His Bride in Paradise

by Joanna Neil

  How could that be? She gave herself a mental shake and put up a hand, flat against his chest. ‘I can’t,’ she said softly. ‘I just can’t.’

  ‘Alyssa…’ Her name was a gentle sigh on his lips. ‘You and I could be so good together. There’s a chemistry between us…you know it and I know it. What would be the harm?’

  ‘It’s not right. It doesn’t feel right. And besides, there’s Ross…I can’t do that to him.’

  She felt as though she was taking Ross’s name in vain, but Ross was the only safeguard she had. No matter that there wasn’t anything between them, it was enough that Connor would have to think twice about what he was doing. Through all this, he had his brother’s interests at heart.

  ‘You don’t want him,’ he said huskily. ‘You’ve been overwhelmed by the chance he gave you to come out here. Who wouldn’t be? But if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll see that you want what he can give you…the kudos of being with a film producer, with a wealthy man, a man who can make all your cares disappear.’

  His hand stroked along the length of her spine, a slow sweep of silk that made her insides quiver and fired up her blood so that her pulse throbbed and her heart hammered against her rib cage.

  ‘You and I are a lot alike, though you may not see it right now. Think about it. We could make a go of it, have a good time, with no commitment on either side. It’ll be fun, you’ll see, if only you’re brave enough to give it a try.’

  She shook her head and took a step away from him. ‘No, Connor,’ she said. ‘Forget it. It isn’t going to happen.’

  She swivelled around and started to walk back along the beach. She’d been badly hurt back home by James, who had sworn that he loved her, wanted her, needed her, and it had all ended in disaster.

  She wasn’t going to let that happen all over again, especially with a man who was only playing games with her heart.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  ‘HEY, look at you…you’re absolutely gorgeous!’ Ross exclaimed, his grey-blue eyes lighting up as Alyssa came out onto the deck. He gave a low whistle. ‘You are fantastic.’

  She gave him an uncertain smile. ‘Well…thank you, but it’s just a cocktail dress. I wasn’t sure what I should wear for our evening out. Is this a bit over the top for a few drinks at a bar, do you think?’

  ‘No way. But I can see I shall have to be on my guard—you’ll turn the head of every man in the place.’

  She made a wry smile. ‘That’s not exactly what I had in mind.’ Ross was full of enthusiasm, and didn’t seem to have noticed her worried expression. ‘I just wanted to pick out something that’s a little dressy to go along with the nature of the place and yet casual enough for an evening with friends.’ She frowned. ‘Now I’m not so sure I’ve made the right choice.’

  ‘You have, believe me.’ A soft, thudding sound caught their attention and they turned to see Connor climbing the steps onto the deck. ‘Tell her, Connor,’ Ross said. ‘You must have heard what we were saying. Tell her she looks great.’

  Connor was already looking at her, his eyes widening a fraction, but he didn’t say anything for a second or two. He’d just arrived home from the hospital, and she could see by his expression that it had been a difficult day for him. There were lines of strain around his eyes and mouth, lending his strong features a trace of vulnerability.

  He dragged his gaze away from her and nodded. ‘You’ve pitched it just right,’ he said at last. ‘I’m assuming Ross is taking you to the Reef?’

  ‘That’s right.’ Perversely, she didn’t know whether to be disappointed or thankful that he’d made no other comment about how she looked. She was wearing a dress that faithfully followed the outline of her curves, an off-the-shoulder style, with a lightly beaded top and a skirt that finished just above her knees. ‘We’re having a get-together for the cast and crew, a sort of half-time rallying call. After everything that has gone wrong lately, Ross felt we needed some kind of pick-me-up.’

  Connor nodded, coming to lean negligently against the rail. He looked good, dressed in pristine, dark trousers and a mid-blue linen shirt. ‘Sounds good to me, but I’m not sure this is the best time to be going.’

  She frowned. ‘Why not? I don’t know what you mean.’

  ‘There’s a storm brewing.’ He looked up into the cloud-laden sky. ‘I can feel it in the air. The heat was oppressive earlier, and now there’s a change in the atmosphere. The wind’s building up.’

