Destination Romance

by Barbara McMahon

  Patience Frazer led the way from the pier, up the flagstone pathway to a large two-storied villa. Lights spilled out from the long windows on the ground floor, picking up some of the bright colors in the tubs of flowers surrounding the veranda. The entryway was open and cool, offering a choice of doors, with a curving staircase leading to the second floor.

  'Did you eat dinner yet?' Patience asked, leading the way into a comfortable open great room. French doors lined one wall, open to the evening breeze, the bare terrazzo floors, polished and cool. It was minimally furnished, but the pieces were large and comfortable–an oversized sofa, several easy chairs, and, unexpectedly, a stone fireplace along one wall. Lexy's gaze was immediately drawn to it.

  'Didn't expect to see one of those here, ha!' Patience laughed at Lexy's surprise. 'I like a fire, always have, insisted on that when I had the place built. Use it some when I can. Not often, it's too danged hot for it. Once in a while we get a night cool enough for one. What'll you have?'

  Lexy looked surprised, darting a questioning glance at Dominic. Patience Frazer noticed the look but said nothing.

  'A nightcap, Lexy, would you like one?' Dominic answered her masked question.

  'No, thank you. A cup of tea, maybe,' she said hesitantly.

  'Sit down, sit down.' Patience waved her to the sofa and turned to her nephew. 'Go see if Molly's still up and ask her to fix a pot of tea. Then bring the brandy, you know where it's kept.' She waved him from the room, quick to pick up his reluctant glance at Lexy and hers to him, again making no comment. Patience sat in one of the chairs and fixed her eye on Lexy.

  'You two lovers?' she boomed out, surprising her new guest.

  Lexy's eyes widened at the unexpected attack, then she drew a shaky breath. 'No,' she replied composedly. Good grief, what would Dominic say. She stifled a giggle.

  'Why not?' It was Patience's turn to look surprised. 'Something is wrong with the two of you then. He's a fine man and you’re a right pretty gal. What with the morals like they are these days, I'm surprised, downright surprised.'

  Lexy smiled, answering in her soft musical voice, 'He just hired me for his crew, since Robin won't be going any more.'

  'You met Robin?' Patience asked sharply.

  'Oh, yes. I stayed one night at his house. Sarah and Robin are both delightful people. I had a lovely time.'

  'Dominic there, too?'

  'Yes, he's the one who invited me. We, er, I had crewed for him from Santa Inez to Barbados and as we were sailing again for the little island, he invited me to stay with them while in Bridgetown. I think he worried about me on the boat alone at night.' She fell silent, remembering how things had been between the two of them then. He certainly wouldn’t worry about her again, nor invite her to his brother's a second time.

  Patience looked thoughtful. Watching Lexy curiously, but not saying anything further, rousing herself only when she heard Dominic returning. He carried the brandy decanter and three brandy glasses. Placing them all on the table before the sofa he sat down beside Lexy, leaning back on the soft cushions, his legs stretched out before him. Lexy watched him nervously from the corner of her eye.

  'I brought three glasses in case Lexy changes her mind and wants to join us,' he said as Patience poured some of the amber liquid into two glasses. She hesitated over the third, looking inquiringly at Lexy.

  'No, really, thanks. I'll just have the tea.'

  'Molly up?' Patience handed Dominic his glass.

  'Yes, she'll bring the tea in when it’s ready.'

  'Are you from the West Indies, Lexy?' Patience asked.

  Lexy's eyes again sought Dominic, aware he was watching her lazily, awaiting her reply to his aunt's question. She hesitated, unwilling to answer something he could twist or turn against her. She licked her lips nervously, disconcerted by the faintly sardonic smile on Dominic's face as he watched her.

  'I'm from England, originally,' she answered at last, her eyes wide and appealing on Dominic's. He raised an eyebrow at the brief answer, but remained silent, sipping his brandy and watching her over the rim.

  Patience could feel the rising tension between the two of them and was puzzled by it. What did it mean? She was not the type to be put off by a mystery. Before they left she'd find out, or make a good try.

  'I’m originally from England. Came out when Dom's father got a job out here. Never regretted it. Don't like the cold, never did. You come out with your family?'

