Page 13 of Duty and Desire

Chapter Eleven

Gio

N ick brought the boat to a dead stop. “Okay, this is the first spot.” He pressed a button, and the sound of a clanking chain filled the air. “That’s the anchor lowering.”

I peered into the crystal-clear waters. “You said we’re going to make four stops. Will we see something different each time?”

He grinned. “That’s the plan.” He switched the engine off.

I’d seen a storm not long after I’d arrived, and although the days that followed had been better, this was without a doubt the best so far. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and the sunlight sparkling on the water made everything bright.

How does that hymn go? “All Things Bright And Beautiful”?

That pretty much described what I was seeing.

I gazed at the gear lying in the bottom of the boat. Nick had asked for my shoe size, and now I understood why: the fins had to be a good fit. He’d also told me to bring my board shorts and a tee. Something about preventing sunburn .

My pulse was fast, and I felt so freaking full of energy. I’d never done this, and I couldn’t wait to get started.

“Now you need to focus, all right?”

I straightened. “Got it, boss.”

He chuckled. “You don’t have to go that far.

” He grabbed a mask. “This has to have a good seal all around. If it fogs up while you’re in the water, just come to the surface, let water in, then tilt it so it all flows out again.

That will clear it.” Then he picked up a snorkel.

“This has a valve at the top that shuts the water off. Remember to keep your face down so the snorkel is at the right angle, pointing up.”

“And if I want to go deeper?”

“You breathe naturally for a couple of minutes, then take a big deep breath. You roll forward, with your feet above the water. They act like a weight, pushing you down. If the pressure gets too much, pinch your nose and blow, like you do on a plane.” His lips twitched.

“Don’t touch anything, okay? Especially coral.

Besides, you don’t know how it will react with your skin.

” He cocked his head. “Did you remember to apply sun block to your neck?”

I couldn’t resist. “Yes, boss.” I was bouncing on my seat pad.

Nick laughed. “You can’t wait to get in there, can you?” He pointed to the water. “You’re going to see manta rays.”

“Cool.” I put on my mask, and Nick checked the fit. I snapped the snorkel into position, and slipped my feet into the fins.

“Remember what I said. Don’t use your hands to move, just your legs.”

I gave him the thumbs-up.

Nick put on his own gear, and we were finally ready to get into the water.

That first glimpse of a beautiful underwater kingdom was breathtaking.

There’s so much life down here.

I gazed at the floor of the lagoon, where dark manta rays swam by, serenity in motion, their backs adorned with a single stripe. They were… I struggled to find the word that would encapsulate the sight .

Majestic.

Fish drifted below us, slow and steady, ignoring our presence. Nick had said these were triggerfish, and there seemed to be several varieties in differing colors.

Nick swam at my side, pointing at some of the fish.

Then he indicated the manta rays, and I got the message.

We trod water for a moment before taking deep breaths and pushing down toward the ocean floor.

We swam a few feet above the rays, and there had to be about fifteen or so.

Nick signaled, and we rose to the surface.

I clambered onto the boat, unable to rein in my grin.

“That was awesome.”

Nick beamed. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. Our next stop is the coral gardens.”

My day was shaping up to be perfect.

By the time Nick steered the boat toward the dock at Vaitape, I had a whole new experience to put in a future book.

I’d even use the part where I giggled underwater at the comic antics of the butterfly fish, and got water up my nose.

We’d spotted so many eagle rays I’d lost count, but the highlight had to be the moray eels.

Their sharp little teeth gave them a scary appearance, but Nick stroked one, and that was so incredible, I’d had to do the same.

It was magical.

Watching Nick move through the water, lithe and unhurried, had been the icing on the cake. He’d put his hands behind his back and kicked, propelling himself along with his fins, clearly as entranced by the spectacle below us as I was.

Lunch had been pleasant, a simple affair of crackers, cheese, fruit, and sodas, but sitting in the boat with the sun warming us, peering into the water as we ate…

It beat the St. Regis hands down.

Nick stopped the boat. “I need to thank you.”

“Why? I should be the one who’s doing all the thanking. That was a wonderful day.”

He smiled. “It’s been a while since I last did this.

I’d forgotten how much I loved it. And if you hadn’t come up with the idea, who knows when I’d have done it again?

” Nick shrugged. “I don’t work every day, but it’s amazing how much real life eats into my time.

