by Talia Hunter
The chief kept talking, explaining how Kava was an important part of Fijian life and telling them about the ceremony associated with drinking. Each person could say whether they wanted ‘full tide’ or ‘half tide’ — a full serve of the liquid or just a taste. Whichever they chose, they would have to throw it back in one go. Before anyone drank, all in the circle would clap once and say ‘Bula’. After drinking, they’d give another three claps and say ‘Mathe’.
When he’d finished explaining, the chief chanted something in Fijian. Finally, they were ready to drink. “Bride and groom first,” he said.
The groom asked for full tide and accepted the bowl with a nervous laugh. Prompted by the chief, everyone in the circle clapped and chanted. The groom drained the bowl and screwed up his face. Then, one by one, each of the guests took their turn with the bowl, all polite although it was obvious by their expressions how bad the stuff must taste.
When all the guests had drunk, the chief handed Dalton the coconut shell. Although he hadn’t asked how full Dalton wanted it, it was brimming with liquid. The stuff didn’t just look like muddy water, it smelled earthy.
Dalton drank.
The Kava tasted thick and dank, like clay and mud dissolved in a little water. There was so damn much of it that it took a long time to drain the bowl. He choked it all down, forcing himself not to grimace.
When everyone had clapped, Rosa shot him a glance filled with challenge. Her gaze said whatever he could do, she could do just as well. “Could I have full tide please?” she asked, and knocked the entire cup back without flinching.
“A second cup for the chief of Lantana Island,” declared Mere’s father solemnly. He refilled the coconut shell and handed it back to Dalton. Beside him, Rosa smothered a laugh.
Dalton could feel his body relaxing, a not-unpleasant warmth spreading through his limbs. One more cup. He drained it quickly.
“One more for me too,” said Rosa, glancing sideways at him. Of course, he’d already discovered how competitive she was during their training sessions. He raised his eyebrows as she accepted her second cup.
“Feeling weird?” he murmured after she drank.
“A little.” She screwed her face up. “Can’t feel my tongue.”
“I can’t either.” What he did feel was a wave of relaxation and well-being easing through his limbs. Sitting cross-legged wasn’t so uncomfortable any more. In fact, he didn’t want to move.
“My feet are tingling,” said Rosa with a laugh.
The visiting Fijians drank last, full bowls which they seemed to relish. Rosa thanked them, and the group all clapped. Then, with the ceremony over, the guests began to drift away. The resort’s chef, Celina, turned the lights back on in the restaurant, then came outdoors to offer everyone a bed-time cocktail. Something rich and chocolatey. The remaining guests went to the restaurant to get one.
Dalton stayed where he was. He was way too relaxed to move, especially with Rosa sitting next to him, her leg warm against his. It felt natural to be sitting just like this. No, more than natural. It felt good. The others all left until Mere, her father, and his two companions were the only other people left on the mats. They were a little apart from Rosa and Dalton, murmuring in low voices and drinking the last of the kava.
“There’s no way anyone could not love Fiji,” said Rosa quietly, as though to herself. “It’s the most beautiful collection of islands on earth. The culture is amazing. The people are the friendliest I’ve met anywhere, and definitely the most chilled out.”
“The traditional drink might have something to do with that.” Dalton’s own limbs had turned to liquid, and all his worries had drifted away. Apparently, kava loosened inhibitions. No wonder the locals drank so much of it, despite the bitter taste.
“Tiny seemed better tonight. Not so tired.”
Dalton nodded. “She has good days and bad. This was the best yet.”
“You think she’d like to come to the wedding tomorrow? I’ll check with the bride and groom, but I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t mind if I put another chair at the back of the ceremony so she could watch.”
“Why would she want to watch a stranger’s wedding?”
“Are you kidding? To see the dress, of course, and to watch the couple say their vows. It’s so sweet.” She raised her eyebrows. “And you know what? It would be good for you to bring her. You should go to all the weddings you can, to soften up your hard edges. Get some romance into your soul.”
