The Secret Cove in Croatia

by Julie Caplin

  ‘You’ll get me the sack,’ she said briskly, skirting around him.

  ‘It’s OK, we can blackmail Ivan.’

  An unwilling laugh burst out of her. Nick Hadley might not be her type but he made her laugh and this morning she’d enjoyed his company. ‘Oh, go on then,’ she said, handing him a frying pan and digging a pack of bacon out of the fridge before showing him how to fire up the gas burner.

  ‘Don’t burn the place down,’ she admonished as she picked up the heavily laden tray to take it up to lay the breakfast table.

  When she came back, Nick seemed to have made himself at home, slicing a loaf and happily shaking the pan of bacon.

  ‘Want me to slice some extra bread for toast?’ he asked.

  ‘That would be great,’ she said and, before she knew it, they were working companionably around each other in the small galley area.

  Simon, Siri and Douglas were all on their third cup of coffee when Tara and Cory finally appeared. Nick had had no such compunction and had smuggled his bacon sandwich and a glass of orange juice up to the top deck with his Dick Francis book, where he enjoyed twenty minutes without anyone lecturing him about the perils of fat, gluten and additives.

  Hearing their voices, he came down from the deck to join the breakfast table.

  ‘Morning, Nicky darling,’ said Tara, patting the seat next to her. He slid into the space, his awareness of how tiny she was heightened after spending time with Maddie. As always, she looked immaculate in another fancy bikini. This one was one-shouldered in a pale blue fabric with an extravagant diagonal orange ruffle that ran from left to right across her chest and was repeated on the bikini bottoms, which today were more like shorts.

  ‘Morning. Did you sleep well?’ His nose twitched at Tara’s overpowering perfume but he dropped a kiss on her cheek.

  ‘No, not at all. I’m … well …’ she looked over at Cory, who was hanging onto Douglas’s arm ‘… I’m a bit … We’ve had the most amazing news overnight. It’s all over Instagram. You’ll never guess what.’ She paused, her eyes bright, and she waved her phone. ‘William Randall.’

  Across the table, Cory drew in a sharp exaggerated breath. ‘Don’t, Tara. Douglas says we can’t go.’ Her face crumpled as she clutched at her neck, a tragic expression filling her face before she turned to Douglas. ‘I can’t believe you. This could be … life-changing. It’s William Randall.’

  ‘Cory, my sweetheart, as soon as Ivan comes back then we can go but in the meantime we’ve got a perfectly nice day lined up.’

  ‘But I don’t want to go to some boring old winery.’ Cory pushed her plate away, making it rattle against the cutlery. ‘It’s miles away and it will take forever to get there.’

  ‘Don’t fret, Cory, sweetheart, it will be fabulous. You will love it when we get there, you know you will.’ Douglas patted her forearm. ‘Besides, we can’t go anywhere without a captain.’

  ‘Well, that’s just ridiculous. You’re in charge. You chartered the boat. Get him back.’

  Nick felt sorry for the poor sod. Cory reminded him of a bratty teenager, although, to be fair, even at her worst Nina had never been this bad.

  ‘But I told him we’d be here until tomorrow,’ said Douglas, chagrin written all over his face. ‘We’re not due to sail to Hvar for another three days. If I’d known …’ He let the words trail off helplessly.

  ‘Surely there’s another way to get to Hvar,’ said Tara, tossing her hair. ‘It’s only over there.’ She flung out her arm, pointing towards the island just across the water.

  ‘Tara, love,’ interjected Simon with calm indolence, ‘why would you want to leave the comfort of this rather fine yacht? You don’t want to get a ferry with the great unwashed, do you?’

  Tara shrugged, lifting her chin in disdain, but didn’t say anything.

  ‘Well, there’s no point having a perfectly good boat if we can’t even get to where we want to go. It’s ridiculous. I don’t know why you’ve let the captain go,’ groused Cory.

  ‘Because the world doesn’t revolve around you,’ snapped Siri, dropping her coffee cup on the table and glaring at Cory and then Tara. ‘Some of us would like to go to the Senjkovic Winery. It’s got a fantastic reputation and while we’re on Brač it would be a shame not to visit. This holiday isn’t just about what you want.’ Disloyal as it was, Nick wanted to cheer. Siri seemed to be the only person who was prepared to stand up to her.

