An Impossible Attraction

by Elsa Winckler

  Hannah sniffled, hugging her gently. “They’re going to take you to your room and a doctor will have a look at you,” she said gently. “I’m going to have a word with the security people.”

  “What is going on, Hannah?” Zoe asked anxiously. Obviously something was very wrong.

  “It’s a long story. I’m just so sorry you had to be caught up in the mess. Let me try and sort this out, then I’ll talk to all of you.”

  Zoe hugged her, felt her sister trembling. “I’ll come with you, I’m really fine.”

  But Hannah moved away, shaking her head. “Let a doctor have a look, please? I’ll come when I’m done here.”

  As she was wheeled into the hotel, Zoe closed her eyes. What on earth was going on in Hannah’s life? She was seriously worried about her sister.

  Ouch, her hands and knees were burning fiercely now, the pain at her back was throbbing, and she felt like crying. She wished Dale were here. As the thought popped into her head, she blinked and opened her eyes wide. Dale had his fling with her. It was over. Somehow she had to learn to accept that.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Dale was pacing. He’d tried to do some work but gave up after a while, realizing he wasn’t getting anything done. Then he tried the gym, and although he was beat after his workout, his brain still refused to settle down.

  He couldn’t put a word to what he was feeling, but something was just off. He kept thinking about Zoe. And that wasn’t something new, he seemed to be always thinking about her. But he was on edge, unsettled, and these were not familiar feelings.

  The manager at the hotel on Mahé had assured him they’d make sure the two sisters wouldn’t go out alone and mentioned that Darryn had left similar instructions. Still, he just couldn’t settle down.

  Maybe he should fly out to Mahé tonight. They’d just bought a small plane for the company, because relying on the usual modes of transport was getting in the way of business. Their plane was at Cape Town International Airport at the moment, and as far as he knew, none of his other brothers had indicated they’d be using it.

  He made up his mind quickly. Staying here meant he was not going to get anything done. That had become very clear. Something inside of him was urging him to fly out to Zoe, and he’d always relied on his instinct.

  While he looked around for his cell phone, it rang. The hotel in Mahé. Something cold touched his insides and he knew. His gut hadn’t been wrong. He quickly answered.

  The security guy spoke in a clipped voice. “I’m sorry Mr. Cavallo, but there has been an incident.”

  Dale sat down, the sudden roaring in his ears making it nearly impossible to catch what the guy was saying.

  Minutes later, they’d finished speaking, and Dale sat staring at his phone, trying to make sense of what he’d heard.

  His phone rang again. It was Darryn.

  “You heard?”

  “Yes. Look, I’m going to fly out there tonight. I was going to anyway…”

  “Why? It sounds as if she’s fine,” Darryn said. “Don’t you have work to do here?”

  Dale rubbed the back of his neck. Damn it to hell. How did he explain the desperate worry, the ridiculous madness, the yearning inside of him?

  “I’m leaving as soon as possible. All I know is that I have to see her, have to know whether she’s okay. I…”

  “Get ready, they’re fueling the plane, I’m on my way to pick you up. I’ve spoken to the police, and we’ll meet with them when we get there. We’ll talk then.”

  Dale stared at the phone. Blasted Darryn. He had planned to go to go to Mahé on his own.

  For one more second, he sat frozen before he grabbed his passport and wallet. Fortunately no visas were required for the islands. And they each had a room in all their hotels with cupboards filled with clothes. This was one of those times he was very glad that he didn’t have to think about packing.

  Damn it, he should have stopped her from leaving. He should have been with her, he should never have let her go to Mahé on her own. He should—

  Dumbfounded, he stared around his room. He was struggling to think. Doing ordinary things just didn’t make sense at the moment. What was he doing in his room again?

  *

  The insistent ringing of her phone woke Zoe up. Groggily she answered.

  “How are you feeling?” Dale asked in a clipped voice.

  “I… I’m fine,” Zoe said and closed her eyes again. She was probably dreaming anyway.