  Ross shook his head. ‘It’s a beautiful evening. There’s just a bit of a breeze, that’s all, and there have been no warnings issued. Anyway, we’ll only be out for two or three hours. We all have to work in the morning.’

  ‘Even so…’ Connor stood his ground.

  Alyssa sent Ross a troubled glance. ‘It’s not too late for us to cancel, is it, just to be sure?’ For some reason she trusted Connor’s judgement, and if he was cautious, perhaps they ought to take his concerns seriously. ‘We could ring round and let everyone know, couldn’t we? We can easily arrange a different date.’

  ‘It’s too late for that, I think,’ Ross said. ‘Some people will already be there. Besides, I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. The wind’s coming in off the sea, it’s true, and it feels a little chillier than we’re used to, but it’ll be fine, I’m sure. We might get a heavy rainstorm, but it should blow over fairly quickly.’

  ‘Okay…’ There was a hint of doubt in her voice. ‘If you think so.’ She looked at Connor, but he made no further comment. He was watching her, his gaze brooding, and she wondered if he was thinking about the day’s events. ‘Would you like me to get you some coffee, Connor? You look as though you could do with a cup.’

  ‘Thanks. That would be good.’ His gaze travelled to the mass of coppery curls that framed her face, lighting on the beaded clips that held her hair back and then dipping down to the silver necklace at her throat. For a moment she thought he was going to say something more but he stayed silent, and she turned to go into the kitchen. Both men followed her.

  ‘Have you had a bad day?’ she asked Connor as she switched on the coffee maker and set out mugs on the island bar. ‘You look weary.’

  He frowned. ‘Let’s just say, I’ve known better. I lost a patient today…a road-accident victim.’

  Her green eyes clouded with compassion. ‘I’m so sorry.’ Despite her ambivalent feelings about him, Alyssa was torn by the tinge of raw emotion she saw on his face. She knew what it felt like to come home after a particularly bad day at the hospital.

  Seeing those same feelings echoed in Connor’s demeanour made her want to go to him and put her arms around him to offer sympathy and support. But after what had happened on the beach the other day, she had to steel herself to keep some distance between them.

  He pressed his lips together briefly. ‘We did everything we could, but it was hopeless from the start, really. His injuries were too severe, and he’d lost a lot of blood.’

  She nodded, understanding what he was going through. ‘You try to tell yourself you’ve given your best, but it doesn’t help when the outcome is bad, does it? That awful sense of loss is always going to be there.’ She sent him a quick glance. ‘Was it the motorcyclist from the other day? You said he had multiple injuries.’

  ‘No, fortunately he’s recovering after surgery. It’ll be a long job, but he’s on the mend.’ He accepted the mug of coffee she offered him and took a slow, satisfying sip. ‘It’s the same with Alex. He’s recovering, but he has a long path ahead of him.’

  ‘Yes, I realised that when I went to see him at lunchtime.’ She recalled Alex’s mixed feelings, pleasure at having visitors, and frustration with his situation. ‘He wants to walk, but the signals from his brain are not getting to his legs properly and so he’s finding it very difficult. It may be that the spinal cord is badly bruised and perhaps things will improve with time.’

  ‘We’re doing what we can for his family, in the meantime,’ Ross said. ‘There will be an insurance payout,
but until that’s finalised we’re making sure that they can pay their rent and put food on the table.’

  She smiled at him and laid her hand on his in acknowledgement. ‘That must be a huge relief for him.’

  ‘It is.’ He returned her smile and squeezed her hand. ‘It’s one less pressure on him, anyway.’

  ‘So how have things gone for you this week?’ Connor dragged his gaze from where her hand was engulfed in Ross’s larger one, and looked Alyssa in the eyes. ‘Have you managed to steer clear of any major casualties?’

  ‘It’s been good.’ Conscious of his narrow-eyed scrutiny, she carefully extricated her hand. ‘I haven’t had to do much at all, except to soak up the sun while I’ve watched the film being made. I’m looking forward to spending a few more weeks doing that.’

  ‘Hmm.’ Connor studied her thoughtfully. ‘Doesn’t it ever bother you, the fact that you have great medical skills at your fingertips and yet you’re not using them? You showed your expertise when you worked on Alex. Doesn’t it ever occur to you that you’re wasting years of expensive medical training by opting out?’

