Page 28 of Fighting Fate

“You like him.” Nessa tilted her head slightly, studying Rosie briefly before she returned her gaze to the track. “You’re practically glowing, and not just because you’ve been walking in the sun. Morning-after embarrassment is all very well, hon, but I hope you didn’t just run out on him.”

Rosie winced slightly. Nessa was much too perceptive. “Not exactly,” she equivocated. “I left a note.”

“Rosie!”

“It’s not going anywhere, no matter how much I like him!” she defended herself. “He doesn’t live here. It’s just a fling.”

She could hear the wistfulness in her own voice, so it was hardly a surprise that Nessa picked up on it. Her friend cast her a disbelieving look as she pulled the golf cart into the small parking area beside the resort’s main service doors.

“You know what,” Nessa said, “even if it is just a fling, that doesn’t mean you have to actively sabotage it before it’s run its course. Seize the day, hon. You never know how things might turn out.”

Rosie just didn’t know what to say to that. Nessa was the same age as she was, but sometimes seemed a hundred years older in experience, with the wisdom she came out with. On the other hand, Nessa was engaged to a literal billionaire, a man she’d originally had a ‘fling’ with, and it had somehow developed into love. So maybe she was onto something.

After all, Rosie had already concluded that she couldn’t stay on Sunfish. And Adam was going to be living in Sydney, he’d mentioned that he planned to head there next while he worked out exactly what he was going to with his life, since he had a friend running an MMA gym there who’d invited him to come and teach some advanced students. So maybe if Rosie could find a job in Sydney… maybe she and Adam might have a chance after all.

“Thanks for the ride,” she said aloud, hopping out of the golf cart. “I gotta run. Need a shower and change before I go to work.”

“Call him and say you’re sorry you ran out on him!” was Nessa’s parting shot as Rosie scurried away.

She would. Well, she’d text him, when she got a minute. And the other thing she was going to do today was call the headhunter agency with offices in Brisbane and Sydney, she often used to find experienced new staff for the resort. Tell her contact there that she herself was looking for a new position, preferably in Sydney, and ask what they might have for her.

CHAPTER TWELVE

ADAM set out straight away once he realised Rosie was gone, but he didn’t find her on the track back to the resort, and had to assume she’d either taken a shortcut he didn’t know about or hitched a ride. He was debating going to the front desk and asking where he might find her - and guessing they wouldn’t tell him, not to mention start gossiping about Rosie behind her back - when his phone pinged in his pocket.

Hey, I’m sorry I ran out on you. Felt suddenly awkward - not your fault - but I really did have to get to work. Dinner tonight? The Asian fusion bar does takeout. I can bring some over to your place?

He didn’t think twice before texting back. I’d love that. I’ll see you when you’re ready.

Feeling at somewhat of a loose end, and not understanding why - he’d been perfectly content in solitude until Rosie crashed into his life - Adam spent the day wandering around the island, exploring. It was a beautiful place, and not difficult at all to see why Rosie loved it so much. He visited the marine biology centre and watched with fascination as one of the staff experts gave a stingray feeding demonstration to a group of riveted resort guests. Eating lunch in a sandwich bar in the main resort, he wandered on and came across a stunning pool, quiet in the early afternoon heat. There was a bar beside the pool with a swim-up area on one side and open seating on the other, a single customer sitting on a stool chatting with the bartender the only other people in sight.

A cool drink would be pretty good, Adam thought, and headed over to take one of the other stools at the bar. The other customer, a fair-haired man of around his own age, glanced over with a welcoming nod. Adam nodded back, seeing the flare of recognition in the other man’s eyes and bracing himself to be social, but the blond just nodded and looked back at his drink.

He’s oddly familiar. Where have I seen him before? The guy wasn’t part of the MMA world, Adam was pretty sure; maybe he was an actor or something?

“What can I get you?” The bartender had moved in front of him; a pretty Black woman with waist-length hair in tight braids, she flashed him a bright smile as she spoke with a distinct English accent.

“Something long and cool - virgin, please.”

The guy on the other bar stool laughed into his drink, and the bartender shook her head, chuckling like it was an in-joke between the two of them. “Virgin fruit punch coming right up. Jace, stop it, you’ll give the man a complex.”

And with that, Adam suddenly placed the guy. “You’re Jace Hunter,” he said, surprised. It wasn’t every day you sat down next to a billionaire, after all.

“Guilty as charged, and you’re Adam Gillespie.” Jace didn’t offer a hand to shake, but he did lift his glass in salute. “Didn’t realise we had a sports superstar as a resort guest.”

“I’m staying at a friend’s villa, not at the resort,” Adam said, picking up the glass the bartender set in front of him and nodding his thanks.

“Welcome to Sunfish, then,” the bartender said.

“Let me introduce you - this is my fiancée, Nessa,” Jace said.

“Pleased to meet you,” Adam said, and then the penny dropped. “Wait a minute. You own this place, don’t you?”

“For my sins.” Jace’s smile was crooked.

Nessa laughed. “Don’t let him fool you. He bloody loves Sunfish.”

“Can’t imagine why,” Adam said dryly, letting his gaze rove around the idyllic scenery. “Such a hardship, waking up to a view like this every day. Such suffering. Must be dreadful for you.”

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