Page 32 of Slow Simmer

“That would be incredible,” Carlo said, astonished at the offer but not about to turn it down. He looked around, taking in the wonderful natural light and the spacious room. “Is the villa they’re filming the music video in like this? I can see why they chose it, if so.”

“They’re all different, but I believe it’s about the same size,” Nessa said, opening a massive stainless steel refrigerator and taking out a covered dish of fruit salad. “You guys want some of this? I’m starving today. Can’t stop eating.”

“I wouldn’t mind, actually,” Suzannah said, and Carlo nodded. Nessa brought out some bowls and served some for all three of them while they checked out the butler’s pantry, adding yogurt and setting a spoon beside each bowl. They took them to the marble breakfast bar at one side of the kitchen to eat, and were still sitting there talking when Jace came in.

“Hey,” Jace smiled in welcome, walking up behind Nessa and putting his arms around her waist. She leaned back against him comfortably, placing her hands over his. “Do we have everything you’ll need?”

“I think so.” Suzannah nodded. “You’ve got a pasta making attachment for your kitchen machine, which is the only thing I’d need on the day to make some fresh tagliatelle.”

“Yum,” Nessa said. “Don’t suppose I could convince you to make enough for us too?”

Suzannah laughed. “I’m used to catering for a couple of hundred, Nessa. I’m not sure Icouldmake a small enough batch of pasta to do just a couple of plates!”

“Awesome, we can be your taste-testers,” Jace said with a cheeky grin.

“The least we can do to say thanks for taking over your kitchen for the day is feed you,” Carlo put in. “I’ll make sure there are a couple extra of my mandarin chocolate bombes set aside for you.”

“And that’s why you’re my second favourite guy on this island.” Nessa gave him the thumbs-up. “Better watch your step, darling,” she said teasingly to Jace. “I might throw you over for Carlo if you don’t keep me happy.”

Jace laughed, obviously not in the least threatened. “Nessa is the lowest-maintenance woman I’ve ever met,” he said, nuzzling at his fiancée’s ear. “I can’t even spoil her because there’s nothing she really wants.”

“Doesn’t stop you trying,” Nessa said dryly. Lifting one slim leg, she pointed at her ankle. “He gave me that the other day. A six-month anniversary present.”

Suzannah was pretty sure the anklet glimmering bright against Nessa’s dark skin was platinum and real diamonds. She made suitably impressed noises, but Nessa wasn’t really listening, just gazing up at Jace, both of them perfectly in tune to each other to the point they’d obviously forgotten Carlo and Suzannah were even present.

We were like that once. Suzannah sneaked a glance at Carlo, who was looking down into his empty bowl, a frown furrowing his brow.Until I left.

She was still reeling from the bombshell revelation that Carlo wasn’t the eldest son, wasn’t the heir. He’d never really talked about his family, and she’d assumed it was because he didn’t want to rub her nose in the vast gulf between their social stations. When his parents turned up in Paris, they’d done the job for him.

“I think we should leave the two lovebirds alone,” Carlo leaned towards her to murmur, and Suzannah nodded. They’d seen what they needed to.

“We’ll get out of your way,” she said, getting up, and both Jace and Nessa startled.

“Sorry,” Jace said, but he looked unrepentant. “I’d invite you to stay, but the reality is I totally want you to leave so I can take Nessa back to bed.”

Nessa burst out laughing, and Suzannah blushed. Carlo was grinning, reaching out to shake Jace’s hand.

“Say no more. We’ve got work to do, anyway. Thanks for letting us take a look around, and for letting us stage out of the kitchen, of course.”

Jace waved a hand dismissively. “It’s nothing. It all benefits the resort, anyway. Just let me know if there’s anything else you need.”

They thanked him again and took their leave. Getting back into the golf buggy outside, Suzannah started driving back to the main resort, but as they passed a side track, suddenly swerved onto it.

“Where does this go?” Carlo asked.

“Somewhere we can talk.”

“Sounds like a good plan,” he said dryly. “Long overdue, if you ask me. I have some questions I’d like answered.”

Suzannah winced. She could guess what at least one of them might be, and she wasn’t sure she had an answer for him, not one which would make sense in hindsight, anyway. Her walkout all those years ago seemed like the action of a petulant child when she thought about it now.

The track ended behind a low sand dune, and they left the cart to climb over the dune and down onto the secluded beach below, a small cove fringed with rocky outcroppings on either side. There was nobody else in sight.

Removing her shoes, Suzannah sighed with pleasure as her feet sank into the fine, powdery sand, so pale it was almost white. Warm in the late afternoon sun, it clung to her skin as she walked towards the shade cast by several large palm trees nodding over the beach. Carlo followed her silently, sitting down beside her when she stopped walking and cast herself down on the sand.

“Nice spot,” he said, looking out at the water, aqua close to the shore, a deeper blue further out where the reef fell away to deeper waters.

“I come here to think, sometimes,” Suzannah admitted. “It’s very tranquil. Quiet.”

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