“Where are we?” Tally said. “And don’t say the Maldives.”
“A private island. In the Maldives,” he added with a laugh. He climbed out and helped her down from the helicopter and into a waiting limousine. The car was cool inside, the air conditioning blasting out. She gazed out of the window as the car set off. They passed several beachfront villas, each one more spectacular than the last.
“When you say ‘private,’ what do you mean?”
“It’s privately owned. You can only stay here by special arrangement.”
“I hope the neighbours aren’t too nosy.”
“I’ve hired out the whole island.”
Tally gaped at him. “You’ve what? So it’s only us?”
He shrugged. “Plus a few staff.”
“Jesus, Cash.” She rubbed the space between her eyes. “That’s a bit extravagant, don’t you think?”
He squeezed her hand. “Maybe. But after the stress of the last couple of months, I want a few days on our own. No paps. No fans. No friends or family. Is that so bad?”
“Of course not,” she said as relief surged through her once more that they’d been able to put the Kinga debacle behind them.
“Come on,” he said as the car slowed to a stop. “Let’s go and see where we’re staying.”
Their villa sat atop a hill and looked to be the largest on the island. As Cash ushered her through the door, she stepped into a large open-plan living area, but her eyes skimmed past the luxurious surroundings. Forgetting her exhaustion, she crossed the room and flung open the doors on the far side.
“Oh, wow,” she murmured as she stepped outside and leaned against the wooden railings to take in the view. Far below, the Indian Ocean lapped the shore, the vibrant green waters giving way to deep blue the farther out she looked. She closed her eyes, tasting the ocean on the back of her tongue as she breathed deeply. She’d always loved being by the water, but this was something else entirely. Her own personal slice of paradise.
“Pretty incredible, huh?” Cash said, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder.
“Something of an understatement.”
“I did good?”
“You did fantastic, ace.” She yawned, and even though she wanted to stay up a little longer, jet lag was catching up with her. “Sorry,” she said, clamping a hand over her mouth.
“Let’s go to bed. We’ve got plenty of time to explore tomorrow.”
“More surprises.”
“Oh, yeah,” he said, backing up into the bedroom. “Starting right now.”
Tally giggled. They might be going to bed, but sleep wasn’t going to be the first thing on the agenda.
34
Cash swung his legs out of bed and tugged on a pair of joggers. Sunlight streamed through the blinds, but the piercing brightness hadn’t stirred Natalia. He wandered into the kitchen. As per his request, the butler had left a jar of ground coffee beans and stocked the fridge with milk and juice. Five minutes later, Cash carried a tray precariously loaded with apple juice and freshly brewed coffee into the bedroom. He placed it on Natalia’s side of the bed.
Her skin had turned a burnished copper from the last few days of lazing on the beach and going for the occasional stroll. He enjoyed relaxing with her and watching her soak up the sun, but today, he had something a little more active in mind. He poured a cup of coffee and wafted it under her nose. She murmured, and her nose wrinkled, but her eyes remained stubbornly closed. She was clearly knackered, and he wished he could let her sleep a little longer, but they had to be at the harbour by ten. He brushed a finger down her cheek, and she murmured again, louder this time. Eventually, her eyes flickered open, and as they focused, she smiled.
“You’ve made coffee.” She pushed herself upright, taking the cup from him. She took a deep breath. “Mmm, not bad.”
“Sorry to wake you.”
“No, you’re not.”
He laughed and held his hands in the air. “Guilty.”
She took a sip, peering at him suspiciously over the rim of the cup. “What are you up to?”
“You’ll find out, in”—he glanced at his watch—“an hour.”
She raised her eyes heavenward. “You love this, don’t you?”
“Surprising you? Yes.”
“Okay. I won’t sulk and spoil it.” She finished the coffee and flung back the covers. “At least tell me what I need to wear.”
“Swimsuit, shorts, and T-shirt.”
“Aha. So we’re going in the water.”
Cash smacked her behind as she climbed out of bed, making her yelp. “Get ready. I’ll order breakfast.”
Forty-five minutes later, they wandered hand in hand down the trail that ran in front of the house and led all the way to the marina. Cash spotted Adam, their PADI instructor, and waved, but when Natalia saw the diving gear lying on the wooden dock, she froze, and her hand tightened beneath his.
“Cash,” she said, uncertainty tinged with fear coming through clearly in her voice. “I don’t think I can do that.”
He studied her panicked expression and then dropped her hand and rubbed soothing circles against her back. “It’s okay, baby. We’ll go at a slow pace. I’ll be there the whole time, and we have an expert instructor.”
As she glanced at him, her eyes appeared huge in her face, the pupils dilated, eclipsing the navy colour of her irises. “Have you done this before?”
“Yes. I’m PADI qualified. If you don’t like it, we don’t have to do it. But try to give it a go.” He gave her a quick hug. “I’ll hold your hand as tight as you do with me every time we fly. How’s that?”
She swallowed, and her breathing quickened. He thought she was going to flat-out refuse, but after a few seconds of staring at the gear, she nodded. “Okay. I’ll try.”
“Good girl.”
They set off walking again, and as they arrived at the wooden dock, Cash shared a look with Adam, who nodded in understanding.
