Ava

by Denise Devine

  “Yes,” she replied, surprising him. “It’s actually my favorite meal of the day.”

  Don’t ask her...

  He ignored his inner voice and opened his mouth anyway. “Would you like to meet me in the café, say around nine? After I’ve had my morning workout?”

  “Yes, I’d like that.”

  The elevator stopped, the doors opened and Ava walked out. “See you then.”

  He held the door open for a few seconds, watching her hips sway as she walked away.

  It’s only breakfast...

  Chapter Seven

  Saturday, September 5th

  The Perfect Ride

  Ava relaxed at the bistro table on her balcony with a small pot of black coffee as she listened to the birds chirping in the morning sun. It seemed odd not to have a cell phone setting on the table next to her coffee mug, its constant ping reminding her to check her email, her Facebook account and the day’s news, but at the same time, not having it gave her a sense of freedom. Never before had she realized how much she had come to depend upon that one tiny device—or how much of a slave she’d become to it. In a way, she wished she didn’t have to get another one, but of course, that would be completely impractical. Her friends—and her mother—would have a fit if they couldn’t call her, text her or message her.

  As she sipped on her coffee, she gazed through the bars of the iron railing to the lush tropical garden below. The same garden where she and Jeff had strolled the evening before...and he’d nearly kissed her.

  Curious, she stood up and peered between the wide palmate leaves of the tall trees shading her room to gaze down at the beautiful foliage. An older couple held hands as they strolled along the paved walk curving between orange and yellow hibiscus shrubs and pink bougainvillea. In the distance, a small, white wedding chapel sat regally on a stone patio with tall white statues lining the walk leading up to it. Behind it, the sea stretched toward an endless horizon. She wondered if the couple had come here to get married or if they were celebrating a major milestone in their marriage. They looked so happy together.

  She turned away from the railing, questioning why some couples were perfectly matched and others were not. Her marriage had fallen apart within two years, but the damage it caused had lasted much longer. She wished she’d known beforehand what she knew now about the necessity for give-and-take in a marriage, but unfortunately, she’d learned the hard way.

  She was glad she had decided to accept Lisa’s gift and make this trip. Some of it had turned out to be a total disaster—well, most of it, actually, so she couldn’t understand why she had suddenly experienced such a burst of happiness in her heart. Could it be because she was looking down at a garden filled with the most beautiful magenta bougainvillea in a truly enchanted place? Was it because she had a good chance now to see Emma, Lisa’s new baby?

  Or could it be Jeff...

  She shook her head. “Don’t get any ideas, Lady. He’s an employee from Perfect Match sent here to handle the mess you’ve made by kicking both of your matches off the island. Now that you’re stranded, he’s only staying with you out of a sense of duty to his company.”

  She sighed, knowing she’d hit on the truth. In a couple days she’d be back home and would never see him again.

  The shrill ring of the telephone jarred her thoughts. She went into the bedroom, wondering if Jeff had changed his mind about their breakfast date. It wasn’t Jeff calling, however. It was her mother.

  “Hi, Mom, did you ship my passport this morning?”

  “That’s why I’m calling, honey. I can’t find it.”

  What?

  An instant hot flash swept over her, causing her to feel faint. She had no idea she could experience such a thing at thirty-one, but she’d never lost her only legal form of ID at such a crucial moment before, either.

  “Did you check my large Bible? I always keep it there.”

  “That’s the problem. I can’t find it.”

  “Mom,” she replied, beginning to panic, “it should be right on the nightstand where I left it. I don’t see how you could miss it. The book is nearly as big as a carry-on suitcase.”

  Georgette sounded completely baffled. “Well, it’s not there now.”

  “Did you look under the bed or behind the furniture?”

  “Yes, I did. Are you sure you left it there?”

  Ava sat on the bed and stared at the floor, racking her brain to remember the last time she’d seen it before she left for Enchanted Island.

  Ohmygosh. Ohmygosh. Think. How could you misplace something that big?