I need to take a break now and then, and remind myself why I chose to live here. ”

“Have you taken Claudia snorkeling?”

Nick snorted. “The closest she gets is lying on an inflatable in a pool, a cocktail floating beside her.” He placed the snorkeling gear in a lock box.

“Well, I’m going to be here until the end of July.” I tilted my head. “Do you think we might do this again?”

His face shone and his eyes sparkled. “I know you said you’d be staying for a couple of months—I didn’t realize you meant four. That’s one really good friend you have there.”

“He is. We go way back.”

“Then I think that’s a distinct possibility.”

I gazed at the lagoon drinking in the sight of boats gliding to and fro, the hum of noise from the village, the call of the birds soaring above us, buoyed by the air currents.

Then it hit me. I didn’t want to get out of the boat.

Specifically, I didn’t want to be parted from Nick.

My tee and shorts were almost dry, and I had no excuse to linger, but still I didn’t move.

I spoke before I changed my mind. “Do you have to get back to Claudia, or would you like to go someplace for a drink?” It was already five o’clock, so the suggestion wasn’t that outlandish.

Nick hesitated for a moment, and I was quick to give him an out. “Forget I asked. I’ve taken up way too much of your time already.”

He flushed. “I was just working out what excuse I could give Claudia for walking in later than I’d promised. We’re having dinner at seven. ”

“Then you should go home and get ready.” I was being selfish. Nick had his own life.

Then he smiled, and the reflected light in Nick’s face was so goddamn beautiful.

“I think I have time for a drink.” He pulled his phone from his shorts pocket and tapped the screen. “There. Claudia knows I’ll be back there in about an hour. Now give me five minutes to secure the boat, and then we can be off.” He gave me an amused glance. “Any idea where you’d like to go?”

“Te Moana Nui? Kai makes the best cocktails.” I wasn’t about to share that I knew Nick frequented the bar. That would definitely make me look like a stalker.

And speaking of stalkers, Nick’s shadow was missing. I hadn’t seen him when I’d arrived at the ferry point either.

Interesting.

Did he finally take the hint? Did I have something to do with that? Couldn’t take a little competition, huh?

Yeah, I was so full of myself.

We walked through the parking lot to where I’d left the buggy. Nick grinned when he saw it, and I rolled my eyes.

“Roger painted it that color.”

He smirked. “Saying nothing.” He pointed to a motorbike. “That’s mine. I’ll follow you. But only one drink, okay? Any more than that, and I’ll be swerving all over the place.”

“Gotcha.” I returned his smirk. “Maybe mocktails might be a safer alternative?”

The thought of sitting with Nick under a parasol, sipping cocktails, was enough to render me lightheaded.

Down boy. It’s just a drink. Don’t make too much out of it.

Right then I’d take what I could get.

Nick leaned forward. “Is it me, or is Kai staring at us? ”

I jerked my head in the direction of the bar, and Kai straightened in a heartbeat, busying himself with wiping a glass. I raised my eyebrows, and he blushed.

I chuckled. “You may be right.”

Nick took a mouthful of his rum punch. “You’re right too. He makes the best cocktails.” He leaned back in his chair, a picture of relaxation. “So tell me… your friend Roger… is he gay?”

I almost choked on my mai tai. “Roger? Hell no. What made you ask that?”

His eyes glittered. “That buggy. I mean, there’s pink…and then there’s pink .”

“It is kinda lurid, isn’t it?”

“He sounds as if he’s a very generous man.

You said you’re staying in one of the overwater bungalows.

He could earn a fortune in four months, but you said he isn’t charging you rent.

” He widened his eyes. “What do you have on him? What do you know about him that he’d be willing to give up all that rent money just to keep you quiet? ”

“He says he owes me.” I let out a sigh. “He called it payback.”

“For what?” Nick bit his lip. “You don’t have to tell me. It’s none of my business.”

I smiled. “I don’t mind talking about it.

It was a long time ago, when we were both in college.

” I took a long drink before continuing.

“These days, Roger is an entrepreneur. He’s wealthy, successful…

but it’s taken a great deal of hard work to get him there, and he’s been through a lot.

” My stomach clenched at the memory of that night.

Nick covered my hand with his. “Are you okay?”

Warmth flowed through me at the unexpected gesture. “Yeah. It was a tough time, that’s all.” I paused. “One night, I came back to our dorm to find he’d tried to kill himself. I kept him alive until the paramedics arrived.”