He shot her a sideways look. Who cared about the dress or vows? The wedding would probably be mind-numbingly boring, but he was too relaxed to argue. In his current mood, he’d probably agree to dress up as the bridesmaid if Rosa was the one asking. “If Tiny wants to go, then I’ll take her,” he said. “I have to catch a cat in the morning, but I’ll do it early and get it over with. Come to think of it, I might need an extra pair of hands. You should come.”
Rosa frowned. “Catch a cat? Is that a metaphor for something dirty?”
He laughed. If that wasn’t a suggestion she was interested, he didn’t know what was. “Unfortunately not. There really is a stray cat that’s been getting into the trash. I’m going to remove it from the island.”
“Remove it?” She sounded ready to be shocked, as though expecting him to say he was going to kill it.
“Take it to an animal shelter on the mainland.”
“Oh. Okay. Then I’ll help you take the cat away, if you let Tiny stay.”
He didn’t want to argue with her, so he didn’t reply. He was perfectly content to be where he was without saying anything, just enjoying sitting with a beautiful woman. Although in a moment, he was going to put his arm around her and find out what her lips tasted like. He’d bet it was peppermint. In fact, he was hoping for peppermint.
“Well, big day tomorrow,” said Rosa, getting up.
When her leg lifted off his, Dalton’s skin felt cold. His body missed her touch. He blinked at her, surprised. “What’s your hurry?”
“I’d better get this stuff sorted out,” she said. Then she raised her voice to include Mere and the others. “You mind if I start packing the torches away?”
“We’ll stay a little longer, and I’ll put everything away when we’re done,” said Mere. “Leave it with me.”
“Okay. Then I’m going to turn in.” Rosa took a step, stumbled, then righted herself with a laugh. “I’m unsteady on my feet.”
“Let me help.” Dalton’s own body didn’t entirely seem to be obeying him as he levered up to standing. Was he moving very slowly? His legs felt like they’d fallen asleep. It was like being mildly drunk, only more relaxing.
He slipped an arm around Rosa’s shoulders to steer her away from the restaurant and along the path toward the staff cabins. “Well done tonight,” he said. “The kava ceremony was a nice touch.”
“You enjoyed it?”
He stopped walking and she turned to face him. It was darker here, the brightly-lit restaurant mostly hidden by the bures. Its light was barely enough to reflect off her face and highlight her high cheekbones.
“I enjoyed it,” he said softly.
Her lips parted and her tongue came out to moisten them. “So that’s another thing you like about Lantana.” Her voice was a little husky. She had to be as aware of the chemistry between them as he was.
“There’s definitely something I’ve found here that I like.”
From the way her eyes widened, she’d understood the innuendo. “Then you could stay.”
“I need to do what’s best for my sister.”
She lifted her chin. “I love her too.”
Rosa’s expression was so serious, Dalton had to smile. But his chest was suddenly tight, glad Tiny had a friend like Rosa. He’d always thought Tiny was a little foolish to let people get so close. But looking into Rosa’s eyes, he couldn’t help but envy his sister. Maybe he shouldn’t have kept his own friends at arm’s length.
“I know you do. She’s lucky to have a friend li
ke you.” He stroked back a wayward strand of Rosa’s hair, letting his fingers trail down behind her ear. She smelled so good, and her hair was fine and soft.
“I just want Tiny to be happy.” Rosa murmured. “Don’t you want that too?”
He was absorbed in the delicate shape of her cheek and the plump curve of her mouth. It was difficult to focus on what Rosa was saying, when all he could think about was kissing her. “Of course I do. I let her down once and I’m not going to do it again. I’ll give her what she needs.”
Rosa smiled bloomed as slowly as a flower uncurling. “I believe you.” It was as soft as a whisper. “Thank you. You’re a good brother to her.”
The tightness in Dalton’s chest loosened and turned into warmth. Rosa understood.
