Page 93 of Taking the Heat

Chris took a deep breath. ‘You’re right.’

‘I’m always right.’

‘Hmm … sure …’

I whacked him with a pillow. ‘Be serious! Okay, I wanted to say, straight up, I’m sorry. I was mad because you didn’t believe me about the Henry thing, and because you didn’t trust me enough to tell me you were rich, and because I thought you had run straight back to Aanya. I’m really bad at letting people in, because I feel like I deserve bad things, so when something good happens, I fight it.’

He shook his head sadly. ‘I’m sorry too. I knew that Henry footage was edited, and he spoke to me about it afterwards. It still stung though. And you were right to be mad about the money thing. It’s just … money is a great tool, and I’m glad I have enough cash to look after myself and my family, plus help others who need it. But you just never know who likes you for you.’

‘Poor little rich boy,’ I teased, smiling.

‘You’re right. It’s a total first world problem, but it’s been getting worse. I’ve been looking for the right woman for years, and I keep finding girls who just like the idea of dating a millionaire.’ His blue eyes lightened as they settled on me. ‘I finally found someone who loved me, even when she thought I was a coffee maker. I guess I just wanted to hold onto that for as long as I could.’

The next question was harder. ‘So … if you have money, why didn’t you offer to pay for me not to go in the cabin, the way Henry did?’

Chris raised an eyebrow. ‘Would you have accepted?’

‘No. I need to do this on my own. I want to earn this prize, not be dependent on anyone else.’

‘That’s why. I knew you would shut me down, and I didn’t want to give you more grief over something you were already stressed about.’

‘I love you.’

‘I love you, too.’

There was a knock at the door, and an envelope slid though the gap at the bottom and onto the mat.

‘That’s my prize from the jet-ski challenge,’ I said, leaping off the bed and launching myself at the little rectangle. Eagerly, I ripped the paper and examined the card inside. ‘Oh …oh.’

Chris pushed out of the sheets, the morning sun silhouetting his glorious physique as he asked, ‘So? Who does it say?’

***

A few hours later, Chris graciously vacated the room for an hour or so, while I entertained a few guests. First up, Jen dropped by.

After settling on the outdoor couches facing over the jungle and out to sea, I said, ‘Jen, I have to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for what you did last night. You were the catalyst, and you saved Chris and me.’

She waved away my praise. ‘I do not deserve your thanks. I am the one who must beg your forgiveness. Tara, I am so sorry.’ She slipped onto her knees in abject apology. ‘You have stood by me, donated your winnings to me and loved me like a sister. In return, I shunned you and threw your kindness back in your face. I am ashamed of myself.’

My empathy rushed out to her. I reached for her hands and pulled her onto the couch beside me. ‘It’s okay, really. I just wish you would tell me why, that’s all.’

I didn’t think someone with skin as dark as Jen could show blushing, but her luminous skin heated burgundy across her neck and cheeks. ‘I am embarrassed to admit … it is because of a man.’

‘Henry?’ I ventured.

Jen gasped. ‘How did you know?’

‘I feel stupid I didn’t realise earlier.’ All the signs were staring me in the face: not just Jen’s attitude to the video reveal, but Henry’s talk of loving someone so different, and Jen’s question about how I felt towards him. ‘If I wasn’t so self-absorbed, I would have worked it out ages ago.’

‘I have never felt this way about another man before! I think love has made me crazy. With my condition, I’ve always enjoyed different men, as often as possible. But now, I only want Henry. Forever. I would give anything to stay by his side.’

‘Jen, you know there’s nothing between us anymore, right?’ I reached for her hand.

‘I do know that now. Henry explained the situation to me, and I can see the love between you and Chris. That is why I had to make it up to you and punish your enemy.’

Her mischievous expression had me curious. ‘Jen … what did you do?’

‘I gave you a gift. I had only used a single strike on Henry, so I stalked Dante for the last few days until he fell asleep sunbathing.’

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