  “Darryn and I are on our way, we should be there in about seven hours. You are not to leave the hotel, okay?”

  “Okay,” she whispered and fell asleep again. It was so nice to hear his voice, even if it was only in her dreams.

  *

  When she woke up, it was morning and Hannah was sitting on her bed.

  “Hi.” She smiled.

  “Hi, yourself,” Hannah said and scooted closer to her. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m fine. My hands are worse than my knees and they aren’t so bad either. The doctor reckoned one or two of my ribs have been bruised, and that hurts like the devil, but otherwise I’m fine. My pants are ruined though.” She grimaced. She held up her bandaged hands. “They look worse with the bandages, but the doctor insisted I have these on for at least a day. He’ll come and check on me again this afternoon.”

  “I can’t believe you were kicked,” Hannah muttered.

  “Yes, and a nasty kick too. But really, it’s not so bad,” Zoe said trying to erase the worry on Hannah’s face. “It could have been anyone in the crowd, and it might have been done by accident.”

  But Hannah shook her head. “I wish it was that simple, but this was no accident.”

  “What is going on, Hannah? Who is this ‘he’ you spoke about last night and what is happening? Talk to me.”

  “I… I’m not sure. I have to figure this out on my own.”

  “But you don’t have to, surely you know that we’ll all help? But we can’t help you if we don’t know what’s going on.”

  “And risk more of you getting hurt? I can’t let that—”

  A sudden commotion erupted outside their room, and the next minute both Dale and Darryn burst inside.

  Zoe blinked. Hannah stood up quickly.

  “What are you doing here?” Hannah demanded.

  “What do you think?” Darryn said gruffly. But then Dale was next to Zoe’s bed and she only had eyes for him.

  “Zoe,” he said and touched her face, her hair, her arms. “Are you really okay? Your hands.” He breathed and turned them gently around. “What happened?”

  “That’s what I would also like to know,” Darryn growled.

  Zoe felt so overwhelmed she wanted to burst into tears. Damn it, she came to the Seychelles to get away from Dale. And now he was here, and she was so glad to see him, she wanted to throw her arms around him and sob out her worry for Hannah on his solid chest.

  “You are upsetting Zoe.” Hannah scolded Darryn. “Look, she’s crying.”

  Darryn rubbed his face. “I’m sorry,” he said to Zoe. “I don’t want to upset you, I’m just trying to find out what happened.” He turned to Hannah. “And, by the way, can I just point out that if you hadn’t been so stubborn, none of this would’ve happened. We had security people who were happy to escort you, but, no, you always have to do things your way.”

  “I know that!” Hannah called out, clearly upset. “I don’t need you to remind me!”

  She turned to Zoe. “We’ll talk later. I can’t be in the same room with this man.” She stormed out, Darryn close on her heels.

  Shaking his head, Dale sat next to her on the bed. “Tell me what happened,” he said again.

  Zoe tried to remember everything and relayed the events of the previous evening in as much detail as she could.

  “Hannah seems to think it was because I was mistaken for her that this happened,” Zoe said. “Although she hasn’t gotten around to telling me exactly why anyone would want to hurt her.�
��

  “How could someone mistake you for her?” Dale asked, obviously startled.

  Zoe grimaced. “I know. She’s so beautiful, blonde, and well-known, why anyone would mistake me for her, I don’t know. We were wearing similar outfits, maybe that was why.”

  Surprised, Dale touched her cheek. “That’s not what I meant at all. Yes, Hannah is beautiful, but you…” He inhaled and stroked her arms. “I don’t see anyone else when you’re around.”

  Zoe caught her breath. “Dale,” she whispered.

  He smiled and moved closer. “At least you’re sounding better than you did when I phoned earlier.”

  “It was really you on the phone? I thought I was dreaming,” she said and could have bitten her tongue.

  He smiled. “So, you dream about me?”

  “Dale, please. I’m not in the mood for teasing.”

