Dangerous Paradise

by Debra Andrews

  Vanessa wrung her hands together and seemed only half-aware of her surroundings. Had she popped some of her collection of pills to get her through this tragedy? “I know Alex would have dropped the divorce. He loved me.”

  Robert didn’t refute her delusions. What did it matter now?

  And he would have to forget what he could have had with Kelly.

  * * *

  The wind worked in their favor. Kelly shielded her eyes and watched the island grow steadily larger on the horizon. Hope welled inside her. “Would you like me to row for a while?”

  He shook his head. “We have to reach the island before the current changes, or we might be pulled back out to sea.” As he continued to row, the muscles flexed in his arms and chest. She was reminded of how he’d used those arms to keep her safe and warm the night before.

  The sun sat low on the horizon when they approached the beach. They dragged the raft to a point above the high tide mark.

  Alex, filled with exuberance and relief, picked her up and swung her around. When he set her down, her feet sank into the soft sand and her heart beat faster. To steady herself, she put her hand on his forearm and the other on his bare chest. She wasn’t surprised her knees were wobbly, from being in the raft for so long and from being in his arms.

  “Kelly, we’ve made it.” He gave her a wide grin as if he didn’t care whether she appreciated his hug or not.

  She beamed a smile of her own. “We did. Land beneath my feet has never felt so good.”

  He ran his fingers through his ruffled hair and heaved a sigh. “I can’t go one step farther tonight.”

  “Yeah, let’s find help in the morning.”

  From one of the bags, he spread a towel in the dry sand. She placed another one about fifteen feet away from his, and then lay down and let exhaustion and the happiness of being on land overtake her.

  * * *

  Waves crashed onto the beach and then roared out to sea. The loud repetition invaded Kelly’s sleep. She opened her eyes, disoriented by four seagulls hovering above her. They squawked and flapped their wings against the blue sky then flew out of sight.

  Rising on her elbows, she spotted the birds farther down the beach. As far as she could see, turquoise water rolled onto white sand, but on this beach there were no tourists.

  Uneasiness settled in the pit of her stomach. Today, they just had to find help. She stood and dusted off the fine-sugar sand clinging to her legs, and then walked to where Alex still slept.

  The four-day-old stubble on his face gave him a sexy and dangerous appearance, and she realized her attraction for him was even more reason for them to be rescued quickly. She sighed. Let him rest for now. He had to be exhausted after rowing such a long distance.

  She’d be forever grateful to him for saving their lives.

  Perhaps, she should just go and check out the general area on her own. She shielded her eyes and surveyed the landward surroundings. Palm trees, with their fronds fluttering in the breeze, met hills with dense foliage. An unspoiled, deserted, tropical paradise lay before her––without a building in sight. She strolled down the beach for a while. Not finding any sign of humans, she returned to where Alex slept.

  Determined to prove she could do her part and provide breakfast, she walked to a young palm tree and pulled off two coconuts that were easy to reach. She broke almost every fingernail tearing off the brown husks. Then she jabbed her dive knife into the hard flesh to make a hole. With the two coconuts cut this way, she strode to where Alex slept.

  The epitome of masculine beauty dozed at her feet. She drew in a shaky breath. No wonder he was in the movie business. She lifted her hand to her own snarled hair, saturated with dried saltwater and still in a braid. How unfair that he still looked so good. She must look a fright, with her rumpled t-shirt and skirt that she’d prudently donned after sleeping the one night in his arms.

  He opened his eyes. “Like what you see?” he asked with a lazy smile.

  She let out an exasperated breath. “I’d say your conceit matches your looks.”

  “Thank you very much. Have you checked around? Seen a hotel or condo on the beach? Anything?”

  She shook her head. “There’s nothing in the general area. Beautiful island, but right now I’d be much happier if we’d landed at a gaudy tourist trap. At least we’d find help at one of those.” She thrust the coconut she’d prepared for him, in his direction. “Here’s your breakfast. I put a hole in it so you can drink the milk.”

