened to take over, as she fought to live. Fear, stronger than she’d ever known, welled up inside her and she thrashed out in a vain effort to climb her way back to the surface. As if in a dream, the little girl floated beside her and smiled. The current around her calmed with the girl’s appearance and Macy drifted under water, suspended in body and reason. She watched in fascination as the little girl reached out and touched her cheek. Blackness enveloped her. **** “Macy? Mace, wake up. Come on, babe. Wake up.” Dan’s voice drifted into her, soothing her, enticing her to open her eyes. She awoke in agonizing movements and squinted at the brightness of the sun. “Dan?” Her voice croaked, making her sound half asleep. Or half dead. “Hey, babe. Good to see you.” The lightness of his tone contradicted the worry etched in his features. “I thought I’d lost you.” She pushed up from the blanket, wanting to sit up, but dizziness sent her back to her prone position. “What happened?” “I guess you got caught in an undercurrent. If I hadn’t found you when I did…” Her vision focused along with her memory. Warding off his hands, she bolted upright and tried to stand. Dan braced her and helped her to her feet. “Dan, the little girl. Did you find her? Is she all right?” She scanned the area around her, but found no one. “Little girl? I didn’t see anyone except you.” His brow knitted, casting a shadow over his face. His sturdy arms enveloped her, circling her with welcomed warmth and life. “What little girl are you talking about?” She clutched him, urging him to believe the truth behind her words. Yet a nagging doubt slipped inside her to encroach on her memory. “I saw a little girl out on those rocks. 25

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When she dived in, she went under.” A sob tore from her raw throat. “I made it out to her, Dan. I did. She touched me. You must have seen her. She was right next to me.” He shook his head when she finished speaking. “I’m sorry, babe. I didn’t see anyone except you.” Thrusting off his hold, she stumbled toward the water’s edge. “We have to go back. We have to find her!” Dan grabbed her from behind and pulled her to him again. “Macy, there’s no one out there. And no one was on those rocks. I remember seeing them right before we started talking.” He bent over to lock onto her eyes. “You know how strong those Long Island Tea drinks are. Maybe with the sun and those drinks...” “No!” Again, she headed toward the shore, and again he held her back. Salty tears, reminding her of sea water, coursed down her cheeks. “No one? You saw no one?” He pulled her closer then, warding off any future attempts to break free. “No one. I swear to you, Mace. I would have seen the little girl if...” He lifted her chin with the tips of his fingers, bringing her attention to him. “Just trust me.” She nodded, drained and confused. Maybe he was right. Perhaps a combination of too many drinks and too much sun made her imagination run wild. She’d probably seen a seal, and the heat rising above the water, along with the alcohol, tricked her mind into thinking she saw a little girl. The dream under the water supported his idea. After all, would a girl, drowning in the open sea, float beside her and smile? Macy leaned against him for support and accepted Dan’s explanation. His lips pressed against her, caressing her mouth as if he feared she would break. Snaking his tongue inside, he stroked her, giving comfort and more. Macy knew she should pull away, but something deeper within her kept her steady. Her tongue greeted his like a cherished friend and the two played the game of the kiss. His hands released her arms and slid around her back, down to the waiting skin of her buttocks. She moaned, remembering the sex-filled nights and, for a moment, considered forgetting her resolve to stay away from him. He groaned in response and brought his hand to her breast. Her swimsuit afforded no protection from his rubbing thumb and her nipples hardened, wanting more. He eased her 26

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down on the blanket, his mouth keeping its connection with her. Slipping her strap away from her shoulder, his hot, wet kisses blazed a trail down her shoulder. She arched, urging him to her breasts, and he obeyed, but not with his hands. She gasped when he nipped her tit and she pulled him closer. She wanted nothing between them. “Macy. God, how I’ve missed you.” He murmured against her skin, sending hot breath wafting over hotter skin. “Dan.” More words ran threw her mind, but she couldn’t find the strength to say them. In answer, she slid the other strap of her top down, giving him free access to both breasts. He answered her call and moved his tongue between the two. His hand, placed on her hip, traveled to the thin cord of her thong. “Do you want me, Mace? Tell me you want me. Here and now.” He raised his head, capturing her attention, and waited for her response. She couldn’t answer. Afraid to make the wrong decision, she toyed with telling the truth and opted to let him make the decision for her. Yet, when his hand slid toward the crescent between her thighs, her mind unlocked, driving her into action. She reached for his hand and stopped him. “I’m sorry, Dan. But I can’t.” He replaced his hand to her hip, disappointment drowning the joy from his expression. “Why, Macy? We were always so good together.” She ran her fingers across his shoulders and hoped he would understand. She loved his wonderful, manly shoulders. Nonetheless, her answer would stay the same. “I can’t do this. Not after what happened. Not after you left me. I deserve an apology. I deserve more.” Dan jumped up from the blanket, his body tinted with the anger rushing through him in ripples across his skin. “An apology? Are you kidding? Let’s get this straight, kiddo. I may have moved out, but you left me.” At first, his words left her numb inside. How could she have considered making out with this jerk? Snatching her straps up, she rose in one swift motion, braced her legs, and fisted her hands on her hips. “Why you asshole? I left you? Do you not remember who packed his bags and headed for Colorado?”