  “Mom, I desperately need my passport. You have to find it.”

  Georgette smacked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, indicating she was deep in thought. “Maybe I’ll get your dad to help.”

  The notion of her parents snooping through every nook and cranny in her personal space was not a comforting thought, but in view of the current crisis, the sacrifice had to be made.

  “Okay, but please call me when you find it. If I’m out of my room, leave a message and I’ll call you back.”

  “Haven’t you purchased a new charger for your cell phone yet?”

  She closed her eyes in frustration. I would if I had a credit card. “No, I haven’t had time. I have to go downtown Morganville to get one.”

  “When you do, be careful. There are always bad people roaming around, looking to take advantage of unsuspecting tourists. Goodbye now.”

  She almost choked. “Right. Bye, Mom.”

  Letting out a small, exasperated shriek, she fell back on the bed and closed her eyes.

  This day had already fallen apart and she hadn’t even had breakfast yet.

  ****

  At nine sharp, Ava walked into the Starfish Café and found Jeff already sitting in a booth, drinking coffee and reading the newspaper.

  “Good morning,” she said, purposely sounding chipper. She didn’t want her passport woes to ruin her day.

  He smiled. “Good morning.” His thick, curly hair looked damp, as though he’d freshly showered. He wore a gray T-shirt with “Pink Floyd” printed on it, jeans and tennis shoes. The snug fit of his shirt revealed a wide, muscular chest and solid biceps, making him look truly like a buff “surfer dude.”

  She had dressed casually today as well in a pair of light blue Capri pants and a white knit top with a round neckline. And tennis shoes. Her feet were still sore from wearing those gorgeous, but impractical four-inch stilettos last night and she’d decided to give her toes a break by putting on sensible footwear for one day. She’d woven her hair into a French braid.

  A young server approached their booth and set a tall glass of orange juice in front of Jeff.

  “Good morning,” the girl said to Ava and handed her a laminated breakfast menu. “Would you care for coffee today?”

  “Yes, please.”

  The server left to fetch her beverage.

  “What are you having,” Ava mentioned absently as she studied the menu, looking for her favorite breakfast dish.

  “Oatmeal, banana and raisins.”

  “What? You’re kidding!” She looked up from her menu and laughed. “You strike me as a fried eggs and sausage guy.”

  “I eat more than my share of that stuff, but not today. I need some energy.”

  “Why?” His healthy menu choices intrigued her. “What do you have planned?”

  He set the paper aside and picked up his coffee mug. “I’ve rented a motorcycle to take a drive on the coastal road today. If I’m going to stay a couple days, I might as check out the highlights. My clients are always asking questions about the amenities on this island. It’s very popular.”

  Really? Disappointment overshadowed her upbeat mood. That meant she’d be spending the day alone.

  “Oh.”

  He set down his coffee, studying her curiously. “Does that mean you’d like to come with me?”

  “Maybe I do.” She went very still, wondering if she had the nerve to g
et on his motorcycle. “Yeah...”

  “You sound undecided. Have you ever been on a motorcycle before?”

  “...no.”

  He sat back and perused her with a mischievous grin. “This should be interesting.”

  Ava drew in a tense breath. “You won’t go fast, will you?”

  “How about I just go the speed limit?”

  “Don’t you usually do that?”

  His wicked grin told her all she needed to know.

  The server appeared with Ava’s coffee and took their breakfast order. She decided to get the same thing Jeff ordered, hoping his power food would give her the mental stamina she needed to get on his motorcycle. She was afraid she might lose her nerve at the last minute.

  “How’s the passport issue coming along,” Jeff asked while they were eating breakfast. He knew she’d talked to her mother about shipping it to her at the hotel. What he didn’t know was that Georgette couldn’t find it.

  “It should arrive in a day or so.” She slipped her hand under the table and crossed her fingers.

  After breakfast, they walked outside to inspect the royal blue Honda, or “bike,” as Jeff called it, that he had rented from a dealership in Morganville, the island’s territorial capitol city.

