Hidden Love (Derrien Island Trilogy) Read online

  He remembered how her eyes narrowed as she considered the appropriateness of his invitation and could almost read her mind as she debated within herself as to whether or not her associates would consider it to be the proper thing to do. She’d always had those kinds of internal conflicts throughout the years he’d gotten to know her. Maybe that was why she didn’t have the stomach to continue working as an attorney-at-law. Her idealistic way of viewing the world often got in the way in his opinion, of making decisions based on the cold hard facts of reality. But they discovered just how different they were on that score much, much later.

  That day he reminded her with a coaxing smile that they had concluded their business and he was no longer her client so she did not have to worry about it affecting their working relationship.

  “Just a drink, to celebrate before I leave tomorrow!” he’d coaxed gently till finally she’d relented.

  He’d taken her to a waterfront tapas bar and restaurant and by the end of the first drink, he had convinced her to stay longer and to have dinner with him. At no point during the night did they even discuss the contract. Instead he got to know more about her and he found himself opening up and sharing details about himself that he had never told another soul. It was as though her eyes were just part of the indicator that she was his other half. Usually for him, women came and went due to his singular focus on developing his businesses. Truly, until that point no woman meant anything to him except for his mother and aunts and now he could see that Candasee was the woman who would change all of that for him.

  He talked and she shared and together they drank an entire bottle of wine. They ended up being the last to leave the restaurant around eleven that night, totally oblivious to the time. He chuckled at the memory of how her eyes widened in shock as she looked at her watch when the restaurant manager politely reminded them of the time and that they were ready to close up.

  For him, it was truly love at first sight and till this day he knew that he still had not gotten over her. She was his first love and instinctively then he knew she would also probably be his last. How had things gone from such deep connection to this empty gnawing space which now occupied his life? He’d cancelled weeks of meetings just to be with her after that night and flew in on many weekends disrupting his work schedules unable to be out of her presence for very long. They did that until it became clear that being separated from each other was pure madness and they got married after only seven months.

  Letting her go from his life without a fight was sheer pride on his part and a decision that made no sense when he considered how he truly felt about her still. Trying to move on was turning out to be a waste of time because so far no woman he knew could hold even a flame to the bonfire she had ignited within him.

  Over the last few weeks, he had even begun to entertain the idea that he would fly out to Barbados to surprise her for her birthday next month. It was a crazy plan that had the word failure stamped all over it considering the way things stood between them when they separated. But he had to know if there was still a chance that they could somehow resolve this mess between them. Without her he knew his life had become pretty unbalanced! It wasn’t so much that he did not have opportunities to enjoy himself or that business diminished but it was a certain happiness, joy and peace to living he had with her that was gone now. She brought out the best in his creativity, his humorous and fun loving sides, and even sharpened his intuitive capabilities. He missed her terribly!

  “Mr. Brogan, your guests have arrived for the meeting!” spoke the voice of his secretary Portia through the intercom, interrupting his latest daydream. The adjoining room to his office had been converted into a reception area for his clients and an office for his secretary Portia and private security team. He also had an adjoining conference room where he held meetings.

  Darius leaned over and pressed the button, “Thank you Portia and please send them into the conference room immediately!” He felt a little relief knowing that at least for another few moments his mind would have some respite from thinking about her. A business matter of this magnitude would require his full attention and he could not afford to mess up the details with these fantasy trips of his.

  “Sir, before I do that I need to let you know something first. I am coming in!” said Portia in an agitated tone.

  “Okay, but make it quick!” he replied gathering the necessary files on his desk for the meeting.

  Within seconds the door opened to admit Portia inside and she was wringing her hands nervously.

  “Mr. Brogan I just received some very bad news!”

  “What is it?” he replied, his head snapping upward to take in the nervous wreck his secretary had become.

  “Sloane Arts and Media cancelled their appearances for next week due to the flooding damaging most of their equipment. It will take another week for them to even repair and replace the damaged items. Also in the process of trying to get to the warehouse storage to salvage their equipment the lead singer and the lead guitarist are now very ill. The lead singer suffered a fall due to a diabetic episode and is in the hospital and the rhythm guitarist has developed appendicitis.”

  “No!” exclaimed Darius, thinking of the long months his team would have spent looking for the right entertainment group to provide a professional entertainment package at the hotel during the travel show. “The filming for the show begins one day from now, did we have a backup group?” he asked anxiously.

  “Well that’s the thing, we did but seeing we could not offer them a definite yes, they went on to book another show and are currently performing at a music festival in Australia,” she said twisting her features apologetically.

  “This must be some kind of joke!” exclaimed Darius at the implications this had for the final evening program for the travel show being held at the hotel that week.

  “I assure you it isn’t a joke sir! The events team is looking for a replacement right now but they aren’t holding out much hope at such late notice!” replied Portia.

  “No, there must be a solution to this. There must be some other group we can find to replace these two. This recording will be shown globally and a lot was invested to ensure that we host this show with excellence,” Darius almost shouted with exasperation.

