Chapter Seven

The door creaked open, then the room flooded with light as the curtains were pulled back. Melo’s eyelids flickered open. Her eyes felt gritty, as if she’d been crawling all night through the desert. She rubbed at them, wishing she were still asleep.

A boisterous body compressed the mattress. Rosa.

“Where did you get to last night?”

Melo clamped her eyes shut again. Playing dead.

“I know you’re awake. I saw you. Come on, Melo.” Rosa’s tone altered from bossy to persuasive. A finger stroked Melo’s arm. “I brought coffee.”

Melo breathed in and opened her eyes to take in Rosa’s grin. Could there be anything worse than a happy bride? She scooted up in bed, resting her back against the headboard, and felt a smile tug at the corner of her mouth. Rosa’s mood was infectious, it was impossible to stay grouchy at her for long.

“Coffee first,” Melo said.

Rosa obediently placed the china cup in her sister’s hand. Her feet were tapping on the floor and her whole body was doing the tell-me-all-about-it twitch. She bit at her bottom lip as Melo slowly drank, impatience rolling off her in waves.

Melo took her time. Payback for the early morning wake-up call. It was a familiar scenario. When they were children Rosa had always needed to know everything now. She hadn’t changed. And her sister taking it slow had always tickled and teased.

“Melo!” A high-pitched, frustrated plea.

They’d always shared everything.

Melo capitulated. “It was a lovely party, wasn’t it?”

Rosa’s gaze held hers steadily. Like a captain navigating the rocks watches the lighthouse. Unblinking. But her hands fluttered on her lap.

“It was wonderful. Until I realized you’d disappeared. And Cade too.” Her voice dropped. “I searched everywhere for you. Adam did too. We checked the garden, the bedrooms…”

“I went out.” Melo focused at the coffee grounds in the bottom of her cup. Rolled one between her front teeth. Talking about Cade seemed wrong. What had happened between them too young, too new to share. Her gaze flickered to Rosa. Her sister wasn’t letting it go. Melo breathed out. Here goes. “Cade and I went to the hotel.”

“I knew it!” Rosa’s eyes shone, and the nervous energy bottled up in her slender form exploded out as she sprung off the bed. “You and Cade! Oh, Melo it’s just perfect.”

Melo put the cup on her bedside table, and Rosa sat down again, grabbing Melo’s hands and bouncing them on her knee in a childlike expression of glee.

Melo’s heart clenched. “It’s nothing serious.”

The burning desire to consummate the heat that flared every time they were together had overtaken them both. But Cade thought she was an experienced woman of the world. She’d done all the chasing at the poolside. And he’d been inflamed by her flirting with Sebastiano. After spending the night together, she yearned for him to want her as much as she did him. But in her heart she knew it was different for him. It had been hot, easy sex, nothing more.

“Come on, Melo. It is. You’ve always been in love with Cade. You used to tell me.” Rosa stroked Melo’s hands slowly. “It’s a good thing.” Her glance flicked to Melo’s face. “Isn’t it?”

When I grow up, I’m marrying Cade.

She’d said it often to Rosa when they were teenagers. Had written it in the diary hidden under her bed. Had believed it with all her heart. She’d been a child-woman, with a wide open heart which had ached for Cade. In her romantic fantasies Cade had returned to the island. Wooed her. Told her how he’d dreamed of her too. Told her he loved her.

“It’s early days yet,” Melo replied quietly.

Today’s Cade was different. Older, harder, more determined. In a lot of ways she didn’t know him at all. Her stomach clenched, and she pulled her hands away from Rosa’s. Their lovemaking had been wonderful, but his silence last night had been telling. There’d been no talk of tomorrow. No talk of love.

“I don’t really want to talk about it.” Melo pulled back the cover and stepped out of bed. She needed distance. Needed time alone to think, before the woes of the world came rushing in. “I’m going to Paradise.”

