Finding You (Finding You Series Book 1) (3 page)

“Yes, please. I’ll have a vodka and lemonade, thank you.” Alcohol had never been high on my list of priorities, especially since I had been on the receiving end of its wrath on many occasions. Somehow though, being so far away from my woes, I felt the need to celebrate my new beginning.

Ramah went away, leaving me to settle in and enjoy the ambience. The dance floor and jukebox were in one corner and the food tables were in the other. The food looked delicious with copious amounts constantly being brought out to keep up with the increasing number of arrivals. Everyone appeared to be in good spirits, which rubbed off on me. For the first time ever, I felt electric.

A full array of meats, tropical fruits, and vegetables filled the tables, so I decided to try a little of everything. It wasn’t long before my plate was sky high with food.

Demolishing my mound of food as I people-watched, a group of rowdy people entered the restaurant, causing everyone to see what all the commotion was. American accents cavorted rambunctiously as the strangers laughed and fooled around. They sailed over to a table not too far from mine and sat down. Smoke instantly wafted over into the nonsmoking area, causing me to cough, which really defeated the whole purpose of having a nonsmoking area since I could still inhale the fumes. I didn’t like to ask to be moved though as the restaurant was filling up fast.

Ramah brought another vodka and lemonade that I could feel going straight to my head. It was a great kind of giddy, though.

Taking in the hustle and bustle of the busy restaurant, my eyes fixated on one of the Americans. He had a brown buzz cut atop small ears. His face was boyishly cute with a golden brown tan. He was engrossed in a conversation with his friends and was waving his hands around in a demonstrative manner every time he spoke. His delicately chiseled cheek bones stood proud and high above his soft, pink lips. He was beautiful.

I sat fascinated by his antics. Stifling a snicker, I tried to guess what he was saying. With the din of fellow diners it was impossible. It didn’t matter though because his gloriously handsome face was enough. The more I drank in his captivating looks the more the raucous chattering from the restaurant seemed to fade into the background. As if his beauty wasn’t staggering enough, the enchanting green aura surrounding him filled me with a sense of peace and tranquility unlike anything I’d ever known. The color was captivating. No words could describe how I felt in that long moment until my brain started its own conversation, telling me that he was a man and men spelled danger. I quickly looked away, cross with myself for staring.

Why then did I feel so compelled to look up for a sneak peek again?

Maybe just a little look, you naughty girl.

My heart started doing flutters. Not little, teeny ladybird flutters but massive, crushing albatross flutters that were wreaking havoc with my insides. It felt weird. There was something unique about him that defied explanation. He was very appealing, despite looking younger than me and yet at the same time he appeared to be older, beyond his years.

His powerful energy seemed to have found its way to my table, captivating me like a magic spell.

I sat riveted to my chair as if my backside was nailed into the wood, taking in all his perfect features, unable to believe I was sitting, rudely gaping at a stranger for way too long. As a child, my mother had repeatedly chastised me for staring at others. This was different, though. He was breathtaking. Every cell in my body came alive.

Frequently, he’d half turn his face around, revealing more of his face. He looked as totally at ease with his peers as they were with him. Who were all those people?

Maybe it was family, although the resemblances were nonexistent. No, it definitely wasn’t family. Business associates, perhaps? Damn, curiosity was eating at me now. I had to know.

I really did try to tear my eyes away, but every time they would flit back over to see what he was doing.

Don’t you dare look at him, you glutton for punishment! Haven’t you learnt your lesson yet?

Smitten with the man in front of me, trying to resist all that was practical and logical, I had a strong feeling our paths were going to cross again. There was something summoning me to him that defied anything reasonable and sane. He felt magnetic, drawing me in by sheer force. He was stirring something unfamiliar in me. He had my complete attention.

When his associate finished talking he laughed his head off and then turned and looked directly at me with a big smile on his face. It was as if he had known all along that I had been gaping at him and he had been politely waiting for his friend to finish her sentence before he acknowledged that he was onto me. How darn embarrassing! I felt my already hot cheeks flush some more.

Swiftly, I was aware of the bluest eyes imaginable. Eyes that held so much life that they resembled a deep, blue ocean. They burned into me, momentarily stopping my breath.

He smiled a perfect white-toothed, “I had braces when I was a kid,” smile that lit up his whole face.

I had to look away before the situation became awkward.

Why did I stare for so long?
You complete idiot! How rude! He’s going to think you’re some weird stalker.

I chastised myself for not utilizing my good manners. Sitting at the table like an open target I could still sense the penetrating, intense stare of him on me. Looking up again, our eyes locked for a brief moment and in that second it was like I was drowning. The other half of who I truly was. A sense of knowing this person in another lifetime. It was only very brief but enough to rock me to the core. It passed over me like a gentle wave before nerves took hold. He still had a smirk on his face and this time I managed a half smile before focusing on my still mountainous plate of food. Feeling the full throes of the cat and mouse game left me somewhat vulnerable. My table suddenly felt so open that I wished I could crawl under it and hide. As I sheepishly fumbled with the button on my shorts pocket, it did nothing to quell the multiplying butterflies invading my body.