  Cory ignored her and clutched Douglas’s arm. ‘But it’s imperative we get to Hvar today,’ she muttered through gritted teeth.

  ‘What’s so important about getting to Hvar today?’ asked Nick in a low voice, slipping his arm around Tara, trying to cheer her up. Her fingers were gripping the edge of the table.

  ‘Because,’ she said urgently.

  ‘Cory, love, William Randall is still going to be there tomorrow,’ said Douglas.

  ‘Yes, but …’ said Cory.

  ‘Give the poor guy a chance to settle in,’ said Simon. ‘He’ll probably be jet-lagged if he’s flown in from the States.’

  Cory rocked in her seat, more than ever like a petulant teenager.

  ‘Who is William Randall?’ asked Nick, completely confused.

  Tara turned huge incredulous eyes his way. ‘William Randall. You don’t know who William Randall is?’

  The immediate, almost accusing silence made Nick want to squirm in his seat as if he were back at school. There was a collective rustle and then Cory gasped and Simon, of course, couldn’t resist muttering nastily, ‘Oh, dear God.’

  Douglas turned a kindly smile his way, which only served to make Nick feel even smaller.

  ‘William Randall is a film producer.’ Simon’s patronising tone rang out, clear and cutting. ‘He’s currently casting the next Marvel movie, as well as a new Charlie’s Angels film, and it’s whispered that he’s cosying up to Barbara Broccoli.’

  At Nick’s blank face, Simon shook his head. ‘Bond films?’ he drawled in that superior way that rubbed Nick up the wrong way. ‘You know Barbara Broccoli, successor to Cubby Broccoli, legendary Bond film producer?’

  ‘Yes, I do know that,’ said Nick, trying to hide his irritation at the up-his-own-arse prat.

  ‘So you’ll know that they’re on the lookout for potential Bond girls and other roles,’ sniped Simon.

  ‘Shh,’ squealed Tara, looking around anxiously at the other yachts moored next to them. ‘Don’t tell everyone.’

  Chapter 12

  ‘Lord, it’s all kicking off up there.’ Simon’s lazy drawl startled Maddie, as did the dirty coffee cups in his hands. ‘Where do you want these?’

  She took them from him. ‘Thanks. I’ll just put them by the sink.’

  ‘Can I just hide in here for a while?’

  ‘No,’ said Maddie with a quick glance at the door. Guests weren’t supposed to come into the galley, although Nick hadn’t taken much notice this morning.

  ‘Maddie, take pity on me. Cory and Tara are like a pair of hysterical Chihuahuas, snapping at poor Douglas because he won’t take them to Hvar now this minute.’

  ‘Oh, dear. Why are they so desperate?’

  Simon explained about William Randall, whom Maddie had never heard of.

  ‘Tara’s got her eye on being the next Bond girl and Cory can’t decide whether to team up or scratch her eyes out.’

  ‘Sounds fun,’ said Maddie, starting to transfer all the dirty crockery to the counter by the sink.

  ‘Want me to wash up for you?’

  Maddie gave him a puzzled smile over her shoulder. ‘No, it’s fine.’

  ‘I don’t mind helping, you know,’ he said, moving to stand next to her, leaning against the counter giving her a scorching look. ‘Seems a shame to think of you as poor Cinders all on her own down here, slaving away.’

  Blushing, she turned her head away and took a small step sideways, her legs almost brushing his as she pulled open a door. ‘There’s a dishwasher,’ she said and lowered the door to the
floor.

  ‘Ah.’ Simon smiled. ‘Even so, I can stack a dishwasher.’

  ‘Thanks, but … you really shouldn’t be down here.’

  Simon lifted an arm and put it across her body to cup her waist, his arms just brushing her breasts, so lightly that she couldn’t tell if it was by design or accident.

  ‘I shouldn’t, should I? But no one’s going to know if you don’t tell them.’ He winked and a hot flush raced across her skin. The teaspoon she was just about to put in the dishwasher fell out of her hand, rattling on the floor. When they both ducked to pick it up, Simon caught her forearms and drew her towards him.

  She tried to pull away. ‘I’m supposed to be working.’

  ‘Why don’t you forget about that for a moment?’ he asked in a low voice, plucking the spoon from her hand and putting it down, while the other hand slid around her waist again, pulling her even closer. Under her fingers clutching his forearms, his shirt was crisp linen and he smelled expensive and well groomed. A light subtle aftershave teased her nose as she gazed at his smooth, clean shaven skin, unable to meet his eyes.