  Before Lexy could reply a large black woman came wheezing in carrying a heavy tea tray, her bare feet slapping softly on the bare floor.

  'Here's the tea. This little girl the one having it? It'll fix you right up, miss.' She plopped the tray down, rattling the cup and saucer, splashing a drop or two from the spout as she poured hot fragrant tea into the cup. 'You drink that while's hot.' She beamed down at Lexy, gave Dominic a big wink.

  'I done made the beds fresh, Miss Patience, everything set for the visitors. I'm going to bed now. See you fine folks in the morning. Mind you drink the tea while's hot.' She shuffled from the room closing the door behind her.

  Lexy wished she could go with her, escape the questioning from Dominic's aunt, escape his presence, ready to pounce on her as soon as he tired of playing with her emotions, as soon as she thought she was safe and could relax.

  She rubbed her fingers shakily across her forehead. She wished she could go to bed now. The pills were in her bag, in only a few minutes she could be oblivious to it all. She drank her tea, the china cup clacking slightly against her teeth. As soon as she could, she would plead tiredness and retire.

  'You didn't tell me if you came to the West Indies with your family,' Patience reminded her gently, watching with great interest as Lexy took a deep breath, her eyes flickering to Dominic again before replying.

  'I worked my passage over, actually. I wanted to see the world. You're right about the cold, I don't think I'd like to live in England again.'

  Dominic watched her enigmatically. She licked her lips and took a sip of the tea. It was hot.

  'You’re very adventuresome, working your way here. Then did you hire on with Dominic? I confess I'm interested in knowing how you got the job.'

  'Actually, I've held several positions since I came to the Caribbean. I was between jobs when I saw his notice and applied.'

  'And it turns out we, we discovered we had mutual friends,' Dominic drawled. 'Joey Compton.'

  Patience could see the blow hit home as Lexy visibly flinched and dropped her eyes to her tea. Patience regarded her nephew, narrowing her eyes, curious as to why that simple statement should cause such a reaction from the girl's face.

  'Tell Aunt Patience about your jobs,' he invited, still watching Lexy lazily, aware of the effect he was having on her.

  'Stop it,' she hissed, glaring at him.

  'Lexy, love,' he feigned surprise, 'whatever is the matter?'

  She glanced apologetically to Patience. 'I worked for a marine biologist for several years, when I first came to the Indies.'

  'Miles Jackson,' Dominic interposed helpfully.

  'That's where I learned to sail. Then I worked for a photographer, and . . .'

  'Which one was he?' Dominic asked sotto voce.

  '... A businessman, and an American couple living on Santa Inez.'

  Patience nodded, interested. 'A nice variety, you must be older than you look. It's good to be well rounded, and a variety of experience can come in helpful.'

  'I agree, Aunt Patience. Tell us about your other experiences, Lexy, your work in England,' he said, studying her averted face. 'Tell us Lexy, we want to know.'

  She turned to him, bitterness and despair ravaging her face, her eyes enormous in the artificial light. Before she could speak, however, Patience cut in ruthlessly.

  'What I want to know is how your book is coming on?' she demanded, meeting her nephew's gaze with compelling eyes. He bowed his head in temporary surrender, aware of his aunt's tactics.

  'It's coming all right, as
k Lexy, she's read it.' He leaned back against the soft cushions, studying his brandy, ignoring the consternation around him.

  It would be difficult to say who was more astonished, though for different reasons, Lexy or Patience. In a night full of surprises and undercurrents, this one crowned them all.

  Patience looked at Lexy, perplexity clearly defined. 'You’ve read Dominic's manuscript?'

  Lexy looked in amazement at Dominic, scarcely aware of Patience's question. He was looking casually at his glass, unconcerned, certainly not blazing angry. She licked her lips. How did he know? How had he found out?

  'Lexy,' Patience tried again, louder this time, 'you have read his manuscript? Is it finished?'

  Lexy shook her head, unsure how to answer. 'No, it is not finished, but I can hardly wait for it to be finished. I think it is the best he's done. I have all his other books and this one is as good, no, better than any of the others,' she ended in a rush, happy to be able to put into words what she felt about his manuscript.