Where was a fringe to hide under when you needed it?

Aware of his presence, I couldn’t help but look over again and again. He would pretend to be talking to his friends and turn to lock eyes with me. His face was the most superb thing I had ever seen. It almost looked too perfect. He’d captured me.

The minutes ticked away. The remains of my dinner was getting cold. My body tingled at the mere sight of him. What was happening? I needed to slink away somewhere quiet to compose myself.

Escaping to the bathroom seemed like the only option to conjure up some rational thoughts and stop the hammering of my heart. Even as I detoured the longest way possible to the restroom, I knew he was looking at me. I could feel his eyes like targeted laser beams.

He must be looking at me out of sympathy. He’s probably wondering why the poor forlorn-looking woman has no friends. After all, he seems to have plenty!

It was certainly a new experience, gaining the attention of a handsome stranger. I’d met John at school years before we became an item. Back then though I’d been a little bit desperate. Okay, a lot desperate. All of my friends had hooked up with their sweethearts and were either engaged or married so I had yearned for the same security. After accepting John’s offer to go on a date, he’d manipulated me into seeing him more and more. He’d had a way of doing that. Before long he’d made his way into my bed and the rest was history.

Forcing the heavy bathroom door open, my thoughts morphed to the mouthwatering American. His eyes differed from John’s. I felt joy looking into them, not terror. His face shone when he’d smiled, not contorted into a sinful, demonic picture of pure evil. How could the two even compare?

If my mother were here now she would be begging me to forget about him and just concentrate on the rest of my holiday. I wanted more than anything to do that but he was in my thoughts now and there was no stopping it.

On my way out, I quickly looked in the mirror. My cheeks really couldn’t have reddened any more than they were in that moment. A mixture of sunburn and embarrassment was not a good combination. My hair shimmered like a glistening millpond on a lively summer’s day. John had continuously called me ugly but I was starting to wonder if he was a very reliable source. His whole world was ugly. I would never go back to that.

Tidying up my hair a little, it was time to go back out and face the Adonis.

Scoping the entire restaurant, I was disappointed, to say the least. The group had gone. New diners had already filled their spot and were ordering. It was like the herding of cattle. Next!

Well, it was either stay and attempt to finish the food on my plate or quietly slink out into the night and sleep off my displeasure. I opted for the latter.

Tossing and turning in bed, my mind was alive with thoughts and images of the brown-haired, blue-eyed guy who had tweaked my interest.

Why would he even be interested in me?
Just because he had smiled at me didn’t mean anything. Could I have been any more gullible? Could I have read into something that just wasn’t there? Am I so desperate and needy that I’ve mistaken a simple smile for something more? A man so attractive would certainly have a girlfriend.

She’s a lucky person, whoever she is. I wonder if she knows how blessed she is? Then again, being in the twenty-first century, maybe she is a he. That would be a definite waste. Will I see him again? How long will he be on the island?

These were all questions that couldn’t be answered, so finally after a lot of tossing and turning, sleep overcame me
.

Chapter Two

Dakota

As my eyes opened, I expected to be back in Australia waking up at my parents’ house, hoping with all my might that this day would be better than the last.

The roar of the ocean thankfully squashed that notion as I kicked the disheveled bedspread down to the bottom of the bed and almost skipped to the window, the first official day of my holiday beginning. Relief swept over me.

Hearing a loud gurgle emanate from my stomach, the first order of the day was to eat breakfast. Even after stuffing my face at the restaurant prior to the Americans’ arrival the night before, I felt like I was on the verge of starvation.

Ramah had left a breakfast hamper in the kitchen with a small jug of milk in the fridge. Bless her! I relished the idea of not having to cook anything. Slaving over a hot stove for John and then being told the food tasted like garbage had nearly worn me down as much as the beatings. It was nice to be pampered for a change. I could get used to not having to lift a finger.

The air inside the hut was infused with the scent of the salty spray softly blowing in from the ocean. There was something incredibly grounding about the ocean and all the smells and sensations that came with it. The gentle ebb and pull of the tide filled me with peace.

It was going to be a warm day so I put on my second and only other pair of shorts and a bikini top before taking breakfast out to the balcony.

After devouring the cereal and a blueberry muffin, then washing it down with a glass of milk, I locked the hut and headed down onto the sand for a walk. It was a perfect morning. Others were already strolling along the beach, enjoying the serenity and beauty of Sapphire Island.

A little way down the beach I noticed the same group of people standing around that had been there yesterday afternoon. Curiosity got the better of me.

