“It took a while. The government didn’t want to sell it to me—they already had plans for a casino and a resort complex. And there were others who were opposed—who thought my plans for the island would keep it too isolated to be of any value.”
“But they were wrong.”
“Who knows what’s right or wrong in this life? I think the island is beyond value.” His smile twisted. “But there are those who would disagree, who would tell you that living here, in such a primitive setting, away from everything else…”
His voice faded away just as the sun fell behind the horizon. Jennifer looked at him, at the downward curve of his mouth, and she knew that he was talking about his wife.
“Roarke?” She drew a deep breath. “When you bought the island—did you know then how your wife felt about it?”
He came to a stop, so sudden and abrupt that she almost stumbled.
“What kind of question is that?”
The harshness in his voice stung her. She couldn’t see his face clearly, now that the sun was almost gone, but she knew how it must look: cold, hard, unyielding.
“I just—I wondered how—I mean, Constancia said—”
She broke off, swallowing her words, wishing she had thought before she’d spoken.
“Constancia’s turning into an old woman who has nothing better to do than gossip. What did she tell you?”
“Nothing. Well, just that your wife didn’t like the island.”
His laughter was without humor. “An understatement. She despised it.”
“And that you and she—that you’re divorced.”
“Yes, we are. We have been for more than two years—” He drew a breath, then spoke in a cold voice. “Is there anything else you want to know?”
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I—I didn’t mean to pry.”
“I have no wish to discuss Alexandra,” he said grimly. “Do I make myself clear?”
Jennifer nodded. Roarke’s gaze swept over her face and then he groaned and drew her to him.
“Forgive me,” he said softly.
“No. I mean, you have every right to—”
“I just don’t want to talk about
her. I don’t—I don’t want to spoil things. When I’m with you…”
Jennifer put her fingers over his mouth.
“You don’t have to explain.”
He clasped her hand and kissed it.
And as they walked back toward the house, Jennifer thought of what Constancia had told her, that whatever had existed between Roarke and his wife wasn’t over yet.
She would be a fool to let herself fall in love with him.
Because she knew it was already happening. She was already—
Jennifer caught her breath. Roarke drew her more tightly into the curve of his arm. “What is it?”
“Nothing. Just—I felt a chill, that’s all.”