  She sucked in a sharp breath. He’d delivered a thrust that had gone directly to her heart. She hadn’t been expecting it, and the way he’d said it, in such a straightforward, matter-of-fact way, somehow made it seem all the worse.

  ‘I don’t see it that way. I felt I needed a change of direction.’ There was a faint quiver in her voice. ‘I’m doing what’s right for me at the moment.’ She shook her head. ‘I don’t expect you to understand.’

  Ross wrapped his arms around her. ‘Don’t let my brother get to you. He’s sometimes very blunt and doesn’t realise how he might hit a nerve.’ Glaring at Connor, he said in a terse voice, ‘You shouldn’t judge Alyssa that way. You don’t know her well enough.’

  ‘Obviously not.’ Connor’s gaze darkened as Ross kissed Alyssa lightly on the temple and hugged her close. He straightened up and moved away from the worktop. ‘I’m going up to my apartment to take a shower. Enjoy your evening…if you still insist on going. Just take care, and make sure you watch out for any warning signs. You might find you need to stay at the bar until things settle down.’

  ‘I doubt that’ll be necessary,’ Ross answered. ‘We’ll be home by ten-thirty at the latest, because we have to get an early start tomorrow. We’re shooting the scenes that take place at sunrise.’

  Connor acknowledged that with a nod and left the room, but Ross kept his arms around Alyssa for a moment or two longer.

  She looked up at him. ‘Could he be right? I mean…’

  ‘You worry too much. We get used to these tropical storms around here.’ He smiled and dropped a gentle kiss on her mouth. ‘You should try to relax a little.’

  She sent him a cautious glance. ‘Ross…you know Connor has the wrong idea about you and me, don’t you? He thinks we’re involved with one another, and it doesn’t help when he sees you hold me this way. It’s bound to make him think there’s something going on.’

  Ross sighed. ‘Yeah, I know.’ He looked into her eyes. ‘And there isn’t anything between us, is there? Not on your part, right?’

  Alyssa frowned. She had to deal with this, once and for all. Ross had to understand the way she felt. ‘You know how I feel, don’t you? We’re friends, Ross…great friends, but that’s all. I can’t think of you any other way. Besides, after the way my ex treated me, I’m not even going to think of getting involved again. It’s just too painful. I’m sorry.’

  ‘I know.’ He ran a hand down her bare arm, his expression filled with sympathy and understanding. ‘As for Connor, I know he has the wrong idea about you and me, but that annoys me. He’s my big brother and he’s always looked out for me since I was small, but it’s time he realised I can make my own decisions for good or bad.’ He laid a finger beneath her chin. ‘I can’t resist tormenting him a little, just to teach him a lesson. You’re a good person and he shouldn’t let his prejudices rule him.’

  She shook her head. ‘Even so, I want you to stop. It isn’t helping and I don’t like him getting the wrong impression.’

  ‘Okay.’ He slowly released her. ‘I’m not promising anything, but I’ll try.’

  They left for the Reef Bar a short time later, and met up with friends in the lounge area where doors had been opened onto a covered terrace to let in the fresh evening air.

  The atmosphere was boisterous and happy, with heavy beat music coming from a group of men playing drums, cowbells and whistles, along with a brass section made up of horns, trumpets, trombones and tuba. It was lively and very loud so that Alyssa had almost to shout to make herself heard.

  ‘I’ll get you a drink,’ Ross said. ‘What will you have? They do all sorts of cocktails here.’

  She studied the list, written up on a board at the side of the bar. ‘Hmm…let me see…Tequila Sunset sounds good…a mix of vodka and Cointreau…and so does Yellow Bird.’ That was made from a herbal liqueur called Galliano and added rum. She mulled things over. ‘But I think I’ll go with Brown Skin Girl.’ It was a mix of rum with crème de cocoa, cranberry and orange juice, and when Ross handed it to her it was in a wide-rimmed cocktail glass filled with ice and topped with a cherry.