  His brows rose in surprise. “Thank you. That was kind of you.”

  She kept busy by going through the rest of the bags Alex had salvaged, if only to remove herself from his intoxicating and unsettling physical presence.

  Walking up to her, he said over her shoulder, “Found anything useful?”

  “Matches and a lighter. Also, plastic utensils were packed in with the lunches but they won’t do us much good . . . the food is spoiled.” She dangled a plastic bag before him. “Except for one squashed peanut butter and jelly sandwich, which I think should be safe to eat.”

  He grimaced. “Bring the sandwich along. We can arm wrestle to see who gets it if we don’t find help.”

  “Do you think we’re still in the Fiji Islands?”

  “Probably.”

  She turned toward the soaring, jungle-like hills. “The Cannibal Isles,” she murmured, turning to him.

  His gaze locked on hers. “What did you say?”

  “The Fijians were notorious for eating people.”

  “That was hundreds of years ago.”

  “You’re right,” Kelly said, shoving those horrific thoughts from her mind. She loaded the bag with supplies they might need when they searched the island, while Alex checked the security of the raft and drained the remaining rainwater from the cooler into a thermos. He rummaged through the bags and found a t-shirt, shorts, sunglasses and a pair of shoes that fit well enough.

  Once dressed, he set a wide-brimmed hat low on his forehead. “Let’s go. Since no one has found us, we’ll find them.”

  They strolled along the deserted beach. Kelly noticed no manmade items had washed upon the island’s pristine shores.

  In the afternoon, he pointed to a hill. “We’ll use it as a lookout to see the other side of the island.”

  In the stifling heat, Kelly hiked upward through the overgrown foliage, behind Alex. At least the trees offered some relief from the hot afternoon sun. She paused to admire a colorful bush and stuck one of its peach-colored flowers behind her ear. Then she spotted a bush with clusters of purple fruit and ran toward it. The thought of eating one of them made her mouth water. She sank her teeth into the juicy fruit.

  Alex came up behind her. “Do you know what you’re eating?”

  “Yeah. I’m pretty sure I recognize this from a tour I took at a marketplace in Suva.” She handed one to Alex. “Here. They’re delicious.”

  Grimacing, he tore the fruit from her hand and lobbed it in an arc down the hill. “Blast it, Kelly. You’re not positive what you’re eating. It could be poisonous. And even if it were all right, after the saltwater you’ve swallowed and the lack of food, you shouldn’t eat so quickly.” He stalked up the hill.

  She stuffed a couple pieces of the fruit in her skirt pocket and ran after him. “I don’t think I need you to tell me what not to do.”

  “Suit yourself, but I don’t want you sick and holding us up.”

  After walking for another half hour, her stomach began to cramp. She swiped away the sweat beading on her forehead. She didn’t want Alex to know he might be right about the fruit.

  “Go on ahead. I’ll catch up with you at the top of the hill.”

  He raised an inquisitive brow.

  “I need a moment of privacy,” she mumbled. “Okay?”

  He gave her a reluctant nod and walked on.

  Sighing, and glad to be out of his know-it-all presence, she sank to her knees in the grass. Her stomach lurched again. She hunched over and vomited, t
hen slumped back against a tree.

  Several minutes later she heard Alex shouting, “Kelly! I’m coming down for you—now.”

  She squeezed her eyes shut. “No,” but her protest was barely a whisper. She didn’t want him to see her like this.

  Twigs and branches snapped. She raised her gaze and met his arrogant stare, glaring down at her.

  He stood over her. “Damn it, Kelly. Perhaps you’ll listen to me the next time?”

  Her stomach lurching, she dropped her face into her hands. “There won’t be a next time. I’m dying. Go away.”

  However, he didn’t leave, but stood over her, frowning. Crouching on her hands and knees, she vomited again. Closing her eyes, she collapsed against the tree a second time.

  After a few minutes, when he spoke, his voice was softer. “Better now?”

