trying to keep him blinded with her fairy floss, he couldn’t really trust her.
What did she feel she had to keep hidden?
The number of men in her past?
Maybe he should have questioned her about that last night. Maybe he should do it now. But remembering the anguish in her eyes after Lester had left them with his poison, Michael didn’t want to bring that back and spoil this weekend with her. Let it ride for a while, he told himself again. But he wouldn’t forget that Lucy could be keeping something from him—something that was important for him to know before this relationship went much further.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
L UCY COULD NOT have wished for a more marvellous time with Michael. The afternoon tea with the Pickards had been relatively stress-free. She had not felt any negative vibes coming from either of them. They were really nice people. Michael had then suggested a game of tennis, which had been great fun, followed by a dip in the infinity pool, drinking champagne as they watched the sunset. A romantic dinner for two on the deck below the restaurant had been a highlight finish to their day, eating superb food to the lapping of waves on the beach, under a star-studded sky.
On Sunday morning they slept in after a long night of making love. The fruit platter in the refrigerator was breakfast enough, since they were having an early lunch with Harry and Ellie before setting off to the mainland. Lucy wanted to see them happy with each other, as happy as she felt with Michael.
It was another beautiful, sunny day and harmony flowed between the two brothers and sisters as they sat in the restaurant, enjoying the fine cuisine. Ellie had mused out loud over the choices for each course, making decisions easy. It caused Lucy to reflect how lucky she was to have a sister who cared about her problems.
All through her school years, Ellie had tried to help her with reading and writing. She’d researched dyslexia on the internet and downloaded programs that might untangle the confusion in Lucy’s mind. When they hadn’t produced a miracle, she’d spent hours and hours coaching her to learn things off by heart. Without Ellie she would never have passed her driving test, which had allowed her to get jobs that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. Lucy owed her sister a debt she could never repay. It was good to see her eyes twinkling happily at Harry. Ellie deserved a prince.
Again Lucy couldn’t help thinking how wonderful it would be if all four of them could end up together. That was a big dream—an impossible dream—but she was sailing along in a bubble of bliss, until Ellie dropped her bombshell.
They were sitting over coffee when Michael asked, ‘Any prospects for the position of manager here, Harry?’
He shrugged. ‘A few résumés have come in. I haven’t called for any interviews yet. Elizabeth may want to stay on now that she’s on top of the job.’
‘Elizabeth is mine!’ Michael shot him a vexed look.
‘No!’ The denial tripped straight out of Ellie’s mouth.
Lucy was shocked into staring at her sister, who suddenly looked very serious and determined.
Michael, too, was taken aback. ‘Don’t tell me Harry has seduced you into staying here.’
‘No, I won’t be staying here beyond the month he needs to find someone suitable,’ she replied quietly and calmly.
‘So you’ll come back to me,’ Michael insisted.
She shook her head. ‘I’m sorry, Michael, but I don’t want to do that, either.’
‘Why not?’ he persisted.
‘Being here this week has made me realise I want a change. To try something different. I’d appreciate it if you’d take this as my notice.’
He wasn’t happy. He glared at his brother. ‘Goddammit, Harry! If it wasn’t for you—’
‘Hey!’ Harry held up his hands defensively. ‘I’m not getting her, either.’
‘Please...’ Elizabeth quickly broke in. ‘I don’t want to cause trouble. I just want to take a different direction with my
What did she feel she had to keep hidden?
The number of men in her past?
Maybe he should have questioned her about that last night. Maybe he should do it now. But remembering the anguish in her eyes after Lester had left them with his poison, Michael didn’t want to bring that back and spoil this weekend with her. Let it ride for a while, he told himself again. But he wouldn’t forget that Lucy could be keeping something from him—something that was important for him to know before this relationship went much further.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
L UCY COULD NOT have wished for a more marvellous time with Michael. The afternoon tea with the Pickards had been relatively stress-free. She had not felt any negative vibes coming from either of them. They were really nice people. Michael had then suggested a game of tennis, which had been great fun, followed by a dip in the infinity pool, drinking champagne as they watched the sunset. A romantic dinner for two on the deck below the restaurant had been a highlight finish to their day, eating superb food to the lapping of waves on the beach, under a star-studded sky.
On Sunday morning they slept in after a long night of making love. The fruit platter in the refrigerator was breakfast enough, since they were having an early lunch with Harry and Ellie before setting off to the mainland. Lucy wanted to see them happy with each other, as happy as she felt with Michael.
It was another beautiful, sunny day and harmony flowed between the two brothers and sisters as they sat in the restaurant, enjoying the fine cuisine. Ellie had mused out loud over the choices for each course, making decisions easy. It caused Lucy to reflect how lucky she was to have a sister who cared about her problems.
All through her school years, Ellie had tried to help her with reading and writing. She’d researched dyslexia on the internet and downloaded programs that might untangle the confusion in Lucy’s mind. When they hadn’t produced a miracle, she’d spent hours and hours coaching her to learn things off by heart. Without Ellie she would never have passed her driving test, which had allowed her to get jobs that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. Lucy owed her sister a debt she could never repay. It was good to see her eyes twinkling happily at Harry. Ellie deserved a prince.
Again Lucy couldn’t help thinking how wonderful it would be if all four of them could end up together. That was a big dream—an impossible dream—but she was sailing along in a bubble of bliss, until Ellie dropped her bombshell.
They were sitting over coffee when Michael asked, ‘Any prospects for the position of manager here, Harry?’
He shrugged. ‘A few résumés have come in. I haven’t called for any interviews yet. Elizabeth may want to stay on now that she’s on top of the job.’
‘Elizabeth is mine!’ Michael shot him a vexed look.
‘No!’ The denial tripped straight out of Ellie’s mouth.
Lucy was shocked into staring at her sister, who suddenly looked very serious and determined.
Michael, too, was taken aback. ‘Don’t tell me Harry has seduced you into staying here.’
‘No, I won’t be staying here beyond the month he needs to find someone suitable,’ she replied quietly and calmly.
‘So you’ll come back to me,’ Michael insisted.
She shook her head. ‘I’m sorry, Michael, but I don’t want to do that, either.’
‘Why not?’ he persisted.
‘Being here this week has made me realise I want a change. To try something different. I’d appreciate it if you’d take this as my notice.’
He wasn’t happy. He glared at his brother. ‘Goddammit, Harry! If it wasn’t for you—’
‘Hey!’ Harry held up his hands defensively. ‘I’m not getting her, either.’
‘Please...’ Elizabeth quickly broke in. ‘I don’t want to cause trouble. I just want to take a different direction with my
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