Bound By Her Ring

by Nicole Flockton

  He’d teamed a camel coloured polo shirt with black chinos. The butter-soft leather jacket, also black, slung casually over his arm reminded her of his earlier comment about how the evening would cool down.

  “I’ll get my jacket and purse then I’m ready.”

  She brushed past him and his crisp, spicy aftershave tickled her senses, reminding her of a fresh, snowy, winter’s morning in the mountains. If she closed her eyes she could almost imagine the feather-soft snow crunching loudly underfoot and the scent of pine needles filling the air. She’d loved those family holidays in the mountains.

  Scooping up her jacket and purse, she waited until Lukas had joined her before asking, “So, where are we going for dinner?”

  “Dinner is a surprise.”

  “A surprise? Somehow you don’t seem to be the surprise type of guy.”

  “Really?” he took her by the arm and led her towards the door. “So what type of guy am I?”

  She waited until Luciano had closed the door before answering, conscious of the warm hand on her lower back. “Well I’d say that everything you do is planned to a ‘T’. Every angle is looked at and analysed before proceeding. Am I close?”

  “I’m impressed. When it comes to business deals yes. When it comes to my personal life, I’m anything but analytical. You, for one, should know that, Jasmine.”

  Another barb, would he ever give up.

  “Do you think, even for tonight, you could leave out the constant innuendos about my memory loss?” she asked. “It’s clear you don’t believe me and I don’t know what I can say or do to change your belief. But I would like to eat without the need to watch everything I say or do.”

  She waited for an answer, his face a blank canvas giving her no indication of what he was thinking or what he was about to say.

  He inclined his head as he touched a finger to the end of her nose. “I think I can manage that.”

  She folded her arms across her chest, hiding the effect his soft touch had on her body. It seemed so out of character “You still sound condescending. Somehow, I don’t think you can ever take that tone out of your voice.”

  He laughed. “I think I like this new feisty Jasmine much better than the meek and mild one of before.”

  His words puzzled her, but any train of thought blurred in her mind as he pried her arms apart and slipped his fingers into hers, holding them lightly. Her heart skipped a beat at the warmth radiating up her arm. He led her towards the resort foyer again and disappointment coursed through her. It looked like they would be eating in the restaurant. Why would he say it was a surprise? There was nothing surprising about eating in a resort restaurant.

  Lukas stopped and turned towards her. “Stay here, I won’t be a moment.”

  He made his way over to reception, she relaxed when she noted the receptionist from the afternoon wasn’t manning the desk. After a brief conversation with the clerk, he headed back to her. She couldn’t help but notice the way he moved, his sure, confident steps mesmerising. Though the reception area wasn’t crowded he commanded the attention of the small number of people milling around, herself included. It reinforced her earlier thought there was no way she would’ve been ashamed to be married to him. There had to be another reason why no one recalled them being together.

  Reaching her side he took her hand, raising it to his lips to place a soft, short kiss on her fingers, as if claiming possession. His gaze didn’t meet hers but appeared to be directed to someone off to her side.

  Confusion, mixed with desire generated from his touch, swept through her. Turning in the direction of his look, she noticed a man making a swift exit down the hallway.

  What was that all about? Surely Lukas couldn’t be jealous.

  She let the thought fester momentarily and was secretly thrilled to think it was jealousy motivating Lukas’s actions. Maybe he wasn’t so immune to her after all. A soft smile formed and she let herself bask in the light of the small victory.

  “What’s the smile for?”

  “Nothing.” Looking up at him she cocked her head to the side. “So are we headed somewhere or are we eating dinner in the foyer?”

  Lukas shrugged his shoulders negligently. “No I have something else in mind, something much more private than dining in a roomful of people. Come.”

  Taking command again, he led her out the main door and straight to their hire car. Parked a discreet distance away was a familiar looking black SUV.

  “How private is it going to be with your band of thugs tracking our every move?” she asked.

  “They’re not going to be following us, they’re going to be staying here.”

  “Why? What’s the point in having security if you don’t use them?”

  “We don’t need them where we’re going,” he said simply. “It will just be us.”

  Jasmine had absolutely no idea what to expect from the evening after that. He didn’t expand further and she didn’t ask any more questions. It was safer to go with the flow.

  After a short journey Lukas pulled the car into a small, gravel car park, commonly used as a rest area for long distance travellers. There was nothing but scrubby, spindly bushland on either side of the road. She could just make out a sandy path directly in front of where the car was parked.

  He made his way around the front of the car to her side and opened her door.

  She hesitated momentarily, doubts crowding in about their location. “Will the car be safe here?”

  What she really meant was would she be safe, here, with him in the middle of nowhere. If she got out of the vehicle she was taking an enormous leap of faith and trust. There was no one around to relieve the situation if it got tense. They were alone in the middle of the bush. All of a sudden she wished his security team had followed them.

  “The car will be perfectly safe.” He squatted down in front of her, his trousers pulling tautly over his strong thighs. “There is nothing to worry about tesoro mio.”