  ‘Mmm…this is delicious,’ she told him, taking a sip. She noticed he wasn’t drinking anything alcoholic, probably because he would be driving later. It didn’t seem to spoil his fun, though, because he joined in with the general chatter, laughter and dancing, pulling her out onto the wooden dance floor to move to the rhythm of the Caribbean.

  They danced and chatted with members of the film crew and cast, and the time passed so quickly that Alyssa was taken by surprise when it was time to leave.

  ‘Do you want to stay on?’ Ross asked. ‘I could arrange a lift, or a taxi, for you.’

  ‘No, don’t do that. I’ll go home with you,’ she told him, and together they went to say their goodbyes to everyone.

  ‘I’ve had a wonderful time,’ she murmured, as they left the bar a short time later.

  ‘So have I.’ He pushed open the side door that led on to the car park, and for the first time that day Alyssa felt the chill of the breeze on her bare arms. She shivered a little, and Ross put his arm around her to warm her. Looking about her, she noticed the branches of a nearby casuarina tree shaking wildly in the breeze, its thin, needle-like leaves tossed about with casual ease.

  ‘It’s going to rain,’ Ross said, looking at the leaden sky. He frowned. ‘Let’s get to the car before it starts.’

  His car was a sleek silver saloon, and Alyssa was glad to slip into the passenger seat as his prediction came true. Her bare arms were already wet and within a few seconds the initial individual raindrops had turned into a lashing downpour. She could hear it beating down on the roof of the car.

  ‘Do you think we ought to follow Connor’s advice and stay at the bar until the storm passes over?’ she asked, looking out of the window at the growing turbulence all around. The wind had become almost violent in nature, and there was a noise, an ominous sound in the background, that she couldn’t quite fathom.

  Ross frowned. ‘That could mean we’re stuck here for hours,’ he said. ‘We’re only about twenty minutes’ drive away from home, so we could probably make it back before things get too bad.’

  ‘I suppose so.’ She wasn’t convinced, and she was still worried about that loud, booming sound she could hear, even from within the relatively safe interior of the car. She saw that the Reef’s bartenders were beginning to close the doors and draw the shutters over the windows. ‘What’s that noise I can hear? Do you know?’

  ‘It’s probably the sea,’ he answered. ‘The danger from these tropical storms isn’t to do with the wind so much as the sea. It gets whipped up and the waves build up and the water starts to encroach on the land. Any inlets or streams quickly get swollen with flood water.’

  ‘That doesn’t sound too good.’

  ‘No. But we’re some distance from the ocean here, so we prob
ably don’t need to worry too much.’

  A thought struck her, and her brows drew together in a frown. ‘But we’re right next to the sea back at the house. Doesn’t that mean Connor’s in danger?’ The fact that he might be in trouble made her want to rush back right away.

  Ross shook his head. ‘We’re on the leeward side of the island, so we’re relatively sheltered there. And the trees and shrubs tend to act as a windbreak. We’re on quite a raised plot, too, which is why you can look out over the sea from there. Connor will be all right.’

  She was relieved. ‘That’s something, at least.’ She wasn’t happy about going on but, then, she wasn’t used to life on the island, whereas Ross had lived here most of his life. She’d follow his lead.

  He started up the car and they headed out along the road towards the main highway. Alyssa was apprehensive, watching the branches of the trees that lined their route sway dangerously in the wind. Some of the less sturdy ones would lose their branches if things became much worse, she felt sure.

  Ross turned the car onto a quiet, rural road. ‘This should be the safer option, I think,’ he murmured. ‘It’s less open to crosswinds.’

  She nodded, following his logic, but she was cautious about the tall trees that stood like menacing sentinels on either side of the road. The sky was ominously dark, and the trees appeared as black figures against the skyline, their branches dipping and swooping in a frightening way.

  There was a sudden creaking and a crashing sound as one of the smaller trees seemed to uproot itself and she stared at it in horror as it started to fall across their path. Ross was quick to take evasive action, turning the steering wheel vigorously and driving towards the opposite side of the road, but Alyssa had the dreadful feeling that it was too late. Her stomach clenched in fear as a massive branch fell across the front of the car, smashing into them. At the same time the car came to a sudden stop as Ross slammed on the brakes.