Page 60 of An Island Promise

Caleb focused on kneading the next ball of dough rather than Cara’s intense look. ‘I didn’t kiss Belle if that’s what you’re fishing for, but I wanted to. Oh fuck it, Cara, I wanted to do a whole lot more than kiss her, but shit… My head and my heart were so damn twisted.’

‘It’s okay to feel like that and okay to be conflicted. Obviously the timing was so not right.’ Cara stopped talking and sucked in a breath. ‘It wasn’t so much the idea of being with her, was it, but the feelings you have for her, right? You do have feelings?’

Caleb slapped the dough onto the surface and leaned his hands against the edge of the worktop. He stared towards the picture windows and the darkening sky. The remnants of the sun cast a golden-red glow on the sea.

He sighed. ‘I wish you were here to help me figure this out.’

‘Hey, only you can figure out the way you really feel. Go with your gut, it’s what you’ve always done when it comes to business and it usually pays off. Also, don’t be afraid of taking a chance with Belle.’

That feeling he’d had yesterday morning when he’d hugged Belle goodbye returned, an all-consuming warmth reignited.

‘What are you doing by the way?’ Cara asked.

‘Making pizza. I’ve, um, got a few people coming over tonight.’

‘You have?’

‘Yeah, there’s a whole thing going on with Belle’s friend Gem – you know I told you all about Belle, Gem and Diego?—’

‘Yep, the threesome.’

‘It wasn’t a threesome, Cara.’

‘In my head it was…’

Caleb shook his head and stretched the dough out on a pizza tray. ‘Well, there’s a chance that Gem’s nine-year-old son is actually Diego’s.’

‘Are you freaking kidding me?’ Cara’s eyes widened as her nose nearly hit the screen. ‘I’m missing out on all the gossipanda party at yours.’

‘It’s not a party; it’s a small gathering. Just dinner. A chance for Gem and Diego to talk.’

Cara pursed her lips and looked at him sternly. ‘You so rarely have people over. This is special, Caleb.’ She paused. ‘Wow, you’re really doing this for her. Belle’s properly got under your skin, hasn’t she?’

Caleb didn’t know how to reply to that so he didn’t. When the front gate buzzer went with the arrival of Àngel and his wife Gabriela, he said goodbye and prepared himself for everyone’s arrival.

Caleb had forgotten what Solace must look like through other people’s eyes. He knew how lucky he was to call it home, but he’d worked hard for it and had got used to living in a place where he could wake to the view of Ibiza Town bathed in sunshine, dive into the pool whenever he wanted, and sit with a beer watching the sunset from his terrace.

Laurie definitely couldn’t hide her awe as she wandered through the house open-mouthed. She was the quietest of the three friends with a gentle personality that was overshadowed by Gem’s voluptuous in-your-face confidence and Belle’s unfettered magnetism. It didn’t surprise him one bit that Diego had wound up with Belle and Gem, both blonde, both his type, but he was mighty relieved it was Gem who was about to have a difficult conversation with him and not Belle. Things could have been very different.

It felt strange, yet not unwelcome, to see Solace coming alive as people started to arrive. Apart from Belle and her friends and Diego and his brothers, he’d only invited a couple of other friends and their partners. Solace was made for entertaining, the sliding doors giving an effortless transition between inside and out, although everyone radiated to the terrace, which was bathed in the gold-tinged dusk. The candles in the lanterns were lit and the outdoor lights cast palm-tree shadows across the cream walls.

Gabriela helped him finish the pizzas and they took them out to where everyone was sitting around the huge table that dominated the side of the terrace with its view towards a glittering Ibiza Town. With plenty of wine, beer and food, the chatter flowed and happy voices rose into the night. It felt good to have his home filled with friends and laughter, a joy long absent. Caleb dipped in and out, flitting between the kitchen and the terrace, catching snatches of conversation as everyone relaxed and chatted together. His eyes were constantly drawn to Belle, who was sitting with her friends looking radiant in a metallic black playsuit.

What he also noticed was the distance between Gem and Diego at opposite ends of the table, so when he spotted Gem taking her glass of wine over to the outdoor lounge area while Tomàs, Gabriela and Belle were clearing the plates away, he went over to Diego.

‘Hey.’ Caleb clutched Diego’s shoulder and leaned over, keeping his voice low. ‘Why don’t you go have a chat with Gem; there’s something she wants to tell you.’ If Belle’s fears about Gem clamming up proved to be true then this was a risky move, but as Gem didn’t seem keen on veering towards Diego, he decided to instigate it.

Maybe it was something in his tone that made Diego take notice, or perhaps he didn’t need much persuading, but with a nod he grabbed a bottle of Ibizkus White and sauntered over to her.

Laurie, still sitting at the table, caught Caleb’s eye and gave him a smile. She shifted her chair to face the seating area and Gem as Caleb joined her.

‘Hey, they’re talking.’ Belle slid onto the seat between Caleb and Laurie and topped up her wine.

Caleb caught her eye. ‘I gave him a nudge.’

The three of them chatted about Solace and its transformation, and how different it was on the island over winter without the hordes of tourists, although Caleb was well aware they were all trying to subtly keep an eye on Gem and Diego.

‘I think she’s telling him,’ Laurie whispered as she leaned closer to Belle and Caleb.

---