  *

  Dale picked up one of her hands and played with her fingers. “When the staff here phoned me to say you’d been in an accident…”

  It was so difficult to convey the absolute dread he’d felt in the pit of his stomach for hours. “They tried to explain what happened, but I didn’t know how badly you were hurt and had to hear your voice. I died a thousand deaths. Zoe, I don’t know what is going on between us, but this incident has just confirmed what I’d already known—I want you in my life.”

  Zoe was scowling. “Dale, I’m just a diversion for you—”

  He swore and gently touched her face. “Is that really what you think? That I end up in bed with every woman I’m seen with? Damn it, Zoe, you left me, remember? And, okay, I have a reputation that I’m usually the one leaving, but with you… It’s different.”

  “I… I…” She bit her lip, and all his good intentions flew out of the window.

  His hands trembled. “Why? After the amazing night we had, why did you leave? You made coffee for me, left me something to eat, which by the way, has never happened to me before, but you left. Why?”

  She gave him a look before she glanced down. “I left before you could,” she said.

  Dale stared at her back and swallowed. Time to come clean.

  He nodded. “The truth? You’re probably right. I would have. I would have pushed you away because I was completely thrown by the intensity of what happened between us,” he said quietly.

  Her face was carefully blank. But she swallowed and he knew—he had a chance. If he didn’t bugger it up again, that was.

  “What do you mean?” she asked, her voice husky.

  He could smile again. “You know perfectly well what I mean. The night we had together was amazing—you were amazing. It was much more than sex. I still don’t know exactly what this thing is between us, but I want to find out. One night with you,” he said, taking her hands in his, “has not been enough.” He leaned in and kissed her softly. “And I’m not sure,” he murmured against her skin, his lips gliding over her mouth, “how many nights and days would be enough.”

  She pulled away slightly. “I don’t know, Dale, it makes working with you very complicated.”

  He smiled. “Then it’s complicated. Come to think of it, you’re complicated. You annoy me, you irritate me, you’ve upset my life, but I want to spend every one of those annoying, irritating, upsetting moments with you.”

  “I annoy you?” She gasped. “You are the most annoying person I have ever met!”

  “Good.” He smiled. “Then we fit perfectly.”

  *

  His words nestled around her heart and breathing became difficult. We. He’d referred to them as we. Two of them. Together.

  He kissed her on the forehead and took her hands again. “Now you have to rest, please. Your bruised ribs must hurt like hell. You’re still very pale. Darryn and I will talk to the police—”

  “There’s really nothing to tell, I—”

  “We have to report the incident, and they will need to get a statement from you. But I’ll come and get you later, and we’ll see whether you’re up to an evening out.”

  Dazed, Zoe stared after him. That “we” word again. She hugged herself. This could not possibly last. But for now, she was going to enjoy this beautiful island, this gorgeous man, and whatever life was handing her on a platter at the moment. Later, after Dale had moved on to the next woman, there would be enough time for crying.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Darryn was pacing their office when Dale entered. Darryn rounded on him immediately.

  “The police are on their way. What did Zoe say? What happened?”

  Dale stared at his brother. He’d never seen him like this. “She repeated what our security people told us. Except she mentioned that Hannah thought whoever did this mistook Zoe for Hannah.”

  “What?” Darryn said, clearly upset. “I could wring that woman’s neck. She didn’t say anything about that to me.”

  “If you stop behaving like a madman, she might talk to you. Talk about crazy behavior. What the hell is wrong with you?”

  Darryn swore. “Someone hurt Zoe, thinking it was Hannah. And Hannah knows something, I can see it. The hit and run incident and this one are connected in some way, I’m sure of it.”

  Dale frowned. “And the police? What do they say?”

  “Still investigating is all the information I could get out of them. Damn it, I’m sure Hannah suspects someone, but will she talk about it? Nooo, the lady is too stubborn, too bloody pigheaded to tell anyone or to ask for help.”

  “Hmmm, she sounds like someone I know. You know, someone who is stubborn and pigheaded, not prone to ask for help—sound familiar?”

  “You’re the last person to talk about crazy behavior,” Darryn said in a tight voice. “You got a thing for Zoe?”