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His eyes blazed with indignation. “You left me emotionally long before I moved out. You didn’t support my career choice. Hell, you checked out of the relationship the same day I mentioned the smoke jumper’s position. When you care about someone, like you said you cared about me, you support them in their work. You don’t give them ultimatums.” Tossing her silky straight hair away from her face, she gritted her teeth and threw him an eat-dirt-and-die glare. “An ultimatum? You call begging for you to stay an ultimatum? Ha! That wasn’t an ultimatum, you idiot. This is an ultimatum. I’m going back in the water to search for the little girl, and if you don’t like it, you can shove off.” She broke into a run, and made it into the shallow water before Dan caught her. “Let go of me!” His rage now overshadowed his concern as he restrained her from going any farther. “Will you stop? I’m not letting you go. Shit!” His yell stunned her, whipping her head around to see why he’d shouted. Releasing her, Dan hobbled back to the sand. “Ow, ow, ow. Shit! Something just bit my foot.” Plopping down on the towel, he examined the redness surrounding a small gash in his foot. “Damn, damn, double damn!” Macy dropped to his side and reached for his foot, but he snatched it away from her. “Don’t touch it. I need a medic.” As if by command, the waiter, along with a man in a white doctor’s coat, rushed from around the corner strand of palm trees toward them. They traversed the distance in great strides and fell to work on Dan’s foot. “Wow. Talk about service.” Macy tilted her head to the side and frowned. “How did they know?” Grumbling under his breath, Dan rocked back and forth. “Who cares? I’m just glad they did.” ****

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Far above the beach, Kahu watched the scene below. His long white hair, drifting with the whim of the wind, played across the collar of his white suit. Without making a sound, Gerard appeared and took his place behind his superior. “Too bad he hurt his foot. A heated argument can lead to other heated emotions.” Kahu shook his head once, keeping his hands clasped in front of him. “All events, regardless of size, are important and happen for a reason, Gerard. Timing is always crucial. Pay close attention to what follows. The Benefactor’s plan is working.”

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Chapter Four

“So how’s the foot?” Okay, she knew she shouldn’t gloat, but she couldn’t help it. Big, strong firefighter Dan Harding got a boo-boo on the beach. He cast her a don’t-you-even-think-about-razzing-me glower.

“Fine, thanks.

The

cream the medic gave me healed the wound faster than anything I’ve ever seen.” “Did they say what bit you?” His frown deepened. “No. Could be a bite. Could be a gash from debris in the sand.” Daring to broach the subject one last time before she conceded to the drunken hallucination theory, Macy asked, “And did you tell them about the girl? I mean, I would have, but you were putting up such a fuss over your foot…” “Mace, let it drop. I asked later on and everyone, including Kahu, assured me. No children are allowed on the island. The young girl you saw doesn’t, didn’t, exist.” Her mean streak, kept contained most of the time, flashed inside her. And this time, she couldn’t help letting the mean slip out. Some things were just too good to pass up and she couldn’t resist the urge to spur him. “So…they made your little footsie all better? Good. Now I won’t have to kiss it.” He barked a laugh and swiveled his back to her. “No, you won’t. But you can kiss this instead.”

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The sight of the brawny hunk wiggling his bottom at her sent her into hysterics. She tottered on her poolside bar stool and grabbed the counter to keep from falling off. “Harding, you are too much!” Straightening up, he sauntered over to her and took a swig of her drink. “So, partner, what do ya say about doing some treasure hunting today?” “Are you sure you’re up to it? Stamina-wise, I mean. After all, if the meany ole’ beachy is too rough for you, then maybe you’re not tough enough for rugged treasure hunting.” “Wanna test my stamina?” The sage-colored depths of his eyes hypnotized her, challenging her to follow the vortex down into the unknown. Down she went, sinking into the green, searching for the gold hidden at the bottom of his soul. She could sense him calling her, teasing her, cajoling her into his secret domain. And she wanted nothing more than to answer his call. “Earth to Mace. Having a good daydream? I lost you for awhile.” Blinking, she broke away from his hold. “Sorry. Never mind. And yeah, let’s play pirates and go treasure hunting.” His dazzling turn-your-knees-to-spaghetti beam hit her as he pulled her to her feet. Landing a bit wobbly, she covered by reaching for her drink and taking one last sip. True to his gung-ho personality, he started in on the preparations. “Okay, I gave this some thought last night and I figure the cave would be a good place to start.” She followed the wave of his hand to the cliff off in the distance. The forest hid most of the opening, but left a small, dark hole in view of any who might scrutinize the hillside. The red flags, lower on the hill, aided the camouflage and attracted attention first. “Wait a sec. The cave is inside The Forbidden Ground. We aren’t supposed to pass the red flags. Or didn’t Kahu tell you?” Dan snickered. “Yeah, he told me. But come on, Mace. Rules are made to be broken. Besides, what better place to hide a treasure than in a cave?” A tremor of anticipation flew through her. Yet the more conservative side of her personality tempered the excitement with a reality check. “I’ve given this some consideration, too. What’re our chances of finding the treasure? I mean, wouldn’t previous guests have already found it? If a treasure exists at all?” 31

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He slid his hand around hers and headed toward the steps down to the beach. “Maybe. Or maybe The Benefactor hides new treasures for every new guest.

New treasure, old

treasure, I’ll take either one.” “Dan, I just know we’ll get caught breaking the rule.” “You worry too much, babe.” Her cautionary inner voice told her to remove her hand from his. But her other voice, the one tied to her libido, said otherwise. And with Dan, she’d always listened to her libido first. She followed him down the walkway, keeping slightly behind him so she could watch the way his muscles worked beneath his shirt. Licking her lips, she studied his broad expanse, listening off and on to him grumble about the lack of proper tools. She didn’t care. After all, he possessed all the tools she’d ever want. Shit, Mace, why don’t you attack him and get him out of your system? “No!” She shouted, slamming into him when he stopped short. “No what? You don’t agree?” He wiped his brow and pulled off his shirt, zapping all her resolve. A light dusting of blond chest hair sparkled in the sun and she followed the fair-haired path down to the top of his shorts. The trail disappeared under his clothing and reappeared as feathery down on his sturdy legs. She wondered about her own appearance. Whether she’d meant to or not, she’d worn her straight, rich auburn hair loose, letting the cascade of softness waft around her back. The tight tank top she wore outlined her well-developed chest, showing a good amount of cleavage, while the short shorts she’d slipped on highlighted her firm bottom.