  “I thought I told you to leave,” she said through gritted teeth. How many times would she humiliate herself in front of this man? She heard him uncap the thermos and pour water.

  “Kelly?”

  She raised a pensive gaze to his and took the cup of water he offered. “Thanks,” she said, taking the cup. The water refreshed her, washed the sourness in her mouth. She handed the cup back to him.

  He shook the thermos. “We’re almost out of water.” His eyes reflected worry.

  “Maybe that’s why we haven’t found anyone on the island. There isn’t any water.”

  “No. We’ll find it.” He held out his hand. “Now, do you think you can make it?”

  She nodded, grasped his hand and scrambled to her feet.

  He circled his arm around her shoulder. “You can lean on me.”

  Taking him up on his offer, she draped her arm around his waist and they continued to climb the hill.

  After a while, she said, “I should have listened to you. Do you know that through this ordeal you’ve been really good to me. If I haven’t said it before, I am now. Thank you.”

  He shot her a wary glance, then gave her a faint smile. Her heart nearly jumped out of her throat when she saw the warmth in his eyes.

  Her pulse quickening, she pulled away from him. “I think I’d better walk on my own now.”

  They continued to plod upward.

  Please, let there be help over the next hill.

  * * *

  By the time they reached a clearing at the top of the hill, the sun sank in the west and the day had cooled. A large white bird soared over a sea of green treetops. In the distance, waves rolled onto the beach. Kelly sensed the thick and lush terrain was a dangerous paradise. In so many ways.

  Alex gazed across the expanse. “We’ll rest here. From this vantage point, we’ll see from the lights tonight where the island is inhabited.”

  “I can’t believe we’ve round no signs of anyone yet.” She plopped down on a fallen tree trunk and massaged her aching calves. They had to find help, or she’d be with him for another night.

  He sat beside her on the log.

  She dangled the flattened sandwich before him. “I brought the last of the food.”

  They shared the sandwich gratefully. Peanut butter and jelly never tasted so good, but the small amount of food left her stomach growling for more. She knew that after the energy Alex had expended rowing, he must be even hungrier.

  They each took one sip from the thermos. Alex swished the container. “Only a cup or so left.” He lifted the survival manual from the bag.

  “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  He flipped open the book. “You can gather some palm fronds and brush.”

  Happy to have something to occupy her, she collected a large mound of plant material. When lit, they would have a huge bonfire.

  Alex was still reading.

  “Is this enough?” she asked him.

  He glanced at the pile and nodded, then returned to reading. She resettled herself beside him and read along, waiting for evening. When a fly landed on her leg, she shooed the insect away.

  Dusk settled over the island. Squawking parrots heralded the evening as they returned to nest in the trees that swayed in the breeze. The chirping and buzzing of birds and insects intensified. She didn’t welcome the sounds. Soon night would envelope them. When would Alex light the fire?

  “It’s too dark to read.” Returning the book to the bag, he stood and stretched and gazed again toward the horizon. “I’d hoped we’d see lights, or fires––something––but I don’t see a thing.”

  “But we can’t be on this island alone,” she blurted out, rising to stand beside him. “There must be someone else out there.” She scanned the horizon. Only the glow of the quarter moon and the brilliant stars provided any light. Her stomach clenched with fear. “On one of the tours a guide said there were about 20,000 to 30,000 islands in the South Pacific and not all of them are inhabited. This one can’t be deserted, can it?”

  “It could be.”

  A loud shriek filled the air. She stepped closer to Alex. “Do you think there are dangerous animals or snakes out here?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  She pointed to the pile of palm fronds. “Are we going to light the fire to signal for help, or is it to keep the animals away?”

  “Neither.” Alex stooped to flatten the mound with his hands, then spread out their towels on top. Her face heated when she realized his intention.

  He lay down, the brush crackling beneath his weight. “This is our bed.” He patted the place beside him.

  “I can’t sleep beside you again.”