Loud voices boomed like thunder, squashing the tranquility. Large cameras were set up, and as soon as I got close enough it became evident that they were filming something. Not wanting to interrupt, I settled on a spot that was out of everyone’s way, yet close enough to see. A male actor yielding a sword stood in a fencing pose about to enter a duel with another. The director yelled, “Action!”

Acting or not, these two were good. Professional fencers, if I didn’t know better. Each had a hand on their hips, prancing around from left to right, raising and lowering their swords in perfect opposition.

Their lithe, muscled bodies proved a distraction as I narrowed in on two sets of taut, rounded buttocks, swathed in black. Damn! What the hell was wrong with me? When had I become so desperate? Or was the Universe purposely dangling a carrot in front of me to test my will?

My eyes settled on one man in particular who exuded an air of grace. I let out a small gasp and felt my eyes pop as I sat up straighter, my heels digging into the soft sand.

My heart jumped. Actually it galloped. I was caught off guard. The toned picture of perfection I’d been eying up was the Adonis from the restaurant. The one who had smiled at me and looked right into me. The one with the beautiful green aura. The one I had gone to bed thinking of. The one who would undoubtedly have absolutely no interest in me, romantically or otherwise.

Shit! He’s an actor!

My heart sank. He was way out of my league. Suddenly, sitting there, I felt small and insignificant. He could have any woman in the world and probably already had. Just because he’d caught my eye last night didn’t mean we were going to meet and have a meaningful conversation. Not even a day had passed and already feelings of disappointment were shadowing my holiday. Old habits died hard. I should have listened to the voices in my head. It was my subconscious trying to warn me. How stupid to think that I could attract anyone so handsome in the first place. That notion had always been meant to end in disappointment.

Well, that was that then! There was nothing more to think about. From now on, I would put him out of my mind for good and accept the fact that he was in a world miles away from my own.

Turning my back, I shuffled down to the water’s edge, kicking sand in frustration, hoping the soothing feel of the waves on my feet would cheer me up and help wash away some of my gloom. I mentally chastised myself for feeling down on what was meant to be a holiday to celebrate my new life.

Forget about him. You’re living in a fantasy world. You have to rely on yourself now.

Standing in the ankle deep water, I stared out to sea and let my mind slip away with the tide. Writing would cheer me up. My creative juices were yearning to escape. Writing was cathartic for me. It was a way of letting go. I needed an outlet and that was it. Many tears had been shed writing the first book as deep-seated emotions had been brought to the surface, but upon penning the final paragraph an unbearable burden had eased. A weight had been lifted.

Taking one last look back, I resignedly walked away from the movie set. It almost appeared that the handsome actor had seen me but as he shouted out one of his lines I realized that he’d been too engrossed in the movie to even know that I had been there.

Coffee was to be my comfort. A triple shot should do the trick. I made my way to the resort restaurant. While I waited at the counter, Ramah spotted me and came over to say hello.

“Dakota! How are you enjoying the island so far?”

“Hi, Ramah. It’s beautiful. I’ve just been for a walk along the beach and I plan to sit in the sun and write for a while.” No point in letting the kind woman in on my overzealous imagination about meeting the too-cute actor. Somehow, though, Ramah read my mind.

“Did you run into the cast of the pirate movie down on the beach?” Her eyes drilled into me.

“Well, yes, but I didn’t stay for long as everyone was busy and I felt like an intruder.” That part was true.

“Oh nonsense. That Kyle Rutherford is a lovely fellow. He’s the lead actor in the movie. He was actually here last night. You may have noticed?” She failed at trying to sound casual.

I swallowed my embarrassment and looked to the ground. “Uh yeah. I didn’t know who he was until I saw him on the set earlier.”

Another big disappointment! Get over it, Dakota.

With a glisten in her eye, Ramah spoke in hushed tones so no one else could hear. “You just never know what might happen. You’re both young and attractive and happen to be staying on one of the most romantic islands in the world.” Attractive was a word that I hadn’t been called for what seemed like eons and even then it had only been said by my parents who were more than a little biased. It was hard to believe anyone else saw me as that.

I shrugged, flippantly. “I can’t really see it happening. His world is a little different to mine and he probably has a hundred women falling at his feet. I’m not going to give it another thought.” I sounded doubtful even in my own mind as memories of that dazzling smile clouded my judgment.

Silence marked my uncertainty.

Ramah let the conversation end at that, although I could tell she wasn’t totally happy with my answer. She went back to her duties.

When the coffee was finally ready, I was glad to leave and enjoy the day.

Grabbing a big pile of paper and some pens, I sat on the sand out in front of the hut, opting to stay close to my new home. After my stint in the sun yesterday, I needed the shade from the palm trees to avoid a repeat episode.