Without

realizing, she’d dressed the way he’d always liked her to dress. Had he noticed? “Mace? Are we in sync?” His eyebrows questioned her lack of response. “Uh, yeah. Sure. I guess.” He furrowed his brow more, released a big sigh, wheeled around and continued down the stairs out onto the sand. She worked to keep up with him, his height towering over her five feet, five inches by a solid six inches. His long legs ate up the beach while she made two steps to his one. But she refused to let him get too far ahead of her.

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They crossed the distance in short time and confronted the rocky slope leading up to the cave. The sun headed toward the western horizon, putting the heat on their backs. Macy panted, while a much more fit Dan studied the terrain. “This is going to be difficult, Macy. I hope you’re up to the challenge.” She cocked her head at him and sniggered. “Don’t worry about me, Cave Man. I can handle anything you can.” His laugh twisted her spine into a pretzel. “Well, I guess we’re about to find out. We’re going straight up the wall of this cliff. I hope you remember how to climb, babe.” Most of the time she liked hearing him call her “babe”, but not now. Not when he used the term to replace the unspoken patronizing “woman.” Macy pulled back her hair and encircled the long ponytail with an elastic band. Sweat ran down her neck and along her torso. She lifted her head, wiped her forehead, and saw it. A sloping trail, hidden by the brush crawling up the cliff’s side, shot straight up the side of the hill. Although not an easy path, the trail did offer an alternative to climbing. She should tell him. She knew she should. “Hey, hotshot. How about we race to the cave?” He whirled around and regarded her with bemusement. Sweat, gloriously etching a path of its own down his hardened stomach, made her stomach flip over with excitement. “Are you nuts? I’m lucky if I don’t have to carry you up the side.” Poof! All her consideration for fairness vanished. “Okay, Mr. Macho, put your skills where you mouth is. Winner gets a foot rub from the loser. Deal?” She stuck out her hand to seal the bargain. His steely hand gripped hers. “Deal. You wanna head start?” Men were such blowhards. She smirked at him, gratified that he’d caught her sarcasm. “I’ll pass. And just to make sure you don’t pull any funny business, I’m moving downwind from you. We probably won’t be able to see each other due to the brush, but I can hear you if you scream for help. Don’t let the big, bad bugs bite you!” Not waiting for him to counter her jab, she headed off toward the path, but not close enough to draw attention to it. A few seconds passed before she heard Dan start his ascent. Rubbing her hands together, she began her trek up the path. “This is gonna be good.” 33

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**** “How the hell did you get here first?” Man, what she’d give for her camera phone right now. His expression made up for every pebble in her shoes. Macy wiggled her eyebrows at him, while he stood, hands on his hips, shaking his head in bewilderment. “I guess this ‘babe’ can climb after all, huh. So you agree I won the contest?” She wanted his defeat before she’d tell him about the pathway. “Yeah, I guess. I don’t know how, but I know you cheated. Nonetheless, I’m willing to concede defeat if you’ll tell me how you did it.” She’d won and her irritation with him slipped away, allowing her to admire his halfclad body in all its perfection. The climb brought out his muscles as if they’d gone to full alert through his endeavor. His hands, calloused with the hard labor of an outdoorsman, rested on his hips, drawing her eyes down to his shorts. Climbing, a stimulating sport, brought out the best in Dan, and she could see his “best” straining against his shorts. “As long as you’ve conceded, I’ll tell you. I noticed a path before we started climbing. It’s a very steep path, not a strolling lane by any means, but it beat hauling myself up here by my hands.” She flashed him a sheepish grin and giggled. “I knew you cheated!” His own grin betrayed the harshness of his tone. “Never mind. We’re here now so let’s scope things out.” “I already did.” His surprise made her qualify her statement. “I’m sorry. But since I got here first, I got bored,” she sent him a rub-your-nose-in-my-victory smirk, “and decided to explore on my own. The cave’s small and doesn’t go back very far. So, as soon as you’re rested, I guess we can head on back.” A ray of the setting sun glinted in her eye and she raised her hand to shade her view. When she did, she gaped at the sight heading their way. Enormous black clouds tumbled toward the island, lashing lightning strikes at the white caps below. “Oh my God, Dan. Look!”

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He pivoted and she saw the astonishment register through his body. “Damn, I didn’t notice any storms on the horizon. But that one’s headed this way fast.” He twisted to query her. “If we use your path, can we make it to the beach before the storm hits?” Macy shook her head. “No way. If we get caught in the middle, the dirt and rocks on the trail will wash out before we can get down. We’d fall or slide and wind up taking a quick trip to the bottom.” “Then I guess we’re stuck here for the night.” Macy’s heart thumped over in her chest, sending a lump to her throat. Alone? All night with Dan? A frown replaced her quick grin as her stomach did flip flops. Would staying with Dan be a good thing or a bad thing? She stared at him while he watched the approaching rain and thunder.

Worry

burrowed into his forehead and she shoved her hands into her pockets to keep from stroking his brow. “I’m sorry, Mace.

I should have noticed the storm.