  She knew from his comment he was aware her concern wasn’t for the car but for her own wellbeing. It was irrational to feel the way she was. She knew he would be the one everyone would turn to in a time of crisis.

  She slipped her legs out of the car and stood before him. “Thank you.”

  It was all that needed to be said.

  She waited while Lukas removed a picnic basket from the trunk of the car. He slammed the lid down and joined her.

  He took her hand, a burst of electricity zinged between them at the contact, her fingers tightened. An answering firmness in Lukas’s grip told her he, too, had felt it.

  They made their way down the path. Lukas walked with a surefootedness that could only come from prior knowledge.

  “You’ve been here before?” she asked.

  “Not recently.”

  He didn’t elaborate and she wondered how long ago he had traversed the thin stretch of sand and with whom. Moments later she came to an abrupt halt at the vision that lay before her. The bush opened out to a beautiful secluded cove. The water a crystal clear blue, so still it looked like glass. The sun was setting and it bathed the whole cove in a golden light. Nature was putting on a perfect show and she almost thought Lukas had arranged it.

  In the middle of the beach was a table, surrounded by bamboo lamps. It looked like a ceremonial alter. It looked vaguely familiar. She couldn’t place where she might have seen it. Not waiting to see if he would follow, Jasmine set out down the small slope to the flat ground of the beach, stopping long enough to remove her sandals. The sun-warmed sand should have felt gritty but was powder soft under her feet. As she got closer to the table she could see it had been placed on a piece of wood so they wouldn’t have to worry about sinking into the sand. The table had been set with fine white china and silverware which sparkled and glittered under the setting sun. Slim white candles sat serenely in diamond cut crystal holders.

  Jasmine wondered what Lukas had planned. If he was trying to woo her with his romantic side he was succeeding.
>
  The muffled thump of the picnic basket being placed on the wood had her turning towards the sound. A gentle breeze was ruffling Lukas’s hair, making him look young and carefree.

  “This is beautiful, how did you find out about it? It’s so peaceful. We could be the only two people left alive.” She tried for cool and nonchalant but the beauty of the whole setting had words gushing out in a torrent. She turned her back on Lukas so he couldn’t see the embarrassment she was sure was showing on her features.

  “I’ve known about it for a while.”

  His reply was anything but helpful and something in his tone had her turning back towards him. With his sunglasses hiding his eyes she couldn’t really tell what he was thinking.

  The view drew her gaze again; it was less complicated than trying to decipher what was going on with Lukas. “I’m surprised it’s not inundated with locals wanting one last swim before the sun sets.”

  “We won’t be disturbed, if that’s what you’re worried about. This cove is on private property. The locals respect that.”

  Like in the cartoons when a character gets a flash of insight and a light-bulb illuminates above their head, it all made sense.

  She walked towards him. “This is your land isn’t it?”

  “What makes you think that?”

  “Don’t take me for a fool. You said you were taking me somewhere ‘private’, dismissed your security team. Assured me that we would be safe. And then you say this cove is owned privately.”

  She placed a hand on her hip, flicked her sunglasses up and imagined her eyes had trapped him in the sand. “I can think logically, even with amnesia.”

  He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Yes I own it, is that going to be a problem to us enjoying a meal?”

  “No problem at all. I’m glad everything is out in the open.”

  She wondered when he purchased the land and if she’d come with him. She glanced around in the hope something; anything might trigger a memory flashback. But nothing, nothing at all flashed through her mind.

  “How long have you owned the land?”

  “For a while.”

  His tone had finality about it, telling her that was all the information she was going to get. Was there any point in pushing for more?

  She looked at the table with its romantic setting, the view and then back to Lukas, the man responsible for it all. It could wait. She’d ask him another time.

  She pointed to the table. “Shall we eat?”

  If Lukas was surprised he gave no indication of it. He just walked to a chair and held it out for her.

  She smiled up at him and sat down, placing her shoes underneath her chair. She shook the crisp, white linen of the napkin and placed it on her lap, looking around to see if a waiter would appear to serve them the food and drinks.

  “So we’re by ourselves, no waiters or anything?” she asked.

  “No, I didn’t want any interruptions.”

  A sense of foreboding filled Jasmine. Was Lukas testing her?

  “Would you like some wine?”

  His question broke through her troubled thoughts. She needed to keep her wits about herself but she needed something to calm her nerves.

  “Yes thank you.” Her reply sounded stilted to her own ears.

  “Relax, Jasmine,” he said as he filled her glass. “Let’s forget the last couple of hours and spend the next few reacquainting ourselves.”

  His reply seemed so genuine that any thoughts of him testing her flew out the window. She took a sip of the wine and enjoyed the burst of fruity flavour on her tongue.

  With swift, economic movements Lukas transferred all the containers from the picnic basket to the table. Jasmine’s mouth watered as each lid was removed. The sight of Lukas doing something so domestic as serving up food was in complete contrast with the ruthless businessman who walked into her office and blackmailed her.

  “Help yourself while it’s still hot.”

  Jasmine spent the next few moments filling her plate with juicy, plump shrimp, fresh garden salad and crispy Italian bread. She savoured the explosion of flavours from the succulent meat and the tangy seasoning on the salad, mixed in with the softness of the bread. Finishing it all off with the wine.

