Destination Romance

by Barbara McMahon

  She went below to change into her bikini, even with her nap that morning; she felt nothing would be better than to lie in the sun. She told Dominic she was back when passing through but didn't think the fact registered with him.

  Taking a book in case she decided to read, she crossed the deck, lying on the flat cabin roof. The words danced before her eyes. Giving up quickly, she turned to lay on her stomach, drifting to sleep, her arms pillowing her head.

  A soft tug at her back brought her drowsily awake. Dominic was standing on the deck, leaning over her. He traced a finger lightly across her back, from side to side.

  'You should unfasten your top so you don't get this light line,' he said, drawing his finger across it again, the fastening released.

  'Go away,' she muttered. Darn him, why not leave her alone. 'Go write your story.'

  'Umm, I need a break.' He drew his finger across her back again. Lexy stiffened.

  'Stop it,' she continued, remaining on her stomach for modesty's sake.

  'Make me,' he said, doing it again deliberately.

  Lexy sat up quickly, her back towards him, her arms across her chest, holding her brief top in place. 'Go away, Dominic, don't tease,' she said, her voice catching in her throat.

  Slowly, he sat beside her on the roof, reaching around to turn her slightly towards him. He was only wearing a pair of cut-offs, his skin warm on Lexy's shoulder where he touched her. She must still be feeling the effects of the food poisoning, because her stomach was churning, she was growing weak all over. She glanced at Dominic; his eyes were fixed on her lips, her mouth. She could scarcely breath.

  'Please . . .' she whispered as he drew her nearer, his head blotting out the sun, his mouth claiming hers. Slowly drawing her into his arms, into his embrace, his kiss was a sweet caress.

  Lexy felt on fire. His mouth evoked pleasures beyond her dreams as he kissed her long and deep. She returned his pressure, her mouth moving beneath his, her arms dropping their guarding position to reach out and draw him closer. He pulled her across his legs, kissing her languorously, passion rising between them. Generously Lexy gave herself to him, reveling in his touch, delighting in his hold, his hands warm and firm against her ribs.

  She loved him! The knowledge exploded in Lexy like a bomb. How it had happened, she didn't know, but it would be all right now. Oh, she loved him so. Eagerly she kissed him back, trying to convey her feelings to him, longing for verbal confirmation he felt the same. He had to. This kiss was nothing like the one before.

  Slowly he drew back, still holding her, withdrawing to gaze into her eyes, luminous and soft, looking up at him with her heart in her eyes.

  His mouth twisted as he looked at her. 'Which of your men taught you to kiss like that, sweetheart? So well and with such abandonment.'

  Had Lexy been slapped hard across the face she could not have been more shocked–or hurt. Her eyes darkened in disbelief and pain. Surely he didn't think– But of course he did.

  'Full marks to you, darling, you’re good,' he said bitterly.

  'No! Damn you!' She wrenched herself from his arms, scrambling to fasten her top. She felt crushed. She had thought her love must shine through; she had given her all to him, and he thought she was playing him. Tears of humiliation coursed down her cheeks. How he would laugh if he learned of her love, how he would mock.

  Before she could think of anything to say, she heard a low throbbing break into the tense atmosphere. She cocked her head, searching for the location of the sound. Was it a plane? A helicopter? No, it was closer. She turned, isolating the noise. Slowly, around the point, a large cruiser came into view, its gleaming white sides a beautiful contrast to the deep blue of the lagoon. Slowly, inexorably, she nosed her way in. The lagoon was large, capable of holding dozens of such craft, yet it felt a direct invasion of privacy when the boat was fully in. Lexy watched as the motors slowed, and the cruiser swung around.

  'Damn!' Dominic rose and came to stand by Lexy, his eyes narrowed as he assessed their neighbor. The boat was a sixty-foot Chriscraft luxury yacht, ocean going, and from the signs of antennae and radar, fully equipped. The pilot drove it towards them, stopping sufficiently far away so as not to interfere with their anchor line. The engines cut and the prevailing silence descended again.

  The skipper appeared on deck, cupping his hands and yelling across the space.