There was a purity to Rosa he couldn’t help but be drawn to. She saw things so clearly. And right now, she was looking at him as though she could see past the conflict in his heart, past the fact he’d hurt his sister. Rosa could see he was finally doing the right thing. He wasn’t sure why that seemed so important to him, but the knowledge made him feel lighter.
He bent his head and found her lips. For a moment he grazed them gently, his kiss as relaxed as his mood. But when her lips parted for him, a hot surge through his blood drove away the calming effect of the kava.
Suddenly, his body was on fire. Her mouth felt incredible, warm and soft and welcoming. He ran one hand down her back while the other pushed up into her hair. She was on tiptoe, and her willowy body molded to his, fitting against him. Her belly pressed hard against his hard-on and her hands on his back pulled him to her, wanting him closer still.
He needed her, all of her, and his need was so strong he ached with it. He could lift her. Wrap her legs around his hips. Take her, like he’d imagined doing so many times while they’d trained together.
But they were on a public path, where anyone could come past.
And just as he thought it, a sound came from through the trees. There was a snatch of conversation, too muffled to make out, and then somebody laughed.
He and Rosa parted slowly, her reluctance matching his. The way the dim light struck one side of her face accentuated the mesmerizing curve of her cheek.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured, his hand cupping her neck.
Her smile made her even more so. It wasn’t just beautiful, but heart-stopping. And those full lips of hers were too enticing. All he wanted was to be somewhere private so he could kiss them again, the way he wanted to. He’d take his time, a very long time, before moving down to her neck, and her breasts, and…
She brought one hand up to his face, running it over the roughness of his cheek and jaw. “I wouldn’t have thought I’d be kissing you,” she said with a laugh. “If you’d asked me that first day, I would have said you were the last person in the world I’d ever kiss.”
“Is that so?” He leaned in so he could brush his mouth across her earlobe. Her body shivered as his breath drifted across her skin. “I was that bad?”
“You were a little unreasonable about Tiny. But now you’re going to let her come back, right? So, the sale’s off?”
He drew back, surprised, and her hand dropped from his face. “I thought you understood what I was saying. Tiny can never live here again.”
She frowned. “But you said you were going to do what she wanted.”
“No. I said I was going to give her what she needs. Proper medical treatment being the priority.”
Rosa’s voice rose. “But Tiny’s an adult who should get to make her own choices. I don’t care who you are or how much you love her, you don’t get to choose for her.”
So Rosa hadn’t understood anything he was saying. Probably his own fault. He can’t have explained it well enough.
“Around forty percent of people who’ve had a stroke will have another one within ten years,” he said. “And you know how far we are from the mainland, don’t you? Best case, it could be three hours by the time she got to the hospital. A lot more if the speedboat isn’t here and she has to call a water taxi.”
Rosa was biting her lower lip and what he could see of her expression in the dim light looked troubled. But he wasn’t done yet. He had to make her understand. Trying to get Tiny to see reason was exhausting enough, without fighting Rosa too.
“If Tiny’s treated within two and a half hours of having a stroke, she has a ninety percent chance of a full recovery,” he said. “If she’s not seen until five hours after her stroke, that chance halves. You think I’m willing to take that risk?”
“It’s still her decision where she lives.” At least Rosa sounded less certain.
“There’s no dedicated stroke center in Fiji. Rehabilitation services aren’t available. Nothing like what she’d get in Sydney. If she wants the best chance of getting better, she’s got to move.”
“And I think she’ll be happy to go to Sydney for treatment if she knows you aren’t going to sell her home.”
“This isn’t her home anymore. It can never be her home again. Can’t you see that?” He blew out a frustrated breath. “If she wanted to put a gun to her head and pull the trigger, would you let her?”
“It’s not the same thing.”
“Isn’t it? On the days Tiny doesn’t have therapy, she barely wants to get out of bed. If I let her, she’ll sleep for twenty hours straight. She cries every day. What if Tiny wants to stay on Lantana because she knows being here might kill…?” He broke off, shaking his head. The idea that Tiny might want to die made his heart feel like it was being ripped apart.
