Hidden Love (Derrien Island Trilogy)

by Thorpe, Simmone

  “I didn’t think I had to because it was a surprise and I didn’t count on you having your eyes closed all the way here. I thought we would have had this aspect of the conversation much earlier in the evening, but the right moment never came,” he replied.

  “I can’t believe I just got on a helicopter with you without even asking where we were going. Who even does that? ” said Candasee shaking her head at her own behaviour.

  Darius stood up and walked toward her and held her shoulders in his hands.

  “You did it because you trust me and you trust your family just as you did before and now that I know that you do I don’t want to ever do anything that will break that trust again,” said Darius.

  “I may not even have a job when I get back, Darius. Is there a phone I can use to call the hotel?”

  “No, there isn’t and I left my mobile on Derrien Island. It is all arranged, my staff know what to do! I also asked the front desk to deliver a note to Nathan in 510 about your absence!”

  “Oh no! Darius, Nathan is not staying in 510, he’s ...”

  Darius stepped back and gave Candasee a hard look as what she was saying sank in. He knew Nathan was always underfoot but he’d assumed he was merely visiting Candasee’s room! Were they sleeping together right there in the hotel?

  “He is staying in my room. This is a huge mess Darius. I love working with the intensive! This is going to be more than hard to explain now when I don’t show up.”

  Darius leaned forward and held the bridge of his nose in his hand. He still hadn’t gotten past the revelation that Candasee might have given her body to Nathan! He again pridefully assumed that she was still his. Not even he had crossed that line in the time they were apart with anyone else and Candee was making love to someone else right there in the hotel? The thought filled him with incredible anger but not at her, but himself. She had every right to move on in her life and it was now becoming clear that he’d allowed himself to get stuck in a fantasy that probably would never be.

  Candasee wished in the moment that she saw the hard facade close over Darius’ features that she could take back those words.

  “Darius’, I’m...”

  Darius walked away from her not wanting to hear another word if it would have Nathan’s name in it again!

  “I arranged a change of clothes for you, so don’t worry and a room was prepared in case we would have been staying overnight!” he said quickly, his voice now hard and cold.

  “In case...?”

  “Well if you’d turned me down for the dance or this conversation, you would have been on a flight back to Derrien Island tonight!”

  “Darius, there must be some way to make contact back at the hotel! Think!”

  “We will have to spend the night here!” insisted Darius continuing to watch his plans disintegrate. He would have to let her use another room besides the one he had prepared for them. Having a bed strewn with rose petals would surely be seen as an unwelcome gesture right now. Even the thought of them spending the night here in this house in separate rooms while she shared one with Nathan was now like an acid burn in his heart and he realized he couldn’t do this anymore.

  “I will take you back tonight myself!” said Darius making up his mind quickly.

  “You will, but how?” Candasee asked.

  “I will sail the yacht back, I know how to do it! I asked my captain to assist because I was hoping that we would have been together by then and we would have been enjoying the sail back to the island!” he confessed feeling real pain which he knew was registering by now in his expression.

  “Darius, I am sorry, I am not trying to hurt you, please understand the position this is putting me in!”

  “No, I can’t understand it Candasee and before we say anything more, let’s go!” With those words he strode outside and made his way back into the deserted ball room. All that was left were the tables, chairs and settings. Even the catering team had packed up the dirty china and left food in the refrigerator as planned.

  Darius sensed that somewhere he was beginning to lose Candasee and that feeling was all too familiar. He simply didn’t lose and certainly didn’t lose the most important relationship in his life, not twice! He made it as far as the centre of the dance floor before turning around unable to contain his thoughts any longer!

  Candasee knew that he was hurt and angry by the speed at which he’d left the room and she followed him out as well.

  “I’m not taking you back because I’m giving up, and I am certainly not returning you to Nathan. Let me make this clear! I am doing it because of your love for your dancing and the fact that my message might not be received in time to ensure that! I meant every single word I said to you Candasee and I am not giving up not tonight, not ever!”

  Candasee sensed a chill pass down her spine as the intensity of those words passed through her! When Darius promised something he usually followed up on it with determined aggression until he owned it. Sometimes she’d called him “the force to be reckoned with” to herself as she observed him at work but now that his focus was being directed at her, she wondered if she would survive it.

  Darius held out his hand for her to take it when suddenly they both heard a phone ring!

  There was a phone here! Wait a minute, she thought, that was her ring tone. It must be coming from the closet where she’d left her wrap and her bag! She completely forgot that she brought her phone with her! She ran to the closet trying desperately not to entangle her dress with her shoe heels.

  By the time she got there it stopped ringing! She took it out of her bag and true to her expectations there were four missed calls from Nathan!

  She was about to press redial when she looked behind her and saw that Darius was no longer standing there anymore and that she’d left his outstretched hand to come and answer this phone! What was she running from? She knew she cared deeply for Nathan but compared to what she’d always felt for Darius, it was not even comparable. Five months compared to six years?

