Page 14 of Slow Simmer

“It didn’t take me long to discover Nessa’s the best bartender on the island. Oh, hi Jill.” Carlo’s eyes finally slid past her to Jill, but cut almost instantly back to Suzannah again. “It’s a surprise to seeyouhere, actually.” His gaze dropped only briefly, but she knew he’d taken in every detail of her swimsuit, a very modest black one-piece which revealed less than any other woman at the poolside except Nessa, who wore her work polo shirt and shorts.

She didn’t even own a bikini, and suddenly she was wondering if she could find one she liked in the resort boutiques. Giving herself a stern mental shake, she frowned at Carlo.

“I’ve been busy.”

“Well, you know what they say. All work and no play makes Suzannah a workaholic.”

“I am not a workaholic!” she denied hotly, and was shocked to hear Jill and Nessa chorus in unison;

“Yes, you are.”

“What?” She whipped her head round, giving each of them in turn a betrayed look. “You two are supposed to be my friends!”

“And friends point out when friends are working too hard,” Jill said dryly. “When was the last time you left the island, Suzannah?”

She had to stop and think about it. After a moment she snapped her fingers triumphantly. “I went to that new winery opening last month!”

“That wasthreemonths ago,” Nessa said, “and Edouard, Luke and I were there too. It was a work trip. We visited three wineries, a boutique brewery, and two organic fruit farms. All in two days, and all because you wanted to check out their produce for the island.” She raised her eyebrows at Suzannah. “We never stopped working. You even selected the restaurants we ate at to check out the competition.”

Suzannah frowned. “Three months? Really?”

“Really, and it doesn’t count as a break.” Nessa leaned her elbows on the bar and looked Suzannah in the eye. “Friend to friend, I’m telling you, you’ve been working too hard, and it started long before you fired Vicky.”

She didn’t like hearing it, and she especially didn’t like knowing Carlo was sitting beside her listening to every word. “Noted,” she said crisply. “Now could you please stop lecturing me and pour me another drink? And since it’s my day off, you could put a shot of rum in the next one.”

“Done.” Satisfied that Suzannah had listened, Nessa turned away and within moments was setting down a tall, frosted glass before her. “Enjoy. One for you too, Carlo?”

“Yes, but make mine a virgin. Unlike Suzannah, I’ve got to go back to the kitchen.” Carlo smiled warmly.

Jill sighed from Suzannah’s other side. “Sadly, I’m back on duty in an hour. We’ve got a conference starting tomorrow and most of the delegates are coming in on a charter flight to Hamilton this afternoon.” Setting her empty glass down on the bar, she rose to her feet. “Catch you guys later!”

“Later,” Suzannah said, watching Jill walk away. She glanced quickly at Carlo, fully expecting him to be appreciating Jill’s neat figure from the back, especially in the hot-pink bikini Jill was sporting, but Carlo’s eyes were firmly fixed on her. “What?” she asked, a little uncomfortable under his scrutiny.

“You’re happy here.”

It was a statement, not a question. Not quite understanding his meaning, Suzannah frowned. “Yes, I’m happy. I’ve been here three years now, madeLa Sirèneinto the restaurant of my dreams…”

“I'm not talking about the restaurant. Stop thinking about work for just a moment, will you?” He smiled to take the sting from the words. “I’m talking about you. You were never much for friendships, back in the day, but here, you seem to have a lot of people you’re close with. Everyone smiles when they talk about you.”

“They do?”

“Indeed. Your staff are in awe of you, of course - Julie might actually believe you can walk on water.”

Suzannah smiled a bit at that. “She’s going to be a superstar one day. We’re lucky to have her.”

Carlo nodded in agreement. “It’s outside the restaurant staff where your friends are, though. Nessa thinks the world of you.” He tilted his head towards the diminutive bartender, currently shaking a cocktail for a customer at the other end of the bar with her distinctive flair. “Olivia told me that you were her roomie when she first arrived on the island, and how kind and supportive you were. Lucy, that sweet marine biologist who’s married to the dive instructor, said you went out of her way to make her wedding cake yourself - even though youhada competent pastry chef then - and…”

“Stop.” Suzannah held up her hand. “You’d have done exactly the same thing.”

“Without pay?”

“She and Bryce are my friends.” As far as Suzannah was concerned, that was all that needed to be said.

“That’s my point, exactly! You and I were at school together for two years and lived together for another one, and in all that time, I don’t think I could name one person who you’d really call a friend. Yet here, you have so many! This place is good for you, Suzannah.” He looked earnest as he leaned towards her. “You might be working too hard, but it’s still good to see you looking so well and happy, and with friends who obviously care about you.”

She didn’t know what to say. Carlo seemed absolutely sincere, his eyes intent on her face. Finally she nodded. “This feels more like home to me than Paris ever was,” she admitted. “Though it can get pretty unbearably hot when summer comes, I don’t think I’d ever want to go back to living in a cold climate. I haven’t seen snow in five years and you have no idea how happy that makes me!”

She tried to make a joke of it, and Carlo chuckled, the low, sensuous sound that still made goosebumps pop up on her arms, all these years later. Moving quickly, hoping he didn’t notice her reaction, she jumped up to her feet.

“Anyway, I came down here for a swim and I haven’t had one yet. See you later!”

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