Page 7 of Fighting Fate

“Where were you all night, then? I assumed when your bed hadn’t been slept in that you’d hooked up with someone?”

“Nah. I ended up on the beach feeling sorry for myself, crying most of the night.” Rosie hugged her knees. “And then the weirdest thing happened.”

“Yeah?” Pulling her legs up onto the bed, Jill sprawled out comfortably and fixed Rosie with an interrogative stare. “Spill all, then.”

“This guy - this really, really hot guy - was running on the beach and he must have heard me crying. Came over to see if I was alright. I ended up spilling my guts to him and then he asked me out to dinner.”

Jill’s eyebrows flew almost up to her hairline. “Say what?”

“And I said yes.”

“Rosanna Brown!”

She smiled guiltily. “I’m meeting him at the dock later, we’re going to get the boat over to Hamilton Island and eat there.”

Jill whistled between her teeth. “Wow, when you decide to jump out of your comfort zone you don’t do things by half measures, do you?”

“C’mon, I’ll be perfectly safe. I’m going to book us in to that nice pizza place by the harbour, and I’ll tell the boat pilot if I’m not on the last boat back, to raise the alarm.”

“Still, a complete stranger? And a resort guest to boot?” Jill shook her head. “You know I won’t tell on you, but…”

“Even if someone does see me and tattle to Luke, I’m pretty sure he’ll be inclined to cut me a fair bit of slack at the moment,” Rosie pointed out dryly. “Quite apart from the fact that I intend to hand in my notice as soon as I’ve found another job elsewhere.”

Jill's jaw dropped, and she stared in silence for a long moment, obviously putting two and two together to make five. “Oh, Rosie,” she said at last, the words soft. “Really?”

“It’s a catch-22, and you know it. How many times have we both bemoaned the limited dating pool here? And I’m even more constrained than you because almost every staff member on the island reports directly to me. If I want any chance at a serious relationship, I need to get out of my comfort zone long term, get out there and look.”

Huffing out a breath, Jill shook her head, but her expression was understanding. “It’s a big step,” she said finally. “Maybe I should leave too.”

“If you’re doing it for your own reasons, fair enough, but don’t you dare do it because you think I need a babysitter!” Rosie waggled a finger at her best friend, and Jill laughed.

“I’ll think about it,” she said. “Where are you going to look? Elsewhere on the Reef?”

“Any other island resort would put me back in the exact same situation,” Rosie shook her head. “Port Douglas or Cairns, maybe. Brisbane. Sydney.”

“Big city living? Can’t see you enjoying that.”

“Won’t know until I’ve tried it. And hey, if I meet the right guy, we could end up back on the Reef in a few years.”

In her heart of hearts, Rosie knew she’d never be truly happy anywhere but the tropical north of Australia, where she’d spent her whole life. Still, she was willing to give other places a try.

“Might even give Hawaii a go, if I could get a working visa for the States,” she mused.

“Or a cruise ship?” Jill suggested.

“Maybe.” That had possibilities, too. She’d contact a firm she often used in Brisbane to headhunt staff in the hospitality and tourism industries for the resort, ask them to keep an eye out for some likely positions for herself. “Right now I want to get some sleep before I go out with Adam this evening, so if you wouldn’t mind buggering off, that’d be awesome.”

“Adam, is that your hot stranger’s name?” Jill gave her an inquisitive eyebrow waggle, and Rosie poked her with a foot.

“Yes, it is. I’ll fill you in more tomorrow, I promise.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” Jill warned before scrambling over to give her an unexpected hug. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out the way you hoped with Luke, hon,” she said into Rosie’s ear.

Rosie hung on tight for a moment, her eyes stinging again. “I’m sure it’s all for the best,” she made herself say.

“You hang onto that thought.” Jill pulled back, tucked a strand of wet hair behind Rosie’s ear, sharp eyes searching her face. “You deserve to be happy, hon. You really do, and I’m sure Mr Right isn’t too far away. He’s out there searching for you too, promise.”

“Well, I hope he hurries the hell up,” Rosie grumbled. “He’s late!”

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