get dressed.”
* * *
Antonio’s deep laughter resounded through the forest. She could feel it reverberate inside her. “Anything to oblige.” He did her bidding. “I hate to tell you this, but the water is so transparent I can see you perfectly.”
“You’re no gentleman to say that to me.”
“Is that what you thought I was?” he mocked before turning his back.
She climbed out and dressed as fast as she could. When she reached him, he crushed her in his arms and gave her a kiss to die for. Then he handed her food and drink.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I wish we could stay here longer. Last night—” Her voice caught.
Their eyes met. “Last night will be burned in my memory forever, tesora.”
“Mine too.” She finished eating and started putting everything in their packs.
He worked with her. “Are you about ready?”
“Yes.”
After slipping on their tennis shoes, they started down the trail to the beach. In some parts she walked behind him, enjoying the play of muscle across his back and shoulders. Antonio had great legs for a man. In fact, there wasn’t a part of him that wasn’t perfect.
They reached the boat and loaded it. Christina helped him push it into the water, and then he helped ease her up and in before he took his place at the front. Before they took off across the lagoon, he looked back at her. As far as he could see, they were the only people out on this part of the lagoon.
“What do you want to do after we get back to the hut?” he called over his shoulder.
“I’d love to go to that coral sea garden and do some more snorkeling.”
“That makes two of us. When in our lives will we ever have a chance to see fish like this up close?”
“Probably never. I’m still pinching myself to believe there’s a spot like this on earth.”
“We’ll eat a meal and then go out for the rest of the day. Do you know what?”
“What?”
“You’re more fun than any of my friends.”
“Thank you.”
“I mean it. I don’t know anyone, male or female, who loves what I love and can do everything with me and keep up.”
“I’m afraid I didn’t turn out to be like my socialite parents.”
“Thank heaven!”
Those two words warmed her heart all the way back to their island. After putting things away, they sat down to a meal, then went back out to the deck. Antonio covered her in sunscreen. His touch made her knees buckle. “Shall we stay in bed the rest of the day instead?”
Christina could hardly talk. “I’d love it, but our time here is so short, we need to take advantage of it.” She couldn’t believe she’d worried that in a week Antonio might be bored with her. Maybe it was because all the time they’d spent together in Switzerland had prepared her to be more comfortable with him where everything felt so natural.
“Just remember we’ll have all night,” he whispered against her neck. His breath sent tendrils of delight through her system. While she was still trying to recover, he got out the snorkels and fins. Once again they got into the boat and went looking for fish. The lagoon was home to so many species they had the time of their lives viewing everything.
She lost track of the time. So did Antonio. It wasn’t until they suffered hunger pains that she realized it was time to go in. When they returned to the island and were tying up the boat, Manu was there to greet them.
“You two must have had a good day to be out so long.”
Christina smiled at him. “Every day is a good day here.” But she sensed he had something else on his mind. So did Antonio.
“What’s wrong, Manu?”
“There was a call from the palace in Halencia. You are to call your sister as soon as you can. You can use the phone here and I’ll put it through for you.”
Both Christina and Antonio exchanged worried glances. Any number of things could be wrong for her to interrupt their honeymoon. “Thank you. I’ll do it as soon as we’re finished here.”
“Your dinner is in the kitchen when you want to eat.”
“You’re terrific, Manu,” she said.
After he disappeared, Antonio helped her out of the boat and they put their gear away. Already there was a change in her husband. Lines darkened his features, making him look older. They’d had an unforgettable night of loving and had been so carefree she could have cried to see that anxious look cross over his face.
Together they walked inside the bedroom of the hut, both of them still wearing their bathing suits. He turned to her. “I’m going to put on a robe, then make the call.”
While he went into the bathroom to change, she pulled out some underwear and dressed in a pair of tan shorts and a cream top. Then she hung her bikini over the outside rail to dry, all the time frightened something serious had happened back home. An accident, or worse?
Antonio came out of the bathroom and walked over to the side of the bed to the phone. She sat down next to him. He put the phone on speaker and grasped her hand while he waited for Manu to connect the call.
“Tonio?”
“Elena?” His heart was racing. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m so sorry to bother you on your honeymoon, but—”
“Is anyone ill?”
“No, no. Everyone’s fine, but there’s something you need to know. I hope you’re sitting down to hear this.”
Antonio looked at his wife, anxious for what was coming. “Go ahead.”
“I—I have to give you some background first,” she stammered. “You know that guy Rolfe? The drug addict I wish I’d never met?”
He sucked in his breath. “Yes?”
“Last week he was arrested on heavier drug charges. He called me from the jail and told me that if I didn’t help him out of the new charges, he’d tell the press everything about what happened when he was jailed the first time.”
“What?” he and Christina cried out at the same time. His thoughts were reeling.
“I thought he was high on drugs when he called me and I hung up on him. But he phoned me on the morning you were getting married and threatened me again. I told him there wasn’t anything I could do. He hung up on me telling me