  'Ahoy, mind if we anchor here for a night or two?'

  'It'll be all right for one or two,' Dominic called back. He watched them drop anchor, and then turned, noticing for the first time Lexy's laundry hanging from the lines and rigging of the sloop.

  'Good God, what's that?' A sardonic grin crossed his face. He looked from the fragile lacy scraps to Lexy, who was standing near by. He raked her figure, as if stripping her bikini from her and visualizing her in the flimsy pieces. She tried to out stare him, but dropped her gaze first. Damn him, she thought, aching to be in his arms again.

  'I told you I was doing the laundry,' she said quietly.

  He laughed, glancing at the rigging again, then at the cruiser. 'What will the neighbors think?' He sketched a smile at her and disappeared below as calm and composed as if nothing had happened.

  With Dominic resuming his typing, Lexy wandered aft and sat at the helm, watching the new boat. She could spot figures moving about, but wasn't able to see very clearly. She lay back again and dozed in the warmth, trying to forget Dominic's kiss, his hurtful words. Her tongue ran lightly across her lips, and she sighed. The kiss was hard to ignore. She wished he felt for her a small bit of what she felt for him. She never expected to fall in love again. This time she should know better. But the heart had its own way about things. How much heartache would she bear when they parted?

  Lexy was surprised when she went to dinner to find Dominic had cleared a portion of the table and expected her to eat with him. Lest she should have any ideas, he quickly informed her, it was so he could supervise her eating.

  'Next time you come to my bed,' he continued, 'I don't want you so sick.'

  She kept her back to him, her head high as she finished serving the plates and ignored his insulting comment. She would not let him get a rise out of her with his taunting threats. She would totally ignore him for a change.

  Placing the dishes precisely on the table, she sat reluctantly opposite him. She wouldn’t deign to reply to his suggestions—soon he would tire and leave her alone. She’d made another mistake today, assuming he cared for her as she did for him. Assuming his kisses meant something more than male lust. She vowed to watch that in the future. Silly daydreams were just that. Not to be taken seriously.

  'How's your book coming?' she asked politely, seeing the growing pile of printed papers.

  'It's coming.'

  There was silence as they ate.

  'I wonder where they’re from,' Lexy murmured gazing out of the porthole at the other boat. The Marybeth had swung around with the tide and the newcomers could be seen from the port windows.

  'I don't know, but don't go getting any ideas about changing ships. You’re signed on with me for the duration,' he bit out.

  She looked at him in surprise.

  'The owner of that ship has a tidy bit of cash, obviously. As this berth didn't work out exactly as you planned, it's only natural you’d be looking out for your future, but it's not on, this time, sweetheart.'

  'Shut up,' she snapped back. 'I wasn't thinking any such thing. Your mind is as foul as your cousin's. I offered to tell you the truth, but no, you would rather believe a pack of lies told about something Joey knew very little about. Stop baiting me.' She threw her napkin on the table and walked with what dignity she had left to the forward cabin.

  Ten minutes passed in which Lexy lay back and wondered how she could finish her dinner with Dominic sitting opposite her. She smiled a little sadly, she wouldn't have this worry tomorrow, he’d clutter up the table again and expect her to eat on deck.

  The knock on the door startled her. 'It's all yours, I'
m going ashore.'

  She opened the door a few minutes later to find the main cabin deserted. She finished her cold dinner and fixed herself a cup of tea. Cleaning the galley while the water boiled, she shut her mind to the thoughts churning through. Taking her tea topside she looked to the beach. The dinghy was drawn up on the sand, near it was another.

  She sat on the cabin roof, sipping her tea, trying to see where Dominic and whoever had used the second dinghy were. Obviously inland somewhere, neither was visible from the boat. She was there quite some time before they appeared, from the direction of the pond. There were two men walking with Dominic, their features indiscernible at this distance, and one man had a decided paunch. They continued talking for several more minutes before Dominic shook hands and left them on the beach.

  When he reached the sloop he joined Lexy on the roof, his eyes cool and aloof again. Let him begin it, she thought, masking her feelings and presenting a collected appearance, yet inwardly she was trembling. Just let him start it and she would throw the rest of her tea at him.