  Portia noted his stressed appearance and decided that she had said enough. “I will check back in with events team and let you know if anything changes in an hour or so!”

  As Portia left hurriedly, Darius swore softly under his breath and pinched the area between his eyes wondering where in the world would he find a replacement of the quality needed at this late hour?

  Chapter 2

  All of the roads leading from the airport were flooded?

  Could it really get any worse?” Candasee asked herself after it became clear that no taxis were available for airport transfers. The plane had landed safely and now they were standing outside the terminal with throngs of visitors who were also now trapped there until the weather improved.

  Turning to her travel companion she said, “Nathan, this doesn’t look good at all, I wonder how the other delegates are managing with this weather?”

  “Yes, I am wondering the same thing! The weather report did not indicate we would be having this kind of bad weather. I’m calling the hotel now to see if everything is okay!” replied Nathan pulling his cell phone out of the slim travel case attached to his carry-on bag.

  It did not take very long for his call to connect with the front desk at the Meridian Hotel.

  “Hello good afternoon, Meridian Hotel, how may I help you?” answered a polished and polite voice.

  “Hello, may I speak with Miss Solange Hassell please?”asked Nathan, while twirling a loose lock of Candasee’s hair around his finger and smiling at her affectionately.

  “Sure, whom might I say is calling?”

  “Tell her it’s Nathan Carthswright!”

  “Sir, please hold while I connect your call to Miss. Hassell!”

  The lin
e became silent as the secretary linked the call through to its destination.

  “How do you manage to look so beautiful all the time?” Nathan asked Candasee, covering the mouthpiece with his hand and admiring the way her hair curled around her face in lustrous waves.

  Candasee smiled back as the compliment warmed her inwardly.

  “Hello, this is Solange Hassell!”

  “Yes Solange, its Nathan! I just arrived at the airport but we are stuck here in this weather. Have any of the other delegates arrived as yet?”

  “Oh Nathan I am so glad that you called. Yes many of the delegates arrived before lunch, so they got in before this freak rainstorm hit. This place has turned into a zoo of epic proportions, Nathan. The roof on our conference building has been severely damaged by the rain and we are experiencing some flooding as well. So, we had to make the decision to close the hotel without further delay.

  “What?” exclaimed Nathan in complete shock.

  “I know it sounds bad but I am about to call up a friend of mine to see if I can help you shift your venue at this eleventh hour. I am so sorry about the inconvenience. Just sit tight I will call you back within the hour with the details. The delegates have been taken to the restaurant and in the meantime we are serving them some light refreshments,” said Solange apologetically.

  “Oh no!” said Nathan holding his forehead in his hands.

  “What’s wrong Nathan?” asked Candasee alarmed at seeing his previously warm expression turn to one of anxiety!”

  Shaking his head at Candasee, he continued to speak to Solange.

  “Solange you know how important this media and arts intensive is to my academy, please try your best to save the event! Some of these delegates would have done major fundraising just to make it here this week and I don’t want to disappoint them,” he pleaded.

  “I know and I am on it right now, I’ll give you a call back very soon!” Solange replied.

  Candasee was on the verge of bursting to find out what had happened and her questions poured out as Nathan disconnected the call.

  “Nathan, what happened, what did she say? Are the other delegates there? Will we have to cancel the intensive?”

  “Whoa, whoa there Candee,” said Nathan raising his hand affectionately to her cheek, to slow down her barrage of questions. “There is a problem at the hotel due to all the rain. The conference hall’s roof has been damaged and Solange is trying her best to resolve the issue by finding us an alternative location,” breathed Nathan in frustration.

  “I knew it!” exclaimed Candasee,” I felt that somehow that storm was an omen of some kind but I shook it off in the plane,” she said with a visible shudder.

  “Now let’s not get too negative and talk about omens just as yet. I know I looked completely stressed out just now, but Solange is pretty well connected here on Derrien and I am sure that she will find us a suitable replacement. In the meantime let us find something to eat. I think we will be here at the airport for a little while!” he replied trying to remain upbeat.

  Nathan took control of the baggage cart and held her hand as they walked along the promenade to the food courts where they could sit and wait in hope for some good news.

  They spotted a deli that sold soup and sandwiches and they both decided that a little comfort food would be a great idea with all of the cold weather! Nathan left her with the bags and went to the counter to place an order for both of them.

  Candasee sank down onto the soft, leather seat of the booth and scanned the food court of the airport. It was amazing just how little had changed here in the two years since she was gone. Her gaze returned to the deli where Nathan placed their order and she could not help admiring him as he stood there.

  Nathan Carthswright was such an incredible man in his own right, thought Candasee as she watched him standing at the counter. His lithe dancers’ body did not have an ounce of fat visible anywhere but instead his long muscles were like thick sinews that gave him the appearance of power and grace. Dressed in dark blue jeans and a grey long-sleeved knit shirt, he looked confident and like a man in his element. Even at thirty-seven he was just as strong and flexible as the younger males at the academy. As CEO and founder of Carthswright’s Academy of Modern Arts and Media in Barbados, he had planned a seven day media and arts intensive here on Derrien Island for people all over the Caribbean.