  He handed her a black, sparkly helmet and helped her put it on. During breakfast, he’d called the dealership and asked for a second helmet to be delivered with the bike.

  After strapping on his own helmet, he rolled the bike off the trailer and looked back at Ava. “Are you ready?” At her nod, he turned the key and went through several steps then pressed the starter button. The bike roared to life. Jeff turned and patted the empty space behind him. “Come on! Get on!”

  Her stomach flipped a one-eighty at the thought of riding on the back of that mechanical monster, even if she did have—in her mind—the best driver on the island taking her for a spin.

  Shaking with fright, she cautiously lifted her leg over the bike and slid across the seat, twining her fingers for dear life around the belt loops on Jeff’s jeans.

  “Ready?” he shouted over the noise.

  She nodded nervously, feeling as though her breakfast might come back up.

  I’m so-o-o glad I didn’t order eggs!

  Jeff cranked the throttle and the bike took off. At the end of the resort entrance, he stopped, looked both ways and took a left turn on the blacktop, quickly increasing speed. After the first bump, Ava let go of her death grip on his waistband and wrapped her arms around his waist. She scrunched her eyes shut, preferring not to watch the world whiz by.

  After a few minutes, she wondered where they were going and decided to peek, opening one eye. The beauty of the landscape left her pleasantly surprised. The forest had disappeared, giving way to a panoramic view of the sparkling aqua waves of the Caribbean Sea lapping upon a rocky shoreline. They continued along the curved coastal highway with the wind in their faces and the sun on their backs, covering long, flat stretches of road and sometimes, rolling hills. They drove past exclusive resorts, sprawling estates, an occasional hamlet, skirted the edge of Morganville and at one point, spotted a majestic yellow mansion with white gingerbread trim sitting high upon a hill.

  They made a complete tour of the island then bypassed their resort, continuing for a while before Jeff signaled and turned left at a sign that read “LaBore National Park.” He pulled into a parking lot and shut off the bike.

  “I saw some information on this park back at the resort and decided it would be an interesting place to visit,” he said as he slid off the bike. He removed his helmet and assisted Ava in taking off hers.

  She slowly slid off the seat, trying to keep her balance, but her knees wobbled so much she nearly collapsed.

  “Hold on to me,” Jeff murmured as he slid his arms around her, supporting her. “You’re not used to riding, but it’ll get better.”

  The gentle strength of his arm embracing her, pressing her against his chest created a flutter deep in her stomach. She held on as he curved his arm around her waist, guiding her across the parking lot. They took a walking path made of crushed shells to the interpretive center.

  Once inside the air-conditioned, brick building, Jeff purchased a couple bottles of water and obtained a walking tour map of the park. They left the building and sat at a table in the outdoor café, planning their day.

  “I think we should do some hiking,” he said as he spread out the map. He pointed to a series of interconnecting trails and boardwalks that wound through a hardwood forest, a mango swamp, an area for bird watching and other points of interest. “Would you like to do that?”

  Ava glanced up from the map and saw the encouraging look on his face. “Hey, you’re looking at a girl who hiked both the Grand Canyon and Crater Lake in high school. I’m no sissy. Of course, I’ll do it.” Smiling, she stood up. “Let’s go.”

  Jeff and Ava spent the morning hiking several miles, visiting points of interest and reading the informational way markers at designated spots. At lunchtime, they dined on chicken wrap sandwiches and sodas in the outdoor café.

  They spent the afternoon taking a guided tour through the LaBore Museum, the huge, yellow mansion they’d passed on the way to the park entrance. The one-hundred-fifty-year-old house had been the plantation home of one of Enchanted Island’s most prominent citizens, Anna LaBore, who had recently passed away at ninety-seven. Anna had bequeathed her home, her land and her fortune to the IPC, formally known as the Island Preservation Commission. Her Last Will and Testament had given specific instructions to the IPC to convert her family’s estate into a museum and a park to preserve the natural beauty of the area and the wildlife habitat.

