The Girl from Lace Island by Joanna Rees

Author:Joanna Rees [Rees, Joanna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781447266655
Publisher: Pan Books

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Lace Island, 1990

Most of the other guests had left Lace Island and the bungalows on the beach were all empty except Adam’s. Leila looked anxiously around her before rapping on the thin wooden front door. She hated Chan for making her come here, but what choice had she had? She needed to do whatever it took to stay under his radar, so that she could go diving with Rasa. She stared out at the blue horizon. Rasa would be waiting for her by now.

Her Rasa. After last night, he’d filled every second of her thoughts. She didn’t care about Parva’s warning this morning. Whatever happened between her and Rasa was nobody else’s business.

The door opened, jolting her out of her thoughts, and Adam leant against the door frame, a beer in his hand.

‘Leila. What a nice surprise. Come in, come in,’ he said. ‘You look pretty today, don’t you. All dressed up for someone? For me?’

‘I just came to give you this. I’ve got to go,’ Leila said. She thrust the envelope at him impatiently.

‘Don’t look so scared. I don’t bite,’ Adam said, laughing, his white teeth flashing at her, as he slowly took the envelope. Leila bit her lip, wishing he’d hurry up, hating being here with every fibre of her being.

Adam opened the envelope and took some papers part of the way out and nodded, before taking a sip of beer. ‘You have to come in. I need to sign this and you’ll have to take it back to the house. Come,’ he said, cupping his hand and waving for her to follow him inside the bungalow.

Leila wanted to scream with frustration. She looked behind her, along the wooden path to the white sand of the beach. The palm trees leant invitingly down towards the water, crows pecking the bark. Rasa would be firing up the engine by now.

She could take the signed papers on the boat with her and give them to Chan later. She stepped inside the door, praying that Adam would hurry up.

‘Why the rush?’ Adam said, staring at her from where he’d pulled the papers out on a small wooden table.

‘I’m late to meet someone, that’s all. It’s a busy day.’

‘Aha. Oh yes. Your friend,’ he said. His tone was mocking, and his eyes glittered with menace. Leila wished she hadn’t said anything. ‘Come, come, though, just a friend? I’ve seen the way you look at him,’ he said, with a sly smile.

Leila cast her eyes down, annoyed at what he was implying. Rasa was nothing to do with him.

‘I bet he wants you, that Rasa. I bet he wants you like I do,’ Adam said, leaving the papers and beer on the table and taking a step towards her.

Leila backed away from him. He wanted her? He’d said it so casually, but she knew that he meant sexually.

‘Oh, don’t be coy. Since we’re having this chat, you might as well know that I saw you watching me and Monique.’

Her hand trembled violently as it groped behind her for the door handle, but Adam moved fast.

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