  As the wine relaxed her, Jasmine leaned back and twirled the glass between her fingers.

  “What are your plans for the cove?”

  “Absolutely nothing.” He swept his hand around encompassing the view. “This is one of nature’s little paradises that shouldn’t be messed with.”

  “I would think you could make a fortune developing this into a resort.”

  “You’re right a fortune could be made, but this area of land will remain as it is. There are enough resorts to support the tourist industry in this area.”

  She didn’t quite know what to say. She was surprised; the opportunity to create an exclusive resort would certainly have appealed to her father. He was always more interested in making a profit than caring for the environment.

  “No comeback, cara?”

  “What is there to say? You’ve said it all. It’s too beautiful to spoil.” She took a sip of her wine. “Some people may not be as magnanimous as you. Others will only see the profit to be made.”

  “Is that what you’d do if you had the land? Would you build a resort?”

  The question was a challenge and the insinuation he knew exactly what her father would do stung. If only he knew how, over the last few weeks, she’d stood up to her father and questioned some of his motives.

  “No, Lukas,” Jasmine saw him tense at the wrong use of his name. “Sorry Luciano, I wouldn’t build a resort. Like you, I believe it’s too beautiful to ruin.”

  The quirking of his eyebrow raised her ire and she continued before he could say anything. “Does that surprise you? Did you think I’d say, let’s bring in the bulldozers?”

  “If your father owned the land, that’s exactly what he’d do.”

  “Well he doesn’t, does he, you do. So it’s not an issue?”

  “This is true. More wine?”

  She ground her teeth against his arrogant tone, “No thanks, I think I need to keep my wits about me.”

  A change of subject was needed. “Shall we go for a walk?” she asked

  Lukas, no Luciano she had to remember to think of him that way, was clearly shocked at her suggestion and so was she. It was the last thing she expected to burst out of her mouth.

  With his eyes never leaving hers he pushed his chair back and stood.

  “Shall we?” he held out his hand.

  After a moment’s hesitation she placed her hand in his, again, ignoring the spark that arched up her arm.

  They made their way down to the waterline, pausing to allow Luciano to remove his shoes and roll his trousers up.

  He took her hand again and started off down the beach. It should’ve been daunting, walking along a darkened beach but with Luciano beside her Jasmine felt anything but concerned. She felt safe.

  She sunk her toes into the damp sand, waiting for the moment when the soft lapping waves would reach her. She shivered initially at the cool touch of the water, but by the time the next wave rippled up to her she welcomed the coldness. She needed the chill to reduce the heat coursing through her from his touch.

  A companionable silence stretched between them, each consumed by their own thoughts.

  She never would’ve taken him for a man who would walk barefoot over the sand.

  “You’d be taken aback if you knew some of the things I do.”

  Confusion hit her for a second, until she realised she must have spoken the words out loud.

  “Really? I’m intrigued.” She cocked her head to one side. “Are you going to spill some of those little secrets?”

  “I think I should let you discover for yourself what they are.”

  She laughed and flicked some water with her toes and mimicked his earlier words to her. “I think I prefer this relaxed Luciano to the corporate busine
ssman.”

  She didn’t notice Luciano stiffen beside her as she continued, too caught up in the ambience of the moonlight and ocean and romance, to temper her words. “Luciano,” she pondered the feel of his name on her lips. “You know I’ve tried saying it out loud, in my mind and I can’t do it, I can’t call you Luciano.”

  He stopped and because he still gripped her hand, she stopped too. “So what do you think you should call me?”

  She paused for a moment, completely oblivious to the tension emanating so thickly from him it could be cut with a carving knife. She knew what he would say if she said she wanted to call him Lukas, even though it felt so natural to call him that. “What about Luc or does everyone call you that?”

  “My close friends call me Luc. So if you wish you can call me that.”

  Something tugged at the recesses of her mind. Something important and significant, but she couldn’t work out what.

  “You know what,” she suddenly blurted out. “I don’t think I can. I’ve tried to fight it. Tried to conform to your request that I call you Luciano. But I can’t I have to call you Lukas it feels more natural to do that. It suits the man I’m coming to…”

  Her voice trailed off and she gasped. “We’ve had this conversation before.”

  She changed her position so she could look directly at him. Her eyes had adjusted to the darkness and there was enough light from the moon to make out his still features. Her answer was etched plainly on his face.

  “Yes, we have.”

  “When?” again she didn’t need to know the answer, instinctively she knew. “It was on our first date wasn’t it?”

  “Yes.”

  Jasmine’s knees buckled and she would’ve collapsed onto the damp ground if Lukas hadn’t caught her by his side and led her up to sit in the dry, soft sand.

  “What are you doing to me?” she asked in an agonised whisper.

  “I’m not doing anything to you.”

  She rubbed her fingers across her brow, soothing the dull ache. “I was dealing with my amnesia. Accepting I may never remember and then you barge into my life.”

  “Which has caused you what, to have to try harder to keep up the act?”