Rosa’s frantic body movements stopped. She stepped closer, and grasped Melo’s hand. “Is everything okay?” Her eyes searched Melo’s and a tiny frown creased the skin between her eyebrows. “Did Cade…”

“Cade was wonderful.”

Melo looked away. Wonderful, but not in love. The realization burned. And she couldn’t really blame him either, she’d been right there, as carried away as he was. But where did they go from here? Tomorrow was the wedding, and then he’d be gone. Back to his life.

“But?” Rosa murmured.

“But I… Oh God, Rosa. I don’t know. What future is there in it?” Her hands clenched into fists. Her head ached with possibilities. And the knowledge today she had to talk to her father and insist they cancel the improvements to the winery. And once again, carry the weight of everything on her shoulders. “I just need to get away for a while. I need to think.”

Rosa leaned forward and kissed her sister’s cheek.

“It’s an easy day today. Everyone’s doing their own thing. No one will miss you, I’ll cover.” She squeezed Melo’s hand. “It’ll all work out.” She stepped back, watching Melo with concern in her eyes. “I’m here when you want to talk about it.”

Melo nodded. “I know.”

Rosa was exasperating, demanding, spoilt. But Rosa was loyal too. Rosa would always be there.

****

The white sand of Paradise Beach was so fine it was like walking on clouds. In the early morning, the beach was deserted, apart from the sea birds that wheeled and cried overhead. Melo walked across the line of tiny shells that formed an undulating line marking the tide’s last foray toward land, fingering the necklace around her neck.

The sound of waves breaking on the beach was soothing. Melo closed her eyes, feeling the silk slide of the mother of pearl under her fingers. Nonna’s shell. Her grandmother had worn it around her neck every day. Then, when she was dying, she’d called Melo into the bedroom, and with arthritic fingers had carefully unclasped it.

“Tesoro, this is for you.”

Melo’s hand had come up automatically. Palm forward, trying to reject her grandmother’s precious gift. Knowing what it signified.

“No, Nonna, you need it.”

Her voice had broken with the pain of the mere thought of losing the old woman who’d always been her inspiration.

“No, Melo.” Her grandmother’s eyes softened, and she’d reached for Melo’s hand, turning it up and carefully placing the pendant mid-palm, and folding her granddaughter’s fingers around it. “Silvio gave it to me. Now it is time for me to give it to you. Put it on. I want to see how it looks on you.”

Tears stung Melo’s eyes. Made a lie of her forced smile. Her hands had been shaking so badly it made making fastening the clasp near impossible. But eventually she’d managed it. The silver was cold against her skin.

“Buono.” Her grandmother leaned back against the pillows. “I have told your father Paradise Beach is for you.”

“But, Nonna…”

“Listen. You know this is all I have to leave. The beach was mine. Your grandfather gave it to me, and now I am giving it to you. I have left it to you in my will. The money and other jewelry I have left to your sister, but you…” Nonna’s voice slowed as the urge to sleep overtook her. “You understand.” She smiled slowly as her eyes drifted shut. “Now, tell me the story.”

It was a story Nonna had told her many times growing up as they walked along the sand, water tickling their toes. Rosa always ran ahead, into the waves. Her bright cries echoing back to the old lady and her small granddaughter, holding hands.

Melo swallowed as her grandmother’s fingers tightened. “When you were young—”

“Eighteen,” Nonna interrupted.

Melo blinked back tears and started again. “When you were eighteen, you were walking along the beach. Your eyes were filled with tears. You had argued with Silvio, the only man you ever loved.”

Nonna nodded.

“You thought your romance was over.” Melo dug deep and the remembered words surfaced. “You thought your dream was over.”

The corner of Nonna’s mouth curved upward.

“Then, suddenly, he was there. Silvio ran across the beach toward you, and at the spot we always stopped at while you told me the story, he grasped your hand.” The story was so romantic Melo’s throat constricted. She breathed deeply, knowing Nonna wanted to hear the story. Needed to hear it. “He fell to his knees, and kissed your fingers. Buried his face in your hand, and told you he loved you, more than life itself.”

