Page 74 of Pervade Montego Bay
“Was that a photo of your wife?”
“What photo?”
She sighed and moved closer. Way too close. “Come swim with us.”
“I’m dressed now.”
“Please? Join us.”
“All that’s over, Em.” Even as I said the words, my mouth hovered over hers as though I were responding to a magnetic pull.
God, to kiss her again…
I stepped back.
Her embrace was the only way to forget the ghosts of this place. Emily’s presence shooed out the nightmares. Still, I’d made a promise to keep my distance.
Anyway, I deserved those nightmares…
“I have a lot to do back in London.” I walked over to my desk and fired up the iMac.
She refused to budge. “James, who was that man?”
“No one special.”A whopper of a lie.
I’d given Louis permission to come find me in case of an emergency—hisemergency. He wasn’t supposed to pop in for a social visit. Seeing his expression at my reaction had crushed me. But Louis shouldn’t have come here. Not with Emily sniffing around and asking questions.
“Xavier stayed with Louis for a while?” Emily interrupted my musings.
“Yes.” That was another conversation for another time because Xavier had broken protocol.
Emily bit her bottom lip. “Do you think—?”
“No, Emily, there’s nothing like that going on between them.”
“Not even with you?” she asked. “I saw the way you looked at Louis.”
“I’m a sucker for a fresh mango.” I gave her a thin smile.
Her eyes narrowed. “Why can’t he visit?”
You little spying minx.
Before she realized what I intended to do, I had her flung over my shoulder.
I carried her effortlessly out of the house, despite her struggles. When we reached the garden I slapped her on the butt.
“Ouch! James, what are you doing?”
Young Mata Hari here liked to listen in on people’s conversations, so it seemed reasonable to fling her back into the swimming pool as a punishment for her indiscretion.
She let out a yelp as I tossed her into the water.
I waited until she rose, gasping, to the surface before turning and walking away.
Xavier
Iknew this man better than he knew himself.
