Sarah ran to the edge of the pool and knelt on the pavers. The man picked the child up and thrust her into Sarah’s arms. He was up beside her in a flash, and took the child back.
“She’s not breathing,” she told him.
He nodded, lay the girl on the pavers, and began to do CPR. A few seconds in, he grabbed Sarah’s hands mid breath, and without a word showed her how to pump on the small girl’s chest. While he resumed the breathing, Sarah mentally thanked her sister, Caris, who was training to be a doctor, and had insisted the family learn it. Thirty compressions, then two breaths for a child.
Sarah willed the girl to live. The alternative was unthinkable and she could feel tears prickling her eyes. She couldn’t give in to them. Not yet.
The lifeless body suddenly jerked. The man immediately turned the girl’s head to the side and water spewed out of her mouth. She coughed a few times, her eyes shot open, then she began to cry.
“Oh, Stevie.”
The mother, who’d stood above them wringing her hands, was crying, and Sarah felt a tear slip down her own cheek. She wiped it away with a shaking hand, feeling the fear turn into euphoria. They’d done it. The man and Sarah had saved a life.
The man stood the girl up, whereby she was engulfed by her mother, who rained kisses on her daughter.
“She’ll be fine, but should rest for a while,” he told the mother.
She thanked them effusively before leading the child up the path.
He turned to Sarah. “Well done.”
“That was surreal,” Sarah managed in a croaky voice.
“It always is.”
“You’ve done this before?” she asked incredulously.
He smiled, flashing those dimples. “More times than I care to count.”
“You’re a lifeguard?” He did look the part.
“Actually, I’m a surgeon.”
“Oh.”
“Not what you were expecting?” he asked, as he held out a hand to pull her from the cobbles.
“I guess not.” She took it and clambered to her feet on shaking legs. His hand, warm and strong, was a good tonic.
“Does it make a difference what my profession is?”
She was confused. “Difference to what?”
“To whether you’ll have dinner with me?”
“Why would I do that?”
He waved his other hand in the direction the mother and child had taken. “To celebrate.”
It was then she realized that they were still holding hands. She dropped his as if it was burning her, and he smiled again as she blushed.
“I don’t think it’s necessary.”
“Are you here with anyone?”
“No.”
“Me either. It would be nice to have company for one night. After such a momentous occasion, at least we’d have something to talk about.”
Sarah hesitated. The fact was, she had been lonely. If it wasn’t for the awful events which led her to come on this ‘honeymoon’, she wouldn’t ever vacation by herself. And, she was still buzzing about the child. “Just dinner?”
He nodded.
“Okay. I’ll meet you in the restaurant at eight.”
“See you then.”
He began to walk away, and Sarah called after him.
“Hey. What’s your name?”
He turned to flash those dimples. “Christian.”
“I’m Sarah.”
“Nice to meet you, Sarah.”
The way he said her name was like a caress, and she was already regretting her decision.
It had been an interesting day. Things and people were not always how they seemed as she could attest, especially after her wedding fiasco.
For days, Christian had been determined to show her that he was a prize catch, but hadn’t mentioned he was a surgeon until she’d seen him in action. Saving a child didn’t make him a saint, but it did make him more likeable than he’d been a short while ago. Surgeon or not, that one act had made him far more real, more genuine, than Marcus had ever seemed.
Still, Sarah wasn’t about to make a list of his good points. She simply wasn’t invested in wanting to know more about him. Was she?
Chapter Four
Christian was seated at the best table in the restaurant. He was used to fine things, and Sarah was certainly that.
When she arrived in the doorway, she drew attention. She’d done something to her hair; pulled it up somehow so lots of loose tendrils framed her delicate face. He had a flash of memory. Had he seen her somewhere before? He shook his head. Seeing her around the resort for the last few days was probably what it was.
The maître d’ led her to the table, and she sashayed down the aisle as if she was used to having all eyes on her.
How could she not? Dressed in an aqua silk which highlighted the green of her eyes, she was easily the most beautiful woman in the room. Make that the entire island. He stood.
“Good evening, Sarah.”
“Good evening.”
Christian waved away the man, and pushed her seat in before returning to his own. “I’m glad you came.”
Sarah shrugged. “I said I would.”
“I know. But I’m sure you think I pressured you into it.”
“You did.”
He grinned. “Honesty. How refreshing. Would you like some champagne?”
She nodded and waited until he’d poured them both a glass from the bottle which sat on ice beside him.
“A toast,” she said, as she raised her glass to him. “To a lovely dinner, and a pleasant night. With absolutely no expectations on your part for anything else.”
Christian laughed and clinked his glass to hers. “The food here is exceptional, the wine pretty good, and the weather gods have turned on a spectacular sunset. With a lovely companion by my side, I think I should be extremely satisfied.”
“But you’re not?”
“It’s complicated.”
Sarah took her first sip and crinkled her nose at the bubbles. “Hah! You men think you have complicated cornered.”
Christian was enjoying the banter. “Do you always say what you think?”
“I do, and it has been pointed out to me once or twice that this is a flaw of mine.”