“More than life itself,” Nonna echoed.

“He picked up this shell from the beach, pressed it into your palm and asked you to marry him.”

“Yes,” Nonna breathed out, long and hard. Her eyes flickered half open. “He inlaid the shell in silver to make the necklace, and gave it to me on our wedding day.” A half-smile teased her lips. “Of course, he gave me an engagement ring too, and my wedding ring. Those are for Rosa. She’ll appreciate them more than the necklace. But this, the shell in silver, this showed me your grandfather’s heart. It is the most precious thing I own, Melo. Wear it with love.”

Her eyes closed, the fingers clutching Melo’s loosened, and before Melo had time to call the doctor, Nonna had drawn her last breath.

Melo stood and brushed the sand off her shorts. She turned away from the sea, and walked up onto the dunes. Here, on the flat, she’d dreamed of building her house. She’d sat here with Cade, dreaming fanciful dreams of the two of them living there. Now, the dream was in jeopardy. Someone else would build their home here. Maybe Marco had been talking to a conglomerate who wanted to build a whole estate of houses here. Melo’s hands grasped into fists, and her jaw tightened. Over her dead body. The land belonged to her; her family would have to find another way.

“Melo!”

Melo glanced up, shaken out of her reverie.

Cade had crested the dunes, and was walking across the sand. He dropped down next to her, leaned close, and dusted his lips across hers. Gently. “Good morning.”

Warmth flooded Melo’s features. Somehow she was shy around him this morning. Hesitant.

He brushed a hand across her cheek, then cupped her head, pulling her closer in, and kissing her harder. “I missed you this morning when I work up.” A wicked grin teased the corner of his mouth.

“So you decided to come find me?” Melo asked huskily.

“No. I decided to come and take some photographs.” Cade indicated the camera slung around his neck. “Finding you was an unexpected bonus.”

Any other woman sitting on a beach in old jeans, and a well-worn T-shirt might have looked ordinary. Not so Melo. Cade’s body tightened as he breathed in her perfume. Even stripped of the artifice of make-up and fancy clothes, she was totally gorgeous.

He’d snuck out before breakfast, and borrowed a car from the hotel’s owner to come and take photographs of the beach, needing to have pictures to feed his imagination. And now his imagination was racing overtime, but not with thoughts of what a new hotel would look like if he decided to buy the beach, but rather of Melo. His mind replayed in an endless loop all the suppressed images of the night before. Melo, with her long hair curled around her bare shoulders. The little noises she made as they made love. They were alone on the beach. Blissfully alone. It seemed almost sinful to resist the opportunity.

Cade gazed into her eyes. There was an air of wistfulness around her. A sadness that hung around her like mist. He swallowed, and damped down his attraction.

“Are you okay? You look sort of sad.”

Cade didn’t really want to probe. After all, if she had a problem she’d probably tell him. He’d learnt that about women. If they had an issue they’d bring it up. Surprise niggled at him for asking the question. And for holding his breath until she gave him an answer. It must be because Melo wasn’t just any lover, but had been his childhood friend.

“I was thinking about my grandmother.” Her fingers fiddled with the pendant she wore around her neck. “Just remembering…you know?” She didn’t seem to want to talk about it, and guilty relief flooded Cade.

“Will we walk?”

Melo nodded, and he pulled her to her feet.

“So, everything ready for tomorrow?” Cade asked.

“Yes, except for the church. I’m meeting the lady who’s doing the flowers there later today to decorate it. What are you up to?”

“I wanted to take some pictures. Then I’m meeting up with Adam, who wants to check I’ve got everything straight for the wedding. I think he’s worried about my speech.” Cade grinned. “He’s made me promise not to embarrass him, but wants to check it over anyway. He’s always been a bit of a control freak.”

“He just likes to make sure he knows what’s going on.” Melo bit her lip, and her eyes clouded. “You can’t blame him. There’s nothing worse than being left out of the loop.”

Cade glanced at her quickly. Could she have any idea he was keeping something important from Adam?