  'We've been invited over for drinks after dinner tomorrow,' he said.

  'Oh?'

  'Umm. They wanted to know if I owned the island. I told them no, but a friend of mine did, but I didn't think he would mind if they stayed a day or two. They seem nice enough, but time will tell.'

  'What does that mean?' she asked, ever conscious of a possible insult.

  'A lot of pleasure crafts carry people who have loud parties far into the night. I'm here for peace and quiet. We'll see how it goes. As long as they don't bother me, I don't care if they stay.'

  'And if you don't like them, you tell them to leave?' she asked.

  'That's right.'

  'Why didn't you tell me to leave?' she persisted.

  'Oh, come on, Lexy, you know why. I needed a crew. I had made my plans and didn't see why I had to change them because of some cheap little tramp,' he ground out harshly.

  Slowly, she arose and went to bed.

  Lexy avoided Dominic as much as she was able the next day as she swam and sunbathed. It went against her grain to get his permission to swim, but she knew the alternative and had no doubt he would carry out his threat. He was typing, she could hear it from the water, but every fifteen minutes or so he was on the deck, checking that she was all right.

  She had taken the snorkel, face mask and fins from one of the topside lockers after breakfast and had begun her explorations. It was exhilarating to be diving again and she wished they had some scuba gear, she was impatient with the times she had to surface for air. Sea anemones, urchins and coral shapes littered the floor of the lagoon. Bright, colorful, shy fish darted here and there before her as she challenged them in their native habitat. She found a couple of conch shells, perfect and large, their pale pink inner shells a soft glow against the white. She put them in the dinghy to save climbing on board the sloop.

  'Lexy!' She turned from surfacing to see Dominic beckoning her to the boat. Reluctant to pause, she swam over.

  'What?'

  'Lunch.'

  'What time is it?' Surely not noon already.

  'After one, and I'm hungry. Aren't you? You've been diving for hours.'

  She considered as she pulled off the face mask and reached down to unhook the fins.

  'I guess I am. I had no idea it was so late. It's such fun, you see.'

  'Come up now, though.'

  He stood near the ladder, watching her as she left the water, her skin wet and shiny, her brief bikini plastered to her slight figure. Lexy swallowed, conscious of his eyes on her, remembering yesterday when his hands had been on her, evoking sweet sensations. She met his gaze bravely, then let her eyes wander insolently over him. He was wearing his cut-offs again, riding low on his hips, faded and short. She met his eyes again, surprised to find them brimming with amusement, and she looked away confused.

  'Go fix lunch, and bring it up here, it's hot below.'

  'Okay.' She was glad to escape. ,

  While they were eating, Lexy asked how he knew when to check on her all the time. 'You do get so absorbed in your writing sometimes.'

  'Simple, I made a go-check-Lexy sign and put it in as a header. I check, then type that page.’

  She smiled at this; delighted that he took her safety so seriously. Daringly she asked, 'Can I read what you've written so far?'

  'No.'

  'But I like your stuff, Dominic, I've read all your books.'

  'I know, I've seen the beat-up copies in your library.'

  She smiled shyly. 'I've read most of them more than once.'

  'I'm glad you like them.'

  'I'm sure I'll like this one, too. Please let me see.'

  'No, I don't let people see the books before they’re published. They say how good they are, but don't you think a little more of this or a little more of that would work? Then what if someone doesn't like something? I don't want to be influenced or put off by some amateur's point of view. No, Lexy, I don't let people have previews.'

  She was quiet, wondering if he were speaking from experience, or if he were just visualizing what might happen. She looked out to the island, unable to imagine Dominic being influenced by someone else, especially not with his own thoughts and words. He was too strong, too confident in his own self.

  'I'm at a stopping place now; I'm going to the island this afternoon. Why don't you rest after your morning's exertions?' Dominic said casually as he drained his beer and set the bottle on the tray she had brought up. 'We might be up late tonight.'

  'Right, maybe I'll read a little.' She was disappointed he hadn't asked her to accompany him. They weren't at loggerheads at this moment and she’d relish some time in his company when they weren't fighting.