Funny, though, I remember

checking the sky and seeing nothing but blue. Storms like this are freaky. Almost unnatural.” She pretended to study the clouds along with him. Instead, she watched his jaw start the wonderful gritting movements. “Don’t blame yourself. You can’t control Mother Nature.” He squared his aim at her, ridding her mind of the outside storm. Bending over her, he reached out to touch her, and she held her breath and waited. Please, let him kiss me. Her disbelief at her own errant wish must have played on her features, making him drop his hand away, centimeters from caressing her face. Instead, he swiveled and paced to the other side of the interior. “I wish we had a campfire.” Rejected by his swift dismissal, she ducked her head and nodded. Right man, wrong time…again. “Mace? Did you already start a fire?” Following his lead, she saw the bright glow of flames in the back of the cave. “No. I didn’t.”

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Together, they walked over to the cozy blaze burning out of a small hollow in the cave’s floor. Standing for a few minutes in silence, Dan spoke Macy’s thoughts out loud. “So if you didn’t. And I didn’t. Then how? Or should I ask who?” A shiver, not borne of any chill, shook her frame. “The only entrance into the cave is the front. And this campfire was not here when I came inside. I swear.” The wind whistled through the opening of the cave, drawing their awareness back to the storm. Lightening flashed as a drenching downpour fell outside. “Well, we might as well get comfortable. We’re going to be here awhile.” Dan sat down next to the flames. “Too bad we didn’t think to bring food along. But at least we have our water bottles.” Macy’s laugh sounded nervous and tight.

“Yeah.

And a couple of blankets and

pillows.” Going along with her joke, he added, “Why not a chocolate on the pillows? Let’s make this fantasy a good one.” “Then don’t forget room service. I don’t go anywhere without room service.” She giggled and started to sit down, but his words brought her up short. “Mace. Look.” His view locked on something behind her. Crooking her head to see, she whipped her body around full circle at the sight behind her. In a neat pile next to the cave’s opposite wall, lay a picnic basket with a bottle of wine sticking out the end, two blankets, and two of the fluffiest pillows she’d ever seen. She tiptoed over to the pile, fearing the illusion would disappear in the next second. Spinning back to Dan, she held up one of the items she’d found resting on the top pillow. “This is beyond weird.” She rubbed the heart-shaped, red-foiled piece of chocolate between her finger and her thumb and tossed it to him. He unwrapped the candy and popped it into his mouth. Macy watched, waiting for his reaction. “Is it real?”

She asked the question but didn’t wait for the answer.

“Maybe we

shouldn’t eat any of this. Who knows if everything’s okay to eat?” Dan licked a drop of chocolate from his finger and sent a hot zing coursing through her abdomen. “You think someone would go to all this trouble to poison us? Naw, there’s 36

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something else going on. But the food…“ He crossed over to the basket, flipped the lid open, and revealed sandwiches, cheeses, a corkscrew, and two wine glasses. “…is perfect.” Cocking his eyebrow at her, he moved to the nearest wall and pressed his hands against the rock and pushed. He continued his examination around each side, while Macy laid out the food on the enclosed plaid blanket. “What are you searching for?” “A secret passage or something. We’d have seen if anyone came through the entrance, so they must have entered through a different way.” “Or it could be magic.” He stopped and confronted her. “Magic? You’re kidding, right?” She knew she might sound stupid, but she needed to voice her unease. “Hang on and let me explain. I’ve noticed something about Paradise Island. Every time…and I do mean every single time…I’ve wanted something, anything, all I had to do was say it out loud and, surprise, the item appeared. Haven’t you noticed?” Dan knelt next to her on the blanket. “I guess I assumed the staff did everything, an incredibly efficient staff, but not a bunch of magical elves or pixies.” She shot him a warning look and shook her head, intent on his comprehension. “Yeah, me, too, at first. But too many things happened. For instance, when I was in my room, all alone, I happened to say I wanted a cheeseburger.” Dan gave her one of his patented don’t-tell-me-you’re-still-eating-garbage expressions. She waved her finger at him to keep him quiet. “I wanted a cheeseburger, but I didn’t call room service. Yet, in less than a minute, a waiter knocked on my door with the best burger I’ve ever eaten.” “Okay, I admit that’s strange.” “And the same thing’s happened several times. Just like when you got hurt on the beach. The medic arrived in a flash, seconds after you said you needed a medic. Not a doctor, mind you. A medic. Not to mention the campfire and now this.” She nodded at the food spread out before them. He leaned into her, his face a quizzical study. “I see what you’re saying. Right from the start, this whole trip seemed off the wall. Do you think Kahu is doing all this stuff?” “He’s my pick. The guy’s not your average resort manager.” 37

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Dan took the corkscrew and opened the wine. Filling a glass, he sniffed at the liquid and passed the glass to her. He poured more into the other goblet. “Well, whatever’s going on with this place, we’re not finding out tonight.” Lightening struck close to the entrance, confirming his words. “We’re stuck here, Mace. So we may as well take advantage of the situation.” Macy sipped her wine and peered into the darkness of the storm. “Yeah. We’d better take advantage of our adventure together because when we don’t show up tonight, Kahu’s going to realize something’s wrong.

