The Secret Cove in Croatia

by Julie Caplin

  Then last night, watching the sunset, a sky filled with pink tendrils fading to deep blue and the shimmer of gold on the sea, the perfect finale for the day, they’d sat side by side on the deck with a bottle of wine and the remnants of bread, cheese, cured ham and olives. Maddie’s whole system had fizzed with barely suppressed excitement and every time she’d looked at Nick she’d wanted to pinch herself. The really lovely thing was that every time he caught her sidelong glances he’d lean over and kiss her or take her hand and squeeze it.

  ‘Is this really happening?’ she’d asked, studying the skyline as the sun dipped lower, casting her face into shadow.

  ‘Yes,’ said Nick.

  She turned to face him. ‘This has never happened to me before.’

  ‘Explain this.’ Nick’s eyes had danced with that familiar amusement that made her heart sing.

  ‘Man I fancy appears to fancy me back as much.’

  ‘Better get used to it then,’ he said, his hand resting on her thigh, warm and comforting. ‘I’m not going anywhere – well, at least not for a few days.’

  And it was that simple. At first. Perhaps because that first night she’d been drunk on euphoria, a post-coital haze breaking down her usual defences.

  Nick looked over his shoulder back at her, bringing her right back to the moment. Here, now, under the midday sun which was warming her shoulders.

  ‘Everything all right?’ He narrowed his eyes and slowed, waiting for her to draw alongside.

  ‘What?’ she asked, mirth dancing in her eyes.

  ‘You’re up to something.’

  ‘Not at all. I was just …’ she paused and deliberately scanned his body ‘… admiring the view.’

  He returned fire, turning the tables on her with a searing look that shot her internal thermostat up to danger levels, making her wish she’d been a bit more circumspect.

  ‘It’s not bad from where I’m standing,’ he drawled in a dangerous voice that made her think of cool sheets and slick, hot bodies. He was so much better at this than she was. Just one look and he had her thinking of getting him back into bed. She didn’t seem to be able to stop thinking about him, his body or that delicious sigh of release when he’d come this morning.

  ‘Maddie?’

  She realised she was blushing. Grabbing her paddle, she pushed the blade in with force, making her board wobble precariously as she pulled ahead of him. As she passed she heard his low laugh and then felt her board tilt.

  ‘You … you …’ she cried as he tipped up her board with his paddle, before overbalancing and falling in. He jumped straight in as she surfaced, spluttering, and pulled her into his arms to kiss her.

  ‘I thought you needed cooling down. Your face is too obvious and now I’m beginning to think that perhaps paddleboarding wasn’t such a good idea,’ he muttered against her lips a few minutes later.

  ‘We couldn’t stay in bed all day.’ Maddie’s reproving tone held a hint of mischief, even though they had spent most of the previous day in his cabin.

  ‘Want to bet?’

  ‘It’s far too nice to stay inside.’

  ‘Who said anything about staying inside?’ He winked at her and she burst into a peal of laughter. ‘Those sun loungers on the top deck are very comfortable, I seem to recall.’

  ‘You’re terrible.’ She splashed water at him.

  ‘And you weren’t the one that dragged me up there?’

  ‘Dragged? You poor man, putting up such a fearsome fight against me.’

  ‘I can’t seem to help myself. Against you, I’m defenceless.’ He stole another kiss. ‘You’re irresistible.’

  ‘Yes, and if you keep that up I might start believing it,’ said Maddie with a roll of her eyes.

  Nick’s face softened. ‘I’m serious.’

  Her heart did that proper missing-a-beat thing and she stared at him.

  ‘I think I might be in love with you.’

  ‘Oh,’ she said, waiting for her heart to catch up as the rest of the world receded and all she could see was his deep blue eyes looking straight at her as if he could see all the way through to her soul. ‘Can you say that again?’

  ‘I think I might be in love with you.’ Yup, her heart did it again but then she frowned, a questioning gaze roving over his face.

  ‘I know it sounds a bit quick, but …’ he lifted his shoulders ‘… there you go.’

  Maddie let out a long slow breath, letting the sudden fear show in her eyes. ‘When you know for definite, will you let me know?’

