Hidden Love (Derrien Island Trilogy)

by Thorpe, Simmone

  “But don’t you see that isn’t the way things worked out? We have a chance here to see what could be different between us. That kiss we shared yesterday should have been evidence enough of that for you!” he said.

  “How do you expect me to just tell Nathan that I have to break up with him because I have to see if my ex-husband and I have any hope of patching up a relationship that we already tried and failed at making work!” she retorted.

  He had everything anyone could possibly dream of owning, he could articulate himself to close multi-million dollar deals, but Candasee left him tongue-tied and unsure of himself for the first time in his life. And to make matters worse she was falling in love with another man.

  Darius stood quickly and walked away from Candasee, shoving his hands deep into his pockets and looking out over the ocean through the wall. He saw none of the landscape; in fact, nothing held any appeal and the glass wall’s show of power did nothing for him. How out of place would it be for him to show how upset he was? After all it was a mistake that allowed him to know she was even on the island with her boyfriend. He had to keep up faith that they could work out their relationship and he had a plan.

  “Is that all that you wanted to say to me? I got the impression that there was more!” said Candasee noting Darius’ quiet and pensive silence. He was hurt by what she said just now.

  Taking a deep breath, before he spoke to make sure he had a strong voice tone Darius paused before replying.

  “Yes, I do have something else to talk to you about! My mother said she paid you a visit yesterday afternoon and left her card with your...ah... with Mr. Carthswright. Did you receive it?”

  “No. What card?”

  He should have known that Nathan was the one behind her not responding, seethed Darius silently.

  “She left her business card because she wanted to speak with you about something important,” he replied aloud.

  Darius turned and walked toward Candasee again now that he felt he could control the emotions flitting across his face.

  “Mom is having her engagement party tonight and she really wants you to come. She knew it would be late notice for you and she tried to contact you about it yesterday, hoping that you would have at least called her!”

  “Marianne is getting married? I am so happy for her! This is good news!” exclaimed Candasee excitedly.

  “Yes I’m really glad for her too, she deserves to find this much happiness after the hard life she had,” he said while recalling his childhood days.

  “It would be my pleasure to attend her party, Darius!” said Candasee thinking warmly of the woman she considered her to be own mother, sensing relief as well at the change of subject.

  “Good, I already arranged transport for the family and the dress is formal. I know you might not have come prepared for this and it comes to you as a surprise, so I arranged to have some of the formal dresses you had while we were married transferred out of storage here for you to try on yesterday evening. Perhaps you can do that now before you leave.”

  “You kept my formal dresses?” asked Candasee with a sharply arched brow registering her surprise.

  “There are many things that would surprise you about what I’ve kept where you are concerned Candasee,” said Darius with a low voice with a hint of irony.

  “Apparently!” she replied trying once again to harden her senses against the gentleness and meaning in his voice.

  “They are over in the bedroom area and you can go in and try them on and determine which one you’d like to wear. Whichever you select, I will have it cleaned and returned in time for tonight so that you don’t have to worry about anything”.

  Darius always showed such uncanny devotion and love to anything where his mother was concerned and that was one of his shining qualities. There is a saying that a man would treat his wife like he treats his mother and somehow in the latter months of their marriage Candasee could not comprehend the sudden disconnect. She also knew and experienced the extravagance that was showered on her as the centre of Darius’ world but it was his love for her that was the most powerful feeling she’d ever experienced in her life. So the fall from grace really hurt. Unable to harness her curiosity anymore Candasee walked over to the bedroom and entered it observing the huge pile of elegant gowns draped across the bed.

  Darius followed her into the bedroom and witnessed her audible gasp as she noted just how many dresses she’d had.

  “I always wondered why you left them behind when you left?” he asked standing behind her in the doorway.

  “I guess I didn’t want too many reminders of the life I was leaving behind me! Maybe I wanted to punish you a little too!” she said.

  “Well it worked! There wasn’t a day I could be in our room and not remember how you sounded, looked and how you smelled, how you tasted many nights after we got home and we let the party continue,” he said meaningfully.

  Darius had spent a small fortune on them and to her, leaving them behind, was like her slap in the face for his insistence on her trying to keep a certain look and status! Looking at the beautiful gowns now and how much she actually missed the feel of the cool silks and sheer fabric against her skin, she wondered what she’d been thinking to leave them behind!

  “It is obvious that we did a lot of socializing!” laughed Candasee nervously observing the obscenely tall pile. “Okay I think I can remember a few favourites so this shouldn’t take too long!”

  “Feel free to take your time and browse, I am not rushing you anywhere. In fact, I want you to stay a little longer so we can talk.”

  “Talk about what?”

  “Well for one, your life in Barbados and what is going on with you?” he hedged inwardly kicking himself again for avoiding the topic once again. Why couldn’t he just come out and say what he wanted to say!

  “I didn’t think you would find that interesting!”