And when they find out we’ve crossed into The

Forbidden Ground, we’ll be on the fastest boat out of here.” “If we do get our butts kicked off the island, I won’t mind. Seeing you is worth anything and everything to me. Damn, but I do wish we’d found the treasure.” His face lit up and he cleared his throat to speak in a loud, clear voice. “I wish I had the treasure.” With a flourish, he downed his wine. Together, they scanned the cave, hoping to find a chest of jewels and gold sitting against a wall. When they found none, he shrugged and poured another glass. “Shoot. Well, it was worth a shot.” “What? Not even a gold coin or one lousy diamond?” She giggled at him and took a drink. “I guess the elves are taking a break.” He raised his arm in a toast and waited until she’d raised hers. “Here’s to you, Macy Maitland. I wouldn’t want to be stranded inside a cave with anyone else.” She cast her eyes down and sipped her drink, giving the butterflies in her stomach time to settle down. When she lifted her head again, his hand cupped her neck in the same second his mouth met hers. His wine-flavored tongue found hers and, whisking around, soaked up the tastes within.

He chuckled and his warm breath flowed into her, giving her more than mere

warmth. Her abdomen clenched in an exhilaration she’d never experienced with Ed. Never known with anyone other than Dan. A thunderclap cracked outside and she trembled. Mistaking her shiver for fright, he drew her into his arms, doubling the intensity of his kiss. He laid her onto the blanket and searched her face for any signs of doubt. 38

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“Macy, I’ve thought about you every day since I left Dallas.” “I know.” “You know? You know I thought about you all the time?” The emerald in his eyes twinkled with golden flecks, catching her, holding her to him. “No, Dan. I meant I understood. I’ve thought about you, too.” She’d dreamed of him every night for far too many nights. Through all the nights spent alone. Through all the nights spent with someone else. “Macy, finish what you started to say the other day. You said I left the day before something happened. What happened, babe?” The blood rushed to her feet and the color in her face rushed after it. Could she tell him? Should she tell him the awful truth? He deserved to know, but the words kept jumbling around inside her in a mad chase of tag. “I’m not sure how to tell you this.” Placing his hands on her cheeks, he bent forward and kissed her, his lips tender yet demanding. “Tell me, Mace. I don’t want any secrets between us. Do you?” His earnest expression tugged at her heart, forcing the words to fall into order. “No, I don’t. But, Dan, please understand why I never told you. I meant to, but you came home and told me you were bound for Colorado. I didn’t tell you after you’d made your decision because I wanted you to stay in Dallas for me. And not for…” His eyes clouded over and his frown deepened. “For what, Mace?” She held her breath, reconsidered, and decided to keep going. “For the baby.” Dan slumped backwards and blew out a great puff of air.

“A baby?

You were

pregnant?” Before she could respond, he slung his body forward and grabbed her by the arms. “Why didn’t you tell me? Do you have a child, Macy? Do we?” A searing pain shot through her abdomen, reliving the terrible day after his departure. “No. No baby, no child. I lost it. I miscarried the day after you left.” They clung together, needing the other’s warmth, needing the other’s pain to heal their own. Their bodies pressed together, leaving no space for air between them, and she couldn’t tell where her shuddering left and his began. With her head on his strong shoulder, she released the tears she’d held in check for so many years, soothing her ragged soul. For several minutes, she cried, unable to speak, while they comforted each other in silence. 39

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“I’m sorry, Dan. I’m sorry I never told you.” He hugged her harder. “Don’t be sorry. I’m the one who screwed up. I should have stayed. I wish I’d stayed.” A hole, empty for what seemed like forever, filled in her.

“You didn’t know.

I

withdrew without giving you a chance because I didn’t trust that you’d stay for me. I turned away from you first and then you turned away from me.” He leaned back to study her face and wipe the drops still rolling down her cheeks. “We were both foolish for letting each other go. But I’m not repeating my error. I’m not letting you go again.” “I don’t want you to.” “Good.” Lowering his head, he nibbled at her earlobe, knowing she loved the sensation of his hot breath in and on her ear. His hand slid under her tank top and found her waiting nipple. His tongue flickered down her neck toward her breasts, tracing a hot trail from her ear. She sighed, loving the rock-hard length of his manhood pressing next to her and the solidness of his chest pushing against hers. Reading her mind, he lifted her tank top from her and delighted at the sight of her unclad generous breasts. He groaned and continued his tongue’s work, sliding across her chest until he found her hard bud. Nipping, he circled her taut peak, while his hands cupped her breasts and fondled them. “Dan?” “Mmm?” “Let’s get naked.”

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Chapter Five

Demonstrating his agreement, he rolled onto his bottom and slid his shorts over his legs. His manhood sprang forth, unhindered by any undergarment. Shimmying off her own shorts, she laughed at his unabashed nudity. “I should have remembered you never use underwear.” “Nope. And neither should you.” He grabbed her panties and tugged them from her while she lifted her hips to help him. The storm raged outside, but all went quiet within the cave.

As if on cue, the

momentary lightheartedness disappeared, replaced by the acknowledgement of an important moment in their lives. They linked with their eyes, each questioning what would happen next, neither sure of how to proceed. The bond they’d once shared reconnected, forging them together in a union stronger than any other in existence. “Macy, I want you.” The desire, the need, the love in his face caught her, overwhelming her with a multitude of sensations. She fought against the tears, now tears of happiness, trying to spill forth. “I want you, too.” Reaching for him, she tried to pull him to her, but he resisted. Confused, she searched him for an answer. “Make sure you understand me, Mace. I want you. Physically, I ache for you. But I want more than sex with you. I want you in my life. No matter what.”