  It was always his late mother’s dream to offer a performing arts scholarship to a multi-talented artiste who could not afford formal education and this year marked the third anniversary of the event. The first two years of the event were held in Barbados and it quickly grew to attract many young people from around the region. The last winner of the scholarship was a young man from the island of Grenada and this year he was now accompanying them as one of the junior classical song instructors during the intensive.

  This was Nathan’s first attempt at taking the intensive on the regional scene, so she knew that although he was trying to remain positive he had to be feeling the pressure of the situation right now. But amidst it all, he was still showing the signs of strong leadership and optimism she’d grown to really like about him in the short time they knew each other.

  She had only begun working at the Academy last year but it was clear just how important it was to the Carthswright family that they offered this opportunity every year. His family were the philanthropic sort who loved to participate in humanitarian and charity work that supported the development of the creative arts back in Barbados. But, nothing they did during the year was on the scale of this intensive. This was their brainchild and the highlight of the year’s activities.

  When she was hired as the director for modern and jazz choreography it was literally a dream come true. After years of taking weekend classes and being a member of several dance troupes over the years, her skills were excellent enough to allow her to land this job even without a degree in dance. Darius had never understood why she spent so much of her time at the studio rehearsing. In fact, he always made her feel that unless she was making the big bucks like him, she was wasting her time! So, in a way she had found a kindred spirit in Nathan, her boss!

  Ugh! Would she ever be able to say that word ‘boss’ without feeling as though she had crossed the line somewhere with him?

  They had begun dating five months ago and that in itself took some persuasion on his part because of her workplace ethics and the fact that even then, she was still reeling from the divorce. Dating him like this was a huge risk and she hated to think what could happen to her job if things did not work out between them. But, he was charming and sweet and when she was with him she had a little respite from thinking about Darius. It wasn’t the best foundation for a relationship but she believed that eventually it would progress to something much deeper if given the chance.

  Becoming a dance instructor was her dream career and it was important to her to make the most of this opportunity. Although she’d planned to open her own studio here on Derrien Island back then, somehow she’d buried those thoughts deep inside ever since the divorce. Besides being at the academy was comfortable and she was well-liked and accepted among the staff and students.

  To safeguard against any problems with her job she tried to take this relationship very slowly at first but after getting to know Nathan, she discovered that she did like him a lot and she knew that he shared her feelings in that regard. It wasn’t the kind of relationship where sparks flew at every turn as it had with Darius and that gave her some measure of comfort. Instead, there was a deep, steady, safe attraction between her and Nathan that made her feel both accepted and appreciated by him, which were things she really needed ever since Darius made it clear that she could never get those things from him again!

  After Nathan placed the order, he turned around and rested his back against the counter so he could look at Candasee Maxwell. He was trying valiantly to play this dating thing by her rules, but after five months surely she could see by now that she could trust him, couldn’t sh
e?

  He was counting on this trip to Derrien Island to be a kind of neutral ground for them to finally take things further. Yes, they had kissed but what he wanted more than anything was to be finally able make love to her and on this trip he planned for that to happen very soon. Did she even realize just how irresistible she was to him and to every man who noticed her in a five metre radius? The beautiful thing about her was that although she was gorgeous, she did not flaunt it and she was one of the most humble persons he ever had the pleasure of meeting. He knew from her job interview that she was divorced, but she never liked to discuss the details. With her youth and beauty, he often told himself that one man’s stupidity was another man’s treasure and he had certainly struck gold where Candasee was concerned.

  Catching her eye he winked at her and held her gaze as she smiled back at him in return. After he got their meal, he sauntered back over to her making sure he never broke eye contact. He could look at her all day if only she’d let him, he thought to himself. She had the most astonishing pair of slate grey eyes he had ever seen and although grey was supposed to be a cool colour all he felt was fire and heat deep in his heart whenever her eyes connected with his.

  No, it did not take him very long to fall madly in love with Candasee Maxwell at all. He just wanted to take care of her and love her in the way he knew that she deserved even though it meant that he was now seeing his employee.

  “Okay, here we are, soup and sandwiches,” he said sliding into the booth with her so that their thighs touched. I hope you like spiced pumpkin soup and deluxe roast beef sandwiches?” he added with the intonation of a slight question.

  “It is a little late to ask that seeing that you already bought them, but yes you made a good selection,” replied Candasee sniffing the delicious aroma of the food.

  “Aha, I knew it! It is this powerful mind-heart connection we have going here,” he said jovially wiggling his eyebrows in the way that he knew always made her laugh! Was it selfish of him to want her to smile especially when he did it just so he could drink in the sound of her laughter and see the way her face became simply luminous when she smiled. He was in love with this beautiful woman and he did not care who else knew it.