  This was going too quick for her. The change in Nick’s expression was so slight, so infinitesimal that if she hadn’t been watching him closely she would have missed that tiny giveaway of disappointment. She put a hand on his shoulder. ‘I …’ she paused with a reluctant laugh ‘… I don’t want to get it wrong. People don’t fall in love with people like me.’ Most of her knowledge of men was coloured by her mum’s experiences. She’d been left too many times by blokes who wandered into their lives and wandered out again just as quickly and easily. Her dad being a case in point. She didn’t tell many people but her siblings were all halves. And that was stupid because they weren’t half anything – they were her brothers and sisters but they all had a different father. No wonder they all had such completely disparate personalities. But it had meant that Maddie avoided letting anyone get too close, until now.

  ‘I’m not people,’ said Nick, his mouth firming.

  ‘No, you’re not.’ Her voice gentled with the quiet admission. ‘I’m scared.’

  He kissed her, his lips so gentle as they traced the outline of her mouth. She forced the truth up and out, looking at him intently. ‘It’s like I’ve got into a washing machine, it’s on full spin and any minute I could be thrown out.’

  Nick’s eyes were full of understanding but he smiled and said, ‘You have such a romantic turn of phrase.’

  ‘Basically, I’m scared shitless.’

  Nick touched her face. ‘And, for the first time in my life, I’m not.’

  They hauled the boards back on the boat, Maddie’s heart humming with Nick’s heartfelt words. She wanted to snip that final thread, the last one on a fraying rope, the one that anchored her to the fear and inability to trust, but she’d had a lifetime of men who had cadged her mum’s fags, helped themselves to the beer in the fridge and sometimes the rent money. None of them ever stuck around for very long or promised her mum much of a future. In her heart of hearts, she knew Nick wasn’t like that but there was just something that stopped her crossing the line.

  She took refuge in tidying up, trying to put some space between them, and was relieved when Nick respected it, taking himself off to have a shower and after lunch, when she announced she was going to do some painting, he didn’t sulk or brood. Giving her an affectionate kiss as she gathered up her materials, he settled himself in the shade with his book and a bottle of beer and watched her as she went up the stairs.

  It took her a while to settle into work, her mind going round and round in circles about Nick, but eventually she lost herself in the magic of the creative process.

  She started when her mobile phone began to ring.

  ‘Hey, Ivan.’

  ‘Maddie. Douglas is on his way back to the boat. You need to meet him at the port to take him back to the boat.’

  Maddie’s heart sank. ‘When?’

  ‘He’s leaving Hvar in an hour. The taxi takes twenty minutes.’

  ‘OK. I’ll meet him there. I was going back to see Franjo anyway, so perhaps I can persuade them to stay in the town for a drink before going back to the boat.’

  Damn, if they were all coming back she’d have to get some food supplies in. Her holiday was over. She swallowed. Nick and she hadn’t thought this far ahead.

  She gathered up her painting things and walked down the stairs, feeling like a condemned woman. Nick looked up and she almost burst into tears.

  ‘They’re coming back.’

  ‘When?’

&
nbsp; ‘Now.’

  Their eyes met. ‘What do you want to do?’ asked Nick.

  She shrugged, deliberately looking down at her feet. ‘Go and pick them up.’

  ‘You know what I mean.’

  He had to push, didn’t he, when all she wanted to do was barricade the entrance to the bay and not let anyone in or out.

  ‘Isn’t that down to you?’ she said.

  ‘I don’t like keeping secrets.’ There was a pause. She had no intention of filling in the gaps. Everything in her chest felt tight and constricted.

  ‘Maddie. I’m not ashamed of us. I want to tell everyone but …’ There it was – the big shouty capitals BUT.

  ‘I’m worried about the way Tara will behave and how she’ll treat you. She can be a bit unkind.’

  Maddie turned and raised a sarcastic eyebrow. That was the understatement of the century.

  ‘I don’t want to make you the target of her … you know, comments. Being crew, you’re in an invidious position.’

  ‘Big word,’ she said, finally looking up at him and then feeling shit when she saw the regret on his face. He was the good guy here, trying to do the right thing. ‘I guess you’re right.’

  ‘It’s only for a few more days and then at the end of the holiday we can make plans.’

  She knew he was right but still, she couldn’t bear the thought of the others coming back on board, especially not here. This little cove was theirs.