Melo gazed out over the clear azure water and stayed silent.

Cade relaxed. It was just an off the cuff comment, nothing barbed or laden with innuendo. He took the lens cap off the camera and fired off a couple of innocuous shots, including a few of the little hill they’d sat on when they were younger.

Paradise Beach was the perfect location. His mind drifted back in time to the first time he’d seen it. He’d been trailing behind Melo, carrying the picnic basket as she ran excitedly ahead.

“Wait till you see it, Cade. It’s just perfect.” Her eyes shone as she tossed her long mane of hair back to grin at him.

He remembered how his arms ached, being the human packhorse carrying everything. It was a long trek from the main road.

“Here.”

They’d rounded the corner onto the most beautiful slice of paradise he’d ever seen. He’d stood, silent and awestruck at the scene before him. Long white sand. Clear turquoise water, with little silver glints of reflected sunshine dancing across its surface. Melo had climbed up onto the dunes facing the sea.

“Bring the stuff up here,” she’d called.

He’d followed, laid down his burden, and then sank onto the sand next to her. Her legs were tucked up to her chest, and her whole body vibrated with happiness.

“Told you it was worth it.” Her mouth tilted up at the corners, flooding him with warmth. “This, Cade is paradise. Paradise Beach.”

He’d let his eyes drift closed and leaned back on the warm sand. He even remembered his response. “It certainly is.”

Cade blinked and forced his mind back to the present. “Stay there.” He took a few strides away, then focused the camera on Melo’s face. The sun bounced chestnut glints off her hair, and her blue eyes echoed her smile. The little mole above her mouth twitched as her mouth curved. He clicked the shutter.

With Melo’s face captured for posterity, Cade glanced down to fit on the lens cap. A flash of silvery blue caught his eye, and he bent to pick a perfect circle of shell from the detritus. It was slightly smudged with sand, and a thin seaweed remnant, but the inside was pure silvery pink, with iridescent lights. A beautiful memento. Cade slipped it into his pocket.

“I’ve got to go.” Melo reached up quickly and kissed Cade on the mouth. “I have to talk to Papa.” She avoided his gaze. “About arrangements, and stuff.”

“Okay.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “I guess I better go and make sure the bridegroom is up. I’ll see you later.” Her mouth opened under his as they kissed, and her arms wrapped around his neck. And for the first time in his life, Cade wished he didn’t have to think about work.

****

Back at the house, Melo fortified herself with a strong black cup of coffee, then went in to see her father.

“Papa. We need to talk about options.” She steeled her heart against her father’s frail appearance, and sat down on the bed next to him. “We don’t have the money for the new tanks. We have to cancel them.” It was a tough decision, one she’d struggled with. “Adam ordered the new equipment; he should be the one to cancel. We need to bring Adam and Rosa in and explain the situation.”

Marco’s head shook in vehement denial. “No. Melo. You must do it. The wedding is tomorrow. After it, I will talk to him. I cannot spoil their wedding. I will not.” Marco’s eyes flashed, he clenched his teeth and stared Melo down. “It isn’t fair to your sister.”

It isn’t fair to me. Melo bit back the words. “Papa…”

“No. Melo. You must act as my proxy and deal with this. If it must be done now then you must do it. I shall talk to Adam after the wedding.”

Marco glanced away, effectively ending the conversation. Melo turned on her heel, and strode out of the room. She went into the office, and locked the door, leaning against it and breathing hard. Her father hadn’t sought her advice, and now expected her to sort out the mess. The suppliers would be upset and angry, and while Rosa was enjoying the sunshine, she would have to deal with all the unpleasantness.

She gritted her teeth and moved around the desk. Pulled out the pile of orders, sat down, and picked up the phone.

****

Cade found Adam at a table outside the hotel, having a leisurely breakfast.

“There you are!” Adam waved toward a chair. He caught the waitress’s eye, and through a complex series of hand gestures indicated he’d like a second breakfast brought out.