  Just being with Darius caused her to feel so nervous and out of control and she just did not like that feeling. Her mind was not in charge and she acted too much on how her heart felt. She had done that once before and look where it got her. Now she knew why Darius treated her the way he did, and she empathized with him, she knew that she had to let it all go. But she could not shake the fear of him hurting her again because truly he was the only one with that kind of power where she was concerned.

  She pressed the button and leaned against the wall in the closet and waited as it dialled. She did not have to wait long because Nathan answered on the second ring.

  “Candasee, where are you it is after two in the morning? I was so worried when I couldn’t get through to you!”

  “I’m still at the party and I am okay, don’t worry about me!”

  “How can I not, I am missing you terribly here in our bed and I don’t like how we left things between us this evening. Has Darius been on his best behaviour?”

  “Yes, I’m fine look, get some rest and I will be back in a few hours okay!” she said, struggling not to cry. She was lying and she hated herself for having to do that.

  “A few hours? It will be sun up by then! What kind of engagement party for senior citizen’s lasts till sunrise?” asked Nathan harshly.

  “I guess this one is kind of unique! Look I will be back before you know it, okay!”

  “I can’t wait to see you! Should I order in breakfast for us in the room?”

  “Sure, you decide, I have to go!

  She disconnected the call and once again looked behind her for Darius. He was still nowhere in sight!

  “Darius?” she called out. She waited another minute before going back to the room they were in before but there was still no sign of him there. This was a really big house and she did not want to get lost. She thought about waiting for him in the ballroom but she was curious about what he’d prepared for them upstairs. She decided to take a look wondering if he went u
p there to retrieve something. At the top of the staircase she saw six doors surrounding a sitting area in a hexagonal shape with a banister that overlooked the great room below.

  She tried the first door and it was locked. Then she noticed a sliver of light emanating from beneath the door at the other end of the sitting room. She turned the knob and this time the door swung open revealing a room reminiscent of her honeymoon in Bali. The large four-poster bed was covered in red rose petals and the lamps on either side of the bed cast a warm glow on the room. There were flowers and even soft Polynesian music playing in the background!

  “Oh my God!” exclaimed Candasee recognizing what Darius hoped would be between them tonight. Her mouth hung open as she gaped at the sheer beauty of the room.

  Quick footfalls behind her told her that she was not alone anymore but she was so transfixed that turning around was impossible.

  “I didn’t want you to see that! Please close the door!” said Darius in a cold tone.

  “I had no idea!” she said looking over her shoulder and then back into the room.

  “Yes how could you know, right? Did you get to make your all important call?” he asked with a touch of sarcasm.

  Darius stepped around her and went inside to turn off the lamps and the music and after doing so he closed the door.

  “Yes, I did.”

  “Well let’s go, I went to retrieve the cart from the garage. It will be about a ten minute drive to the bay where the yacht is moored!” he said barely looking at her.

  How many nights did she dream that Darius would come to her and sweep her off her feet with apology, saying that he couldn’t live without her, that it was all a huge mistake? How many nights did she dream of making love to him in a room just like this one, missing being with him with every fibre of her being? Now that she had what she wanted she was running in the opposite direction?

  The trip back to Derrien Island was uneventful and Darius hardly said anything to her at all. They docked at the marina in the city around 6:00 a.m. and got a taxi back to the hotel. Darius bid her a stiff goodbye before taking a separate elevator up to his quarters.

  Chapter 12

  It was strange seeing how the sky changed from the purplish blue of night to the fiery orange and gold in the morning, thought Nathan, now totally exhausted in his vigil on the balcony, waiting for Candasee.

  He would be tired today, of all days when they needed to be at their sharpest for the recording of the performance night at the hotel. It was worth it though, to know that Candasee had returned to him safe and sound.

  The lock sounded its characteristic click and the soft thud indicated the door was closed. She was back.

  All of the tension simply drained out of him as he immediately got up and entered the room and opened his arms for her to come to him. All the desire to argue and fight was gone and now he just needed to hold her, to know that she was still his, still in love with him.

  Candasee allowed Nathan to hold her but she felt cold and empty in his embrace. She was so tired and she had to teach a class in about three hours.

  “Nathan, I just want to sleep, Can we talk later?” she asked tiredly.

  Candasee lay down in the dress, heels and all and within a few minutes she was soundly asleep. Nathan lay down beside her and set his alarm to wake them up around ten. When he realized he wouldn’t get any sleep and neither would Candasee he had asked two instructors to take over the rehearsals until he arrived later. They were willing to do so, at least giving him and Candasee a four hour nap. He took off her shoes and slipped her dress off and for a moment was mesmerized by her body. Quickly he reminded himself that she was tired and so was he. He also disrobed and climbed into bed beside her, wrapping her in his arms under the comforter before finally allowing himself to sleep. She had come back to him and for now he would be satisfied with that.

  Candasee was never so glad to see the end of a day. Her eyes were sore and her feet hurt, but her heart was full because tonight the academy made such an impressive showing for the film crew. Nathan was beaming from ear to ear as he was interviewed by Sally Flanders about the academy and their efforts to reach out across the Caribbean to empower young people. She was glad that he could get this exposure because she knew his heart was really into his work.