  Maddie was absolutely dreading having the boat filled with everyone again, so it was a delightful surprise when they moored the launch in the harbour to find that only Douglas and Siri were there.

  ‘Maddie!’ Siri raced towards her and gave her a big hug and a warm kiss on her cheek. ‘It’s so good to see you.’ She took a step back, holding her forearms. ‘You look amazing. Having a holiday suits you.’

  Douglas was clapping Nick on the back and then turned to Maddie. ‘Well, you look in fine form, young lady.’

  Maddie let out a gurgle of laughter. ‘Douglas, you’re only a few years older than me.’

  ‘He’s always been a bit of a fuddy-duddy,’ said Siri in a loud whisper, a dimple appearing in her cheek as she said it.

  ‘I feel bloody ancient.’ His shoulders drooped and there was a decided sad twist to his mouth. ‘Anyone fancy a drink? That taxi was bloody hot and no air-con.’

  ‘Douglas, sweetie –’ Siri rolled her eyes, but patted him on the shoulder ‘– the journey only took twenty minutes.’

  ‘Twenty minutes too long, to my mind.’ Douglas’s eyes didn’t match his perfunctory smile. ‘Nick, a cold beer? Where do you suggest?’ He looked around the harbour. ‘Didn’t get much of a chance for a look round, seems a pretty little town.’ His mouth compressed again with what looked like regret.

  ‘Cold beer is always a plan,’ replied Nick, giving Maddie an uneasy glance. ‘The bar over there is good.’ He pointed to the same bar where they’d had a drink with Ivan and Gordana.

  Once they were seated with four tall glasses of golden beer in front of them Nick asked the obvious question. ‘So where’s everyone else?’

  Siri and Douglas looked at each other and then Douglas stared down into his beer as if it might contain the answer.

  ‘We left them there,’ said Siri with a touch of defiance and Douglas lifted his head slowly, his kind eyes unusually hard, and exchanged a look with her. Then he picked up her hand and squeezed it. ‘Now, now, Siri.’

  She shook it off. ‘I’d had enough anyway,’ she said with a contemptuous toss of her head. ‘No fun without you there, Nick.’ She batted her lashes at Nick in a way that was obviously fake but Maddie noted with interest that Douglas went very still, as alert as a gun dog awaiting orders, before shaking himself and saying, ‘Bloody relief to have some peace and quiet. Non-stop noise, fuss, excitement at the Ellinghams’.’ The poor man looked absolutely shattered. ‘And the squealing. I swear Evie had invited every model from last year’s London Fashion Week –’

  ‘Paris too,’ interrupted Siri, a grim set to her jaw.

  ‘And they were all trying to outdo each other to get noticed. You know what Cory and Tara are like – can you imagine an entire roomful of them?’ He shuddered. ‘Hideous.’

  ‘And you’re away from it now,’ said Siri, her hand stroking Douglas’s in a soothing manner, as if his nerves needed calming. Siri caught Maddie’s eye and shook her head very slightly.

  Douglas, who’d closed his eyes and tilted his head back, missed this but mumbled, ‘Thank heavens.’

  ‘So, it’s just the two of you,’ said Maddie carefully to fill the sudden silence, which had stretched to uncomfortable.

  ‘Yup,’ said Siri. Me and Douglas. Douglas and me.’ She shot him a challenging look.

  Douglas let out a long heavy sigh as if admitting a defeat he was reluctant to accept. ‘I’d had enough of Cory.’ Douglas squared his shoulders and sighed again. ‘Behaved badly.’

  ‘She behaved badly.’ Like a snake striking, Siri slapped her hand on the table, her bracelets jangling like alarm bells ringing, making the glasses shake, sending the beer slopping over the edges.

  Douglas stiffened and kept perfectly still, which was all the more telling, the sort of tense posture people adopted when they were too scared to move in case it hurt more.

  ‘Left her there.’ His words were tight and clipped. ‘Didn’t actually tell anyone we were leaving.’

  ‘Like she’s going to notice,’ scoffed Siri with a little shake of her head, but Douglas ignored her and carried on.

  ‘Place was an awful squeeze. Full of phonies, wannabes.’ He paused and then added with a quick, sad flash of humour, ‘And swarming with bloody handsome gits like you, Nick, physiques like Atlas. Strutting their stuff around the pool. Enough to make a man move to the Arctic and never take his clothes off.’ His rueful laugh was tinged with something else.