  As she rinsed the lunch dishes, she heard him leave. She saw him reach the beach, pull up the dinghy and wander off into the interior. An idea hit her and, drying her hands, she turned slowly and approached the table. Almost reverently she reached for the stack of printed pages lying face down on the table. A quick glance over her shoulder and she took them into her cabin, closing and locking the door.

  An hour and a half later she stole out and replaced the pages as nearly like she found them as she could. Then returned to her bunk. The story was good, as captivating and enthralling as any of his others. She marveled that he could put words together so well, make ordinary letters paint such vivid pictures on her mind. The setting was the jungles of South America, the objective an abandoned mine. She wondered if he had actually gone there for his background research, actually cut a trail in the rain forest. She wished she could ask him, but he would be furious if he found she had read his manuscript, especially right after he had expressly forbidden it. She smiled dreamily, it was a wonderful story thus far, she couldn't wait to read more to see how it progressed, to see how it ended.

  After dinner Dominic rowed them across the lagoon to the cabin cruiser. He wore a shirt the exact shade of blue as his eyes, bringing them into startling prominence in his dark face. Lexy wore one of her new tops, bright red, and skin-tight white jeans. Her hair was bleached almost blonde from the days in the sun and her skin had a deep tan. She felt quite festive and was looking forward to a pleasant visit.

  'Watch how you walk and sit in those jeans,' Dominic admonished helping her into the dinghy. 'They look as if a good deep breath will rip them stem to stern.'

  'They are not that tight,' she automatically defended. 'Just snug.'

  'Ha! Just don't go flaunting them before our host,' he warned, setting in the oars and beginning to row.

  'You met them yesterday,' she said, ignoring his last comment as unworthy of reply. 'What are they like? Where are they from?'

  'The yacht's owner, Robert Driscoll, hails from Miami Beach, Florida, where he is a successful hotelier in a thriving tourist area. The oh-so-eligible Bob Driscoll is a bachelor and swimming in lard, from what they said. His guests are Samuel and Judy Martin. Judy is Bob's sister. Sam's in some sort of public relations w
ork. They seemed like nice enough people.'

  'What were they doing on shore yesterday?'

  'Just wandering around. I showed them some of the highlights, and we talked. Judy wasn't on the jaunt, I've yet to meet her.'

  'Ahoy, good taxi service you have.' A jovial voice greeted them from the stern of the cruiser. Lexy looked up and waved, a pleasant smile on her face. In no time she and Dominic were aboard and he was introducing her to their host.

  'Bob, this is Lexy Kent, best crewman in the Indies. Lexy, Bob Driscoll of Miami Beach.'

  She was astonished at Dominic's unexpected praise.

  'Hello, Mr. Driscoll, nice to meet you.' Lexy extended her hand to their host. He was not as tall as Dominic, yet not precisely a small man. His ruddy complexion was topped by a thatch of reddish hair; his blue eyes, milder than Dominic's, beamed good naturedly; his handshake was firm and enthusiastic.

  'Glad to meet you, little lady, glad to meet you. Call me Bob. Dominic and I are on first names. Come on, come on, take a seat. Judy! Sam!' He raised his voice calling the others. Waving a hand to several chairs surrounding a low table he turned to a rolling bar sitting in front of the control panel, obviously put away somewhere when the cruiser was moving.

  Lexy looked around her with interest. The aft deck of the cruiser was spacious, over twelve feet wide and almost twice as long. She knew cruisers allocated space differently from sailboats, but all the same, this amount of room was almost indecent on a boat.

  'What'll you folks have?' Bob turned from the bar.

  'Scotch over, please,' Dominic said assisting Lexy to a chair, pulling his in close to her.

  'Coke, please, Bob,' Lexy said. 'I'm just getting over food poisoning and don't want any more trouble.'

  'That can be nasty, you all right?' He turned, concern wrinkling his face.

  'Fine, now.'

  'Good, aren't you the one I saw swimming today, mostly underwater, it looked like.'

  She smiled. 'Yes. I love to swim.'

  'You're good, too.'