Island Fantasy by Kayla Perrin

Author:Kayla Perrin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2010-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Later, Shayna and Donovan were sitting at the beachside casual restaurant. He had a burger and fries on his plate, while Shayna had opted for broiled fish and French fries.

She was curious about Donovan’s late fiancée. Curious about how their relationship had been. A perfect fairy tale gone wrong? Or an imperfect relationship? Was he still grieving the loss of this woman?

“So,” Shayna began, “I’ve told you all about Vince. Do you feel like talking about your fiancée?”

Donovan swallowed his mouthful of food, then spoke. “What would you like to know?”

“How long did you date?”

“A little over four years.”

“That’s a long time.”

“I know. But Nina and I didn’t want to get married until we were ready—both financially and mentally. Some of our friends married young, and they broke up. My sister had gone through a particularly nasty divorce. We knew if we loved each other waiting wouldn’t matter.”

Shayna nodded. “How long did you know her?”

“She was my college sweetheart.”

The admission made Shayna’s mood fizzle. And she didn’t know why. What should it matter if Donovan and Nina had been in love since kindergarten? The woman was no longer here.

Shayna knew the answer to her question. She liked Donovan. And instead of thinking realistically—that this relationship they were building was one that would last on this island only—she was letting her mind venture into territory it shouldn’t.

“I can’t even imagine what it must have been like to lose someone you loved like that.”

“It was devastating,” Donovan said candidly. “I didn’t know if I could go on. But each day, little by little, the pain subsided. I never imagined that it would, but it did.”

Shayna wondered how a person dealt with that. Especially when they dared to love again. Was there a measure of guilt they felt at falling for someone new?

Falling for someone new…? Why was Shayna even letting her mind go there? If anything happened between her and Donovan, it was going to be a casual island fling. It was ridiculous to even think of anything else.

“I haven’t dated,” Donovan said. “I haven’t wanted to.” He paused. “Until now.”

Despite her thought just a moment ago, Shayna felt something inside her come alive at Donovan’s statement. Was that what they were doing? Dating?

No, they definitely were not dating. They were enjoying each other’s company. She had suffered pain. He had suffered pain. They were two souls coming together at a time when they needed each other.

“I don’t want to scare you,” Donovan began. “But I mean that when I say it. Until now, I haven’t even considered dating anyone. Well, that’s not true. I have considered it. But no one has interested me. I think my family was starting to worry about me, worry that I was too lost in my grief to meet someone else I liked. Even I worried about that. But meeting you…” Donovan’s voice trailed off.

“Meeting me what?” Shayna asked.

“You’re different,” Donovan said simply. “I enjoy spending time with you.” He shrugged. “Who knows?”

Who knows what? Shayna couldn’t help wondering.

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