Page 57 of The Island of Hopes and Dreams

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Gone was any subtlety, as if he no longer cared about the consequences. He was baiting her, while proving that he was the one in control. Yet going to these lengths would be his downfall, because the amount of evidence he was providing would help her get him out of her life. Polly had been absolutely right about that. His note simmered with anger though, as if he was surprised that she’d walked away from him and hadn’t looked back, something he obviously wasn’t used to.

The more she’d got to know him, the more the ‘real’ him had become apparent. It was hard to understand how someone could thrive off control, manipulation and hurting the person they wanted to be with. Whenever a touch of humanity slipped through, something dark and twisted inside him tightened its grip. He’d shared so little about his family and she knew nothing of his childhood that the possibility of trauma somewhere in his past was highly likely. People weren’t inherently evil, were they? Something must have happened to make him want to treat the person he chose to be with so appallingly. He’d never be satisfied, he’d never find real love, he’d never be able to let go of whatever hurt he was holding on to.

Whether Jarek had somehow managed to get into her room to place the letter on the bed or he’d sweet-talked one of the hotel’s staff into leaving it there, he’d infiltrated her private space and contaminated it. She didn’t want to stay here a second longer and certainly not sleep here alone. What she needed was the company of a friend.

Taking her phone from her overnight bag, she paused before switching it on. What harm would it do when Jarek already knew where she was? She thumbed a quick message.

Which room are you in?

Lola stared at her phone. Rhys had seen the message, but he was taking a long time to reply. Although, of course, he might not reply at all. And her message was abrupt with little explanation of why she wanted to know where he was.

Lola sighed and typed another message.

I’m sorry, I’m scared and worried. Jarek left a note in my room and I can’t stay here on my own another minute.

Within seconds, he sent a reply.

The olive suite, ground floor.

Turning off her phone again and stuffing the room card in her clutch, she flew from the room. As she navigated her way downstairs, she realised her desire to see Rhys and make things right had been bubbling beneath the surface all night, yet they’d both retreated to the comfort and familiarity of their friends.

Reaching the Olive Suite, her heart pounded and she faltered before knocking.

Within seconds, the door swung open. As Lola looked at Rhys, a feeling rushed through her that took her breath away. He was still in his suit, although he’d discarded his jacket and tie, and the top couple of buttons of his shirt were undone. In the dim light of the doorway, she could make out his flushed cheeks and pursed lips. He stepped back and she slipped inside.

‘He left a letter?’ Rhys glanced at the clutch she was holding.

‘I left it in the room.’ She shook her head as the anxiety in her chest began to crack wide open again. ‘I just needed to get out of there, see a friendly face?—’

‘You mean you wouldn’t have come here unless he’d frightened you.’ Rhys folded his arms.

‘That’s what you’ve taken from me being here?’ Lola mirrored his stance. ‘Not that out of everyone, all of my friends,you’rethe person I wanted to see.’ She fought back a wave of sadness. ‘I don’t know if I’d have come here tonight if Jarek hadn’t left that note, because I was upset and angry, at you, at myself. But mostly him.’ Lola tried hard to separate the hurt from the way she felt in her heart, to find a way to put into words how she was feeling. ‘What this last couple of weeks has taught me is that I can open up to someone again; I can share my fears as much as my dreams. I can learn to trust again. You’re the reason for that, Rhys. That’s why I came here. To you.’

The expression on his face changed from confusion to openness as he ran his hand down his stubbled jaw. ‘I’m sorry, I spoke without thinking. I wanted to talk to you in the lobby before. I wanted to say sorry for taking my anger out on you. I just didn’t know what to say.’ He loosed a heavy sigh. ‘I thought the reason you kissed Valentino was because?—’

‘I know what you thought,’ Lola said firmly. She stepped towards him. ‘Valentino is not your equal; Jarek neither, far from it.Youare worth a thousand times more than him. What I did with Valentino was purely to get Jarek’s attention away from you. Not that you can’t stand up for yourself, but I didn’t want to let anything happen to someone I care about. I wanted to tell you earlier that I don’t think about Valentino in that way at all. You’re everything. But you were too angry to hear me out. You wouldn’t have listened.’

‘I’m listening now.’ His voice was rough and choked with emotion. His whole body was still, his focus on her completely, both of them standing rigidly on the threshold of his suite.

‘Then ask me to stay, Rhys. Or tell me to leave. It’s your choice.’

The note may have been the deciding factor for her seeking out Rhys, but it had been on her mind all evening how to make things right between them. She didn’t expect anything from him beyond his company, to talk and share and heal, the way they had done so easily over the last few days.

Rhys stepped closer, his eyes devouring her but in a way that suggested he was battling with something. His breath caressed her face, while her heart thudded. He reached for her hand, his fingers sliding between hers, warm and comforting yet coupled with promise and delight. When he smiled, his face lit up completely, just as it had done that first night on the jetty.

‘Lola Wild, would you like to stay the night?’

34

Rhys could have told Lola to leave; that would have been easier than risking getting hurt more than he already had, but he was fed up of giving into his worries and fears. He couldn’t let her walk away. It would have felt as if she’d be walking out of his life, as she’d be doing in just two days’ time when they got on separate flights to return to the UK. But that didn’t mean they couldn’t at least explore what was between them in the short time they had left. His earlier conversation with Zoe had played over and over throughout the evening. With her no-bullshit attitude, she’d told him some hard truths, so perhaps she was a true friend. And she was right: he’d be a fool to not fight for whatever tentative thing he and Lola had.

‘Lola Wild, would you like to stay the night?’

Her eyes were wide and for a moment it looked like she might run out of the door.

He gulped. ‘We can just chat or sit outside, have a drink, nothing more?—’

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