  She found herself looking through the crowds for any sign of Darius, but it seemed that he did not even attend his own function! His reserved seat on the front row with the other dignitaries who were in attendance was unmistakably unoccupied. There were many important dignitaries from Derrien Island and other important stakeholders in the tourism industry there that evening.

  Figures, he never attended any other event when she performed, so why should he this time around, she thought bitterly. She knew she was being ridiculous but it did not make her feel any less disappointed that he wasn’t there. She wanted him to finally see why she was so passionate about what she did especially in light of all he told her the night before.

  Everyone was now milling around and sipping cocktails, so she thought it would be a good time to slip away and get some much needed quiet time. The lack of sleep had caused her to feel clouded all day and the dull throbbing in her temples indicated that if she did not get some rest soon she would soon have a full blown headache. She’d managed to execute her own dance without incident but she wasn’t at her best and she knew it. Sure, the audience applauded wildly but she knew the difference! The Derrien Islander’s who were selected to perform were now being interviewed briefly by the travel show team and they were all beaming with pride. She wanted to avoid cameras tonight at all costs and just be alone with her thoughts right now. Nathan was busy with his interviews and the other instructors were also busy networking. She wouldn’t be missed if she slipped away for just a little while.

  The sound of the surf pounding just beyond the pool beckoned to her and the thought of dipping her toes in the warm ocean seemed like heaven. Leaving the harsh glare of the stage lighting, she walked over to the beach and stood at the water’s edge allowing the waves to soak her feet as she burrowed them deeply into the sand. It was cool and refreshing and she closed her eyes and allowed herself to feel the smooth ebb and flow of the waves as they swirled around her ankles.

  “You guys did an excellent job tonight! I’m sure you are proud!” said Darius as he came to stand a few feet behind her.

  A slow smile crept across Candasee’s face concealed by the darkness and by the fact that she faced away from him. But it did not diminish the immediate rush of happiness she felt knowing that he was there. The rich timbre of his voice was almost soothing to the throbbing in her head; after all she’d spent the entire day thinking about him and remembering his touch and every sensuous detail about last night. She also remembered how cold and distant he’d become at the end before he’d brought her back home.

  “I almost thought you skipped the performance tonight!” she replied without turning.

  “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world besides I do have an interest in all of it for business. It would have been improper for me to miss the final night’s filming.”

  Forget the damn filming, he thought. He had one consuming reason for watching the show tonight and it was the same reason he was standing on this beach right now. He had to see her. Her solo piece was so well done that it brought tears to his eyes to see how skilfully she’d executed it. He wanted to tell her just how beautiful she looked but he didn’t trust his voice in that moment. He was still bruised after their encounter last night and to his annoyance he was the one putting up walls now. He’d stood near the back of the lawn area that had been set up near the palms instead of being seated up front where he knew his seat had been reserved.

  “I see!” she said with a tinge of disappointment in her voice that he did not say that he came to see her or her work. He still seemed just as distant as he did when they returned from Krispin this morning.

  “Look, I am not going to disturb you for long but I wanted to l
et you know that I am going to be out of the country for the next three days. I have to tend to an emergency in Los Angeles. I will be back in time for the final day of the intensive though. Perhaps we can have dinner when I return before you leave the hotel for old time’s sake. I know that by my leaving that you and Nathan will have more of a chance to see what you really want from each other. I won’t lie though; I’m hoping that maybe if I’m gone, you might miss me enough to think about all we talked about last night more deeply.”

  Candasee whirled around and was surprised at first to see that Darius was not wearing his usual designer suit but rather a pair of jeans and a close fitted knit shirt. He was so devastatingly handsome that it took her breath away. What was that pang in her chest? Surely she was not anticipating missing him already!

  She was.

  Candasee swallowed the lump that seemed to fill her throat at the thought of not seeing Darius for the next few days. She should tell him how she felt about him and stop this insane pretence. She could see it was practically ripping him to shreds and inside she felt the same tearing. She was hiding and somehow the cleft she’d chosen to occupy for the last two years was getting smaller and smaller and it was more difficult to pretend that not being with him didn’t really matter to her. Was he giving up, why was he leaving now? She could see him waiting for her to respond and she didn’t know what to say.

  “Well, I wish you a successful and safe trip then!” she found herself saying quickly lowering her eyes so he would not see the rush of tears that suddenly filled them.

  “Yes I hope so too!” he replied. “I’ll leave the dinner invitation open to you and you can let me know what you’ve decided when I return.”

  “We aren’t leaving Derrien Island again are we?”

  “No, not this time!” Darius chuckled as he heard how Candasee’s voice deepened with suspicion. “Just a simple dinner, I promise”.

  There was nothing simple about any plans that Darius made and if she had dinner with him it would mean only one thing. It would not be for old time sakes but it would mean that she would be giving their marriage a second chance.