Words and phrases came to mind so I jotted them down as they came to me, in between recharging with coffee and watching the waves rolling in to the shore. Apart from the two children that played a little way down, the beach was deserted, enabling no distractions.

The day rushed by and before I knew it the sun was just beginning to set over the horizon. I had been so engrossed in outlining my story that I hadn’t even eaten lunch.

The fiery red ball looked exquisite as it changed color. I put my pen and paper down, hypnotized by the magical beauty that engulfed the sky and unaware that anyone had approached.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” the stranger interrupted, startling me like a wild bird. God, I was edgy!

Spinning around, I nearly died from shock to see who was standing about a foot away, seeming even more staggering up close. The green swirls were now mixed with splashes of pink. My heart fluttered. It was the actor with the to-die-for smile. He was calmly standing beside me, waiting for an intelligent answer. Where was a black hole when you needed it?

“Uh, yes it is.”

Come on, you can do better than that! You’re a writer, for crying out loud!

For a minute there was an awkward silence and then he flippantly sat down, coincidentally, much too close.

His arm brushed against mine, sending a shock of electricity through me. He must have felt it too because we both recoiled and looked at each other for the first time, close up.

He took my breath away. Those eyes! God, those eyes had me hypnotized. I felt like a deer in headlights, unable to move. What was my name again and where was I? My mind started screaming at me to get it together and act like an adult and not some star struck teen.

Dragging my eyes south, I noticed he’d changed out of his pirate costume and was now wearing a white cotton tee shirt that showed off his well-toned arms and a black pair of tailored shorts with a matching belt. My eyes flitted to his sculptured calf muscles. They rose and fell in all the right places. He smelt of fresh after shave and I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d splashed some on before coming to see me.

“I saw you come by the set today. You looked nice. I’m sorry, but I couldn’t come and say hello because we had to get that scene finished. I remember you from the restaurant last night.”

I nearly choked and could feel my cheeks heating up fast. I had to stop myself from giggling like a three-year-old.

I sat there with my mouth open, in a look of disbelief and awe that this object of my sudden desire was sitting beside me, giving me a compliment. I looked nice? What did nice mean? Was it nice as in being friendly or was it
nice
, nice? “Actually. I lied. You didn’t look nice.”

Shit! Go on. Tell me how ugly I looked. I’m used to it. How could I have thought any differently?

I pulled away from the sanctity of his eyes, ready for the letdown.

“You looked fantastic! I don’t know where you appeared from, but I haven’t seen you before. I’ve been filming on the island for around two months. Have you just arrived?”

What the hell? Was I being punked? Had someone paid him to come talk to me?

“I arrived yesterday.” It came out a little curt as I scanned the area around me for someone lurking in the bushes.

When my eyes settled on Kyle he was looking at me strangely, probably wondering what I was searching for. I thought he was going to ask me what I was doing but instead he said, “It’s a welcome relief to see a pretty girl around here.”

I physically pinched myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. “Yes. I recognize you from dinner last night, too. My name is Dakota Livingston.” I held out my hand for him to shake while trying to mentally stop it from shuddering. I might as well try and be nice, seeing as though he was being polite.

As our hands met, electricity sizzled between our fingers, as it had when our arms touched. I caught the intensity of his blue eyes and felt like I was frozen in time. The only things visible at that point were those dark-lashed orbs of heaven. The rest of the island had vanished. Something moved and shifted inside of me and I wasn’t sure if it was my heart or my soul. Maybe it was both.

“It’s nice to meet you, Dakota, my name is Kyle. Kyle Rutherford.” He spoke gently, with his unbelievable smile lighting up his face. The set of straight, white teeth were blinding.

I nervously attempted my own version of a smile as our hands shook and even after the formalities finished it took a few seconds for him to pull away. I felt faint, his empowering energy next to me.

“So, Dakota. Is that an Australian accent I detect?”

“Yes, it is.” My mind went blank after that. Whether it was because I was just a little bit star struck or because he was so breathtaking, I wasn’t sure, but I needed to get my act together, fast.

“What’s an Australian woman doing with an American name?”

Here we go again! Okay, this is like a script I’ve got memorized and don’t have to think about, nerves or not.

I chuckled, proceeding to tell the story for the hundredth time. “I was born in North Dakota so my parents called me Dakota as sort of a tribute to the place they fell in love with. They hope to return one day, as do I.” That was definitely the shortened version.

“Well, Dakota, you look amazing, and I must say when I saw you down on the beach earlier today, I couldn’t keep my eyes off you. I actually forgot my lines a couple of times,” he offered playfully.

As he spoke, his blue eyes drilled into me and I suddenly found myself staring just as intently back, drawn in by some invisible force. His words challenged me to believe them for they couldn’t possibly be true. How? Why? I couldn’t be worthy of such endearments. I struggled to comprehend what I was hearing as his low, masculine voice caressed me.