  Dominic smiled and looked up to meet her eyes. 'But then you are biased, my love,' he said lightly. Her heart skipped a beat at the taunting endearment. If only he meant it. If only it could be true.

  'I didn't know you knew. That I'd read it, I mean. I thought you'd be angry.'

  'And so I should be! I distinctly told you that you could not read it.'

  She shrugged helplessly. 'I know, but I had to see it. I can't wait for you to finish it, I'm dying to see how Morgan–’

  'Shh!' He held up his hand and nodded to his aunt. 'You can read the rest when I'm finished, but absolutely no talking about it.'

  Patience widened her eyes as sheer incredulity showed. 'Tomorrow morning we will have to have a nice private chat, Miss Lexy Kent,' she said with a sly look at Dominic. 'In all the years Dominic has been writing, no one—aunt, brother, or friend—has seen his manuscripts. Only when the books were published could we see what he had written. This news is almost too much to bear!'

  Dominic chuckled appreciatively.

  'But,' Patience continued, 'it's getting late, now. I suggest we retire until morning. Dominic, you have your own room. Lexy, I've put you in across from me. Come on now. Got something to sleep in?'

  Lexy nodded and stood; glad to be able to end the evening. Maybe tomorrow she could go for a long walk and stay out of everybody's way—by that she meant Dominic. She wanted some time completely free of the fear of another insult, another taunt. She also did not wish to be questioned extensively by Dominic's aunt. She shook her head slightly, this might prove to be more difficult than being alone with him on the island.

  Patience led the way up the lovely curved staircase, and stopped at the top.

  'Goodnight, Dom, sleep well. I hope you will, not being on the boat and all. Lexy, too.'

  'I will, Aunt Patience.' He kissed her cheek. 'Lexy will too, she always does, but not necessarily alone.' He quirked a look at the target of his barb, but she refused to meet his eye.

  'Come on, my dear, our rooms are down this way.' Patience led the way to the right, opening a door partway down, snicking on the light. It was pleasantly furnished in French provincial, a pink coverlet on the bed, matching soft pink pillows piled at the head, frothy pink curtains billowed at the windows.

  'Sleep well, my dear. Lie in as long as you want tomorrow. I wake early myself, but the old don't need a lot of sleep. Bathroom's through there.' She pointed out a door to the left of the bed.

  'Thank you, Patience, you're most accommodating. I'm sure I'll be fine. Goodnight.'

  Lexy wasted no time getting ready for bed. In the morning she’d take full advantage of the tub and have a long soak. Tonight she just wanted to sleep. When she was dressed for bed, she dug the pills from her purse. Greedily she gulped one down, swallowing the water from a small cup from the bathroom. The bottle dropped to the bedside table, tomorrow she would put it back in her purse, in the morning.

  The waves began washing over her, relaxing her, putting her beyond all hurt and taunts of Dominic. Vaguely through the clouds of sleep she thought she heard her door open, felt a small stir of fresh air, as if someone had raised her window a little, but too near the edge of sleep, she was too tired to raise her eyes, and she slept.

  The next thing Lexy knew hard, angry fingers had yanked her up and were shaking and shaking her. She came awake suddenly, dazed as to where she was, what was happening. 'Oh, stop. What is it? Stop! You are hurting me.'

  Dominic's angry face swam into focus. He was furious and shaking her as if she were to blame.

  'I should have known the other night when it was so hard to wake you up.' He shook her again, her head bobbing helpless on her slender neck.

  'Ow! Dominic, what's wrong? Stop, you're hurting me!'

  He pushed her back against her pillows, breathing hard as he shoved her legs aside and sat hard on the edge of the bed.

  'I ought to do more than that. How long have you been using these?' He reached out for the bottle beside the bed. 'Damn, they're mine!' he exclaimed, reading the label.

  'They are not,' she defended stoutly. 'They’re for a Dave Sullivan.'

  'Don't quibble; these are the ones you got from the boat. How long have you been taking them?'

  Lexy licked her lips, they were always so dry in the morning when she used the pills, her mouth and throat too. 'A couple of weeks,' she said at last.