“Welcome,” Adam said, shaking both their hands. “I’ve got a great day planned for us.” He fixed his dark-brown eyes on Natalia, his smile warm and comforting. “I understand you’re new to this. Don’t worry about a thing. We’ll start with the basics, and I’ll take my cues from you.”
She nibbled at the inside of her lip. “I’m a little nervous.”
“I’d be concerned if you weren’t. Everyone is the first time. But once you see what’s beneath the ocean, the sheer beauty and wonder of it takes over. I promise you. Let’s get you kitted up, then we can head out.”
Natalia’s face turned ashen, and she gave Cash a panicked look. “We’re not starting in the swimming pool?”
“No,” Adam said, answering for him. “In my experience, people find it harder to go under in a swimming pool. Out there, you’ll get distracted and forget you’re underwater. Trust me.”
“It’s okay, sweetness,” Cash said, trying to make his voice calm and soothing. He rested a hand on her back and gently coaxed her forward. Her feet seemed glued to the floor, but with a little encouragement, she finally moved.
They donned their wetsuits and climbed aboard the boat. Adam had already loaded the oxygen tanks. As Natalia’s gaze flickered to where the tanks were stacked against the side of the boat, the speed of her breathing escalated. Her eyes grew wider, and Cash began to have second thoughts. If she was this frightened before they’d even left the bay, was it fair to push her? His instincts had told him she would love diving, but the signals she was sending had him questioning whether he’d made a big mistake.
It took thirty minutes to reach the dive site, and by the time Adam had dropped anchor, Natalia was in full-on panic mode. Her breaths were short and shallow, and her cheeks puffed and deflated at alarming speed. When Cash caught Adam’s eye, he stopped prepping the oxygen tanks and knelt down in front of Natalia, taking her hands in his. Under normal circumstances, Cash would have bristled at another man touching his girl, but these weren’t normal circum
stances.
“Natalia, look at me,” Adam said in a firm tone.
Her gaze flickered to his before she stared at the ground. “I can’t do it.”
“No one is going to push you into anything. How about we get into the water and have a swim around. Then if you feel up to it, we can do a bit of snorkelling. That way, you can get a look at what’s down there without having to go underwater. How does that sound?”
She nodded, and her breathing slowed a little. With her hand firmly in Adam’s, she climbed down the side of the boat and into the water. Cash breathed a sigh of relief. At least they’d got her that far. For a minute, he’d worried she wouldn’t even go for a swim.
After a few minutes of floating on her back, she relaxed and even started playing about, splashing Cash and laughing when he splashed her back.
“How about a little spot of snorkelling?” Adam said, dropping a mask into the water. “Only if you feel ready.”
Natalia’s eyes brightened. “I think I’d like that.”
Cash helped her put on the mask, and after a few aborted attempts, she began to trust the breathing tube. As she seemed happy and occupied, Cash swam over to where Adam was sitting on the boat steps.
“Think we’ll get her to do it?”
“I’m certain we will,” Adam said. “She’s far from the worst I’ve seen. And I haven’t had a failure yet. It’s hard for some people to trust the equipment and the experts around them. But look at her. She’s taken to snorkelling much quicker than I anticipated. She’s going to be fine.”
“Hey, ace,” Natalia shouted from about twenty feet away. “You’ve got to see this.”
“Looks like you may be right.” Cash grabbed the snorkel mask Adam held out. He swam towards where Natalia was bobbing in the water, her face wet from the sea but flushed with excitement.
“It’s amazing,” she said, grabbing onto his arms. “The colours and different species of fish and the rocks and everything.”
After they’d snorkelled for about twenty minutes, Natalia tapped Cash on the shoulder. He surfaced and pushed his mask on top of his head. “What’s up?”
“I want to do it. The diving. I want to see more.”
“You’re sure?”
“No,” she said. “I’m scared to death. But I trust you. And I trust Adam.”
Cash pulled her to him and kissed her wet, salty mouth. “I’m proud of you.”
“Don’t be too quick with the praise,” she said. “I haven’t done it yet.”
Thirty minutes later, they were suited up and ready to go. Natalia’s breathing was still heavy but nowhere near as fast or shallow as earlier. She leaned towards Adam, eagerly listening to every instruction. He talked them through the hand signals they’d use to communicate and assured her he wouldn’t leave her side. For that matter, neither would Cash.
“Ready?” Cash said as they sat on the edge of the boat with their backs to the water.
“As I’ll ever be,” Natalia said.
They inserted their regulators into their mouths. She clutched his hand, and together, they somersaulted into the water.
35
Tally lost her grip on Cash’s hand the minute she hit the water. Disoriented, she began to panic. This was a mistake. She couldn’t breathe. Bubbles from the oxygen distorted her view, and as her survival instinct kicked in, she swam for the surface.
She hadn’t got far when Cash gripped her shoulders. She forced herself to concentrate on his face. He pointed two fingers at his eyes then at hers. Tally focused on him, and gradually, her heartbeat began to slow down. Adam made a hand signal to Cash, who replied by making an O sign with his finger and thumb. Good. Cash thought she was okay. She didn’t want to spoil this for him. He was so keen for her to experience diving, and after the brief view of what the ocean had to offer while she’d been snorkelling, she was too.