Adam slathered butter and strawberry jam on a croissant, and slipped a morsel into his mouth. The flaky pastry disintegrated into a flurry of little flakes, and he swiped them off his top lip, then dampened a finger, and chased them around the plate. His gaze flickered to Cade, then away.

“So, what happened to you last night?” His tone was light and casual, as if he couldn’t care less about the answer.

“Melo and I decided to leave.” Cade’s mouth tightened.

“And?” Adam pulled off another fragment of croissant which started the whole procedure up again.

Cade’s fingers itched with irritation. “And we came back here.”

Adam’s eyebrows rose. His hands stilled, and his earnest gaze held Cade’s. “Oh.” He waited, obviously expecting more details.

Cade pulled in a deep breath.

“Coffee?” The waitress slid a cup before Cade, and put down a fresh cafetiere.

“Grazie.” Cade beamed at her. Coffee, and a respite from all this questioning. She was a definite lifesaver.

“Your breakfast will be here in a minute.” She blushed prettily, and disappeared.

“Well?” Adam asked.

“Your imagination can fill in the blanks.” Talking about the night before held no attraction for Cade. What was between him and Melo was private. Not something to share with anyone, not even his best friend. The silence stretched between them. Cade swallowed a mouthful of coffee, and changed the subject. “So what’s on the agenda for you today?”

Adam mercifully took the hint. “Well, after I read your speech, I’m going up the villa to see Rosa. I reckon we’ll just hang out at the pool. It’s an easy day today; everyone is doing their own thing. You have everything ready for tomorrow?”

Cade was in charge of the suits, the rings, and the tickets for the honeymoon. He had everything ready. “Yes. I’ll come to the villa with you.”

The hotel owner came out into the sunshine. “Mr. Adam, I have a telephone call for you.”

Adam frowned. He glanced at Cade, who shrugged.

“Back in a minute.” Adam strode inside.

Cade ate his croissant slowly. Stared out at the sea. Things hadn’t gone as planned, last night. His lofty ideals of keeping things cool between himself and Melo had faltered the moment he saw her curves showcased in her amazing dress, and gone up in flames when he’d seen the Italian playboy flirting with her. By the time they made it onto the dance floor, the die was cast.

His fingers tightened on the cup. Her body had been so soft, her whispered groans so incendiary his body reacted at the mere memory. He’d somehow thought making love might have lessened his desire, but in fact the complete opposite was true. He burned to have her in his arms again, trail his lips over her long expanse of creamy throat.

When she told him she’d been fantasizing about him when she was a teenager, he hadn’t known how to respond. She’d been his friend, back then. The friend he told everything to. He’d even told her about the date he’d gone on with a girl from the village.

Cade groaned. It must have been difficult to hear. But she’d smiled and listened, never once revealing she’d like to be the girl he was kissing. And he’d had no idea she was such a romantic back then. Probably still was. His head started to ache, and he rubbed at his temples.

She was exactly the sort of girl he should stay away from. Last night showed that more clearly than ever, but he’d been totally unable to resist her, despite his misgivings. His sisters looked to him for guidance for everything. As did his mother. In his private life, he always sought out independent women who knew the score, understood he wasn’t interested in love and happy ever after. One shattered engagement had taught him the folly of that path when his fiancée proved herself to be just like all the other women in his life. Looking for a man to lean on. And Melo’s family was in trouble. When she’d started to confide in him the night before, a warning bell sounded loud in his head. She was probably hoping some white knight would ride in with a suitcase full of money, and sort out her father’s problems.

Cade swallowed his coffee in one gulp, and shifted on the chair. There was still the matter of Marco to be addressed. And the hotel.

“Cade.” Adam’s voice slammed him back to the present. He turned to where Adam stood in the doorway, alarm rising at the thunderous expression on Adam’s face.

“What is it?”

His heart jumped into his throat. Had Rosa called off the wedding?

“There’s a problem.” Adam’s tone was terse. “Get your stuff. We need to get to the villa. Now.”