  ‘Don’t be shy, Maddie,’ he whispered as his head dipped. ‘Even though it is rather adorable.’

  The caress of his words whipped her pulse into a high-speed canter. Bloody hell, Simon Beresford was going to kiss her.

  The lips he slid over hers were smooth and practised and she was too bemused at first to do anything but stand there like a lemon. Simon Beresford was kissing her. Her, Maddie Wilcox. Her knees decided to have a funny turn and went all wobbly.

  ‘Maddie, you are one gorgeous woman,’ he murmured against her mouth as his hand stroked its way up her spine. As his mouth moulded over hers, she swallowed and tried to kiss him back but her lips were starstruck and seemed to have frozen. Not that it fazed Simon; his mouth pressed against hers, encouraging her to open up, and when she did, with a touch of diffidence – she was so out of her league here – his tongue slipped into her mouth and he deepened the kiss.

  Caught up in the mechanics of not bumping his nose, worrying if her breath smelled and wondering if she was doing it right, she didn’t hear the door open. When someone cleared their throat behind her, she jumped out of her skin.

  Startled, she pulled away, her heart thudding fast, and turned to find Nick looking disapproving.

  ‘Did you want something, Hadley?’ asked Simon, raising a superior eyebrow. Maddie blushed so hot she thought her skin might sizzle.

  ‘Just brought this down.’ Nick strolled forward and dropped a bread basket on the central counter and left without another word.

  ‘Oh, shit,’ said Maddie, holding her hands up to her burning cheeks.

  ‘It’s cool,’ said Simon. ‘You don’t need to worry about him, he’s just an oik.’

  Before Maddie could say anything, Simon looked at his watch. ‘And I’m afraid my duties await. I can’t leave poor Douglas to escort the hellcats by himself today. Poor chap needs some moral support. I must away and leave you.’ He kissed her again, his hand lazily cupping her breast and squeezing it slightly. She stiffened at the unexpectedly familiar touch.

  ‘But I’m glad you have a dishwasher. I’d hate to think of you slaving over a hot sink down here.’ With that he sauntered off, stopping in the doorway to give her a quick wink.

  Well. That was … Maddie held onto the counter. Unexpected and … She wasn’t a prude by any stretch of the imagination, but clearly sophisticated people moved a lot faster than she was used to.

  Waiting for the colour in her cheeks to subside, she quickly loaded up the dishwasher.

  When she finally felt her equilibrium return, she ventured back on deck to find the whole party waiting for two taxis to take them to lunch at the winery.

  Tara, standing on the top step where Maddie had to pass, was stabbing at the floor with one of her heels, her face scrunched in a mutinous scowl, while a few feet ahead Cory, leaning against the table with her arms firmly folded under her breasts, had her nose stuck up in the air, ignoring every word that Douglas attempted to address her way.

  ‘I think this is a complete waste of time,’ muttered Tara as Nick took her bag.

  ‘Well, Siri wants to go and so does Douglas,’ he said in a painful attempt at diplomacy.

  ‘Well, they’re being totally selfish. This could be my big break. I can’t believe Douglas is being so difficult. This is his boat. He needs to find a new captain.’

  ‘Tara, relax, you’re on holiday. We’ll get to Hvar in a few days. If this bloke has just arrived, he’s not going anywhere yet.’

  ‘Which just goes to show,’ Tara sneered, ‘you don’t know Hollywood.’

  ‘True,’ Nick bit out tightly.

  ‘They have personal jets, superyachts. They can leave at any minute.’ She looked ready to cry. ‘They go to the sort of parties where they meet someone who says, “Come on over to my island, my yacht, my villa”, and then they’re gone.’ She clicked her fingers. ‘Just like that. You wouldn’t understand. How could you? Has anyone in your family ever moved away, left the village, let alone a party?’

  Ouch, thought Maddie, but Nick’s face was expressionless, apart from a certain tightness in his jaw. He turned away from Tara to gaze out to sea.

  ‘I need to get to Hvar,’ Tara said, her voice a long whine.

  Maddie thought what she really needed was a good slap and that Nick needed a boot up the backside.

  Chapter 13

  Ivan scowled and jabbed at one of the charts with his thumb. Douglas pointed back, shaking his head.