  “You got a thing for Hannah?” Dale asked.

  “Just shut up,” Darryn said and, cussing under his breath, stormed out of the office.

  Dale stared at the closing door. There was obviously something going on between Darryn and Hannah, and Hannah’s troubles worried him but Darryn would make sure that they found out what really happened.

  But at the moment Dale’s only concern was Zoe. At least he’d seen her, knew she wasn’t too badly hurt. For the first time since he got the phone call, he could relax. Zoe was going to be okay, and he was going to make sure she stayed that way. She was not making a move on this island without him. Anyone who’d want to hurt her would have to go through him first.

  Their secretary announced the arrival of the police. He wasn’t sure what they could tell them, but he and Darryn both felt it was necessary to lodge a complaint. And to find out whether there was any information about the hit-and-run accident Hannah had been in last year.

  *

  “Feeling better I see,” Hannah said from the door.

  Motioning Hannah to enter, Zoe finished brushing her hair. “Yes, I’m much better. Hopefully these bandages can also be removed later this afternoon.” She walked towards Hannah. “Sis, who is trying to hurt you?”

  Hannah sighed. “I don’t know.”

  “But you have a good idea?”

  Hannah walked towards the big windows overlooking the sea. “Maybe. I don’t know. And I don’t want to say anything before I do know.”

  “Does Darryn know what is going on?”

  Hannah shook her head quickly. “No, and I don’t want him to even know what I’ve told you.”

  “Is that why you didn’t want to talk to the police? I couldn’t tell them anything really, either. I didn’t see anything. I could only describe what happened to me, but I didn’t see the person who pushed and kicked me.”

  “Zoe, I…” Hannah’s eyes filled with tears. “I only have suspicions at this point, not anything concrete for the police. I want to tell you, I really do, but …” Hannah burst into tears.

  Zoe quickly walked closer and hugged Hannah. “I’m worried about you, Sis. There was the hit and run incident and now this. I really think you should talk to the police or—”

  Hannah’s
sobs grew louder. “Zoe, please,” she hiccupped. “Not now, please? I’m so glad you’re going to be okay, let’s not talk about this anymore?”

  Zoe wanted to protest, but Hannah was clearly very upset and she didn’t want to pressure her further.

  She led Hannah back to the bed and gave her a tissue.

  Gradually Hannah’s sobs subsided. Eventually she turned to Zoe with a lopsided smile. “So, Dale arrived on his white horse when you were hurt.”

  “Mmm, and so did Darryn,” Zoe teased.

  That shut Hannah up for a couple of seconds. “It’s not the same, and anyway I don’t want to talk about Darryn.”

  Zoe thought about Darryn’s extreme behavior of this afternoon. She sighed. What was it with the Cavallo men? She hadn’t heard from Dale since the morning she’d left her flat after their lovemaking and yet, when she was hurt, he flew in, acting caringly. Which meant what, exactly?

  “You slept with Dale?” Hannah asked.

  “Yeah, I did.”

  “And?”

  “And nothing. You know the kind of lives they lead. I’m just a diversion at the moment.”

  “You sure about that?” Hannah asked.

  “I’m going to finish this project. By that time, he’ll have someone else hanging on his arm, and I’ll probably only see him at family gatherings. The only reason he asked me to do this project was as a favor to Don. We all know that. I don’t like the idea that I got this assignment because of family ties, but I’m going to make sure I use the opportunity to my firm’s advantage. And anyway, we know happy-ever-afters don’t really exist, don’t we? Men don’t stick around when the going gets tough.”

  Hannah snorted. “You’re worth being around, Zoe, I wish you knew that. Don’t sell yourself short. But you’re right about one thing. Men don’t stick around.”

  “And you know that how? Darryn?”

  Hannah shrugged. “It’s complicated. You feeling up to a stroll outside? We’ll stay on the hotel grounds,” she added with a grimace.

  “Yes, please. If I stay here for another minute, I’ll go crazy.”