  By the time they made it back to the resort, they were hungry for dinner, but also very tired.

  Jeff parked the bike and locked up the helmets before escorting Ava into the lobby.

  “I had a lot of fun today. Thank you for taking me along,” she said as they walked into the elevator.

  The doors closed behind them. Jeff pressed their floor buttons. “What are your plans for dinner?”

  Dinner by room service and a nice, hot bath sounded like the perfect medicine for what ailed her. “I’m so tired and sore I can hardly walk. I think I’m going to soak in the tub and relax tonight. Maybe read a book. And you?”

  The doors opened at her floor, but he reached out to hold them while they talked. “I’m thinking about ordering pizza and renting a movie.”

  She stepped out into the hallway, wishing she wasn’t so beat she could barely talk. An after-dinner ice cream drink with him in the bar would have been a nice way to end her day. “Enjoy your movie.”

  “See you at breakfast? Same time?”

  She smiled. “Okay. See you then.”

  She stood watching as the doors closed on him, wishing they’d met under different circumstances. They’d had a lot of fun today, mainly because they held the same interests. If Jeff had been a fellow client of the online dating company instead of an employee, perhaps their profiles might have made a perfect match.

  Ava walked to her room, humming a tune, wondering what Jeff had planned for tomorrow.

  Chapter Eight

  Sunday, September 6th

  The Perfect Mistake

  Jeff met Ava for breakfast the next morning in the Starfish Café at about the same time and in the same booth. He’d completed his workout, showered and arrived early, taking the liberty to request coffee and menus for both himself and Ava.

  She arrived at nine o’clock sharp wearing a yellow and white print tee and solid yellow shorts.

  “Morning, sunshine,” he said and filled her mug with steaming coffee from the thermal pot on the table.

  She’d twisted her thick, copper hair into a knot at the crown of her head, but wispy tendrils escaped around her hairline, framing her face. She looked ready for another day of exploring the island. At least, he hoped so.

  “Good morning,” she said with a beautiful smile as she slipped op
posite him in the booth. “What’s on the agenda for today?”

  “More exploring. Do you want to come with me again?”

  She blew on her coffee and took a cautious sip. “Sure, what do you have in mind?”

  “I thought it would be fun to visit Turquoise Cove. I’ve been asking around about the best places to visit and all of the resort employees give it two thumbs-up.”

  “Okay!” She picked up her menu. “What are you having for breakfast today, more oatmeal?”

  He pushed his menu aside. “Whatever you’re having. This time you get to pick.”

  She shot him a playful grin. “Then I’d say you’re having a Belgian waffle with strawberries and whipped cream.”

  H-m-m-m...

  “Make mine banana with walnuts and you’ve got a deal.”

  She laughed. “Okay, you get the banana and I’ll get the strawberries.”

  He loved the sound of her laughter and wondered how long it had been since she’d truly had lighthearted moments like they’d experienced in the last two days. She could have used the robbery as a reason to be depressed or angry, but in spite of it all, she’d managed to keep her sense of humor.

  Dawson had been wrong about her. The woman he’d dealt with had been frustrated and unhappy. And yet, given the right environment, she wasn’t like that at all.

  After breakfast, they stopped by the America Express Office in the lobby and checked on the status of Ava’s new credit card. The customer service rep cheerfully checked Ava’s account and informed them the card was on its way.

  After that, they climbed on the bike and drove along the coastal highway until they came to the turnoff for Turquoise Cove. The narrow dirt lane took them uphill through a dense forest to a huge clearing where a weathered limestone outcropping overlooked the water. At the west side of the parking area, they saw a small café perched in full view of the cliffs and, in the distance, a high, densely forested mountain with a zipline station erected at the top.

  Jeff parked the bike and locked down their helmets. They were about to walk toward the restaurant when a scooter sped into the parking area. Jeff stopped. Something about that scooter looked familiar; it was the same faded green as the one he’d seen at the airport. He lifted his sunglasses and studied the driver. The man wore the same black bill cap and sunglasses as the thief had worn.