“Really? I admire it.”
“No doubt because you do the same.”
“Me? I suppose I do. My sister doesn’t approve, but in my line of work I find that being upfront is sometimes the only way people can digest and understand the pitfalls of surgery, and ultimately what’s wrong with them.”
“Do you have a big family?”
“No. It was my mother and sister and me for a long time. Now it’s just my sister and me.”
Sarah appeared horrified. “The two of you?”
“If you don’t count various aunts and uncles, who want handouts and free surgery. And I don’t.”
“Ahhh.” She nodded, looking like she totally understood.
“What about you?”
Sarah sighed, but smiled. “One sister and three brothers. Make that four.”
“Which is it—three or four?”
“Biologically three, but Andy is my eldest brother’s best friend, and he’s been a part of our family since he moved from Texas with his father when he was a small child.”
“Why would he join your family if he had a father of his own?”
“Andy lost his father when he was a young. My mom couldn’t bear to see him fostered elsewhere, so she took him in. Now he has this pressing need to look after all of us.”
“It doesn’t sound like you enjoy that part of his brotherhood.”
Sarah frowned. “Doesn’t it? Andy’s one of the good guys, and I love him dearly. But I guess you’re right. He can be over the top sometimes. He’s amazing, so you kind of get used to it.”
Christian felt a wave of envy for the brother who wasn’t. “Are you sure he’s not more than a brother?”
“Ewww. Stop right there.”
Christian laughed.
Her screwed up face told him what he wanted to hear. He refilled their glasses and Sarah took a healthy swallow.
“Mmmmm, lovely. You know about wine?”
Christian twirled his glass by the stem, studying the color. “I do. I’ve even been having a shot producing my own.”
“Wow. Doesn’t being a surgeon limit what time you can spend on it? Or are you an ‘out playing golf and tending the vines’ kind of surgeon?”
“I don’t play golf, however, my sister’s studying wine making, so she advises and helps me.”
“How’s that going? I work with my brothers and it can be a pain in the butt.”
“There are moments, but you get issues no matter who you work with.”
The waiter came and took their order.
“I hope you don’t think I’m rude, but I happen to have noticed a mark on your wedding finger.”
Sarah looked down at the white mark. “Did you, now? I see you have no such mark.”
“Nice change of subject. I’m a never married bachelor who’s been overdoing things. I’m here to recharge the batteries.”
“Talk about a coincidence.”
“In what way? Or shouldn’t I ask?” he said, in response to her suddenly closed look.
“Let’s say that I’m not married, nor have I ever been, and leave it at that.”
Christian shrugged, feeling relieved and a little elated that she was unattached while trying not to show it. “Fine with me.’
The food arrived and as they ate their lobster, and drank another bottle of champagne, Sarah began to open up. She talked of her childhood, which revolved around sibling rivalry and horses. It sounded idyllic and quite different from his own experience. It also told him nothing about what brought her here.
Christian topped up their glasses, astonished that the wine seemed to be having little effect. “I saw the girl and her mother leaving the restaurant as I arrived. She wanted me to thank you again.”
Sarah twirled the flute. “That’s nice, but for the rest of the afternoon all I could think of was how I didn’t notice her in the water.”
“Hey, I was swimming in the same pool. I didn’t notice her either.”
“Someone should have been watching, don’t you think?”
“There’s a large sign saying there’s no lifeguard, and the mother admitted she was reading. Lesson learned, I’d say.”
“It’s a hard lesson. If I had a child I think I’d be in the pool with them.”
“Me too.”
Sarah smiled. “Listen to us. Judging parents when we have no clue.”
“I find myself doing that a lot when I see cases which could have been avoided. I saw how much the mother loved her daughter and that’s what I look for in all parents—remorse—which hopefully ensures they’ll be more careful in the future. It makes my job a lot easier.”
“It would be so hard dealing with small children, but watching you with that girl makes me think you’re a natural.”
Christian flinched a little, thinking of the child which was almost his. He’d begun to imagine all the things they could do if it was a boy, but he’d been happy with the idea of a daughter too. “I hope one day I get to find out.”
Sarah touched her glass to his. “Let’s toast to that.”
“You want children?”
“I’m in no rush. One day. If I ever find a man who’s not a waste of space.”
“Ouch!”
Sarah laughed. “I did think that about you, but not anymore. You’ve risen at least one or two levels.”
“Gee, thanks.”
Not only was she gorgeous, but he loved her sense of humor. Even if it resulted in a series of barbs. She was unique which was like a breath of fresh air.
When they had finished, they walked along the beach, which was the long way to her bure.
“Tired?” he asked her.
“I am. With all the excitement and more wine than I generally drink, I’m fading fast.”
“What a shame. I was hoping you’d invite me to your place.”
She turned to face him. “Christian, I’m not here for a fling.”
“Me either.” He ran his hand up her bare arm.
“Stop that. There is no future for us.”
“Are you a fortune teller?”
“No, but I don’t need to be. We’re here for a few days, then we’ll go back to our lives and all that entails.”
