Bliss. She sank down, letting the current play out her hair, letting the water refresh her. It was magic. Nobody could see her, nobody could bother her. It was like having her own private beach.
Oh yes. There were definitely compensations for having to stay on Kallista for a few weeks. The climb back was definitely the exercise she needed, and Sophie arrived breathless, hot but definitely more relaxed for the exercise. She patted her forehead with her towel as she slid open the door to her room, only to find someone already there.
‘Well well, look what the cat dragged in.’
The man was on the other side of her bed, the side where she knew she’d left her handbag. He straightened and she got the impression of bulk and power; his arms were muscled, his hands curling and uncurling at his sides. A thief, here on Kallista? Daniel had said there were none. But it was the look in his eyes, the long, leery stare from top to toe, that made her shiver and suddenly feel fearful for Millie. Where was she? How had he got past her? ‘Who are you?’
‘So you’re Fletcher’s sister?’
She bristled, pulling the knot in her sarong tighter, the scent of stale cigarette-smoke hitting her nostrils. She didn’t appreciate being so clearly at a disadvantage, and had no intention of answering his question if he wouldn’t answer hers. ‘What are you doing in my room?’
‘I have to admit, I didn’t expect you to be such a good looker.’
Sophie tried to look past him—surely Millie was around somewhere?—but his shoulders were so broad he blocked her vision of the door. ‘I wish I could return the compliment, but as I didn’t expect you at all, Mr…?’
‘Call me Jo. I’m Caruana’s security manager. Just checking to make sure everything’s all right for the little lady.’
Snooping, more like it. At Daniel’s behest? Then he smiled and took a step closer, holding out his hand, a big, beefy paw with a brassy gold watch at his wrist, a thick, gold chain that matched the one at his neck. Two gold bands glistened on nicotine-stained fingers. Reluctantly she put her own hand out, felt it practically absorbed into his and had to stop herself from pulling away.
‘A pleasure to meet you.’ She wondered if she’d misjudged him. He was large framed, but it was all muscle, like you’d expect on someone who worked in security, and when he smiled he didn’t look quite so frightening. But then his eyes shot a glance down her body, lingering where she knew the two sides of the sarong parted near her bikini bottoms. ‘All of you, that is.’ She decided she didn’t like the man after all.
‘Is that you back, then?’ Millie’s voice sounded down the hallway and Jo dropped her hand and turned.
‘Hello, Millie. Just getting acquainted with our new guest.’
‘Oh, Jo,’ she said, wiping her hands on her pinny as she looked uncertainly from one to the other. ‘I didn’t know you were here.’
‘I didn’t want to disturb you, Millie. I let myself in.’
The older woman sniffed, as if he should know better than go skulking around the house by himself, but she said nothing more to him. ‘Dinner’s almost ready, lovey,’ she told Sophie. ‘If you want to get out of your wet things.’
‘Sounds good, Millie,’ Jo said. ‘I’ve missed your cooking at the café.’
‘Won’t your wife be expecting you?’
‘Not tonight. She’s staying at her sister’s. And I did go to all the trouble of bringing this…’ He reached down and picked something from the floor then placed it on the bed. A parcel. Sophie could see by the return address that it had come from Meg.
‘My clothes?’
‘I thought you might be needing this sooner rather than later.’
‘Thank you.’ So he hadn’t been snooping. Or had he just taken the opportunity for a little digging while he was making the trip?
Jo sucked in air and gave another self-satisfied grin. ‘I reckon I might have earned myself a dinner. What do you reckon?’
She looked searchingly at Millie. She didn’t relish the idea of sharing a meal with someone who made her feel so ill at ease, but would it be churlish to refuse, given he’d brought her clothes? Was it her decision to make?
‘Where is everyone?’ Daniel’s voice boomed down the hallway and she wanted to sag with relief. He was back earlier than expected and she wanted to hug him. If Jo stayed to share dinner, she’d feel much better if Daniel was that too—even though Daniel was as dangerous as hell and made her feel at times as skittery as a cat on a hot tin roof. Much safer.
He entered the room and took in the scene, smiling at Millie. He scowled, she realised, when his gaze fell on her, still damp from her swim. ‘Jo,’ he said, jerking his eyes to the big man. ‘I didn’t expect to see you here.’