  Siri grabbed his hand. ‘Don’t be ridiculous, Douglas, they had as much personality as cold puddings and most of them as thick as bricks.’

  Douglas shrugged and squeezed her hand back. ‘Thanks, love, but I’ve not got much to recommend me but money.’ The sadness in his words made Maddie wince.

  With a suddenness that shocked them all, Siri turned around and slapped him across the face. Maddie started. The sharp clap echoed around the enclosed square. A red palm print scalded Douglas’s astounded face. Siri’s face flushed pink, strident bright stripes highlighting her cheekbones while her eyes glittered like an angry ice queen.

  There was a stunned silence as everyone in the small square turned their way. Maddie and Nick exchanged a nervous look. Then Siri burst into tears.

  ‘S-sorry, Douglas. Sorry. I’m so sorry …’ she sobbed but then dashed her tears away with her fist before getting to her feet, ramming her hands on her hips and standing over him ‘… but I just hate it when you say things like that.’ Her face contorted in a weird combination of sternness, loyalty and exasperation. ‘You’re the kindest, nicest man I know and … and … and …’ Running out of steam, she swallowed and did exactly what Maddie probably would have done and leaned down and kissed him. Even as an observer, Maddie could see she poured all her passion, love and longing into that fierce kiss.

  Maddie turned to Nick, pinching her lips at the sight of the ‘I’m a man – there’s too much drama for me to take’ look on his face.

  ‘We’ve got a couple of chores to do,’ said Nick, rising to his feet, almost knocking over his chair as he gathered his phone and his wallet from the table. ‘Why don’t we leave you here for a while?’

  Maddie mouthed ‘coward’ at him but jumped to her feet too. There was no answer because it appeared that Douglas had pulled Siri onto his lap and was kissing her back with equal fervour.

  ‘Well, that’s a shocker,’ said Nick as soon as they were out of sight, grabbing her hand and pulling her close to him, as if he’d missed the contact. ‘Poor Douglas, that was a hell of a belt.’

  Maddie rubbed her che
ek in sympathy. ‘I think she’s kissing it better.’

  ‘I should hope so, which reminds me –’ Nick stopped and pulled her to one side of the deserted narrow cobbled street, pressing her up against the cool stone wall ‘– I haven’t kissed you for ages.’

  ‘Nick …’ Her quick laugh was cut off as he rectified the matter with considerable enthusiasm, making her knees a little wobbly and leaving her breathless. Looking into his intense blue eyes, she swallowed as she tried to steady herself, conscious of the familiar thudding of her heart.

  ‘It’s going to be difficult to pretend around everyone else,’ she said, touching her still tingling lips.

  ‘I know.’ Nick frowned. ‘I don’t want to …’

  As they’d had to come into the harbour, they’d agreed with Ivan that they would meet him and Gordana at the gallery with the contract and the lawyer’s comments to find out what Franjo had planned.

  Nick took her hand, with a quick glance at his watch, and they began making their way towards the gallery.

  ‘No, I know. I’m sorry about earlier. The disappointment, I guess, of knowing that we’d had such a perfect few days and that they’ve been cut short. You’re right, it’s the sensible thing to do. Even if Tara doesn’t want you any more, like you said, it’s going to be awkward enough without adding us into the mix.’

  Maddie widened her eyes as a thought struck her. ‘What will happen when Cory comes back?’

  ‘Shit. Fans. Hitting,’ replied Nick. ‘Or maybe they won’t come back. Perhaps Douglas can encourage the three of them to stay with the Ellinghams to the end of the holiday. There’s only another week.’

  ‘You don’t clean their cabins; you should see how much stuff Cory and Tara have.’

  ‘I carried Tara’s suitcases, remember,’ said Nick dryly.

  Maddie shuddered. ‘There’s no way I’m packing all that up. Besides, everyone’s got to get back to Split to the airport at some point.’

  ‘They could catch the ferry from Hvar.’

  Maddie raised a supercilious eyebrow. ‘What, with the plebs? I can’t see either of them doing that. And Douglas is too kind to abandon them, whatever happens with Siri.’