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Her intake of air filled her lungs, but the emotions twirling around inside her filled her heart to the brink of explosion. He wanted her. She wanted him, too. Nevertheless…reality wouldn’t change. “What about your job? You left me because of your job, remember? Nothing about that has changed.” She prayed he didn’t hear the wild thumping of her heart. Yet, at the same time, she couldn’t squelch the hope trying to regain possession of her spirit. His expression, however, sent a tingle racing down to the pit of her stomach. Should she want what she knew she couldn’t have? “I don’t care, Macy. I’ll quit my job and move back to Dallas. I’ll do whatever I can to get you back.” She gaped at him, dumbfounded, amazed to hear the words she’d longed for. “Are you serious?” “I’ve never been more serious in my life. I don’t care what I do as long as I’m with you. I love my job, but I can’t stand living without you. I think I realized it before this trip, but when I almost lost you in the water, I knew I couldn’t stand being apart from you. Not again.” She started to speak, to tell him how she felt, but couldn’t. Could she trust his words? Would he leave a job he loved? Should she let him? “Dan, are you sure?” At his nod, he brought her to him again. He bent his head and rained soft kisses over her breasts. One hand held a breast to him and he squeezed her softness as he bit and teased her other nipple. She arched higher now, wanting him to tempt her more. A strong hand covered her mound and she moaned her encouragement. He responded, slipping his finger between her folds. “Take me, Dan. I want you inside me.” “God, Macy, I need you. I don’t think I can last much longer.” “You don’t have to.” He paused, coughed a sarcastic sound, and rose up to study her. “I don’t suppose you brought protection?”

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He waited for an answer while she watched anxiety mix with the optimism on his features. She giggled and picked up the foil package lying at the edge of the blanket. “You want it, you got it. Ask and you shall receive on Paradise Island.” His head jerked back. “Man, now that’s what I call service. Spooky service, but good service.” She directed his head to her breasts, while his hands worked elsewhere. Running her fingers over the granite of his back, she pressed her hips to him, urging him to hurry. Lightening flashed and thunder clapped as he entered her, driving into her wetness with the strength of the storm raging outside. She bucked in sync with him, imploring him to go deeper, commanding him to thrust harder with every push. He growled, a low, animal-like sound, igniting the burn within her to grow hotter and hotter and she replied with a howl of ecstasy. Pumping against her, he matched her fervor, sending her mind and body into the heavens. She cried out his name, a salute to his lovemaking, a promise of her heart. As the storm struck the pinnacle of its power, the lovers within the cave reached the height of their coupling. Together, they screamed their pleasure into the night. **** Kahu stood at the highest window of Paradise Palace, and watched the storm move over the island. He scanned the shore, enjoying the waves rushing against the shoreline. His eyes glided along the beach, onto the land and up toward the cave. An unnatural blue glow surrounded the cave on the outside, providing a barrier, keeping the lashing rain and wind from entering the lovers’ nest. When their cries pierced the night air, the corners of his mouth curved in a small satisfied smile. **** Macy awoke with an incredible burst of overwhelming bliss. Wrapped in Dan’s arms, she resisted the urge to stretch her limbs and, instead, remained cuddled next to him. 43

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Although the floor of the cave made a hard bed, she wouldn’t have traded the blankets for the cushiest bed in all The Palace. Extending her neck, she pecked him on the cheek. “Life doesn’t get much better than this,” she whispered. “Nope. This is the best.” She gave him a slight shove, happy to have him stirring. “How long have you been awake, you sneak?” “Long enough to hear you snore.” “I do not snore.” She pushed him a little harder this time. “You heard your own noisemaker.” “Right. While I’m sound asleep, I can hear myself snoring. Got any other lame excuses, Mace?” His lips quirked in barely contained mirth. “Okay, if I did snore last night, and I do emphasize the improbability of that being true,” she grasped his hand as he raised it to argue. “I only did so because our climb up here wore me out.” Good one, Mace. The man’s not stupid. “Uh-huh. The climb wore you out. Nothing, or should I say, no one else contributed to your weariness?” “Well, okay. I’ll give credit where credit is due. You were a large part of my getting so tired.” She executed a fake cough. “A very large part.” She could almost see his chest puff up. Men’s egos were so easy to inflate. Especially when telling the truth. “Well, if you’re rested, I’d be happy to exhaust you again.” He tossed her a fiendish leer and flung his body on top of hers. Macy squealed, thrilled at the idea of more sex with Dan. However, the daylight shining into the cave rang an invisible alarm clock in her head. “From the position of the sun angling inside, I’d say we’ve slept away most of the morning. We’d better get back to The Palace before Kahu organizes a rescue party. The trail will be muddy, but if we’re careful, we should be okay.”

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Dan groaned, fell back to her side and buried his head under the blanket. “Who cares about Kahu? I want to keep you by my side and stay here.” Diving further under the covers, he tickled her ribcage, sending her into a fit of giggles. “Tell me you want me in your life, Macy.” His words ripped the humor out of her. Could she tell him? Could she trust him to stay with her? Did he mean what he’d said last night? Uncertainty spiked her blood pressure, relaying a message of warning to her brain. “Dan, I…” He sat up, taking her with him. “Mace? Do you want me to come home to Dallas or not?” She watched his jaw grit, but didn’t welcome the sight this time. “I don’t know. After what happened last time, I just don’t know.” Anger enveloped him and he threw off his cover. In one swift moment, he drew on his shorts, headed toward the entrance of the cave and placed his back to her. Macy saw his muscles working, fury sending shock waves throughout his frame. “Well, at least I know where I stand.” He spun around to challenge her. “You’re making me pay, aren’t you?” “What are you talking about? For leaving? Of course not.” “I left you, so now you’re rejecting me. Pretty cold, Mace. You know we belong together, but you’d rather get payback. I know you didn’t fake your emotions, or anything else, last night.” His tone left her icy with its ferocity. “No, I didn’t. I love you, Dan. I’m just not sure I can trust you to stay.” He stepped a foot closer, sincerity carved into his pained features. “Give me a chance, Macy. Give me a fresh start.” She wanted to say yes, but couldn’t get her voice to work. Instead, she gathered the blanket around her to shield her body from his eyes. The wine bottle propped up on a nearby rock jiggled, fell over, and broke when it struck the cave’s floor. Wrenched out of their conversation, Dan and Macy turned in sync and gawked at the bottle. As the tremor grew, Macy dropped the cloth and dug her nails into the dirt of the floor. 45