  “Suit yourself.” He closed his eyes.

  “Hey, I collected the brush and fronds myself,” she grumbled.

  He sighed and sat up. “We don’t have enough for two beds. Look, it’s just to sleep. It’s safer. I won’t try anything.”

  “You’d better not. Don’t forget I have my dive knife.”

  He chuckled and reclined again. “Believe me, I’m too tired to ravish you, Kelly. Besides, you’d have to be a willing partner.”

  “Don’t ever count on that.”

  “I don’t. I know you’re Hillyard’s woman. You’ve made that clear. And because you miss his arms, I don’t expect you’ll want to make up the time in mine.”

  His assumption made her feel empty somehow, and that surprised her.

  “Come to bed, love.” He turned on his side, away from her. “Look at it this way, if there are any wild animals, we can look out for each other.”

  He didn’t have to say it twice. Who knew what creatures were on the island? Over his shoulder, he said, “Think of me like a brother.”

  For some strange reason that bothered her, too. “I don’t have any brothers,” she said stiffly to his back.

  She couldn’t collect more brush tonight to make another bed, and the idea of sleeping on the dirt wasn’t appealing either. With a sigh, she settled on her back beside him.

  “It must be your curvy body and not your congenial personality that Hillyard is after,” Alex murmured over his shoulder.

  “What did you say?” she snapped.

  “Why nothing, love.”

  She exhaled a deep breath. So what if he thought she were a shrew? Who wouldn’t be after what they’d endured these past few days?

  She struggled to get comfortable on the lumpy pile. “It’s not exactly the Ritz.”

  A couple of minutes later, his breathing evened out. She was surprised by how quickly he fell asleep––almost insultingly quick. It must have been her throwing up that had turned him off, or her salt-dried, matted braid. Or perhaps he’d never found her attractive at all. She’d only been a game to him. She remembered in the nightclub, he’d said, “I find you quite lovely even with your wild, red hair.” Which, to her, meant he didn’t like it.

  She groaned softly. Was she losing her mind to even care what he thought . . . considering what they were going through?

  She stared upward, through the clearing in the trees. Stars sprinkled the dark sky. He was right. They’d been through
too much together and their lives were in serious danger. It would be plain stupid to worry if she slept beside him or not, in these circumstances.

  Robert would understand. That was if she ever told him the truth about all of this. He loved her, and she wanted to be loved. She tried to remember Robert’s face, but she couldn’t hold onto his image for long and then she dozed off.

  Something thumped in the trees. Her eyes flew open. What kind of creatures lurked above them in the darkened night?

  Alex rolled over onto his back. His warm arm and hip settled against her. To her dismay, her body tingled where they touched. If she moved even an inch away she’d roll into the dirt. She sighed. Great. Now, she couldn’t sleep . . . for any number of reasons.

  Even if she shook him, she didn’t think he’d wake up because he seemed to be sleeping soundly. He probably wouldn’t wake up if a bear came up and bit him on the butt. She chuckled with exhausted humor at the thought. Thank God, there were no bears out here. Then she sobered. She was losing her mind. Their situation was far from a laughing matter.

  She scratched a mosquito bite on her elbow. She was being ridiculous to think that Alex might try to take advantage of her in her condition. Scratches streaked her legs from the walk through the brush, and she’d broken the rest of her fingernails, and what she really needed was a good bath. No one could be attracted to her in this state. Then her lips curved into a smile. He didn’t realize how well she’d clean up. With that thought, she closed her eyelids and drifted to sleep.

  Something long and rope-like slithered across her. She screamed and flung herself on top of Alex, her heart pounding.

  He bolted up, their arms and legs entwining as he did so. “What’s wrong?”

  “A snake. It slithered across me.”

  “It’s too dark to see anything. Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” She grasped his t-shirt in her hands. When she heard something swish though the palm fronds at her feet, she buried her face against his chest. “I hate snakes.” She pointed in the direction of the sound. “There it is.”