Flanked by the two men, Tally sank deeper into the ocean, holding tight to Cash’s hand. Gazing at what had previously been hidden from view, she forgot she was scared. She forgot she was breathing air from a tank, and she forgot her concerns about not being able to touch the floor. Fear dissipated as the ocean sprang to life, teeming with colour. A shoal of tiny yellow fish with blue flashes on their scales swam past her. They brushed against her body, her hands, her face, and if she could have yelled with pleasure, she would have.
Adam pointed at a coral reef, and they swam towards it. As she got closer and the world opened up around her, adrenaline surged through her body. The coral was the most stunning thing she’d ever seen. Multicoloured, vibrant, and alive, the reef was home to hundreds of species of fish and marine life. Tally’s eyes widened as she tried to take it all in, knowing without doubt this was the best thing she’d ever done in her life. Letting go of Cash’s hand, she gave him the signal that she was okay. She swam off on her own, suddenly needing the space. Wonderment and awe slammed into her, and tears welled up behind the mask.
She could stay down here forever. It would be easy to forget the world above—a chaotic, difficult, and sometimes cruel world. Underwater, peace and tranquillity reigned, the silence only interrupted by the sound of her breathing.
She held her arms out wide, the only way she could think of to communicate to Cash how overwhelmed she was. Thank God she’d found the courage to do this. He put his thumbs up and swam across to her. Adam must have realised she was doing fine because he gave them the space to explore together, but when he sought them out and pointed to his oxygen tank, Tally knew their time was up. She rammed down disappointment, assuring herself they would do this again. And again. And again.
The three of them surfaced simultaneously, and Tally dragged off her mask and pulled her regulator from her mouth. She couldn’t speak. Her mind was overflowing with the things she’d seen, the feelings she’d experienced.
“Well?” Cash said.
“Oh my God.” She swatted his arm. “Why didn’t you tell me it would be like that? Amazing. I… I can’t find the right words. It’s another world. When can we do it again?”
Cash gazed at her steadily. His grin, when it came, was slow and wide. “Anytime you want, baby.”
On the way back to the island, Tally stared out to sea, trying to organise her feelings. Her legs were weak, and tears pricked behind her eyes at the overwhelming experience of her first dive. Cash and Adam were thoughtful enough to leave her alone and chat amongst themselves.
When they docked, she shook Adam’s hand warmly. “Thank you for all of your help. I don’t think I would have plucked up the courage if it hadn’t been for you.”
“That’s what I’m here for,” he said. “I knew you’d do it.”
“Then you knew more than I did.”
Adam smiled. “Let me know if you want to go out again. I’d be more than happy to take you.”
“I think we’ll be making that call,” Cash said.
He placed his hand in the small of Tally’s back, and they headed back up the trail to the villa. Tally’s legs refused to hold her up properly. Exhausted, she sank into the first chair she saw, which happened to be beside the pool.
“Don’t be surprised if you’re tired,” Cash said. “It’s the adrenaline. Are you hungry?”
“Starving.”
“I’ll have a plate of sandwiches brought up, then you can get some sleep.”
“How come you’re fine?”
“It wasn’t my first time.”
“I’m not fit enough,” she said with a groan, leaning back in the chair. “I need to exercise more.”
“You are fit,” Cash said, cupping her breasts from behind. “And if you want more exercise, I have just the thing in mind.”
She giggled and pushed his hands away. “I need food.”
Cash picked up the phone. “You shouldn’t exercise on a full stomach.”
“Thank you, ace,” she said as happiness washed over her.
“What for?”
“The best time of my life.”
36
“I can’t believe we’ve been here nine days.” Tally folded up the last pair of shorts and put them in the suitcase. “It’s flown by.”
“We can come back in the close season.”
“I’d like that.” A wave of melancholy swept over her, and she let out a soft sigh. “I wish we didn’t have to go home.”
“Who said anything about going home?”
Her head snapped up. “But the holiday’s over.”
“No. This part is over.”
She frowned. “What about Montreal?”
“We don’t have to leave until the third. That’s over a week away.”
Excitement unfurled in her belly. “Where are we going?”
Cash tilted his head to one side. “Will you never learn?”
She stuck out her tongue. “You’re mean.”
He caught her around the waist. “Come on, admit it. You love being surprised.”
She pouted. “Sometimes.”
“You’re a terrible liar.”
He called for the butler to collect their luggage then held out his hand. “Ready?”
“Yeah.” She took a final glance around, sad to be leaving but excited about what the next leg of their journey could hold. With Cash, anything was possible.
Twelve hours later, their plane landed. Tally had played along with Cash’s wishes and hadn’t even peeked out of the window as they’d come in to land. As they taxied to their stand, she caught sight of Cash out of the corner of her eye—dangling an airline sleeping mask in the air.
She laughed as she remembered their first date when he’d asked her to wear a mask to hide their destination. “Ah, how I’ve missed you,” she told the mask, snagging it from his outstretched hand.
Losing Game: A Winning Ace Novel (Book 2) Page 19