“I’m sorry.” Rosa put her hand on his arm. “She seemed low, but I didn’t realize how bad it was.”
“I need to take this place out of the equation, and get her to Sydney.” He heard the tension in his own voice, as though it had been stretched too thin in his throat. “Once Lantana’s sold, she’ll have to accept she can’t live here anymore. If you care about her, you’ll help me convince her.”
“I don’t know.” Rosa hesitated. “There are very good reasons for her to go to Sydney, and maybe she should stay there. But she needs to make that decision. It’s not fair for you to take the choice away from her. She’s lost so much, she can’t lose that too.”
Dalton stepped back from her. Disappointment made his voice thick. “I want my sister to have everything she used to. I want her to be able to paint again. To be happy. But unless she’s prepared to start working for that, even knowing what a long road it’s going to be, she won’t get better. She’ll wither away and die here, like our father did.”
Like our father did. He’d said the words, and now his fear was out in the open, it was even worse than it had been inside his head. Their father had drunk himself to death here, bitter and alone. The thought that Tiny might end up like that was too much. Come hell or high water, he wouldn’t let that happen. If he had to pick Tiny up and carry her onto a plane, he’d do it. And dammit, if he had to call in her loan so he could sell this cursed place without her say-so, maybe he should do that as well.
“I think you’re making a mistake,” said Rosa.
He didn’t want to hear it. There was only one thing he’d been mistaken about, and that was in thinking she understood. He wanted Rosa with every cell in his body, but even more than that, he needed to convince her. If he couldn’t, what chance did he have to change Tiny’s mind?
“You’re wrong,” he told her. “If you had a sister, wouldn’t you do anything to keep her safe?”
She drew in a sharp breath, stepping backward, her back ramrod straight. “I do have a sister, and she could be in danger because of me. I’ve asked her to stay with a friend, but I can’t force her to. It’s her choice.”
“And what will you tell yourself if something terrible happens? That you did everything you could?”
As disappointed as he was with her, he still regretted the words when he saw her expression harden.
“I’d better go.” She was already turning away.
He’d
upset her, that was clear. Inside, it felt like every part of him was screaming at him to stop her from walking away. But something stubborn and inflexible held him rigid. And though he regretted every step she took, he still let her go.
12
Rosa was confused. Even her dreams had been confused. Well, they weren’t so much dreams as vivid imaginary sex romps, and that was even more confusing. Her body wanted Dalton so badly, but her brain refused to go along with it. Forget the fact that he was her boss and her best friend’s brother. Worse was that he was trying to take Tiny’s choices away.
The only thing she was a hundred percent sure of was that her womanly needs had been neglected for too long. A long sexual drought followed by a toe-curling, leg-liquefying kiss would make anyone have x-rated dreams. That kiss had made her entire body melt into a trembling pool of goo. Shame about the argument that had followed it.
Rosa rolled over in bed, frowning at the ceiling.
Last night, Dalton had made some good points about why Tiny should leave and never come back. He’d been reasonable, compelling, and persuasive. But he didn’t get to make decisions for his sister. If anyone ever tried making decisions for her, she’d damn well set him straight. Dealing with Otto had been hellish enough. Last thing any woman needed was a man pushing her around, thinking he knew best.
Bottom line, she shouldn’t be attracted to a man like Dalton, and she had to convince her poor, misguided body of that. What she needed was to relieve her own needs so she could forget about him. She’d send her fingers on a trip south and dial the pressure back to neutral. But her hand had barely reached her pleasure-zone when she realized what day it was.
Saturday. Today was the wedding. How could she have forgotten for a moment?
Pleasure would have to wait. Rosa shoved back the sheets and scrambled out of bed. It was crunch time. The bride and groom were about to find out the hard way if she’d overlooked anything.
First thing she needed to do was to collect Lantana flowers to decorate the wedding arch. The small pink and yellow flowers gave the island its name, and the bride had loved the idea of local flowers being part of the ceremony.