  “Well I would and I do! Look around and find the dress you want and I can order in some coffee and breakfast. I was going to order for myself.”

  “No don’t do that, Nathan is waiting for me downstairs, this won’t take long! In fact, I think I see one of my favourites now!

  She quickly selected an emerald green sheath covered in tiny shimmering crystals that dipped low into her cleavage and was held in place by tiny spaghetti straps.

  “I don’t have the right shoes though Darius!” exclaimed Candasee.

  “That is not a problem, I can ask Portia to find you something matching while you are the intensive today!”

  “Thank you, but I may have to leave the hotel to get my hair done for such a formal occasion. I can get a pair myself then but I will let her know if I need her help still.”

  “Okay, fine!”

  “So is that all?” she asked.

  Darius walked to where she was standing and held her shoulders gently running his hands down the sides of her arms igniting a rush of heat along her arms to her fingertips.

  “Candasee...” he began turning her around to face him.

  “I’m so sorry about what happened between us, you have to believe me!” he said.

  Candasee could sense her bottom lip begin to tremble as her cool exterior began to unravel at Darius’ mere touch once again. For goodness sakes she thought, almost making love with Nathan should have changed this!

  “I’ve spent so many days in regret, wishing I knew how to approach you again and to make this right. We were never meant to be apart! Are you telling me in the last two years that you never thought of me?”

  “Darius, I did nothing else than think about you,” Candasee finally blurted pulling away as she recalled her frustration and walked around to the other side of the bed. “Do you think our separation was easy on me, that it didn’t practically kill me to walk away from you? I did it because I had to.”

  “You never did answer my first question about us. Are you willing to let us try to repair the damage? I need to tell you why I made such a huge mistake,” said Darius.r />
  “I want to know but at the same time I don’t know if it could ever make a difference at this point. We are different people now with different lives. Besides I just can’t break up with Nathan because you finally apologized two years too late.”

  “I see,” so I may be too late then?”

  “It’s possible!” said Candasee reluctantly. “We had a good marriage for a time and then you decided I wasn’t good enough for you. My life has moved on and so has yours, and I am sure that several women would thank me for standing aside, especially one in particular.”

  “Candasee, even if there were other women interested in me, it still wouldn’t matter because I have not managed to move past my feeling and desire for you. I sense that it is the same for you. Do you really think you are being honest with Nathan and yourself here?”

  “I am not trying to be anything. I just want my life to finally move on past all the pain and the hurt you caused me! You know what, I think all of this friction between us is just the effect of seeing each other so suddenly and now a lot of old feelings are resurfacing that you nor I should confuse with something real”, she said.

  Why was she insisting that nothing was between them when that could not be further from the truth? Even she knew that she was lying as he watched how she avoided looking into his eyes as she spoke. Walking around the bed slowly, he advanced toward her. She looked behind her instinctively to see if she could get away from him but there was only the wall.

  “Why aren’t you listening to me and why are you running from me,” asked Darius placing his palms on the wall behind her on either side of her head.

  “I am listening and perhaps you should too!” said Candasee with her voice shaking. “I know you might have come up with many reasons as to why we should get back together but the past is already written and you can’t change that overnight!”

  “Can you honestly tell me that being here with me right now has absolutely no effect on your feelings for me? That if I were to kiss you right now, that you wouldn’t push me away?”

  She had no words or defence to that question because although she was willing her mind to say no, every other cell in her body was screaming yes. Yes to him kissing her, yes to them making love right now!

  Darius brought his mouth within centimetres of hers and touched her lips lightly with his rubbing them from side to side before resting his forehead lightly against hers.

  Being cocooned with Darius like this was wreaking havoc on all her theories about her self-control. She did not want to push him away, so she didn’t. She wanted this more than her next breath, even if it meant that she had to swallow every word she’d just said. As their breath mingled and their foreheads pressed together, it was as though their minds were becoming one again, as though each was reaching out and searching for its other half.

  God he wanted to just clear the bed of that insane pile of dresses and just show this woman how much she would be lying to herself if she thought for a moment that this was over.

  Finally not holding back any longer he tasted her lower lip gently then her upper lip and she made a whimper from deep within her chest. Her soft lips tasted like coconut cream as he finally discovered the flavour of the light gloss she wore.

  Darius smelled and tasted so good, so familiar and being here kissing him like this was like coming home to all she’d missed and longed for. Desire and heat began to radiate from her abdomen in waves as her body longed for nothing more than to be one with this man, to finally satisfy the ache that had lived in her heart for almost two years! Kissing him back required no debate, no struggle, it was her natural response, it was who she was, and always would be, his wife, his lover.

  Her arms instinctively came up and around his neck as she opened her mouth wider to allow him deeper access. The flames of desire blazed up and around her like an inferno eclipsing all her previous thoughts. Darius wrapped his arms around her waist bringing her body flush against the lean hardness of his body as she clung to him.

  This man was driving her crazy as though she was a schizophrenic. This was crazy! What was she doing? She had a boyfriend for goodness sakes!