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“Earthquake!” Dan gathered up her clothes and threw them at her. “Move, babe. We’ve got to get out of here!” He yanked her to her feet while she tugged on her clothes. “No time to dress. Let’s get the hell out!” Tumbling out of the cave, Dan and Macy stopped on the cleared area in front and gaped, shocked, at the horrific sight in front of them. Paradise Palace pulsed with an eerie light from the flames leaping out her windows. Fiery arms enclosed the palace in a gruesome embrace sending glowing embers to ignite the green foliage several yards away. “No!” Fear, pain, and a crushing guilt stabbed her as she watched the beautiful citadel transform from the glory of a white goddess to a blackened monster. Her anguish reflected back to her from Dan’s lined face. “The earthquake must have started a fire. And with no fire department, she’ll be a goner in no time.” Smoke sifted into Macy’s nostrils as the breeze blew charred embers up the hillside. “This is awful. Poor Gerard. Poor Kahu. We’ve got to help them.” Clutching his hand, she started down the path she’d traveled less than twenty-four hours earlier. The night’s storm left the hard earth disfigured, changed from a hardened dirt passageway into a slippery slope. Using each other for balance, they stumbled and slid their way down to the beach. Breaking hands, they ran toward The Palace. Slamming to a stop several yards in front of the firestorm, Dan and Macy gulped for smoke-free air. The fire continued its onslaught through all the rooms and ventured toward the grand entrance. The blazing inferno engulfed more than half of the building. “Mace, where are all the people? Where’s Kahu?” Pulling away from the ghastly sight before her, Macy swiveled her head in all directions, searching for the employees of The Palace…and finding none. “I don’t know. I know they can’t all be inside, can they?” Her chest tightened as she sought out Dan for the answer. For the one answer she could accept. “No. Not all of them. There’s no way. Maybe they got out a different way.” Doubt clouded his words.

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“They got out. I know they did.” Macy forced a confidence in her voice, pushing to make her wish true. “But what about Kahu?” Dan shook his head, but paused when he scanned the scene again and pointed. “Shit. I don’t believe it. He can’t still be...” Following his lead, Macy raised her head and saw him. “It is! It’s Kahu! That’s him standing on the second story balcony!” Kahu stood, his body leaning against a column, overlooking the beach. Even as the flames grew around him, providing a hellish backdrop to his white hair and suit, he still radiated a blissful peace, beautiful in its serenity. Engrossed in watching Kahu, she failed to notice Dan’s departure. His broad, long legs carried him up the steps, into The Palace and into the blaze. “Dan! No! Come back!” Macy’s heart failed to beat for several seconds. Even as her mind shouted a warning to stay safe, she propelled herself forward and raced after Dan. Calling his name, she dashed for the wide entry doors, when a wall of heat hit her, throwing her backwards onto the sand. All air, all thought, all sensation slipped away. **** Macy dreamed of relaxing on sun-baked sand where the hot tropical sun fed renewal and rebirth into her tired, lonely soul. A magnificent palace loomed behind her, welcoming her, awaiting her visit. Dan, her love, lay next to her, his face a tortured mask of sorrow and defeat. Why is he so sad? She reached out for him, wanting to tell him how much she loved him, but her hands couldn’t grasp his shoulders.

She cried out his name and he answered, but the fearful

determination surrounding him remained. Hearing Dan calling her, her reverie gradually morphed into reality, giving up her fight to stay in the vision. She opened her eyes and found Dan kneeled over her cradled head, murmuring her name, urging her back to consciousness.

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“Thank God, Macy. You scared the hell out of me.” He tried to stretch his features to deflect the tension, but failed. I scared the hell out of him? She shot up, sending a knife of agony slicing through her head, but she ignored the pain and continued. “I scared you?” She hit him on the arm with all the meager force she could muster, yet he didn’t appear to notice. “You run into a burning building and I scared the hell out of you?” The grief in his eyes doused her anger, making her regret her sudden outburst. Compassion filled her and she threw her body against him, enfolding him, wanting to erase all his despair. “Are you all right? Are you burned?” Pushing away from him, yet still clinging on and promising herself she’d never let go, she begged him for answers. “I couldn’t get to him, Mace. Kahu. I couldn’t save him.” A sob racked his body and she hugged him closer. She tried the words first as a whisper, pretending that whispering them would make them less real.

“Kahu is gone?”

Twisting her head, she grimaced when she saw the

smoldering ashes of The Palace. “Everything’s gone.” Tears, hot and salty, washed the ashes from her cheeks. “It’s all our fault. We shouldn’t have gone into The Forbidden Ground.” He opened his mouth to disagree and couldn’t. Instead, he dropped his head, shielding his view from the ruins. Together they sat, holding each other, comforting each other, until the sun started its descent into the ocean. Neither of them spoke, refusing to believe the evidence in front of them, refusing to admit the truth. Paradise Palace, Kahu, Gerard, and the others were gone.