“You saved his life.” Nick’s voice was low and soft. “Why did he want to commit suicide?”

I huffed. “Long story. ”

“We have time. And I’m a good listener.”

I took another drink. “His family had really high expectations of him, and that put a lot of pressure on him, but not half as much as the pressure he put on himself. He always felt as though he never measured up, and that created more anxiety. College became a very competitive environment. Added to that, there were financial challenges too, and when his family hit a rough patch—his parents were divorcing, and his dad lost his job—Roger was facing the burden of student loans, imminent failure at his studies… It all caved in on him, and he couldn’t take it anymore. ”

“What happened?”

I laced my fingers on the table. “It had been hours since he’d last texted, and I knew something didn’t feel right.

The first thing I noticed when I went into the room was the silence.

Roger’s music usually blared from his speakers, or there’d be the sound of his computer keys clicking.

But that night? Nothing. Just an eerie stillness. ”

I shivered as I recalled seeing Roger slumped on the mattress, an empty bottle of pills on the nightstand next to a nearly full glass of water.

“How did he do it?”

“Attempted overdose. I swear, my heart felt as if it was going to explode. He was so goddamn pale, his breathing slow and shallow, and there was sweat on his forehead. I touched his neck, and his pulse was weak. Then I called 911.”

“And they came and saved him?”

I shuddered out a breath. “I tried to remember everything my mom had taught me about first aid, and what to do in case of an overdose. All I could think of was lifting him off the bed and walking him around the room—except it was more a case of dragging him. But I couldn’t lose him.

I had to keep him alive long enough for the paramedics to arrive.

” My hand shook as I reached for my glass.

“I kept talking to him, telling him he had so much to live for, that he wasn’t alone.

He didn’t respond, but I kept on moving him, talking to him…

I re minded him of all the good times we’d shared—the late-night talks over pizza, his plans for the future, my burning desire to write a bestseller someday, the way we’d always had each other’s backs—and finally, he spoke.

He whispered my name.” I could still recall the relief that surged through me on hearing that single word.

I swallowed. “Then he said he didn’t think he could keep going.

Man, he sounded so freaking exhausted.” Tears stung my eyes.

“I told him he didn’t have to do it alone.

I told him I wasn’t going anywhere. It wasn’t long after that the ambulance arrived.

I followed, and I stayed with him at his bedside for as long as they’d let me. ”

Nick handed me a napkin, and I wiped the dampness from my cheeks. “He was lucky to have you for a friend.”

“He told me a few weeks ago he’d always meant to find a way to pay me back.” I gestured to our lush surroundings. “He found a way.”

Nick gazed at me, not breaking eye contact, his eyes bright. “Roger has you—I have Claudia. We all need a friend like that sometimes.”

I peered at him. “That sounds as though you’ve had your own trials and tribulations.”

He finished his drink. “Maybe I have. But that’s in the past.”

I heard the unspoken words. And I don’t want to talk about it.

Nick stood. “I should go.”

“Wait,” I blurted. He stilled, and I thought fast. “What are your plans for tomorrow?”

He chuckled. “So you’re not tired of my company yet?”

I could spend hours listening to him, observing him, laughing and talking with him… And I couldn’t think of how to answer his question without betraying how I felt.

“Did you have something in mind?”

I nodded. “I haven’t spent any time on a beach yet. There’s a great one at the southern part of the island… Matira Beach?”

The same beach where I’d spied Nick sitting beneath a palm tree, sketching.

“Yes. It’s the only public beach on Bora-Bora. ”

“Well, how would you like to spend some time there? We could have a picnic, swim, soak up some sun…”

Nick’s smile reached his eyes. “That sounds wonderful. Let’s do it.” He glanced at his phone. “But now I really do have to leave.”

I rose. “Enjoy your dinner with Claudia. How much longer will she be here?”

“She leaves Sunday. And before you ask, she won’t mind losing me tomorrow. You already know what she’ll be doing.” His eyes twinkled. “I’ll meet you at the beach at ten. Don’t worry about the picnic. I’ll bring that, seeing as you brought lunch today.” He grinned. “Don’t forget your sunscreen.”

“You’re very good at taking command of a situation.” I chuckled. “You’d make a good CEO.”

His face tightened. “I wouldn’t, you know. I don’t think I’m cut out for that kind of thing.” And with that, he headed for the exit.

I stared after him.

What did I say?