  Pulling away slightly and somewhat out of breath they both looked at each other as a knowing passed between them.

  “Do you still believe this is over?” asked Darius as he searched her eyes with his intently.

  It was undeniable now, the connection that existed between them was there still undiluted by time, undiluted by the hurt and the pain! Hot tears began to slide down Candasee’s cheeks as she began to come to terms with all she was feeling but it was just too overwhelming!

  “Darius, I have to go, everyone is expecting me, I can’t do this, I’m sorry. Tell your mother that I am looking forward to the celebration tonight,” she said disentangling herself from his arms forcibly. After steadying herself, she walked quickly across the room and out the door.

  Darius stood his ground and watched her run again but made no attempt to stop her. Instead he contemplated all the thoughts flooding his mind that instant. Tonight would not be an ordinary night because what Candasee did not know was that the engagement party would be held on a nearby private island owned by one of his business partners. He would finally steal her away from Nathan to where she would be back among the family and friends she’d grown to love. It was a start but the objective was still very clear, he had to begin to remind her of the life she once had with him and the real possibility of having it again.

  As Candasee neared the restaurant for breakfast, the scents of eggs, bacon, pancakes and fruit all made for such an inviting aroma. She hoped that her eyes didn’t look too red and puffy anymore after the short stop she made in the bathroom to disguise the fact that she had been crying.

  One of the instructors at the buffet line pointed her toward the table Nathan reserved for them on the sunlit deck. He wasn’t eating, but actually he was leaning on the table with his elbows and hands partially steepled in front of his face and she knew immediately what caused that.

  She did.

  He did not deserve her wavering and constant betrayal. He was a decent man she did not want to hurt. But every second she remained at this hotel, the possibility that she would really hurt him deeply seemed even more of a reality.

  Now she wondered how he would react to her news about tonight’s party. Not well she figured. How could she ever convince him that she was going because of Marianne and not because of Darius when the line was so blurry for her too?

  “Hi Nathan, I am starved, what are you planning to order?” she asked trying to be upbeat.

  “I was waiting for you. This is more of a buffet smorgasbord so we can go and get something now,” he said quietly noting the slight redness of her eyes. She had been crying and that bastard Darius was responsible, he seethed.

  They filled up their plates and returned to their seats and Candasee hungrily dug into her scrambled eggs, grilled herb potatoes, and bacon with gusto while Nathan also made light work of his.

  “I was hoping that no one in the meeting this morning would hear how my stomach was growling!”said Candasee between forkfuls.

  “Yeah mine too!” Nathan agreed.

  “Uh Nathan, did you get a business card yesterday?” asked Candasee casually.

  At first Nathan was not sure what she was referring to, but then remembered her brief visit from Marianne Brogan.

  “Oh sorry, Candee, I did and I put it down somewhere in the room while you were still asleep. I completely forgot about it,” he admitted sincerely. “In case you forgot I got somewhat distracted sometime after you woke up!” he said with a dangerous glint in his eye. “I am looking forward to getting that distracted again with you very soon too!”

  Candasee swallowed deeply at the now uncomfortable memory. “Yes, I remember how distracted you were. Okay, it’s important so I’ll take a look around for it when we get back upstairs.”

  “Was the old friend you wanted to make plans to see yesterday Darius’ mother?�
�� asked Nathan.

  “Yes actually, she is more like my mother than a friend though. I don’t remember my biological mother and I never connected with my stepmother but Marianne and I bonded from the very start. We were very close then!”

  “I guess my own mother being deceased doesn’t leave you with any options for that with me, huh?”

  “No, and you shouldn’t feel that way either. Besides there can only be one Marianne. Actually I need to tell you something else and it concerns her. Tonight is her engagement party and she’s invited me to come along and help her celebrate. I am so happy that she’s found someone who can really care for her in the way that she deserves. Darius has always done an excellent job at that but there is only so much a son can provide.”

  Good move Darius, Nathan thought inwardly noting where this was going.

  “So what time will we be going to this shindig?” he asked testing the waters.

  “We? No, I’m sorry but I was the only one invited. I get the impression that she invited me because she still sees me as family even though Darius and I are divorced. Besides, you wouldn’t enjoy that anyway. It will be a good time for me to catch up with some old acquaintances.”

  “Perhaps I would like to meet them too, you know, to understand a bit more about you!”

  “No!” she replied a little too sharply. “Besides Darius did not mention you and I wouldn’t want to create any more tension between you two. Things are uncomfortable enough already! Like I said, I got the impression that it was more of a family affair,” she said hoping that explanation would be enough.

  Nathan’s expression fell and he rested his fork on the plate. He would be having a word with Darius Brogan long before this day was over he decided. Engagement party or no engagement party, surely even he had to know that taking out another man’s girlfriend was crossing the line. The family angle might be legitimate but it was all too convenient considering his obvious intentions.