  'You didn't need them last night, you must have been dead on your feet. We were up from about three in the morning and I know you didn't take a nap, you were reading the damn book.'

  She gratefully seized upon this. 'I did, how did you know that's when I read it?'

  'I went down for something to drink. You were forward, with the door closed, and the pile of papers gone. Doesn't take much genius to figure that out.' He studied the bottle absently, twirling it around in his fingers. 'It wasn't the first time, either, was it, that you read what I’d written?'

  'No, I read it one afternoon when you went ashore to the island, but I thought I replaced the papers just like you had them.'

  'You almost did. Something made me wonder, and I knew when I told Bob Driscoll I was writing about mines—I could feel your reaction.

  'I'm sorry I went behind your back. My curiosity was so strong; I couldn't resist the first time. Then I've been dying to read more ever since. It is good, Dominic. Yesterday was the first time I had another opportunity.

  He was silent, his face unreadable.

  'I didn't gush. No, I loved it but–, No, Don't you think–"' she teased him softly, remembering his reasons for not sharing his work before.

  He turned, eyebrow raised. 'Not voiced them, perhaps, but then you often display remarkable self-discipline.'

  She drew her knees up, conscious of his nearness, his presence in her bedroom. Not that she need worry, her sleeping attire was quite modest, if he should even notice.

  'I would say it was wonderful. I don't have anything to add,' she replied slowly, sincerely. 'I look forward to reading the rest, but I'll wait until you give it to me,' she promised solemnly. 'I'm sorry I went behind your back.'

  'Shall I tell you what's going to happen?'

  'No! I want to read it, with all the words you write out, your phrases and descriptions. You'd summarize and finish it in three sentences. I'll wait for the book.' She played with the edge of the sheet. 'I do have one question, though. Did you go to South America and travel through the jungle?' she asked.

  He smiled. 'Yes. I spent a few days there for description. I tried my hand at whacking things with a machete to get the exact feel. The rest is pure imagination.'

  She smiled at him, watching as his expression changed as he remembered the sleeping pills.

  'Does your conscience bother you, Lexy, so much you can't sleep nights, that you have to resort to drugs?'

  The mood was shattered, the peaceful interlude destroyed. She bit her lip, looking up at him, 'No, not my conscience, but your insults and tormenting comments. They ring in my ears
night after night. I can't sleep, so I take the pills.'

  He reached out his hand slowly and drew her up into his arms. 'I don't know about you, Lexy—just when I think I've come to terms with you, something upsets the scales. Are you an innocent caught up by circumstances? Low resistance? Or just very, very clever?'

  He lowered his head, slowly kissing her mouth, his hands caressing the softness of her back. The kiss went on and on, endless, sweet, promising. Gently he released her and lowered her back on her pillows. She gazed at him with bemused eyes, half prepared for a cutting remark sure to come now.

  'No more drugs, Lexy, or I swear, I will find a way to keep you away from them. Understand?' he said, his voice uncompromising.

  She swallowed, nodding her head.

  He rose and crossed to the bathroom, flushing the remaining pills down the toilet. When he returned to her room, he leaned against the doorjamb, surveying her recumbent form, the navy-blue shirt a sharp contrast to the light-pink sheets.

  'I would have thought your sleepwear would run more along the lines of your underwear,' he drawled, insolently regarding her.

  'Oh, get out, Dominic,' she said, rolling over on her side, her back towards him.

  He walked across the floor towards the hall door, pausing to say, 'I'm taking my computer in to be looked at, and to order a new one. Do you want anything from town?'

  'Town?' she turned back.

  'Yes, around the promontory is the town of Santa Theresa, small but fairly modern. You want something?'

  'No, I don't need anything.' She watched him leave, an idea taking shape. If there were a town near by, perhaps she could arrange transportation off the island. She didn't care where to at the moment, just away from here, away from insults and humiliation, away from a man she loved so dearly but who considered her a tramp.

  It would take a while to get a new computer, he’d said. She should have several days to find out information about ships calling, or any air traffic. She’d go down to the sloop later and pack her things so as to be ready when something presented itself. If only it took a week or longer for the computer, she could be long gone before he was ready to set sail again.