He knew it was the truth, and he didn’t want to lead her on, but he wanted her with every fiber of his being. “Okay. I get it, but I would love to kiss you goodnight.”
“That’s it?”
He nodded, not trusting his voice, which was already hoarse at the prospect. She was leaning towards him and he wasn’t about to let the moment pass.
He took a step closer and their bodies touched tantalizingly. He dipped his head so his lips could gently reach hers. Slowly, he pressed until her mouth opened, then he took what she gave freely. A kiss to outdo all others. To surpass his expectations. To have him want more. So much more.
Her hands went around his neck and his began to wander down her sides, to cup her breasts and feel her nipples, so hard against the silky fabric of her dress. When she tried to pull away, he reluctantly let her go. Her hand touched her lips and her eyes sparkled brighter than the sunset.
He wanted to pull her back into his arms, but he didn’t. “I might see you tomorrow?”
Sarah nodded and almost ran to the path where her bure would be.
He could still taste her.
Chapter Five
Sarah woke to filtered light pushing through the one-way blinds. The view of the lagoon below was unmarred from the honeymoon suite. She stretched in the king-sized bed, enjoying the softness of its luxurious sheets. Even with air-conditioning, no blankets were needed.
She wondered how Christian had slept. It had been ridiculously hard to say no to his offer to stay. To go to bed on her own, knowing how much he wanted her, and feeling as if the right thing would be to lie in his arms and let their desires run their course, had brought on a frustration that had denied her a few hours’ sleep. Marcus had never excited her that way. No one else had either.
After room service had delivered her juice and cereal, she ate quickly, showered, then dressed in her bikini and put on her cover-up. She grabbed a towel and headed down to the beach.
The sparkling tide lapped at the golden sand, beckoning her into its silky depths. Dropping her towel on a lounger, she stripped off her top, and ran down to the sea. It was a nice temperature at this time of day. Cool enough to be refreshing, but not freezing.
Sarah dived under a wave and swam a long way out. She was beginning to accept what had happened back home. It wasn’t like her to run away from her mistakes, but she’d needed time to lick her wounds. As much as she was embarrassed by what had happened, she felt mainly relief that she’d narrowly missed being married to a man who didn’t love her. A man she hadn’t really loved either.
When she’d come to the realization, it had almost been too late. It was a split-second reaction as she’d stood at the altar that made her stop the wedding. She lay on her back and floated for a while, acknowledging that she had no regrets. She was, however, incredibly sorry for the pain and embarrassment she’d caused the family.
The sun was stronger now, and after the wines she’d consumed last night, she needed some more water or juice. Possibly both. She swam back to the shore and headed over to her lounger. Christian lay on the one adjacent.
“Good morning, gorgeous.” His tinted sun glasses hid his eyes, but not the dimples in his cheek. He was one handsome, smug, SOB.
“Good morning, Christian.” She quickly dried herself and threw on her top, aware he was studying her.
“Sleep well?”
“Pretty good. Considering.”
“What were you considering that would detract from this Island Paradise, and a wonderful evening?”
She lay down on the lounger and put on her gla
sses. “How I came to be here.” She could hardly say that in her dark room she had fantasized about him lying beside her, of his hands roaming freely and his lips on hers. Again.
“I don’t think we discussed it last night.”
“You mean you don’t remember after all the wine?”
He grinned. “I remember everything you said and did last night. I’m pretty sure why you came here wasn’t revealed.”
She blushed, remembering the goodnight kiss and how her body responded to him. His kisses could melt ice in Alaska.
“So, what did bring you to Rarotonga, besides a plane?”
Sarah took a quick look around to make sure other tourists were out of earshot before giving him the news. “I’m on my honeymoon. Why are you here?”
“Whoa. You said you weren’t married.”
She had to laugh at the outraged look on his face, not sorry for the teasing. “I didn’t lie. No husband. The groom is back home and probably with another woman by now.”
Christian snapped his open mouth closed, and there was a significant pause before his curiosity kicked in again. “Sounds like an interesting story.”
She shrugged. “Not one I’m comfortable sharing. With anyone.”
“I’m not anyone. I’m your dinner companion.”
Sarah couldn’t help smiling. “It was one dinner.”
“Why don’t we make it two?”
She shook her head. “How about we don’t?”
“You’re a hard woman.”
“You better believe it.”
“If dinner’s out of the question, I’d settle for a ride around the island?”
“I’m relaxing.”
Christian stretched, his muscular arms and chest flexing. “When you’re done with that.”
Sarah gulped at so much beauty in a man, remembering the feel of his hardness pressed against her. “I’ll see.”
She lay back on the lounger and pulled from her bag the same book she’d been attempting to read since she’d arrived on the island. She must have read the first few pages a dozen times before she gave up.
Christian was quiet, yet Sarah couldn’t help but be conscious of him. Lying there in his board shorts, his skin the color of caramel. His hair a little longer than any doctor she knew, which suited him. The almost black strands curling at the nape of his neck.
Reluctant Billionaire (Billionaire Knights) Page 2