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Chapter Six

“Ms. Maitland. Mr. Harding. I’ve come to take you home.” Macy heard the words, but didn’t recognize their meaning. Not until she’d glanced back toward the sea and found Gerard standing behind her. Dressed to perfection in his black suit, he exuded his usual emotionless patience. Dan, however, didn’t hesitate to respond. “Gerard!” Leaping to his feet, Dan traversed the distance between them in a single bound. “Thank God you’re alive!” Gerard, unaffected as always, accepted Dan’s hug without reaction. “Yes, sir, I am. Now if you and the lady would follow me, we’ll depart for Hawaii immediately.” Dan grasped his shoulders and shook the older man. “Gerard, don’t you see what’s happened? And Kahu. Have you seen him? Have you seen the others?” Without a word, Gerard pivoted and marched toward the yacht. Glancing at each other, Macy and Dan followed behind him, questioning him as they went. “Gerard? Why won’t you answer?” Macy tried, but couldn’t keep the vexation from her tone. Her clenched fists remained at her side, resisting the urge to strike him. At least, maybe then he’d give them some kind of response. “Ms. Maitland, please board the yacht.” Gerard held out his hand to help her onto the vessel. Once aboard, Dan placed a hand on Gerard’s chest, stopping him in his tracks. “Damn it, man. I know you’re one reserved guy, but I never pegged you as a cold-hearted son of a bitch. Don’t you have any feelings?”

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“Mr. Harding, please do not touch me again.” Stepping sideways, he skirted around Dan and motioned for the crew to prepare for departure. Seconds later, the yacht’s motor kicked into gear and they headed out to sea. The lack of any emotion in Gerard’s voice shook Macy more than if he’d struck her. Did he care about Kahu and the others at all? Dan grunted expletives at Gerard’s back and waited for him to take offence. When he didn’t, he slid Macy’s hand into his and turned for one last glimpse of the lost paradise. Macy squeezed his hand, knowing his frustration, and forced down the bile rising in her throat. Words tried to form in her head, but broke apart, shredded by her invading memories. She’d found so much at Paradise Island. And lost so much as well. “Miss? Sir?” Gerard appeared beside them and held out a cream-colored envelope, reminiscent of the invitation. Dan accepted it with a curt nod of dismissal and waited until Gerard left before breaking the Paradise Palace seal. “Dan, wait a minute. I want to tell you something first.” Macy tucked her head, buying time to organize her thoughts. “I realize now…” She gestured toward the smoking Palace remains. “…what’s really important to me and I know how much you mean to me. When you ran into the building, my whole world collapsed. And I knew if you didn’t come out…” A small cry escaped her as she wrestled to stay in control. “I knew if you didn’t come out, I’d have lost more than my world. I would have lost my soul.” Dan cupped her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. “So does this mean I’m relocating to Dallas?” “Well, no. I don’t want you to move to Dallas.” “You don’t?” The joy on his face faltered and his gaze bored into hers. She moved her head, just enough to register the denial. “No. Instead, I’m going to move to Colorado. That is, if you’ll have me.” His lips pressed to hers gave her the answer she needed. He gripped her, securing her against him as his palm slid behind her neck, keeping her glued to him. “Yeah, I’ll have you. Every day and every night. And twice on Sundays.”

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She kissed him on the cheek, understanding, celebrating the real meaning behind his words. “Okay, Harding, read it out loud.” She rose on her tiptoes, trying to read the elegant script. Dan kissed her again and pulled out an embossed card with intricate lettering. “Dear Ms. Maitland and Mr. Harding, The Benefactor hopes you enjoyed your visit to Paradise Island. Although you transgressed against the rules by entering The Forbidden Ground...“ Macy gasped. “He knew. I hate that he died knowing we went against the rule. Dan, I want him back. I want it all to come back.” Dan countered her remorse. “Yeah, I know. But I’m not sorry we broke the rule. If we hadn’t spent the night alone in the cave, we wouldn’t have found each other again. Hell, we might not even be alive. So, no, I’m not sorry.” He cast her a small smile and continued to read. “...The Benefactor is pleased you have found your Treasure. Life’s Treasure lies not in material riches, but in the love we find with another. Your love is your true Treasure and The Benefactor is grateful for playing a small part in your discovery. Take care of each other as you did on Paradise Island. Your Humble Host, Kahu” Macy took Dan’s arm in hers and leaned her head against him. “Damn. He must have written this before…” She couldn’t bring herself to say the words. “Maybe not. Check it out.” Lifting her head, she followed his gaze back to the island. The lush forested island, no longer leveled by the fire, rose before her in all its previous glory. Once again, birds floated lazily over the sandy beach, cawing and diving, a scene of tranquility. Strong, tall palms formed majestic guards watching over their domain. In the midst of the splendor of the island, Paradise Palace, restored from charred ashes, shone like a sparkling white jewel set in a mounting of gold.

Shimmering windows,

untouched by fire, blinked a farewell in the sunlit day. “It’s all back, Dan!” 51

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From behind, he wrapped his arms around her and folded her into him. She closed her eyes, pleased with the contentment his body gave her. But his sharp intake of air alerted her to more. “What?” “On the shore. Do you see?” The awe, the wonderment in his voice sent her searching, hoping. A solitary figure stood at the edge of the beach, gazing out toward the yacht. White hair flowed away from his white suit, following the wind’s path from the sea over the land. He waved at them and they knew, rather than saw, the small smile forming on his lips. “All I had to do was ask.” Macy laughed, hugged Dan closer, and waved farewell to Paradise Island. THE END

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Thank you for visiting www.AspenMountainPress.com and purchasing this copy of Paradise Island by Beverly Rae. Keep an eye out for future stories from Ms. Rae including Mr. Lonely and Baby Blue. And as a thank you for stopping by, please use this coupon for 10% off your next purchase at www.AspenMountainPress.com Coupon Code: RAE42508-PI

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