  The party had returned from the winery trip shortly after three and Ivan had boarded the boat not long after that with a chipper stride and a cheerful grin.

  ‘Everything OK on the boat?’ he’d asked, following her down to the galley, where she’d just begun to marinate the meat for this evening’s kebabs.

  ‘All fine with the boat,’ she said, thinking that she was being honest enough. The guests wanting to change their plans wasn’t her problem.

  Ivan’s affable smile had vanished about ten minutes later and he and Douglas had been sitting at the table pointing and prodding at the charts for the last hour. When Maddie ventured out of the galley, they were still at it. As she glanced over to them Ivan threw up his hands and shook his head, pointing at the chart. Douglas folded his arms, a recalcitrant set to his mouth.

  Time to brave the lion’s den. ‘Can I get you a drink or anything?’ she asked, feeling rather sorry for Douglas.

  He looked up gratefully. ‘I’d love a G and T, make it a double. Ivan?’

  Ivan scowled. ‘Scotch on the rocks.’ Apparently it was all right for the captain to join the guests if he was invited.

  When she returned with the drinks, she put them down, avoiding the charts.

  ‘When we go to Hvar there will be no mooring,’ said Ivan, looking worried. ‘We have to moor out of the harbour. It can make shopping and catering difficult.’ He looked up at Maddie, a frown lining his forehead. ‘If we go to Hvar tomorrow, with this new plan you will spend over a week out of the harbour. Every time you want to do something you will have to take the launch into the town. Hvar is very busy; it could take more than half an hour each trip. Everything has been planned. Where to buy the food. When.’

  Maddie widened her eyes and nodded.

  ‘Maddie’s a very capable young woman. I’m sure she’ll be able to cope,’ said Douglas, taking a hefty swig of his drink. ‘If we weigh anchor outside Hvar, we’ve got the launch. You or Maddie can run us in and out.’

  Ivan pinched his lips, but Maddie got the impression he was about to lay his trump card. ‘There is one big problem. Staying in one place for this long when we are away from the harbour means we can’t refuel or fill up the water tanks. Water may have to be rationed. If we run out of water, there will be no showers. No toilets.’

  Douglas sighed. ‘How often do the water tanks need filling up?’

  ‘Normally we can go a few days … Your party. They us
e a lot.’

  Douglas winced.

  Maddie was guessing, from the way they got through towels, that Tara and Cory must shower at least twice a day, if not three times.

  ‘And if we fill up today, how long will the water last?’

  ‘A few days, not a week,’ said Ivan. ‘And there would be no guarantee I could get us a mooring in Hvar to fill up before we moved on to Korčula.’

  ‘That would …’ Douglas hesitated ‘… be bad. The girls are really keen to get to Hvar sooner rather than later.’

  ‘We will visit very nice places,’ said Ivan, beaming as they neared a compromise. ‘And we can moor on the harbourside. Fill up the water tanks and …’ His voice trailed off as Cory drifted towards them, coming to stand with her hand on Douglas’s shoulder.

  Douglas swallowed.

  ‘Is it all settled? What time are we going to Hvar?’ She gave Douglas one of her beautiful smiles, her blue-black hair draping across his chest as she bent to kiss him full on the mouth.

  ‘Well, the thing is, my darling …’ said Douglas, glancing at Ivan warily. ‘It’s not that simple.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ Cory’s voice was shrill. ‘This is a boat. That’s water. Hvar is over there. We can see it. Why can’t we go?’

  ‘We can, sweetheart. It’s just that it’s not so straightforward. There are other things to think about. Refuelling. Water. You wouldn’t want to have to go without –’

  ‘Douglas, you promised. I can’t believe you’d do this to me.’ With a childish, ‘Urrrgh,’ she whirled around and stomped away, her lemon-yellow chiffon throw billowing behind her like a desert storm.

  Douglas winced and drained his glass. ‘That didn’t go well.’

  Ivan patted his arm. ‘Sometimes it is good to show who is in charge. Be the boss.’

  His words made Douglas square his shoulders. ‘You’re right. It’s silly to make such a fuss about changing our schedule. We will stick to our original plan.’

  If dinner was going to be much later, the kebabs were going to be tough and dry. Maddie looked at her watch again. It was eight o’clock, but Douglas had insisted that they wait for Cory and Tara who, as usual, were late.